Two polls released Wednesday had bad news for Florida Sen. Marco Rubios presidential hopes in 2016.
Rasmussen Reports released a poll in which Vice President Joe Biden is a clear second choice for Democrats behind former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- but Biden still has a commanding lead over Rubio, who drew the displeasure of conservatives with his role in immigration reform, in a possible 2016 matchup.
Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey beats Biden, taking 39 percent, while the vice president garners 35 percent. But Biden beats out other Republicans, leading Rubio 44 percent to 34 percent; up on U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, 43 percent to 32 percent; and ahead of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., 44 percent to 36 percent.
The Rasmussen poll of 1,000 likely voters was taken from Sept. 16-17 and had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.
According to Pubic Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with Democratic connections, Rubio is in free fall in New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary. Back in an April PPP poll, Rubio placed second in the Granite State with 25 percent behind Paul with 28 percent.
Paul leads the new poll with 20 percent followed by Christie with 19 percent. Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida takes third in New Hampshire with 14 percent followed by favorite daughter U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., with 12 percent. Cruz takes 10 percent. Rubio stands tied in sixth place, knotted up with U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., with 7 percent. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania trails with 2 percent.
Republicans have lots of candidates drawing double-digit support, although Marco Rubio has fallen precipitously from where he was in April, said Dean Debnam, the president of PPP, on Wednesday.
The PPP poll of 491 usual New Hampshire Republican primary voters was taken between Sept. 13-16 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percent.
This was not the only poll showing Rubio fading in New Hampshire. The latest Granite State poll by WMUR and the University of New Hampshire was released early in August and it showed Rubio sinking.
Rubio took 22 percent in the Granite State poll back in February and 14 percent in an April one. But in the August one, Rubio took only 6 percent. His net favorability with New Hampshire Republicans dropped from 50 percent in February and 51 percent in April to 33 percent in the August poll. There was some good news for Rubio in the August Granite State poll as only 2 percent of New Hampshire Republicans said they will never vote for Rubio.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
