Clinton leads 2016 field of Republicans, except Romney

Republican voters nationwide want 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney back in the game, giving him the top position at 19 percent in an early look at the 2016 presidential race in a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is next with 11 percent, followed by New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie and Dr. Ben Carson at 8 percent each. No other Republican tops 6 percent, with 16 percent undecided.

With Romney out of the race, Jeb Bush leads with 14 percent, followed by Christie at 11 percent, Carson at 9 percent and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky at 8 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds. Another 19 percent are undecided.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sweeps the Democratic field with 57 percent, followed by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts at 13 percent and Vice President Joseph Biden at 9 percent, with no other candidate above 4 percent and 14 percent undecided.

If Clinton does not run, Biden gets 34 percent, followed by Warren with 25 percent.

Romney runs best against Clinton in a general election, taking 45 percent to her 44 percent. In other matchups:

– Clinton gets 43 percent to Christie’s 42 percent;
– Clinton tops Paul 46 – 41 percent;
– She beats former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee 46 – 41 percent;
– Clinton tops Jeb Bush 46 – 41 percent;
– She gets 46 percent to 42 percent for U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin;
– Clinton tops U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas 48 – 37 percent.

“Remember Mitt? Republicans still have Gov. Mitt Romney top of mind and top of the heap in the potential race for the top job,” said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

“But Jeb Bush looms large in second place,” Malloy added. “With New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie also in the mix, it looks like Republican voters are favoring more moderate choices for 2016.

“Hillary Clinton has no real rival from her own party, but there are challengers galore in the Republican lineup, with Romney and Christie looking especially strong against her.”

American voters give Clinton a narrow 50 – 45 percent favorability rating, but that is better than the favorability ratings for any of the other possible presidential candidates listed; 44 – 42 percent for Romney.

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