“In blue Connecticut, Hillary Clinton has big double-digit leads against top Republican contenders.”
Doug Schwartz
A poll conducted by Quinnipiac University and released on Thursday shows that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continues to dominate fellow Democrats in an early look at a possible 2016 run for the White House.
When asked how they would vote from a list of potential Democratic nominees, 53 percent of registered Democrats said that they'd vote for Clinton. The list, besides Clinton, was Vice President Joe Biden, Martin O'Malley, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Jim Webb.
"Despite the current e-mail controversy surrounding Clinton, she is well-liked in Connecticut, while the Republican contenders get either mixed evaluations or negative ones from voters," said poll director Doug Schwartz.
Coming in a distant second was Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts receiving 15 percent. Vice President Joseph Biden came in with 8 percent of the Democrat demographic.
Clinton also appears to surpass possible Republican challengers -- like former governor of Florida Jeb Bush, Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin, and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas by margins of 18 to 25 percentage points each.
"U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal is in very strong position for reelection in 2016 with high job approval and reelection numbers."
Doug Schwartz
The poll also surveyed voters on standing political officials. Connecticut voters gave President Barack Obama a split 48 to 48 percent job approval rating, unchanged from his 48 to 48 percent score in a May 9, 2014 Quinnipiac University poll.
Polling better than President Obama was Senator Richard Blumenthal. He maintained a 64 to 26 percent job approval rating. When asked if Blumenthal deserves reelection in 2016, voters said yes 59 to 27 percent. Fellow Senator Chris Murphy had a slightly lower approval rating of 55 to 25 percent.
For the poll, Quinnipiac surveyed 1,235 voters -- 323 were registered Republican Party members and 459 were registered Democrats.
Mallory ODonoghue is an intern at WNPR.
