A Washington Post-ABC News Poll, released on April 2nd, shows Hillary Clinton leading each of her likely Republican opponents by double digit margins. The national survey, conducted from March 26-29, interviewed a random sample of 1,003 voting age respondents. Head to head matches were tested between Hillary Clinton and four of the most prominent Republican candidates–Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, and Florida Senator Marco Rubio.
In each of the hypothetical match-ups, Clinton led the GOP candidate by double digits. Her widest lead was over Ted Cruz, where Clinton’s advantage was a lopsided 56-39 margin. She held a smaller 53-41 lead over Jeb Bush. In a head to head race with Scott Walker, Clinton enjoyed a 54-40 advantage. Her lead over Marco Rubio was 54-39.
The poll also tested how favorable voters opinions were of Hillary Clinton and six of the leading GOP candidates. In addition to the four candidates the survey tested in match-ups against Clinton, the poll also tested whether or not voters had favorable or unfavorable opinions of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.
Of the seven candidates, only Hillary Clinton had a positive net favorable rating. 49 percent of Americans had a favorable opinion of Clinton compared to 46 percent who viewed her unfavorably. All of the Republican hopefuls were viewed more negatively than positively. Chris Christie was the most disliked with an upside down 25/51 favorable to unfavorable rating. Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz were nearly as despised. Cruz was viewed positively by 25 percent of voters and negatively by 45 percent. Bush had a 33/53 favorable to unfavorable rating.
Marco Rubio (24/38) and Rand Paul (29/42) fared a little better, but both were also quite unpopular. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was not as far underwater, with a 23/30 rating. 47 percent of voters had no opinion on Walker.
Despite enduring a month of mostly negative press coverage, Hillary Clinton continues to hold a large lead in the 2016 presidential race. Not only that, but she continues to be better liked than the Republican candidates who are jockeying for the GOP nomination. Clinton, with a 49/46 approval rating, isn’t necessarily wildly popular. However, American voters like her a lot more than they like any of the Republican candidates who are vying to run against her.
Hillary Clinton continues to hold a dominant early lead in the 2016 presidential race. That may say more about how weak the GOP field is, than it does about how popular she is, but the end result is the same. If the dynamics of the presidential race don’t change between now and November 2016, Hillary Clinton could win decisively. If her current numbers hold, her margin would be the largest Democratic presidential victory in half a century.
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