Posted on 04/03/2013 8:46:07 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
There is no front-runner now for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, leaving a five- way horse race with no candidate above 19 percent among Republican voters, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.
New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie, who ran better than other Republicans against top Democrats in a March 7 survey of all American voters by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN- uh-pe-ack) University, gets only 14 percent of Republican voters today.
Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio gets 19 percent of Republican voters, with 17 percent for U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, 15 percent for U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and 10 percent for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Other contenders are at 3 percent or less.
The March 7 poll of all American voters, pitting Vice President Joseph Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo against Christie, Ryan or Rubio showed Christie was the second most popular leader, topping Biden and Cuomo but trailing Clinton.
"Three years before the nominating process, the Republicans have no clear favorite," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Sen. Marco Rubio benefits from his exposure giving the GOP response to the State of the Union while Congressman Paul Ryan is known as the Republican vice presidential candidate. But history tells us being the running-mate on a losing ticket does not help one's presidential chances. The last three Republicans in that spot were Sarah Palin, Jack Kemp and Dan Quayle, while the Democrats in that role were John Edwards, Joe Lieberman and Lloyd Bentsen."
Republican voters say 59 - 23 percent that they prefer someone with experience as a governor, rather than a senator as their party's nominee.
"History indicates that Republicans who win the White House tend to be former governors and there are several thinking about running for the White House in 2016," said Brown. "New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie is obviously the best known at this point, and Jeb Bush makes the top five, but Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell barely register in this survey."
Among all American voters, the Democratic Party is less disliked than the GOP: the Democrats get a negative 38 - 44 percent favorability, compared to a negative 28 - 52 percent for the Republicans. The Tea Party gets a negative 24 - 43 percent.
Voters also give Republicans in Congress a negative 19 - 71 percent job approval, compared to a negative 34 - 59 percent for the Democrats in Congress.
"The Republican brand is essentially in the toilet these days, but it's worth remembering the Democrats faced a similar situation in the late 1980s and got their house in order and returned to power in short order," said Brown.
The Republican Party can do a better job handling the federal deficit, American voters say 43 - 36 percent, while the Democrats will do a better job 49 - 37 percent on health care, 49 - 28 percent on same-sex marriage, and 42 - 38 percent on immigration. Voters are divided almost evenly on which party can do a better job on the economy, taxes and gun control.
Among the most important issues in deciding how they will vote for Congress, 40 percent of American voters list the economy/jobs, with 20 percent listing the budget or budget deficit, 20 percent listing health care, 9 percent citing gun issues and 8 percent listing taxes.
President Barack Obama gets a 49 - 45 percent job approval rating.
"President Barack Obama got a post-election bounce to 53 - 40 percent in a December Quinnipiac University poll. Then he dropped into mid-40s splits as the budget battle with Congress took its toll," Brown said. "Now he may be inching up again."
From March 26 - April 1, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,711 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.4 percentage points. The survey includes 712 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percent. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia and the nation as a public service and for research.
Polls don’t show much at this stage. They indicate little more than name recognition and/or the fleeting emotional reaction of the moment.
If Rubio becomes a threat to the left’s stranglehold on power, they will find someone who will lie about an alleged act 30 years ago and try to destroy him.
RE: Cruz in 2016. Accept no substitutes.
You got one problem... Some FReepers will bring up the “Natural Born” clause again.
OK, who’s left?
Haters gonna hate.
I stand with Rand. The future is now, and the revolution WILL be televised.
That's a good question. Two hundred and fifty years ago; there were other men among the Founders who didn't serve as President who would have made a better choice for the job than anyone running around now...
Me too, so far.
Man, this is some discouraging info.
I’m for a Cruz/Carson ticket. We need to start now. I can’t stand all the others!
You are missing my logic.
There’s no way in hell Bloomie could get elected.
But like Perot if he spends enough of his billions on adverts, he might pull 18-20% of the vote.
Most of which would come from Dems.
Giving us a plurality win, same way Clinton did in 92 and 96.
I don’t think any of them has a chance at all. Too bland, too afraid to raise their voices.
I doubt the 2016 election will be held...I think Our Friendly MARXIST will cancel it!!
RE: . Bush? He wouldn’t impress me even if he didn’t share a name with two recent presidents who accomplished too little in terms of rolling back government growth.
STAY OUT DA BUSHES.
No candidate will be good enough for many on here. We are lost!
So far, Ted Cruz has been the only "tea party Senator" to live up to the hype. I could care less if some "conservatives" want to claim he's "ineligible" because of some new interpretation of the constitution they made up yesterday. They're as likely to get traction with that idea as those on the left who want an international court to arrest Bush & Cheney and try them for war crimes. (likewise, the "Abolish the 17th amendment" movement on the right will have as much success as the "abolish the 22nd amendment" on the left) I guess they'll have fun with their circle jerk but they won't get anyone else to drink the kool-aid or even give them an audience to promote their idea.
I have no one in mind. The amnesty brothers Rubio and Paul are just setting themselves up to split the conservative base. Bachamnn is the best one out there, but she was attacked in the primaries. And she has no interest left in running now. Palin don’t seem interested either in running and she is the next best person out there to me. Maybe Allen West or Jim DeMint or Dr. Ben Carson. But of the listed choices...none.
over 3 years out... good grief!
Not really. The days of sitting on your duff and then throwing your hat into the ring a year before the election are over. Anyone who seriously wants to run needs to be getting their campaign machinations in place today --if not yesterday.
Racist. :)
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