Home Suffolk University poll: Hillary Clinton leads Democrats, Republicans in 2016 field
News

Suffolk University poll: Hillary Clinton leads Democrats, Republicans in 2016 field

Contributors

AugustFreepress - Hillary ClintonHillary Clinton is far ahead of the pack in a recent poll of Democratic and Democratic-leaning independent voters, with 59 percent of those voters saying they would vote for the former secretary of state in the 2016 presidential primaries and caucuses, according to a national poll from Suffolk University/USA TODAY.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders placed a distant second as the choice of 14 percent of the Democrats and independents responding to the national poll, followed by Vice President Joe Biden, with 8 percent. Fewer than 2 percent of these voters would choose the other declared Democrats: former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, and former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee. Sixteen percent of Democratic voters remain undecided with the first presidential caucuses and primaries six months away.

“Bernie Sanders draws large crowds and polls well with his New Hampshire next-door neighbors, but Democratic voters appear to be too pragmatic to pin their hopes on him,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston. “Demographically, Clinton carried every region of the country, age group, and income level. Clinton even bested Sanders 55 percent to 21 percent among those who described themselves as ‘liberal’ or ‘very liberal’—the progressive voters whom Sanders must win. All-in-all the upcoming Democratic primaries and caucuses are looking to be dominated by Clinton.”

In a glimpse at what the 2016 general election might look like, the Suffolk University/USA TODAY poll presented voters with matchups between Clinton and the top-polling Republican candidates. Clinton still leads, but with much closer margins, especially against former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

  • Clinton, 46 percent—Bush 42 percent
  • Clinton, 48 percent—Scott Walker 37 percent
  • Clinton, 49 percent—Ben Carson 36 percent
  • Clinton, 48 percent—Rand Paul 38 percent
  • Clinton, 49 percent—Mike Huckabee 40 percent
  • Clinton, 46 percent—Marco Rubio 40 percent
  • Clinton, 51 percent—Donald Trump 34 percent

“Even if she cruises through the primaries, the general election is no sure bet for Clinton,” said Paleologos. “She doesn’t poll above the 50 percent threshold against anyone but Donald Trump.”

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.

Latest News

motorcycle helmet broken glass
Virginia

Front Royal man dead in high-speed collision involving motorcycle

glenn youngkin donald trump
Politics, Virginia

Youngkin claims 500+ arrests of immigrant gang members from task force

MAGA Gov. Glenn Youngkin is claiming that an outfit called the Virginia Homeland Security Task Force has made more than 500 arrests as of Monday, though the governor’s office isn’t able to give us much detail on the nature of the arrests. A press release from Youngkin’s office claims that 132 people affiliated with MS-13...

earth planet ecology environment recycle world
Education, Local

‘We’ve Got the Power’: Earth Day Staunton to acknowledge Augusta County Schools

Earth Day Staunton’s theme for 2025 of renewable energy, titled “We’ve Got the Power to Protect the Planet,” is a timely one.

wwe
Wrestling

Paul Heyman goes off on ‘McAfee’ fan: ‘The one that’s going to get deported?’

woman arrest handcuffs
Local

Three arrested in connection with October murder in Albemarle County

harrisonburg
Education, Local

Harrisonburg: Last day to register for annual Soap Box Derby is May 5

staunton rally17
Local, Politics

Note to whiny White liberals: You don’t need official permission to protest