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Poll: Clinton Takes Big Early Lead In Connecticut's Presidential Race

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- Hillary Clinton dominates the possible 2016 presidential field in Connecticut, with voters in the Nutmeg State preferring her over all other challengers, both Democrats and Republicans, according to a new poll.   

Hillary Clinton is the front-runner in Connecticut in the 2016 race for president.

Hillary Clinton is the front-runner in Connecticut in the 2016 race for president.

Photo Credit: File

The former secretary of state tops possible Republican challengers by margins of 18 to 25 percentage points, according to the Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday. 

"In blue Connecticut, Hillary Clinton has big double-digit leads against top Republican contenders," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz.

"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."

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker have 18 percent each in a possible Republican primary match-up, with 12 percent for U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and 11 percent for New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie, the independent Quinnipiac University Poll said. No other candidate tops 7 percent, and 12 percent are undecided.

Clinton tops the Democratic pack with 53 percent, followed by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts with 15 percent and Vice President Joseph Biden with 8 percent. No other candidate tops 2 percent, and 15 percent are undecided. Clinton tops any listed Republican contender by double digits in Connecticut:

  • 52 percent vs. 34 percent over Bush:
  • 52 percent vs. 34 percent over Christie;
  • 54 percent vs. 32 percent over Paul;
  • 56 percent vs. 31 percent over former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee;
  • 53 percent vs. 34 percent over U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida;
  • 53 percent vs. 33 percent over Walker;
  • 55 percent vs. 30 percent over U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

By a 56 percent to 38 percent margin, Connecticut voters have a favorable opinion of Clinton. Favorability ratings for Republicans are:

  • Negative 37 percent vs. 41 percent for Christie;
  • Negative 25 percent vs. 36 percent for Paul;
  • Negative 26 percent vs. 36 percent for Huckabee;
  • Negative 33 percent vs. 39 percent for Bush;
  • 24 percent vs. 23 percent for Rubio, with 52 percent who don't know enough about him to form an opinion;
  • 22 percent vs. 22 percent for Walker with 56 percent who don't know enough about him;
  • Negative 16 percent vs. 30 percent for Cruz, with 53 percent who don't know enough about him.

As far as the current president goes, Connecticut voters give Barack Obama a split 48 percent vs. 48 percent job approval rating, unchanged from his 48 percent vs. 48 percent score in a May 2014, Quinnipiac University poll.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal gets a 64 percent vs. 26 percent job approval rating, matching his all- time high score May 9. Only Republicans disapprove 56 percent vs. 37 percent.  Voters approve 55 percent vs. 25 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy is doing.

From March 6 to 9, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,235 registered voters with a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points. 

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