Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush leads a field of potential 2016 GOP presidential contenders in Virginia and comes the closest to the Democratic favorite, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in a new poll out Thursday.
Mr. Bush was the top choice for 21 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, followed by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker at 16 percent, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 10 percent apiece, and retired neurologist Ben Carson at 9 percent.
“The Republican field is still very fluid in Virginia,” said Quentin Kidd, director of the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University, which released the poll. “Last year this time, Chris Christie was leading the pack, but now finds himself in fourth place. Republican voters are still assessing their choices.”
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida were at 6 percent apiece, followed by Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin — who has taken himself out of the 2016 discussion — at 5 percent.
Also receiving votes were Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Gov. John Kasich at 3 percent apiece, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal at 2 percent, and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio and former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania at 1 percent apiece.
Mr. Portman, too, has said he’s not running.
About two-thirds of Democratic voters favored Mrs. Clinton for their 2016 presidential nominee, followed by former Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia at 10 percent and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts at 8 percent apiece.
Forty-six percent of Virginia voters viewed Mrs. Clinton favorably, compared to 49 percent who view her unfavorably. She led a handful of Republicans in head-to-head match-ups, with Mr. Bush coming the closest in trailing her by 5 points, 48 percent to 43 percent.
For decades, Virginia had been Republican territory for presidential candidates, but President Obama played heavily in the state during his 2008 and 2012 campaigns and carried it both times. In 2008, he became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state since former President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
Mr. Webb was viewed favorably by 35 percent and unfavorably by 34 percent, with 30 percent who don’t know.
Six in 10 voters viewed Mr. Biden unfavorably, compared to 30 percent who viewed him favorably. The vice president is scheduled to be in the early presidential state of Iowa Thursday to speak about the administration’s economic policies at Drake University and participate in a roundtable at Des Moines Area Community College’s Ankeny Campus.
Mr. Christie was viewed favorably by 30 percent of voters and unfavorably by 46 percent.
Twenty-three percent viewed Mr. Walker favorably, 27 percent viewed him unfavorably, and 50 percent didn’t know.
Mr. Rubio had a 27 percent favorably rating, with 35 percent viewing him unfavorably and 38 percent not sure. Mr. Paul and Mr. Huckabee both had 26 percent favorably ratings, with Mr. Paul’s unfavorables at 50 percent and Mr. Huckabee’s at 47 percent.
Mr. Cruz and Sen. Ms. Warren both had 20 percent favorable ratings, with Mr. Cruz’s unfavorable rating at 44 percent and Mrs. Warren’s at 34 percent.
Ms. Warren has repeatedly refused pleas from liberal activist groups for her to enter the race as an alternative to Mrs. Clinton.
The overall survey of 794 voters was conducted Jan. 30-Feb. 10 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percent, with hypothetical election questions asked of half samples carrying a plus or minus 5.2 percent margin of error.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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