Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the state of Iowa during his 2008 presidential run, leads among potential 2016 Republican caucus attendees in the Hawkeye State in a new NBC News/Marist poll.
Mr. Huckabee is the presidential choice for 17 percent of Republicans, followed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 16 percent and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker at 15 percent.
Next is New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 9 percent, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky at 7 percent, and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 6 percent apiece.
Also receiving votes were former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who came from behind to win Iowa in 2012, at 5 percent, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry at 4 percent, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas at 2 percent and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina at 1 percent.
On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton leads in the battle for the presidential nomination with 68 percent of the vote, followed by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. at 12 percent and Sen. Bernie Sanders, Vermont Independent, at 7 percent.
The poll does not include Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Democrat, because she has said she is not running for president in 2016.
In two early potential general election match-ups, Mrs. Clinton leads Mr. Bush, 48 percent to 40 percent, and she leads Mr. Walker 49 percent to 38 percent.
The poll was conducted Feb. 3-10. The full sample of 891 registered voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points, and the samples of 320 potential GOP caucus-goers and 321 potential Democratic caucus-goers both have margins of error of plus or minus 5.5 percentage points.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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