Mike Huckabee, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul closest Republicans to Hillary Clinton in Iowa

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton leads a host of Republicans in head-to-head match-ups in the early presidential state of Iowa by between 2 and 7 points, with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky coming closest to the 2016 Democratic frontrunner.

Mrs. Clinton leads Mr. Huckabee and Mr. Rubio by 2-point, 46 percent to 44 percent margins, and she leads Mr. Paul by a 2-point, 45 percent to 43 percent margin, according to the new survey from the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling (PPP).

She leads former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush by 3 points, 45 percent to 42 percent, and she leads New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie by 5 points, 45 percent to 40 percent.

Mrs. Clinton also leads Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson by 7-point, 48 percent to 41 percent margins. She leads Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas by a 7-point, 49 percent to 42 percent margin.

Mr. Cruz, Mr. Paul and Mr. Rubio are the only major Republicans to have officially declared they are running for president in 2016. Mr. Huckabee and Mr. Carson are expected to announce their plans next week.

Fifty-two percent of voters have an unfavorable opinion of Mrs. Clinton, compared to 41 percent who have a favorable opinion.

But Republicans don’t fare too well on that front, either:

• Mr. Carson: 23 percent favorable/26 percent unfavorable (-3) (51 percent not sure);

• Mr. Walker: 31 percent favorable/37 percent unfavorable (-6);

• Mr. Rubio: 31 percent/40 percent (-9);

• Mr. Huckabee: 34 percent/43 percent (-9);

• Mr. Paul: 31 percent/43 percent (-12);

• Mr. Cruz: 26 percent/46 percent (-20);

• Mr. Perry: 26 percent/46 percent (-20);

• Mr. Bush: 26 percent/49 percent (-23);

• Mr. Christie: 23 percent/53 percent (-30).

The survey of 1,219 Iowa voters was conducted from April 23-26 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent.