Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker sits atop a new survey on the prospective 2016 Republican presidential field at 18 percent, but Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee are picking up support compared to a poll released last month.
Mr. Rubio was at 13 percent in the poll from the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling, with Mr. Huckabee and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 12 percent, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 11 percent, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas at 10 percent, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky at 9 percent, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 5 percent and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry at 2 percent.
Support for Mr. Rubio has ticked up 7 points from 6 percent in the poll conducted in late March, before he officially announced his presidential bid, and support for Mr. Huckabee, who announced his presidential campaign last week, has increased 6 percent.
Mr. Huckabee’s 58 percent favorability rating was the highest of the GOP field, followed by Mr. Rubio’s 56 percent favorable rating.
Mr. Walker had been at 25 percent in a PPP survey released in late February and was at 20 percent in the survey released April 1.
Mr. Bush was at 17 percent in the survey released in April, followed by Mr. Cruz at 16 percent and Mr. Carson and Mr. Paul at 10 percent apiece.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remains the undisputed frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. She was at 63 percent among Democratic voters, with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont the next closest at 13 percent.
“Republicans are bouncing up and down much as they did in 2012,” said Dean Debnam, president of PPP. “Meanwhile Hillary Clinton maintains her dominant hold on the Democratic lead.”
The survey of 685 Republican primary voters and 600 Democratic primary voters was taken from May 7-10, with margins of error of plus or minus 3.7 percent and plus or minus 4 percent, respectively.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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