Hillary 2016 Would Take Iowa, New Poll Finds; Biden Edges Out 'Someone Else' For 2nd Place

By Howard Koplowitz | May 10 2012 3:26 PM

Iowa was unkind to Hillary Clinton in 2008, when she came in third in the state's Democratic primary to Barack Obama and John Edwards. But a new poll suggests a different story in 2016 should Hillary decide to run.

Reuters

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while addressing the European Parliament in March of 2009, advised the powerful to "never waste a good crisis."

Sponsorship Link

Clinton has an overwhelming lead in the state among eight potential 2016 candidates with 62 percent of Democratic voters polled saying they want Hillary to be the 2016 nominee.

Vice President Joe Biden is a distant second with 14 percent, followed by someone else at 9 percent. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo polled at 4 percent, as did Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren. Former Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer each pulled in 2 percent. Martin O'Malley, the governor of Maryland, had the support of 1 percent of those polled. Mark Warned polled at zero percent.

The poll was not exactly a ringing endorsement of Biden's potential candidacy. If Hillary decides to sit out in 2016, Iowa voters choose someone else as their Democratic candidate over the eight potential candidates mentioned. Someone else, at 36 percent, beats out Biden's 28 percent.

Clinton got high marks on favorability, with 88 percent of Iowa voters saying they had a favorable opinion of the Secretary of State and former senator from New York. Only 6 percent had an unfavorable view of Hillary and 5 percent weren't sure of their opinion of Clinton.

Joe Biden also did well on favorability, with 76 percent of voters saying they have a favorable opinion of the vice president. Only 6 percent had an unfavorable opinion and 18 percent said they weren't sure.

Cuomo, who was thrust into the national spotlight for the way he led New York, long considered to be the most dysfunctional legislature in the country. Under Cuomo's leadership, the state passed gay marriage legislation last year.

Perhaps it was that issue that made Cuomo the most unpopular potential 2016 candidate among Iowa voters. His 17 percent unfavorable rating was the highest among the eight potential candidates. More than one in four voters said they had a favorable view of the New York governor and 58 percent weren't sure of their opinion on Cuomo.

Outside of Clinton and Biden, Warren had the highest favorable opinion of the eight possible contenders at 31 percent. Eight percent had an unfavorable view of Warren and 61 percent weren't sure.

The survey of 335 Democratic primary voters in Iowa was conducted by Public Policy Polling.