Poll: Clinton, Christie fare best in possible 2016 showdowns
Washington (CNN) - Hillary Clinton vs. Chris Christie.
It's an intriguing 2016 presidential showdown.
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And according to a new national poll, Clinton would come out on top in such a hypothetical matchup.
That's one of the findings from a survey released Thursday from Quinnipiac University, which asked American voters about nine possible general election matchups in the next race for the White House.
According to the poll, the former first lady, Democratic senator from New York and secretary of state, leads the Republican New Jersey governor 45%-37%. The survey also indicates Clinton would top Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida 50%-34% and would beat Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the House budget committee chairman and last year's GOP vice presidential nominee, 50%-38%.
"Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would start a 2016 presidential campaign with enormous advantages," says Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "She obviously is by far the best known and her more than 20 years in the public spotlight allows her to create a very favorable impression on the American people. But it is worth noting that she had very good poll numbers in 2006 looking toward the 2008 election, before she faced a relative unknown in Barack Obama."
If Vice President Joe Biden became the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, the poll suggests closer general election contests.
Biden would trail Christie 43%-40% and would top Ryan 45%-42%. The three point margins in both matchups are within the survey's sampling error. According to the poll, the vice president would lead Rubio 45%-38%.
According to the poll, Christie would lead New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo 45%-28%, with Ryan ahead of Cuomo 42%-37% and Cuomo and Rubio deadlocked at 37%.
"Although some Republicans don't think New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie is conservative enough for their taste, he runs best of the three Republicans tested and would defeat two of the top Democrats," adds Brown.
One caveat with such polling is that the next presidential election is still three and a half years away, and surveys this early in a campaign cycle are often heavily influenced by name recognition.
The Quinnipiac University poll was conducted February 27-March 4, with 1,944 registered voters nationwide questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 2.2 percentage points.
- CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser contributed to this story.
I like them both so this would be a tough decision who would get my vote. If Hillary is against anybody on the right except Christie then Hillary gets my vote. If she runs against Christie I would have to flip a coin.
Right after the reelection of Barack Obama, CNN Was posting speculative stories on 2016 presidential contenders.
CNN seems to have an preemptive obsession with the 2016 election.
Ah, the FÖXification of CNN is proceeding well with its conservative contributors like Dana Loesch (defender of Akin legitimate räpe), Eric Erickson, the hiring of refugee FOX NEWS executive Märgaret Hoöver, and techniques like giving FRC Tony Perkins in-opposed air time.
After all it was Margarët Hoovër who publicly stated CNN needed to move politically to the right.
You republicans are clueless thinking Christie has a chance against Hillary..You'll be lucky with his dirty past as NJ AG to get him into the primaries,now being investigated for corruption by the new democratic AG ...You can't compare apples to oranges and Hillary is the teacher trying to teach Christie who as you know is the stupid pupil who'll not listen to her reasoning ..Remember too republicans as NJ governor after tropical storm Sandy people here were comparing him to Reagan which by any intelligent persons standards is really putting a curse on him if you know what I mean..So please republican posters quit fantasizing about a Hillary Clinton,Christie debate because the only debate from them you'll get is where Christie wants to eat next,not argue about politicly!!!
Christie seems to be a good and rational man. If he were the Republican candidate the radical right would see to it that the party imploded.
Why hold an election or debates when we have the CNN poll? Your egos must be so inflated your ready to pop! The 7 point drop of the Obama approval rating must really be a reallity check for you people!
The far right loons will never nominate Christie to be their candidate. After the Romeny debacle, the only candidate for them is a candidate that leans to the right......wayyyyyyy right.
We were told similar numbers in the Fall of 2007 about how Hillary had the Democratic nomination wrapped up. While I supported Hillary in 2008, I have NO idea who I'll support in 2016 and would be foolish to decide now. Articles like this have little use except to advertise who may be running.
because, as the president said to me earlier with regards to the dinner, part of the effort here is to foster an environment where these conversations can be held in a way that allows for a free exchange of ideas,"
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Our President is a brilliant strategist, a statesman, and a class act.
To actually PAY out of his own pocket to feed those that would sooner see him impeached or at the very least hanging from the nearest cherry blossom tree is the act of a MAN WITH COJONES, and a true leader.
I take my hat off to you sir.You're a bigger man than I am all in the name of moving our country forward.
Personally I would've gotten them all to the restaurant, stated that I wanted to propose a toast, lifted my glass and with that fabulous smile of yours as I looked around the table at each one and I would've clearly and succintly told them to KMA and walked out.
But that's why you're the President
where in the HELL are the getting the idea christie is the GOP guy? if it was anyone right now, the front runner is rubio.
Hillary is not the person we thought she was, so Christie for me and I am not republican. Hillary lost my vote when she protected the party over Benghazi. She did not and would not tell the full truth – remember "what does it matter" – well it mattered. We thought of her as strong and not bullied by the men, but she coward and therefore she is no opponent for all of the men in congress/senate – they will have her for lunch.
Clinton, hands down. Too bad Christie isn't a democrat......I like him as well.....
Who cares about 2016! Lets get the current mess in Washington fixed first. If ODUMA has his way, by 2016 we will be the United Socialist States of America and won't need an election–dictators don't campaign.
I sure hope Hillary is running. I will vote for her, so will all my friends and family!
Interesting matchup. Christie would be good for the GOP as they haven't had a decent candidate for decades. Hillary would get my vote.
Hillary, bill's pimp vs. Christie will never happen.
Christie should run with Hillary (for VP) as a Democrat.
For the love all all that is holy and good about the world, could you people in the media LET ELECTION SEASON GO!!! The current presidential term still has 46 out of 48 months yet to go, and you want us to worry about hypothetical political match-ups for the year 2016?!? Literally anything could happen tomorrow or next month or 40 months from now that could and probably will make these much-too-early polls utterly meaningless. Please, for the sake of the average person's sanity, LEAVE US ALONE. We do not need to breathe the noxious fumes of disgusting political campaigning 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Maybe the public will check in with you media types in a couple of years to see how the polls are looking, but for now, please LEAVE US ALONE.
Rand Paul or Marco Rubio ... Hillary what has she done ? No accomplishments as Sen. and her last job .. what about Benghazi , Iraq has a bomb , North Korea maybe has a bomb . Hillary's only major accomplishmnet is Bill.
Clinton would win in a landslide. Christie would create a landslide.
Would the crazy republican base even nominate him? I think he is their best candidate but their party seems to be run by morons.
Hillary would have my vote! Christie is a loud mouth braggart, and would not be a good representation of the United States.
I'm not supporting the GOP, ever. I believe they won't be happy until they carve into my SS. Can't support them, none of them.
I'll think about Hilary.
Christie would never pass the Tea Party fanatic GOP primaries.
I have no issues voting for other political parties when I think they'd be better in office, but in Christie's case, I'd almost be afraid to. I think in many ways he just panders, or says things simply for the shock value and headlines. I could be wrong, and I do like that he's more open and frank about things, but he is still a politician and I honestly take what they all say with a grain of salt.
Where in the name of god did you run that poll? Are you kidding me!