Get ready folks, 2016 is here. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush officially announced yesterday that he is actively exploring the possibility of running for the White House and Florida Senator Marco Rubio is meeting with mega-donors.
But a new Fox News poll shows former Massachusetts governor and two time presidential candidate Mitt Romney and former presidential candidate and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are the top choices of Republicans and Democrats for the next election.
First, the Republican side:
Romney dominates the field for the 2016 Republican nomination. He comes in at 19 percent among self-identified Republicans, followed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 10 percent. No other candidates garner double-digit backing.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul each receive eight percent. Next, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker captures seven percent, followed by retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan each at six percent and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz at five percent.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (four percent), Ohio Gov. John Kasich (two percent), Texas Gov. Rick Perry (two percent), Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (one percent) and former Penn. Sen. Rick Santorum (one percent) each receive the backing of less than five percent of Republicans.
Voters who consider themselves part of the Tea Party movement are most likely to back Paul (13 percent), Cruz (12 percent), Romney (11 percent) and Carson (10 percent).
The top choices among white evangelical Christians include Romney (14 percent), Paul (10 percent), Bush (9 percent) and Carson (9 percent).
On the Democratic side, Clinton is still 50 points ahead of her nearest rival -- even though support for her is down somewhat from previous polls. Clinton receives the backing of 62 percent of self-identified Democrats. That’s down from 64 percent in July and a high of 69 percent in April.
The support Clinton has lost since April appears to be going to Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who captures 12 percent. That’s up from 9 percent in July -- and double the 6 percent she received in April. Vice President Joe Biden comes in close behind at 10 percent. All other possible Democratic candidates tested garner three percent or less.
While the Republican side is somewhat close in terms of decisions on candidates, Democrats aren't even forcing a competition between potential candidates. It becomes more clear every day that Clinton will be the nominee on the left side of the political aisle. That being said, if Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren decides to run (she has said repeatedly she won't), Clinton could be in trouble next year.
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