Hillary Clinton trumps Jeb Bush in 2016 matchup: Poll
AFP, , Monday 29 Dec 2014


Presumed Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton would comfortably defeat Jeb Bush for president if the two members of their famous US political clans went head to head in 2016, poll results showed Monday.

A CNN-ORC poll showed former Florida governor Bush, the son and brother of two former US presidents, as the Republican Party's clear frontrunner for the White House, nearly two weeks after he announced he was "actively" exploring a presidential bid.

With 23 percent of respondents' votes, Bush outpaced New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (13 percent), conservative physician Ben Carson (seven percent), former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and Senator Rand Paul (both six percent) as top Republican contender in the race to see who will succeed President Barack Obama two years from now.

Senator Marco Rubio and congressman Paul Ryan were at five percent support, with several others, including conservative Senator Ted Cruz and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, in lower single digits.

Clinton, who has served as secretary of state, US senator and first lady, came out on top in matchups against all Republican rivals.

Bush fared best, garnering 41 percent of votes against Clinton's 54 percent.

Christie was less impressive in a face-off with Clinton, losing 39 percent to 56 percent.

Ryan, the 2012 vice presidential nominee, fared slightly better, earning 41 percent to Clinton's 56 percent.

On the Democrats' side, Clinton bigfoots all potential challengers, claiming 66 percent support.

Her nearest rival, liberal Senator Elizabeth Warren, earned just nine percent, while Vice President Joe Biden received eight percent.

Clinton's advantage is impressive, but a scenario involving Clinton herself proves poll numbers are not infallible.

In a December 2006 poll about the 2008 presidential race, then-senator Obama hovered at 17 percent support for the Democratic nomination, compared with Hillary's 39 percent.

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