Poll: Iowa voters pick Christie over Clinton

A new poll finds New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) ahead of Hillary Clinton among Iowa voters.

The Quinnipiac poll released Tuesday found Christie would beat out Clinton 45 percent to 40 percent when Iowa voters are asked who they’d favor for president. 

That is a 5-point improvement for Christie since the firm last tested the question in July. It also follows a GOP poll earlier this month that found similar results. 

{mosads}Quinnipiac partially credits the negative perception Democrats have faced due to the botched rollout of the healthcare reform law for Christie’s increased standing. 

Clinton leads other potential GOP candidates, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. 

Clinton narrowly tops Paul with 45 percent compared to his 44 percent. 

Fifty-three percent say Clinton would make a good president; 46 percent say the same about Christie and 38 percent feel the same about Paul.

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the former GOP vice presidential candidate who hashed out a budget agreement last week, was not included in the poll. 

However, a Des Moines Register poll over the weekend showed him with the highest favorability rating among Republicans. 

The Quinnipiac poll surveyed 1,617 people and has a 2.4 percent margin of error.