Poll: Clinton tops GOP, Dem 2016 rivals

Hillary Clinton holds a strong lead over a slew of potential 2016 Democratic and Republican presidential rivals, according to a new poll released Wednesday.

The CNN/ORC poll reveals that most voters would pick the former secretary of State over five other likely Democratic candidates in head-to-head match-ups. Voters also prefer Clinton over seven potential Republican contenders in hypothetical races.

{mosads}Clinton leads the pack of likely 2016 Democratic candidates with 62 percent support. Her nearest competitors are Vice President Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), each with 10 percent support.

Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), who is also weighing a bid, snagged 3 percent support. Former Gov. Martin O’Malley (Md.) and former Sen. Jim Webb (Va.) rounded out the field with 1 percent apiece.

Clinton’s lead among Democrats grows notably if Warren is removed from the field. In that scenario, 67 percent of voters back Clinton, with Biden being her nearest rival with 16 percent.

Voters also favor Clinton in head-to-head contests with the GOP’s likely 2016 candidates.

She beats former Gov. Jeb Bush (Fla.), her closest Republican competitor, 55 percent to 40 percent. 

Clinton also tops Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) 55 percent to 40 percent and Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) 55 percent to 42 percent.

Voters also prefer Clinton over former Gov. Mike Huckabee (Ark), 55percent 41 percent; over Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), 54 percent to 43 percent; Gov. Scott Walker (Wis.) by 55 percent to 40 percent; and over retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson 56 percent to 40 percent.

The poll shows that Clinton is still in a commanding position despite the controversy over her use of a private email account and server while serving as secretary of State. Fifty-three percent of voters viewed Clinton favorably, while 44 percent viewed her unfavorably.

Clinton addressed the controversy, revealing that she had deleted messages but insisting all relevant emails had been shared with the State Department.

But Republicans are vowing to investigate the matter. Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Tuesday called on Clinton to give a “neutral third party” access to the email server. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), chairman of the House panel investigating the 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, said Sunday the House could vote to subpoena Clinton’s emails.

CNN/ORC interviewed 1,009 via telephone for the poll form March 13-15. It has 3-percentage-point margin of error.