For Iowa Democrats, it's Hillary in 2016

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RALEIGH, N.C., May 11 (UPI) -- Polling for Iowa's 2016 caucuses has already begun and Hillary Clinton, despite her denials of a future presidential candidacy, is far ahead among Democrats.

A Public Policy Polling Survey indicates the secretary of state easily leads speculative Democratic competition while the Republican field is significantly more clustered, the Los Angeles times reported Thursday.

Clinton, President Obama's 2008 primary campaign opponent before becoming a member of his Cabinet, led the speculative candidates, with 62 percent of Democrats saying they preferred her to run, the Raleigh, N.C., polling agency said. Vice President Joe Biden was a distant second with 14 percent. Remaining mentioned candidates, including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, former Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, polled in single digits.

If Mitt Romney doesn't win the White House this year, a number of well-known GOP figures could fill the void for the 2016 nomination, but none as well received as Clinton, PPP said.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Romney's chief primary rival, Rick Santorum, led the list with 16 percent each, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie captured 15 percent, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Sarah Palin tied at 10 percent and Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Marco Rubio of Florida and Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin all polled at least 5 percent.

Results were based on surveys of 346 Republicans and 335 Democrats in Iowa May 3-6. The margins of error for the two groups were 5.3 percentage points and 5.4 percentage points, respectively.