Poll: Hillary Clinton leads Dems, no clear GOP front-runner for 2016

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TEANECK, N.J., April 30 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leads among Democrats but there is no Republican front-runner for the 2016 presidential nomination, a poll found.

The national poll of registered voters, conducted by PublicMind -- a market research arm of Fairleigh Dickinson University -- found 63 percent of self-identified Democrats and those who lean Democratic support Clinton for her party's nomination to succeed President Barack Obama when he leaves office. The poll, released Tuesday, found 12 percent favor Vice President Joe Biden and 3 percent support New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

U.S. Sen. Mario Rubio of Florida is favored by 18 percent of Republicans, while 16 percent back former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, 14 percent prefer New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and 9 percent support former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania.

Krista Jenkins, professor of political science and director of PublicMind, said the poll of 863 voters -- conducted by telephone April 22-28 -- shows a potential Clinton candidacy is "clearly being met with enthusiasm by Democratic voters."

"Republican uncertainty mirrors the identity crisis the party is facing as it redefines its message in the aftermath of the 2012 presidential loss," Jenkins said.

Among Republicans who said they are politically conservative, 20 percent supported Rubio and 16 percent supported Bush, while 11 percent said they supported Christie.

Christie did better than Bush and Rubio among those who said they watch "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" on Comedy Central, while Rubio and Bush scored better than Christie among those who said they listen to talk radio.

Support for Clinton was roughly the same regardless of where Democrats surveyed said they got their information.

The poll has an overall margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.