Poll: Clinton leads over possible GOP contenders in Ohio

Gov. Kasich closing gap, still trails by about 5 percent

Hillary Clinton

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hillary Clinton

Ohio Gov. John Kasich trails former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a new Ohio 2016 presidential race poll out today, but would do better than any other leading Republicans.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich

The Quinnipiac University poll shows the Democratic Mrs. Clinton ahead of Mr. Kasich, a Republican, among Ohio voters by 47–42 percent, in an early look at the next presidential election..

That compares with a Clinton lead of 51–39 percent lead over Mr. Kasich in a February survey by the independent Quinnipiac University.

Mrs. Clinton leads other possible 2016 Republican contenders by margins of 7 to 14 percentage points:

• 48–39 percent over former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush;

• 47–40 percent over U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida;

• 49–41 percent over U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky;

• 46–38 percent over N.J. Gov. Christopher Christie;

• 48–41 percent over U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin;

• 51–37 percent over U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas;

• 49–41 percent over former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

“Gov. John Kasich runs best against Secretary Hillary Clinton for 2016 among eight Republican candidates, although her lead over most of them has dropped considerably since Quinnipiac University surveyed Ohio voters in February,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. “Kasich’s standing might seem logical given his home field advantage, but in February Kasich trailed Ms. Clinton by a dozen points and was down in the pack. Still Ms. Clinton has the best favorability rating of the group.”

By a 53–43 percent margin, Ohio voters have a favorable opinion of Mrs. Clinton, compared to 47–29 percent for Mr. Kasich.

Ohio voters give President Obama a negative 39–58 percent approval rating, compared to a negative 40–55 percent score February 20.

“President Barack Obama’s job approval remains stuck at about 40 percent in Ohio. Although he is not on the ballot this November, such a consistently low rating can’t be helpful to the Democratic ticket, especially gubernatorial nominee Ed FitzGerald who currently trails Governor. Kasich 50–35 percent and is somewhat of an unknown to Ohio voters,” Mr. Brown said.

He said, “If the president’s numbers remain in the basement, look for Kasich’s TV ads to tie Fitzgerald to the president.”

Ohio voters approve 49–33 percent of the job U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is doing and give U.S. Sen. Rob Portman a 44–27 percent approval rating.

Quinnipiac University in Connecticut surveyed 1,174 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points, May 7-12.