Poll: Clinton and Rubio party favorites for 2016

Outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) are the favorites to represent their respective parties in the 2016 presidential election, according to a survey released Thursday from Democratic firm Public Policy Polling.

Clinton is the runaway favorite among Democrats, with 57 percent saying they want her as the party's nominee. Vice President Biden comes in a distant second at 16 percent, followed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) at 4 percent each. Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley pulls 3 percent support among party supporters, with Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) each at 2, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer winning 1 percent each.

Clinton is retiring from her position in President Obama's Cabinet, and has tried to temper expectations that she'd be open to running in 2016. However, after failing to gain the nomination in 2008, her performance as secretary of State has boosted her profile, and many in both parties believe she would be a formidable presidential candidate.

In December, former Speaker and presidential candidate Newt Gingrich (R) said the Republican Party in its current form was “incapable” of beating her if she's the Democratic nominee in 2016.

On the Republican side, the field is far more competitive. Rubio leads with 21 percent support, followed by former vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) at 16. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee holds 15 percent support, with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush tied at 14, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) at 5, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal at 3, and Govs. Rick Perry (Texas) and Susana Martinez (New Mexico) each taking 2.

Rubio's recent schedule — a stop in Iowa, the first caucus state, and a high-profile interview with GQ magazine — has many Republicans hopeful that he's gearing up for a run.

However, Clinton trounces Rubio, Ryan and Bush in head to head match-ups, according to the early PPP survey, besting each by 14 percentage points.

The most competitive Republican against Clinton right now is Christie, according to the poll, who trails Clinton 44 to 42.

But Christie has infuriated some on the right recently after praising Obama for the federal response to Hurricane Sandy in the final days of the 2012 campaign, and then bashing congressional Republicans after Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) pulled a vote on a bill to provide aid to victims of the storm.

Christie's favorability with Republican voters is among the lowest of any of the candidates at 44 positive and 29 negative.

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