Gov. Scott Walker continued his early peak on Thursday, with another poll putting him in the lead of the crowded Republican field for 2016.
The Wisconsin governor won 18% of the Republican or Republican-leaning voters nationwide in the national Quinnipiac University poll. While there’s still 20 months until the election—a lifetime in politics—the poll indicates that Walker’s early lead remains persistent.
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Just behind Walker is former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, with 16% of voters. But the same number of voters said they definitely wouldn’t vote for him, too: 16% said they would “definitely not support” Bush for the nomination if he ran.
Trailing Walker and Bush are New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee with 8% each, but 16% of Republican voters said they “definitely” wouldn’t support Christie for the nomination.
Another early leader, Dr. Ben Carson, ranked fifth, with 7% of Republican or Republican-leaning voters support. Despite the fact that he's never held elective office and routinely sparks public outrage with his off-the-cuff remarks, early polls indicate that Carson's popularity is a powerful force among conservatives.
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On the left, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton cleans up, earning 56% of the Democratic or Democratic leaning voters nationwide; Massachusetts Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who has repeatedly said she will not run, earned 14% and Vice President Joe Biden earned just 10%.
The survey, taken between Feb. 26 and March 2, polled 1,288 self-identified registered voters by landline or cell phone, in English or Spanish depending on voters' preference.