Poll: Most Democrats Want Clinton Bid in 2016

While the 2016 presidential election remains more than 2 years away, the jockeying in both political parties has certainly begun.  On the Democrat side, a huge majority favor a presidential bid by Hillary Clinton.  On the GOP side, things are much more muddled, a fact compounded by the ongoing civil war in the GOP between the Christofascists/Tea Partiers and what's left on sane and rational Republicans.   A New York Times poll gives us a current snapshot of the situation.  Here are excerpts:

More than 8 in 10 Democrats say they want Hillary Rodham Clinton to run for president in 2016, showing a level of interest in her that no other potential candidates – Democrat or Republican – come close to matching among their party’s voters, according to a New York Times/CBS News Poll.

The potential candidates drawing the most interest after Mrs. Clinton are Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida and Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. For each of them, about 40 percent of self-identified members of their party said they hoped the person would run.

As for Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey — the man who many had once thought to be an early Republican favorite, but who is struggling with the George Washington Bridge traffic scandal — more in his party say they do not want him to seek the presidency (41 percent) than say they do (31 percent).

The election, of course, is far off. But the level of enthusiasm among voters for candidates in their own party still matters, as those potential candidates are already deciding whether to run and beginning to plan campaign and fund-raising strategies.

While Democrats appear overwhelmingly eager for a Clinton candidacy, the poll suggests that the Republican field, at least at this early stage, is far more muddled, with no potential candidate garnering majority enthusiasm for a presidential run.

The poll did not ask about several other potential Republican candidates, including Gov. John Kasich of Ohio, Gov. Susana Martinez of New Mexico, Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin. No major candidates in either party have yet declared their candidacy, but several have taken steps indicating that they are seriously considering a run.

On the Democratic side, a majority were unable to offer opinions on some other Democrats seen as potential candidates. When asked about Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, 56 percent of Democrats said they did not know enough about her to say whether they would like her to run, as did 59 percent when asked about Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York. Even more, 82 percent, said they did not know enough about Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland to say whether he should run in 2016.

I tease my partner that if Hillary runs, she needs to hire him as her full time hairstylist since he has an adoring following of women Hillary's age and he does an amazing job of making them look great.    It is a veritable worship service whenever we go to the country club with friends. :)  Hillary, are you listening??