Dems prefer Warren to Patrick for Pres.

State House News Service

Matt Murphy, State House News Service

Updated: Aug 17, 2012 10:32 AM

BOSTON (State House News Service) — Elizabeth Warren hasn’t even won an election in her career, but already has more support in New Hampshire than Gov. Deval Patrick in a hypothetical 2016 Democratic primary for president.

In a Public Policy Polling survey taken earlier this month, the North Carolina-based polling group tested potential Democratic and Republican candidates for president in 2016.

Among those surveyed, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the overwhelming favorite among Democratic primary voters, while New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie came out on top on the GOP side of the ticket.

With Clinton in the race, the former First Lady was favored by 55 percent of those polled, followed by Vice President Joe Biden at 9 percent; Warren, the Harvard law professor running for U.S. Senate against Sen. Scott Brown, with 8 percent; New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo with 6 percent; and Patrick with 3 percent.

But Patrick wasn’t at the bottom. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley was the choice for just 1 percent of Granite State Democrats and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner didn’t register support.

Without Clinton in the race, Biden was the preferred candidate for Democrats with 19 percent followed by Warren with 17 percent, Cuomo at 15 percent and Patrick at 7 percent.

Patrick's favorability rating in New Hampshire is strong with 53 percent indicating they have a favorable opinion of the governor, compared to just 15 percent with a negative opinion of the Massachusetts Democrat.

Warren's numbers stacked up similarly with a 56-12 favorable-unfavorable split.

In the race she’s actually competing in, Warren has been deadlocked with Brown in numerous polls. Western New England University Polling Institute and Public Policy Polling surveys taken in June showed a very tight race.

Christie, who has been tapped by former Gov. Mitt Romney to deliver the keynote address at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida later this month, led among all-important New Hampshire GOP primary voters with 24 percent.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush polled behind Christie at 15 percent, followed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio at 12 percent, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul at 10 percent, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan at 8 percent, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum at 7 percent, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker 3 percent.

The survey was taken between Aug. 9 and Aug. 12 before Romney selected Ryan as his running mate. Public Policy Polling sampled 400 usual New Hampshire Democratic primary voters and 547 Republican primary voters, with a margin of error for the Democrats of 4.9 percent, and 4.2 percent for the GOP portion.

Copyright 2013 State House News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Political Pulse

We welcome your thoughtful comments. Be the first to participate in the discussion. All comments will display your username and avatar.