Two new national polls show mixed results for the growing field of Republican presidential candidates, but one candidate appears to have definitively gained momentum: Mike Huckabee.
A Public Policy Poll released Wednesday shows that the former Arkansas governor is gaining ground and has added six percentage points since a March PPP poll. The poll showed that Huckabee had the highest favorability rating in the Republican field, and noted that he was tied with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as the most popular candidate.
A new Fox News poll shows that voters believe Huckabee is “more ethical” than other presidential candidates. Approximately 36 percent of voters surveyed by Fox News identified the former Arkansas governor as “more ethical” than the typical politician, and Huckabee led all candidates in that regard. Approximately 44 percent of voters, meanwhile, believe former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to be less ethical than the typical politician. The Fox poll also showed Huckabee and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, as the Republican candidates performing best among independent voters.
But Huckabee trailed three other Republican candidates in both new polls in terms of voters’ overall support. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who has yet to announce a presidential campaign, leads the PPP poll with 18 percent, followed by Rubio and Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon. Fox News found former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Carson tied on top of its poll, while Walker and Huckabee followed close behind.
Fox News pitted the Republican candidates against Clinton in hypothetical matchups, and found that only Bush was able to seek out a victory among those surveyed, 45-44. It was the first time Bush was able to do so. Clinton topped all other Republicans facing her, but Huckabee, Rubio and Cruz remained competitive, losing by three, four, and five percentage points respectively.
As more candidates enter the GOP field, support appears to have become more divided. Two more Republican candidates are expected to announce in the near future. Former United Nations ambassador John Bolton is expected to announce his candidacy later today, and former New York Gov. George Pataki told MSNBC he will make an announcement on May 28 about whether he would enter the race.
