Republican voters hold a more positive view about the 2016 GOP presidential field than they did at similar points in the previous two presidential campaigns, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center.
“Nearly six-in-ten (57 percent) Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters say they have an excellent or good impression of their party’s presidential candidates,” the report said. “In May 2011, 44 percent of Republicans viewed the field of GOP candidates as excellent or good. In September 2007, 50 percent gave the candidates positive marks.”
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee scored the highest favorability rating among GOP voters, while former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Sens. Rand Paul and Marco Rubio followed close behind.
Interest in the presidential candidates of both parties has increased markedly in the past couple of months, but Democrats “are less positive about the current group of candidates than they were in September 2007.”
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s favorability rating has plummeted since last summer. Her rating dropped nine percentage points among Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters, and ten percentage points among Republicans. Clinton’s favorability rating is the lowest it has been since the spring of 2008, during her previous presidential campaign. Former President Bill Clinton’s favorability rating has dropped 10 points since 2012.
Overall voter interest remains near the same level where it was at this point in the 2008 campaign, but Republicans appear to be faring better across the board. The report also found that conservative Republicans are more familiar with the presidential contenders than their moderate or liberal Republican counterparts.
“In addition to being more familiar with the candidates, conservative Republicans generally offer, on balance more favorable ratings of the candidates than liberal and moderate Republicans, with the notable exception of Jeb Bush,” the report said.
Whether conservatives stay optimistic as the campaign moves along remains to be seen. The Pew Research Center conducted the national survey of 2,002 adults during May 12 through May 18.
