Poll: Clinton maintaining lock on Iowa Democratic caucus race

CEDAR RAPIDS - Sen. Bernie Sanders's entry into the race for the 2016 presidential nomination has not had a major impact among likely Iowa caucuses-goers.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's support has fallen - from 61 percent to 60 percent - since February, but she appears to be maintaining her lock on the race in Iowa, apparently undamaged by a nationwide flood of negative publicity, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today.

Sanders, a Vermont independent, has 15 percent among Democrats - up from 5 percent in February, with 11 percent for Vice President Joe Biden and 3 percent each for former U.S. Sen. James Webb of Virginia and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley. Another 7 percent are undecided.

Clinton and Biden each get 7 percent on the 'no way” list when likely Democratic caucus participants name a candidate they would 'definitely not support.” Sanders gets 6 percent.

Iowa Democrats say 76 to 17 percent that Clinton is honest and trustworthy despite having taken a major pounding in the news media and from her political opponents over her email and family foundation, poll director Peter Brown said.

'So far these criticisms have had absolutely no effect on her standing among Iowa Democrats,” Brown said, calling that a testament to Iowa Democrats' loyalty to the former first lady and New York senator.

'Absent a change of events, numbers like those from Democratic core voters in Iowa make a strong statement: There may be a lot of talk about what Bill and Hillary Clinton have done since he left the presidency, but nothing has penetrated her base of support,” he said.

However, her support doesn't run as deep among all voters, Brown cautioned. An April survey of all Iowa voters found 49 to 43 percent they saw Clinton as not honest and trustworthy.

'When it comes to analyzing Clinton's 2016 standing, it is important to keep straight who is talking,” he said.

By and 83 to 11 percent margin, Iowa Democrats have a favorable opinion of Clinton, 70 percent say her positions on the issues are 'about right,” 93 say she has strong leadership qualities and 83 percent believe she cares about their needs and problems, the poll found.

Quinnipiac found that 40 percent of Iowa Democrats aren't convinced about Clinton, 'but there is no candidate who appears to have the political and financial resources at this time to successfully take her on,” Brown said.

Sanders second-place finish may reflect his announcement, while the poll was being conducted, that he was joining the race, Brown said.

The Quinnipiac Poll of 692 likely Iowa Democratic caucus participants was conducted from April 25 to May 4 using live interviewers calling landlines and cellphones. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.7 percentage points.

For more, visit www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.