Another poll shows Clinton with wide lead in Iowa

DES MOINES - Despite a strong desire among some Iowa Democrats for an Elizabeth Warren candidacy, Hillary Clinton has a commanding lead among likely Iowa Democratic caucusgoers, according to a Loras College Poll.

Clinton leads the Democratic field, such as it is, with 57 percent making her their first choice for the nomination. Warren was the top pick of 14.7 percent, according to the poll of 491 likely caucusgoers with a 4.4 percent margin of error.

'Now that Clinton has officially kicked off her campaign, we will see if she is able to cement her status and capture Iowa,” said Associate Professor of Politics and Director of the Loras College Poll Christopher Budzisz. 'The Hawkeye state has not always been kind, and I imagine the 2008 campaign still lingers in the mind of some. However, as of now there does not appear to be as strong a field of challengers to the presumptive front-runner as there was in 2008.”

Her lead in the Loras poll is slightly less than in a Public Policy Polling poll released earlier this week. It found Clinton leading 62 percent to 14 percent for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 6 percent for former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and 3 percent for former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb.

Rounding out the field in the Loras poll, Vice President Joe Biden was the first choice of 5.9 percent, former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, 2.4 percent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, 2 percent and former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, 1.2 percent.

Among those polled, 10.2 percent absolutely would not vote for Biden and 5.7 percent would not vote for Clinton.

However, the former secretary of state, who was described as 'very liberal” or 'liberal” by 50.5 percent of those polled, appears to be getting support from across the ideological spectrum, from the very liberal to the conservative, Budzisz said.

'Although some Democrats may not have settled on Clinton, 'it is clear that there is little fundamental opposition to a Clinton candidacy,” Budzisz said. 'I do imagine that the Clinton campaign would like to see higher first choice numbers for her, but as of right now most likely caucus goers on the Democratic side don't automatically reject a Clinton candidacy.”

For more, visit http://loras.edu/poll.