Poll: Clinton could win Pennsylvania in 2016

Hillary Clinton could win the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania in 2016 presidential matchups with the GOP’s likely contenders, a new poll indicates.

According to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday, Clinton would top New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) 46 percent to 41 percent in Pennsylvania. 

Her lead has edged up since the 44 percent to 43 percent support she won in a December survey by Quinnipiac just weeks before the bridge scandal tainted Christie’s image.

In a race against former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (R), Clinton would beat him 53 percent to 37 percent, the new poll suggests. 

{mosads}Clinton would hold a similar lead versus Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ted Cruz (Texas) and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) in the battleground state.

Nearly 60 percent of Pennsylvanians, the poll found, said Clinton would make a good president, compared to 37 percent who didn’t.

Republican men and independent voters in Pennsylvania say they would support Christie over Clinton. Republican men would back Christie 46 percent to 40 percent, while women would vote for Clinton 52 percent to 36 percent.

Independents would support Christie over Clinton 46 percent to 37 percent, the poll found, but Clinton leads among independents in match-ups against other Republicans. 

President Obama won Pennsylvania in the 2008 and 2012 elections. Only 42 percent of voters there now approve of his job, the new poll indicates, while more than half disapproves.

The poll also found 47 percent approve of the job Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D) is doing, and 43 percent said the same of Sen. Pat Toomey (R). 

Quinnipiac conducted the poll between Feb. 19 and 24.