Ryan, Clinton early favorites in Iowa

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and former secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) are the early favorites of Iowa voters among possible 2016 presidential candidates, according to a new Des Moines Register Iowa Poll.

Seventy-three percent of Republican Iowa adults viewed the Ryan very or mostly favorably, while 10 percent viewed the 2012 GOP vice presidential nominee very or mostly unfavorably.

Ryan last week reached a budget agreement with Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) that, despite conservative criticism, passed the House in a 332-94 vote.

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (Ark.) placed second among possible Republican candidates in the Iowa Poll.

The winner of the 2008 Iowa caucuses is conducting polling and gauging support for a possible 2016 presidential bid.

“I’m keeping the door open,” he told The New York Times last week. “I think right now the focus needs to be on 2014, but I’m mindful of the fact that there’s a real opportunity for me.”

Huckabee is followed by former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.), Gov. Rick Perry (Texas), former Gov. Jeb Bush (Fla.), Gov. Chris Christie (N.J.), Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), Gov. Scott Walker (Wis.), Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla) and Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas).

Among Iowa Democrats, an “eye-popping” 89 percent of Democrats rated Clinton as very or mostly favorable, compared with 7 percent who viewed her very or mostly unfavorably.

“Clinton’s score is eye-popping and shows she is viewed more favorably than any Democrat or Republican by a big margin,” said Jeff Link, an Iowa Democratic operative, told the Register.

Vice President Joe Biden placed second in the Iowa Poll, followed by and Gov. Martin O’Malley (Md.) and former Gov. Brian Schweitzer (Mont.).