After being promoted for months by supporters as a frontrunner for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, Jeb Bush is now polling like one.
In a CNN/ORC survey released Sunday, 23% of Republican respondents said they backed Bush, with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in second place at 13%, neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 7%, and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee each tied at 6%. The Democratic side looks far less competitive, with the poll finding 66% of Democratic respondents favored Hillary Clinton as their nominee versus just 9% who backed Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 8% who backed Vice President Joe Biden and 3% who supported Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
The poll comes less than two weeks after Bush announced he would “actively explore” a presidential run, a bold early move that could help him consolidate support from party leaders and financiers before potential rivals declare their own campaigns.
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