Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leads New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie 46 - 40 percent among American voters in an early look at the 2016 presidential election, compared to her 45 - 37 percent lead in March, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
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The former New York senator has a healthy 55 - 38 percent favorability rating, but the lesser known New Jersey governor has a 45 - 18 percent favorability, including 41 - 19 percent among Democrats, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
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American voters blame both parties for gridlock in Washington, but they say Republicans are more responsible for Congress' inability to get things done.
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Looking at immigration, 54 percent of voters favor allowing those here illegally to stay and eventually become citizens, while 12 percent favor allowing them to stay but not become citizens and 28 percent say they should be deported.
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Because of gridlock, however, American voters say 69 - 27 percent that Republicans and Democrats in Congress will not be able to work together to pass immigration reform.
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On other issues, voters agree with the Supreme Court decision extending benefits to same-sex couples. They also overwhelming oppose the use of race as a factor in college admissions.
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"Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remains the front-runner for 2016 if she chooses to run," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "But New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie's favorability numbers are impressive and if he can win over a solid share of those who do not yet have an opinion about him, he could be a very formidable candidate in 2016. Candidates with more than 2-1 favorability ratios don't grow on trees."
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"Vice President Joseph Biden finds himself in the opposite situation as most Americans have an opinion about him and it is slightly negative, 38 percent favorable, 44 percent unfavorable," said Brown.
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"Biden trails Christie 46 - 35 percent in the 2016 face-off and is dead even 42 - 42 percent with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, whose favorability is a split 31 - 28 percent.
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Clinton tops Paul 50 - 38 percent.
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There is gridlock because Republicans are determined to block any Obama initiative, 51 percent of voters say, while 35 percent say President Barack Obama lacks the skills to convince leaders of Congress to work together.
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Asked another way, 53 percent say Obama is doing "too little" to compromise with congressional Republicans, but 68 percent of voters say congressional Republicans are doing "too little." Ten percent of voters blame Democrats for gridlock, while 23 percent blame Republicans and 64 percent blame both parties equally.
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"Voters think the Democrats and Obama aren't playing nice, but they think the Republicans are worse," said Brown.
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Supreme Court
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Voters support 49 - 44 percent legalizing same-sex marriage in their state, and agree 62 - 34 percent with a Supreme Court ruling that married gay couples should be eligible for the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples.
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On another matter before the Supreme Court, voters say 74 - 21 percent that public universities should not be allowed to take race into account when deciding who to admit.
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Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has a 38 - 31 percent job approval, down from 46 - 34 percent in July, 2012, and 49 - 21 percent in April, 2010. The court itself gets a split 45 - 44 percent approval, compared to 47 - 41 percent last July and 49 - 33 percent in April, 2010.
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From June 28 - July 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,014 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.
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The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research.
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For more information, visit quinnipiac.edu  call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter.
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1. If the election for the U.S. House of Representatives were being held today, would you vote for the Republican candidate or for the Democratic candidate in your district?
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