Carson, Clinton lead in new poll from Iowa State University/WHO-HD

Clinton and Carson

Alex Hanson

Ben Carson and Hillary Clinton both lead in the race for president in Iowa, according to a new poll from Iowa State University and WHO-HD that was released Wednesday.

In the crowded Republican race for president, Carson has support from 27.2 percent of likely caucusgoers. Marco Rubio is second with 16.7 percent; undecided voters are third, making up 16.2 percent; and Donald Trump is fourth with 14.7 percent.

On the Democratic side, Clinton has support from 49.5 percent, while Bernie Sanders has the support of 27.8 percent of likely caucusgoers. Of the remaining Democrats who are planning to caucus, 13.7 percent are undecided, while 6.3 percent said they would vote for “other.”

The poll also showed that Iowans are paying close attention to the race, with 81 percent of those polled saying they are following the race in Iowa either “very closely” or “somewhat closely.”

About half of those polled also said they “definitely” have decided or are “leaning” toward supporting a specific candidate in the race. As for the most admirable traits, “honest and trustworthy” was first at 38 percent, while “takes strong stands” came in second at 20.8 percent.

When it comes to issues, the “economy in general” was cited by 22.2 percent as the most important issue in the race.

The polling was conducted by phone with 1,074 registered voters between Nov. 2 and 15. The margin of error is approximately 3 percent.

Another wave of polling from Iowa State and WHO-HD will be conducted between Jan. 2 and 15.

Faculty in the political science department, the statistics department and the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication worked on the poll. The ISU Office of the Vice President for Research, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, as well as WHO-HD and the departments above are funding the research.

The Iowa Caucus is scheduled for Feb. 1.

approximately 3 percent.
Eighty-one percent of respondents said they were following the presidential campaign either “very closely” (39 percent) or “somewhat closely” (42 percent). Slightly more than half of the respondents said they had “definitely decided” on (21.3 percent) or were “leaning toward” (30.3 percent) a particular candidate. But nearly 47 percent said they were still trying to decide. – See more at: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2015/11/25/caucussurvey#sthash.xdBssGQi.dpuf
Eighty-one percent of respondents said they were following the presidential campaign either “very closely” (39 percent) or “somewhat closely” (42 percent). Slightly more than half of the respondents said they had “definitely decided” on (21.3 percent) or were “leaning toward” (30.3 percent) a particular candidate. But nearly 47 percent said they were still trying to decide. – See more at: http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2015/11/25/caucussurvey#sthash.xdBssGQi.dpuf