CNN Poll: Rand Paul Edges Out Paul Ryan in GOP Presidential Field

A new national poll shows Kentucky Republican Rand Paul is slightly ahead of the many potential GOP presidential candidates in 2016.

A new CNN/ORC International poll shows 16 percent of Republicans and independents who lean right say they'd support Paul for the nomination.

However, there isn't much breathing room between Paul and other possible candidates, with 15 percent of the respondents backing Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Texas Gov. Rick Perry gathering 11 percent. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who ran in 2008, also broke double digits in the poll, reports CNN.

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Coming in behind them were former Gov. Jeb Bush, 9 percent; New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz with 8 percent each; Florida Sen. Marco Rubio with 5 percent and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, a 2012 candidate, polling at 3 percent.

"With a crowded field and no clear frontrunner among the potential candidates, we should expect to see constant fluctuation in the amount of support most candidates get and the order of finish, so it would be easy to read too much into these numbers," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton remains her party's favorite, with the poll showing 63 percent of Democrats and left-leaning independents choosing her as the Democratic nominee. Vice President Joe Biden trailed her at 13 percent.

Both Clinton and Biden have said they'll decide later this year if they'll run for the presidency.

The poll showed that three other possible Democratic candidates, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer all got single-digit ratings.

ORC International conducted the poll on March 7-9, questioning 801 Americans nationwide by telephone. In the sample, 367 Republicans and right-leaning independents responded, along with 372 Democrats and independents who favor the Democratic Party.

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