Quinnipiac Poll Keeps Clinton on Top

Hillary Clinton is still the Democratic front-runner in Iowa, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll, keeping the lead with 51 percent of voters surveyed, compared to 42 percent for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and four percent for former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley.

The numbers changed little from an Oct. 23 survey, when Clinton was also at 51 percent and Sanders was at 42 percent.  Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said the only way Clinton will lose the nomination is if she drops the contests in Iowa and New Hampshire to Sanders.

But even though Clinton won the nod, Sanders took the numbers when it came to some qualities, including being honest and trustworthy.

For Clinton:

• 81 – 15 percent favorability rating;
• 68 – 25 percent that she is honest and trustworthy;
• 94 – 5 percent that she has strong leadership qualities; 
• 80 – 18 percent that she cares about their needs and problems; 
• 76 – 20 percent that she shares their values; 
• 95 – 5 percent that she has the right kind of experience to be president.

For Sanders:

• 81 – 7 percent favorability;
• 89 – 4 percent that he is honest and trustworthy; 
• 79 – 14 percent that he has strong leadership qualities; 
• 92 – 5 percent that he cares about their needs and problems; 
• 84 – 8 percent that he shares their values; 
• 66 – 24 percent that he has the right kind of experience to be president.

"She'll be just fine if she 'only' wins by 10 points," said Brown. "She has a big edge in money and party organization in the larger states that follow, and where Sanders doesn't poll as well as he does in the early, smaller state contests."

Clinton, in addition, came out below Sanders when it came to handling the economy and jobs, an issue deemed most important for 36 percent of the 543 likely Democratic Caucus voters. Forty-seven percent of them said Sanders is best on the economy, compared to 42 percent for Clinton.

Brown noted that even with Clinton coming out ahead, "it's not that Iowa Democrats are in love" with her, especially when it comes to the economy, but still "she looks like a winner in November."

In addition, Clinton has a good chance of defeating the eventual Republican nominee, 85 percent of the voters polled said, while 54 percent said Sanders has a good chance of winning.

Related Stories:

• CNN Poll: Debate Win Doesn't Help Hillary Clinton
• Poll: Clinton Overtakes Sanders in New Hampshire