Wisconsin Governor Leads Republicans in Tight Iowa 2016 Race Poll Says
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is leading a crowded field of Republican presidential hopefuls in the key state of Iowa, according to a new poll, but the race remains wide open exactly a year before the caucuses. The Des Moines Register poll released Sunday shows Walker garnering 15 of the vote when likely Republican caucusgoers are asked which candidate would be their first choice. Walker shot to conservative stardom after a high-profile fight with public sector unions over collective bargaining rights and survived recall elections to oust him. MORE Scott Walker Comes to Washington to Bash Washington, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is in second place at 14, followed by Mitt Romney at 13 and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 10. The poll was conducted just before Romney, the 2012 GOP nominee, announced he won't run again in 2016. No other candidate or would-be candidate cracks 10. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is the first choice of 8 of likely caucusgoers, while New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie gets 4. The Iowa caucuses kick off the presidential nomination fight on Feb. 1, 2016. The survey of 402 likely Republican caucusgoers, conducted Jan. 26-29, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.