"Vice President Joseph Biden, who is spending his time in seclusion, contemplating whether to take on Secretary Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries for president, has some new information to consider," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
"In head-to-head matchups against the three leading contenders for the Republican nomination, he runs as well or slightly better than she does."
"Hillary Clinton's poll numbers are like a leaky faucet: drip...drip... drip. She is now getting less than half the vote in all three states' Democratic primaries," Brown added. "Perhaps most telling is how poorly she scores when all voters in these three key states are asked about her empathy, honesty and temperament. In Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania she averages a negative 37 - 55 percent favorability. Donald Trump is in the same leaky boat, averaging a negative 34 - 53 percent favorability. The good news for Clinton is that she remains far ahead of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Biden in the three Democratic primary contests. "The first Republican debate mattered," said Brown. "Gov. Jeb Bush got middling debate grades and slips in the GOP horse race. Yet he does very well when voters rate the leading Republican candidates on personal characteristics. He scores best on honesty, empathy and temperament to handle an international crisis, while finishing a close second to Trump on leadership. "Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker gets very low debate grades and all but disappears from the Republican primary list."
In general election matchups in Florida:
Bush tops Clinton 49 - 38 percent and Rubio leads 51 - 39 percent while Trump gets 43 percent to Clinton's 41 percent.
Bush leads Biden 51 - 38 percent, with Rubio up 48 - 42 percent. Biden gets 45 percent to Trump's 42 percent.
Sanders trails Bush 54 - 35 percent and loses 52 - 36 percent to Rubio and 45 - 41 percent to Trump.
In general election matchups:
Clinton gets 41 percent to 39 percent for Bush. Rubio has 42 percent to Clinton's 40 percent while Clinton tops Trump 43 - 38 percent.
Biden gets 42 percent to Bush's 39 percent and gets 42 percent to Rubio's 41 percent. Biden beats Trump 48 - 38 percent.
Sanders trails Bush 42 - 36 percent and loses 42 - 34 percent to Rubio. Sanders gets 42 percent to Trump's 40 percent.
Bush gets 43 percent to 40 percent for Clinton. Rubio tops Clinton 47 - 40 percent while Clinton beats Trump 45 - 40 percent.
Bush is at 43 percent to Biden's 42 percent. Rubio has 44 percent to Biden's 41 percent. Biden beats Trump 48 - 40 percent.
Sanders trails Bush 44 - 36 percent and loses 45 - 33 percent to Rubio. Sanders gets 44 percent to Trump's 41 percent.
Quinnipiac Poll
The favorability numbers for Hillary are absolutely brutal 37/55 in FL, 36/54 in OH, and 38/55 in PA while Biden fares better with 44/43 in FL, 45/42 in OH, and 46/43 in PA. Just 32/34/32 of voters in FL, OH, & PA find Hillary Clinton trustworthy while it's the exact opposite with Biden at 52/59/61 in FL, OH, PA.