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Florida Senator Marco Rubio is unbelievably popular in his party. A full 62 percent of Republicans have a favorable opinion of Rubio. Just 8 percent have an unfavorably opinion. That’s a positive 54 point split. Perhaps some of that appeal comes from the increasingly common idea floating in Republican circles that Rubio could help the GOP out among Hispanic voters. Don’t hold your breath.
His favorability rating among Hispanics nationally is negative 18 points. Yipes.
Only 24 percent of Hispanic voters have a favorable view of Rubio. Forty-two percent have an unfavorable view of the Tea Party wunderkin.
The data comes from a new Public Policy Polling survey that measures the favorability ranking of possibly 2016 presidential candidates.
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Very few of the politicians polled are viewed as negatively by Hispanics as Rubio. Consider the other contenders: Jeb Bush (49 percent), New York Governor Andrew Coumo (44 percent), Sarah Palin (67 percent), and Paul Ryan (48 percent). All but Cuomo are Republicans.
In fact, the only politicians that have positive favorability split among Hispanics are New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (his handling of Hurricane Sandy has giving him an across-the-board bounce), Hillary Clinton, Condolleezza Rice, and Joe Biden. Clinton is the most popular with 61 percent having a favorable impression.
Rubio however remains popular in his (increasingly white) party. The poll finds he’s Republicans top pick for 2016. Overall his favorability split stands at 35/27.
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