New poll gives Hillary Clinton another boost toward 2016

Out of 16 potential 2016 presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton handily beats everyone else when it comes to name recognition and favorability, according to a new Gallup poll.

According to the poll, 91 percent of Americans are familiar with her, and her net favorability score of +19 percentage points puts significantly ahead of any other potential candidates. With 55 percent of Americans viewing her favorability, that’s up one percent from the last poll, but still significantly down from the 66 percent who viewed her favorably in 2012.

Here’s a closer look:

Vice President Joe Biden, who does well in familiarity, is tied with Republican Rick Santorum for the worst net favorability (-4). Biden is the only potential candidate whose favorability has notably dropped since the last time his was measured in February (+4).

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee comes in with the highest net favorability rating, but his talk show hasn’t helped his familiarity rating.

Here’s a closer look at how both the Democrats and Republicans fare:

On the GOP side, Rick Perry, Chris Christie and Ted Cruz are on the upswing.

From Gallup:

Perry’s recovery may be the most impressive. When Gallup last measured him in December 2011, with his 2012 presidential campaign sputtering due to poor debate performances, he had a net favorable rating of -28 (27% favorable, 55% unfavorable). His familiarity scores are down since then, from 82% to 58%, but those able to rate him are now more positive than negative.

Christie became a prominent and well-regarded national figure known for taking on the Democratic legislature in New Jersey and for his response to Superstorm Sandy. In June 2013 he had a +32 net favorable rating. The “Bridgegate” scandal last fall sent Christie’s image plummeting, to a net -9 favorable rating earlier this year, before improving to +1 in the current poll.

Cruz, a central figure in the government shutdown last fall, had a net favorable rating of -10 in an October 2013 Gallup poll. Eight months later, his net favorable rating is back to +2.