Can Clinton top GOP in Iowa and NH?

Hillary Clinton crushes potential 2016 Democratic competitors in the key states of Iowa and New Hampshire, but is more vulnerable in GOP matchups there, a new poll suggests.

Clinton would beat Vice President Biden 70 to 20 percent in Iowa and 74 to 18 percent in New Hampshire, according to NBC News/Marist polls released Thursday. 

Nearly 90 percent of Iowa Democrats said they view Clinton favorably, as do 94 percent of New Hampshire Democrats. 

In 2008, Clinton came in third in the Iowa caucuses, with 29.5 percent of the vote. President Obama came out on top with 37.6 percent. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards came in second. 

{mosads}Clinton, however, won the New Hampshire primary that year with 39.1 percent of the vote. Obama received 36.5 percent support. 

While Clinton might fare better this time around within her own party, she could face tough competition from potential GOP contenders, the survey found. 

In Iowa, Clinton is tied with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) 45 to 45 percent in a hypothetical matchup. Clinton leads Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) by just one percentage point, with 44 percent.

Clinton holds larger leads, ranging from 4 to 13 percentage points in Iowa against former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-Fla.), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) or Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.). 

In New Hampshire, Clinton leads Paul by 3 percentage points — 46 to 43 percent — and leads Christie and Bush by 5 percentage points — 47 to 42 percent. Walker trails Clinton by 9 percentage points and Cruz trails by 13.

Within the possible GOP field, 20 percent of GOP caucus-goers in Iowa are undecided about whom to support as are 22 percent of GOP primary voters in New Hampshire.

Bush and Paul are preferred within the GOP field in Iowa, receiving 12 percent support among caucus-goers. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) came in third with 11 percent.

Paul topped the field with 14 percent in New Hampshire and Christie received 13 percent support. 

The Iowa poll was conducted between July 7 and 13 and surveyed 558 potential Republican caucus-goers, 538 potential Democratic caucus-goers and 1,599 potential general election voters. That poll’s margin of error ranges from 2.5 to 4.2 percentage points.

The New Hampshire poll was conducted between July 7 and 13 and surveyed 544 potential GOP primary voters, 479 Democratic voters and 1,342 registered voters. That poll’s margin of error ranges from 2.7 to 4.5 percentage points.