Bush holds tight lead in GOP primary field

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) leads a crowded 2016 GOP primary field in a new poll released Tuesday afternoon, after he took a major step earlier in the day by announcing he would “actively explore” a White House bid.

{mosads}Bush would draw 14 percent of the vote in a GOP primary with more than a dozen potential candidates, according to an ABC News/Washington Post poll, though that places him within the poll’s margin of error for second and third places.

Republican Rep. Paul Ryan (Wis.), the 2012 vice presidential candidate, is runner-up with 11 percent in the poll. Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), a likely presidential contender, draws 10 percent. Former neurosurgeon Ben Carson and Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) round out the top five with 8 percent each.

Bush announced via a Facebook post earlier on Tuesday his decision to form a leadership PAC next month to explore a potential White House bid, referencing a “thoughtful consideration of the kind of strong leadership I think America needs.” 

Many have noted that Bush launching a 2016 bid would break up the vote for GOP primaries. 

Former White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell shortly after Bush’s announcement Tuesday that the GOP primaries would now be a “free-for-all.” 

Bush has made clear his intention to not put too much emphasis on GOP primaries. Earlier this month, he said a nominee should “lose the primary to win the general without violating your principles.”

The former governor has drawn ire from conservatives over his support for Common Core educations standards and immigration reform, likely a major 2016 issue for conservatives, after President Obama’s executive action to delay deportations for upwards of 5 million illegal immigrants. 

The ABC News/Washington Post poll shows Bush drawing 18 percent support among “moderate” Republicans, 15 percent among “somewhat conservative” voters and 12 percent among “very conservative” voters.

Adding two-time presidential contender Mitt Romney to the list of prospective candidates, Bush would take second with 10 percent to Romney’s 21 percent among registered voters. Another McClatchy-Marist poll released earlier Tuesday showed similar results, with Bush trailing Romney 19 percent to 14 percent.

The poll of 410 Republicans and GOP-leaning independents was conducted in English and Spanish Dec. 11-14 via landlines and cellphones with a margin of error of 5.5 points.