Poll: Huckabee holds slim lead in Iowa

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) holds a slim lead over other possible 2016 Republican presidential candidates among potential GOP voters in Iowa, according to a new poll.

{mosads}Seventeen percent of respondents in an NBC News/Marist Poll released Sunday would support Huckabee, while 16 percent would back Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) and 15 percent would choose New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R).

Support for several other potential Republican candidates registered in the single-digit range, starting with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) with 7 percent.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Ben Carson each attracted 6 percent, followed by former Texas Gov. Rick Perry with 5 percent, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) with 2 percent and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) with 1 percent.

Among Democrats, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D) holds a wide lead over possible presidential challengers, with 68 percent support from potential Democratic voters.

Vice President Joe Biden had 12 percent support, followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) with 7 percent and former Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) with 1 percent. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley attracted less than 1 percent support.

Job creation and economic growth was the top concern listed by registered voters in Iowa as well as Hawkeye State residents.

The poll of 891 registered voters, conducted between Feb. 3 and 10, has a 3.3 percentage point margin of error.