Three new NBC News/Marist polls indicate the 2016 GOP presidential race promises to be a wide-open race.
The polls questioned respondents in the three early nominating states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Although only former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker register in double digits in all three states. Five other candidates also receive double-digit numbers in at least one state.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee leads in Iowa with 17 percent of the vote. Bush followed with 16 percent, Walker had 15 percent, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie received 9 percent, and Rand Paul (R-KY) trailed with 7 percent.
Bush led in New Hampshire with 18 percent of the vote, Walker had 15 percent, Paul had 14 percent, and Christie received 13 percent.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham led his home state with 17 percent, Bush followed with 15 percent, Walker had 12 percent, and Huckabee and neurosurgeon Ben Carson tied with 10 percent.
On the Democratic side of the ledger, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton seems dominant: in Iowa, she received 68 percent, Vice President Joe Biden received 12 percent. In New Hampshire, she received 69 percent, and Sen. Bernie Sanders had 13 percent. In South Carolina, Clinton drew 65 percent, Biden had 20 percent.
Clinton led Bush, 48 percent to 40 percent in Iowa. She also led Walker, 49 percent to 38 percent. She led in New Hampshire, 48 percent to 42 percent over Bush, and 49 percent to 42 percent over Walker. In South Carolina, she led Bush 48 percent to 42 percent, and 49 percent to 42 percent over Walker.
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