Mike Huckabee Wins National Sheriffs’ Association Straw Poll

GOP presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee had a good day with two new political polls released Wednesday.

Huckabee came in first overall in the National Sheriffs’ Association’s straw poll, and he fairs the best out of all GOP candidates in matchups against Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton in the most recent Public Policy Poll.

In the first ever National Sheriffs’ Association’s (NSA) straw poll, Huckabee got top support among other Republican candidates. Several GOP presidential candidates spoke last week at the National Sheriffs’ Association’s 75th Anniversary Conference and Presidential Forum in Baltimore, Maryland.

“Presidential candidates had a fantastic opportunity at our presidential forum to talk directly to those who are protecting Americans – and the law enforcement community was enthusiastic to hear from the candidates,” said the NSA executive director and CEO Jonathan Thompson.

“Moving forward, our 3,081 elected sheriffs from across the nation and 20,000 members want to hear more presidential candidate ideas on immigration and border security, treating the mentally ill in our jails and other important criminal justice and public safety issues from those running for president. We are eager to continue the dialogue,” Thompson stated.

In the straw poll results, Huckabee won overall—between both Republican and Democrat candidates—with a little over 18 percent support. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush came in second, right above 16 percent, and Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton came in third place with roughly 14 percent.

Dr. Ben Carson came in fourth with 11 percent of support, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker came in fifth overall with close to ten percent.

The top four Republican candidates were: (1) Mike Huckabee at 24.8 percent; (2) Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) at 22.1 percent; (3) Dr. Ben Carson at15 percent; (4) Gov. Scott Walker at 13.3 percent.

The top five Democratic candidates were: (1) Hillary Clinton at 61.8 percent; (2) Joe Biden at 20.6 percent; (3) Sen. Bernie Sanders at 11.7 percent; (4) Jim Webb at 2 percent; (5) Gov. Martin O’Malley at 2 percent.

“Huckabee came in with the highest favorability rating out of the GOP candidates in North Carolina,” Breitbart News reported from a recent Public Policy Poll released Wednesday. The poll also showed Huckabee fairing the best out of GOP contenders against Hillary Clinton.