A new McClatchy-Marist poll suggests that most Democrats may still be hoping for change, but not necessarily the kind President Barack Obama brought about.
Fifty-eight percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents said they think it's more important to have a Democratic nominee who will move away from Obama's policies.
Only 38 percent said they think it's more important to have a nominee who will continue Obama's policies.
Just a year ago, 49 percent said it's more important to have a nominee who will continue the president's policies, while 46 percent said it's more important to move in a different direction.
When Republicans were asked if it's more important to have a nominee who stands on conservative principles, or one who can win, 64 percent said it's more important to stand by conservative principles and 33 percent said it's more important that a nominee can win.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton led the Democratic field by a wide margin, with 62 percent of respondents saying they would vote for her if the presidential primary were held today. Vice President Joe Biden trailed with 11 percent, followed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., at 9 percent.
Among all registered voters, Clinton was the favored choice when put heads-up against a number of Republican candidate hopefuls, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. and former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Romney led amongst 14 other likely 2016 Republican candidates, receiving support from about 19 percent of Republican voters, with Bush receiving 14 percent.
The poll was conducted among 1,140 adults between Dec. 3 and Dec. 9, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. Of the 923 registered voters, 360 were Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, and 429 were Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents.
