Paul Ryan Favorability Rating Highest Among GOP 2016 Contenders

Paul Ryan for president?

While it’s very early, the Wisconsin congressman has the highest favorability rating among all Republicans considered a possible candidate for president in 2016, according to a NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released Friday.

Ranked by popularity among GOP respondents, the 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee leads the pack (62 percent favorable, 13 percent unfavorable), followed by Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (53 percent favorable, 6 percent unfavorable) and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (49 percent favorable, 6 percent unfavorable).

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who is said to be prepping for a presidential run, is sixth on that list (21 percent favorable, 5 percent unfavorable), behind New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Ryan also tops a poll surveying conservative respondents, while Walker finished out the rankings at seventh. 

Just a few months ago, Ryan was fifth among a list of 23 Republicans on a 2016 presidential straw poll ballot at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Walker placed sixth on that poll.