Was Dole ever leading Bill Clinton in the Polls back in '96?

[liberalpragmatist]

During the '96 election cycle, was Clinton ever losing to Bob Dole (or another prospective Republican) either in 1996 or the year before, in early polls taken in 1995?

[Ignacio Upton]

1. Clinton was losing to Colin Powell in hypothetical matchups

I don't know how Clinton was polling in early 1995, but considering that it was in the aftermath of the 1994 midterms, I would imagine that it was not good. However, for 1996 itself, I don't think that Clinton ever trailed Dole or any of the declared candidates.

[Turbineguy]

2. But Dole could keep

a woody longer.

(which is ironic when you consider... well, never mind)

[bluestateguy]

3. I believe Clinton pulled ahead in January 1996 and never looked back

In hypothetical Clinton-Dole matchups in 1995, Dole sometimes came out ahead by single digits. One place to look would by the Gallup Poll archive.