Washington (CNN) Both of the remaining Democratic candidates for president easily top Republican front-runner Donald Trump in hypothetical general election match-ups, according to a new CNN/ORC Poll .

But Hillary Clinton , who is well ahead in the Democratic race for the presidency, would likely face a stronger challenge should Florida Sen. Marco Rubio or Texas Sen. Ted Cruz capture the Republican nomination for president.

Hillary Clinton launched her presidential bid on April 12 through a video message on social media. The former first lady, senator and secretary of state is considered the front-runner among possible Democratic candidates."Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion -- so you can do more than just get by -- you can get ahead. And stay ahead," she said in her announcement video. "Because when families are strong, America is strong. So I'm hitting the road to earn your vote, because it's your time. And I hope you'll join me on this journey."

Ohio Gov. John Kasich joined the Republican field July 21 as he formally announced his White House bid. "I am here to ask you for your prayers, for your support ... because I have decided to run for president of the United States," Kasich told his kickoff rally at the Ohio State University.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich joined the Republican field July 21 as he formally announced his White House bid. "I am here to ask you for your prayers, for your support ... because I have decided to run for president of the United States," Kasich told his kickoff rally at the Ohio State University.

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has made a name for himself in the Senate, solidifying his brand as a conservative firebrand willing to take on the GOP's establishment. He announced he was seeking the Republican presidential nomination in a speech on March 23."These are all of our stories," Cruz told the audience at Liberty University in Virginia. "These are who we are as Americans. And yet for so many Americans, the promise of America seems more and more distant."

Businessman Donald Trump announced June 16 at his Trump Tower in New York City that he is seeking the Republican presidential nomination. This ends more than two decades of flirting with the idea of running for the White House."So, ladies and gentlemen, I am officially running for president of the United States, and we are going to make our country great again," Trump told the crowd at his announcement.

In the scenario that appears most likely to emerge from the primary contests, Clinton tops Trump 52% to 44% among registered voters. That result has tilted in Clinton's favor since the last CNN/ORC Poll on the match-up in January.

But when the former secretary of state faces off with either of the other two top Republicans, things are much tighter and roughly the same as they were in January. Clinton trails against Rubio, with 50% choosing the Florida senator compared to 47% for Clinton, identical to the results in January. Against Cruz, Clinton holds 48% to his 49%, a slight tightening from a 3-point race in January to a 1-point match-up now.

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Sanders -- who enjoys the most positive favorable rating of any presidential candidate in the field, according to the poll -- tops all three Republicans by wide margins: 57% to 40% against Cruz, 55% to 43% against Trump, and 53% to 45% against Rubio. Sanders fares better than Clinton in each match-up among men, younger voters and independents.

The race for the presidency hits its primary season peak as 78% of voters, including almost the same share among Democrats, Republicans and independents, who say that the nation is more deeply divided on major issues facing the country than it has been in the past.

Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Business mogul Donald Trump announces his candidacy for the U.S. presidency at Trump Tower on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in New York City. Hide Caption 1 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Donald Trump attends golf legend Jack Nicklaus' Congressional Gold Medal ceremony on March 24, 2015, in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Trump announced on March 18 that he had launched a presidential exploratory committee. Hide Caption 2 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump speaks to guests at the Iowa Freedom Summit on January 24, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. Hide Caption 3 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye As chairman and president of the Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts, Trump speaks during day two of the Republican Leadership Conference on May 30, 2014, in New Orleans. Hide Caption 4 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Former U.S. vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Trump walk toward a limousine after leaving Trump Tower, at 56th Street and Fifth Avenue, on May 31, 2011, in New York City. Hide Caption 5 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump looks out the window of his limousine after visiting Newick's Lobster House on April 27, 2011, in Dover, New Hampshire. Hide Caption 6 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump speaks to the media at Pease International Tradeport on April 27, 2011, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Hide Caption 7 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump speaks to a crowd at the Palm Beach County Tax Day Tea Party on April 16, 2011, at Sanborn Square in Boca Raton, Florida. Hide Caption 8 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump and his wife, Melania, attend the Michael Kors Spring 2011 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Theater at Lincoln Center on September 15, 2010, in New York City. Hide Caption 9 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump kisses Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez as they arrive at the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on August 23, 2010, in Las Vegas. Hide Caption 10 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump and his children Eric (second from left), Ivanka and Donald Jr. attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Trump SoHo New York at Trump SoHo on April 9, 2010, in New York City. Hide Caption 11 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump, his daughter Ivanka, wife Melania and son Barron attend the "The Trump Card: Playing to Win in Work and Life" book launch celebration at Trump Tower on October 14, 2009, in New York City. Hide Caption 12 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump and professional tennis player Serena Williams attend the Gucci cocktail party for the Foundation For the Advancement of Women Now at Gucci Fifth Avenue on September 16, 2009, in New York City. Hide Caption 13 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump and his wife, Melania, left, attend the launch of Trump International Hotel and Tower Dubai with model Heidi Klum on June 23, 2008, at the Park Avenue Plaza in New York City. Hide Caption 14 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump attends the debut of a Lego replica of the Trump International Hotel & Tower Dubai on June 23, 2008, at Central Park in New York City. Hide Caption 15 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump attends the announcement of a partnership with Affliction Entertainment on June 5, 2008, at Trump Tower in New York City. Hide Caption 16 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump attends the Donald Trump Friars Club Roast Luncheon at the New York Hilton on October 15, 2004, in New York City. Hide Caption 17 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump poses with the new Donald Trump 12-inch talking doll on September 29, 2004, at the Toys 'R' Us store in New York City. Hide Caption 18 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump arrives at "The Apprentice" casting call in Trump Tower on July 30, 2004, in New York City. Hide Caption 19 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump dips Marla Maples after the couple married in a private ceremony amid tight security at the Plaza Hotel on December 20, 1993, following a six-year courtship. Hide Caption 20 of 21 Photos: Donald Trump in the public eye Trump and his wife, Ivana, arrive at a social engagement on December 4, 1989, in New York. Hide Caption 21 of 21

The survey asked voters to choose which of all the remaining top candidates, regardless of party, they trust most to handle seven top issues. Trump tops the list on the economy, terrorism and immigration, while Clinton is the top choice when it comes to health care, race relations and foreign policy. Voters are about evenly split between Trump and Clinton on gun policy.

Adding up all the candidates from each party, Republicans have the edge on the economy, terrorism, immigration and gun policy, while more voters choose one of the Democrats' candidates on race relations and health care, with about an even split between the two parties on foreign policy.

Voters' choices broken out by party provide an interesting window into areas where Trump might hold cross-party appeal. Though the share of leaned Republicans choosing Clinton on any of the tested issues tops out at 8% on health care, Trump is the most trusted for 15% of leaned Democrats on terrorism, 14% on the economy and 13% on immigration.

As noted above, Sanders holds the most positive favorability rating of any of the top candidates for president: 60% of registered voters view him positively, 33% negatively. He is the only candidate seen favorably by a majority of voters, and one of four who are seen more positively than negatively.

The two front-runners, Clinton and Trump, are seen unfavorably by majorities of voters. Almost 6-in-10 have a negative view of Trump, 59% with 38% favorable, and 53% have a negative view of Clinton, 44% see her positively.

Cruz also has a net negative rating, while impressions of Carson, Rubio and Kasich tilt positive.

Clinton's husband, former president Bill Clinton , has a broadly positive favorability rating. Melania Trump , wife of the billionaire GOP front-runner, is broadly unknown, but among those who do express an opinion, more have a negative one than a positive one.

Former Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg's name has been mentioned as a possible independent candidate for the 2016 presidential election.

The economy remains far and away the country's top concern as the election campaign rolls on, with 47% calling it most important as they decide how to vote for president, followed by 19% citing health care, 14% terrorism, 10% foreign policy and 8% illegal immigration.

Should Michael Bloomberg, the independent former mayor of New York City, throw his hat into the ring as an independent candidate, his candidacy would do more harm to Clinton's bid to beat Trump than it would to Sanders' effort.

All told though, few say they would consider backing Bloomberg if he did run. Interest is strongest among political independents, and just 49% of them say they would definitely or probably consider voting Bloomberg for president.

The CNN/ORC Poll was conducted by telephone February 24-27 among a random national sample of 1,001 adults. Results among the sample of 920 registered voters have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.