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WASHINGTON (MarketWatch)Jeb Bush may be Republicans overall favorite to take on Hillary Clinton in 2016, but hes got competition from Sen. Rand Paul in two battleground states that could help decide the next presidential election.

Republican Paul and Democrat Clinton, who havent formally declared their candidacies, need to win their parties nominations to compete anywhere. But right now, theyre in dead heats in voter preference surveys of potential presidential candidates in Colorado and Virginia, Quinnipiac University surveys show.

In Colorado, 43% of respondents said theyd choose former Secretary of State Clinton in a hypothetical face-off with Paul, a senator from Kentucky. Paulwho is pushing legislation to audit the Federal Reservegets 41% in that state. The polls margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points, making the potential contest a virtual tie.

Its a similar story in Virginia. Among voters there, Paul draws 42% to Clintons 44%, again within the margin of error.

President Barack Obama won both states in 2008 and 2012, but by smaller margins in 2012.

The polls highlight Pauls appeal in a pair of important swing states. But Paul is currently facing a higher bar for his partys nomination than Clinton is for hers. The latest RealClearPolitics average of polls shows former Florida Gov. Bush comfortably leading other candidates for the Republican nomination. Bush has not declared he will run, but is expected to.

Paul is reportedly eyeing April 7 as the day he will announce his plans.

Bush ties Clinton in Quinnipiacs Virginia poll, at 42%. But she would beat him handily in Colorado, where she has an eight-point lead over the son of former President George H.W. Bush and brother of former President George W. Bush.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is in a virtual tie with Clinton in Colorado, but runs five points behind in Virginia.

Quinnipiac also polled residents of Iowa, where Clinton draws strong support relative to all Republican candidates. In Iowa, another swing state, the Republican contenders trail Clinton by seven to 10 points.

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Capitol Report: Rand Paul, Hillary Clinton neck and neck in two swing-state polls