HILLARY'S DESCENT – AT 11:05 A.M. ET: Hillary Clinton continues her ride downward in the polls. Where will this stop? Oh, I weep for her. From the Washington Times:
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s favorability rating among Americans is close to its lowest in about two decades, according to Gallup.
Forty-one percent of U.S. adults said they have a favorable opinion of Mrs. Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential front-runner, while 51 percent said they have an unfavorable view, according to polling from Aug. 19 to Sept. 1.
Gallup’s Andrew Dugan wrote that her current rating is arguably worse than her sub-40 percent ratings in 1992, when the American public was much less familiar with her.
“Her present rating is about as low as it was in March 2001, during her first few months in office as a U.S. senator from New York,” Mr. Dugan wrote. “Perhaps more importantly, it was also after controversial pardons that her husband, President Bill Clinton, granted at the end of his presidency, and after the Clintons took furnishings and other gifts that were White House property when they left.”
As secretary of state, which is largely seen as a nonpartisan position, Mrs. Clinton’s favorability rating never fell below 60 percent. But she has faced lingering questions on the campaign trail this year over the private email and server she set up while serving as the nation’s top diplomat.
Among Democrats, though, Mrs. Clinton had a favorable rating of 74 percent — significantly better than her next-closest 2016 Democratic rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who was at 46 percent. Mrs. Clinton’s favorability among Democrats held steady compared to July, while Mr. Sanders’ increased 7 points, from 39 percent.
COMMENT: What these numbers say is that, barring some indictment, Hillary will probably get the nomination, even though enthusiasm for her may not be high, but will face a stiff fight to be elected, assuming Republicans get their act together and unite behind a terrific candidate.
September 5, 2015 |