2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumPoll: Hillary More Popular Than Obama, Biden, GOP 2016 Hopefuls
TOM KLUDT 9:26 AM EST, FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2013
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton may well be the most popular public official in the country, according to the latest findings from Quinnipiac University released Friday.
With 61 percent of registered voters nationwide saying they have a positive opinion of her and only 34 percent saying they have a negative impression, Clinton's favorability rating trumps the top figures in the administration she just left behind: President Barack Obama (51-46 percent), Vice President Joe Biden (46-41 percent) and her successor at the State Department John Kerry (43-33).
Her popularity also easily eclipses the GOP leader on Capitol Hill, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), whose favorability rating of 20 percent is more than doubled by the 42 percent of voters who view him unfavorably.
Clinton is also more personally popular than potential 2016 Republican rivals like former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), both of whom are still largely unknown nationally. But her favorability rating tops that of Rep. Paul (R-WI). The 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee is viewed favorably by 34 percent of the country and unfavorably by 36 percent, according to the poll.
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http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/poll-hillary-more-popular-than-obama-biden-gop
Link to Quinnipiac Poll:
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-centers/polling-institute/national/release-detail/?ReleaseID=1849
jenmito
(37,326 posts)The second she becomes a politician again, her numbers will drop.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,414 posts)I love HRC and would support her in a heartbeat if she were to run for office in 2016 but polls like these are meaningless IMHO. But I guess pollsters gotta feed their families.............
jenmito
(37,326 posts)I guess pollsters gotta poll, and reporters gotta report-even if it's meaningless, time-filling "stuff."
antigop
(12,778 posts)Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)Obama-Biden on one side vs. Hillary's popularity on the other.
They know damn well that political figures who are out of office tend to be more popular than elected officials still serving in office.
They're so transparent.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,414 posts)and seem intent on keeping Rush's "Operation Chaos" alive, probably through the next election, especially if it looks like Hillary and Biden decide to throw in for the race.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)blm
(113,065 posts)over the last 4 years so she could protect her popularity with Dem voters. Deals made long ago and awaiting only a signature so the next Sec of State will get the headlines and photos and backlash.
Beacool
(30,250 posts)Obama decided to put a hold on a final decision because of the backlash from environmental groups and others. It is still up in the air whether he will approve it.
blm
(113,065 posts)long ago, and so were the recommendations to the WH.
Gee - what happened to the 'power' of the most 'powerful' and 'pro-active' Sec of State of all time? Guess she just never got around to making deals on Keystone that she was prepared to sign 4 years ago, eh?
Some of us don't allow ourselves to get fooled.
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)Beacool
(30,250 posts)It just doesn't help when those surrounding this issue are financially invested in it. That kind of conflict of interest is noteworthy.
blm
(113,065 posts)>>>>
But the rumor is that Clintons State Department is nonetheless about to recommend approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline, which the top climate scientists in the nation have unanimously called a terrible idea. As far as I know, though, Clintons subordinates havent reached out to ask them why. For more than a year now, its been one of Washingtons worst-kept secrets that Clinton wants the pipeline approved. And why not? Its builder, TransCanada, hired her old deputy campaign manager as its chief lobbyist and gave lobbying contracts to several of her big bundlers. Leaked emails show embassy officials rooting on the project; its classic D.C. insiderism. (And, weirdly, her rumored successor is just as involvedSusan Rice has millions in stock in TransCanada and other Canadian energy companies.)
And in one sense it doesnt make much difference. Everyone in the capitals also known that the Keystone decision, in the end, will come down to President Obama, who will weigh States findings and then rule whether the pipeline is in the national interest. When that happens, well find out if hes a more modern politician than Hillary, or if hes still fighting yesterdays wars too.
>>>>>
blm
(113,065 posts)Hillary won't have to deal with the headlines or the accompanying photos of her signing off on the deals she made. The Clintons will use their enormous influence to get the deals already made signed and let the next officeholder take the blame. Everyone knows Kerry has too much chivalry to point the blame for the deals where blame belongs..... at Hillary.
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)And Susan Rice took the brunt of the Benghazi brouhaha.
Still, I'm hoping Kerry can turn this thing around before it's a done deal.
Confirmation Of Climate Hawk Kerry As Secretary Of State May Doom Dirty Keystone XL Pipeline
The Senate confirmed John Kerry as a Secretary of State by a vote of 94 to 3. I believe this is a turning point in the fight to stop the Keystone XL pipeline. Once again, I do not think that a man who had dedicated his Senate career to fighting catastrophic climate change would start his term as Secretary approving the expansion of one of the dirtiest sources of fossil fuels in the world.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/01/29/1513521/confirmation-of-climate-hawk-kerry-as-secretary-of-state-death-blow-dirty-keystone-xl-pipeline/
Beacool
(30,250 posts)Including this one.
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)When I heard that, I was quite taken aback. Yikes. But then I realized the job was always John Kerry's and I was glad. I think he was born for the job.
Beacool
(30,250 posts)He'll do a good job.
Beacool
(30,250 posts)Obama is the one who has the final decision. Obama was the one who decided to put the deal on hold (election year, remember?). He is the one who will give the final approval.
great white snark
(2,646 posts)I kid I kid. Whatever the case Hillary did an outstanding job and I do hope SOS Kerry will finally be the end of the environmentally cruel pipeline.
Beacool
(30,250 posts)He can give him advice, but Obama will be the one to decide whether to go with the deal or not. It's the president's decision to make.
TroyD
(4,551 posts)She would still have high numbers. Most likely higher than a lot of other Democrats could get.
Beacool
(30,250 posts)Poll after poll over a long period of time have had the results. Of course her poll numbers would go down somewhat if she does choose to run in 2016. We'll just have to wait and see.
Nedsdag
(2,437 posts)As soon as she announces, her ratings will drop.
ghurley
(205 posts)that he doesn't believe there is anyone in the Republican party now that can beat her. His quote was that "she's gotta have 9 to 5 odds in Vegas right now."
Quick google search shows english bookie company taking 6 to 1 on hrc.
aquart
(69,014 posts)I am SO in favor of a mean-assed law that limits campaigns to six months and docks the offender a million for every early assault on our consciousness or mention in the press.
aaaaaa5a
(4,667 posts)given that she has basically been out of politics for over 4 years while Obama has waged war after war over health care, the budget, the auto bailout and now guns, etc. etc...... the fact that she only leads the President 51-46 is shockingly bad. The same is true for Biden (46-41).
I am going to be doing everything I can to help Hillary get elected in 2016. But I hope these numbers can sober up some people here, and more importantly within her campaign. 2016 is going to be a major dog fight. Winning the White-house for 3 consecutive times won't be easy. Its rarely been done. And this time around, the GOP heavy weights will be out, unlike in 2012, when most of the best of the GOP candidates stayed away opting for 2016 instead.
Think about it. Hillary is at her absolute apex in the history of her political career, and she only leads our battle worn President by 5? I hope that instead of dancing in the streets over a number practically within the margin of error, it inspires people to get to work!
In 2006 and 2007 Hillary was a huge favorite for 2008 just as she is now. How did that turn out? Technically right now Biden is already closer to Hillary than any candidate was at this point in the 2008 race. Trust me, 2016 is going to be no cakewalk. And these numbers prove it.