Julie

March 7, 2006 — More than two years out, most Americans have favorable views of the two most talked about potential 2008 presidential candidates, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. But their support profiles are vastly different: Clinton, much stronger in her base; McCain, far more appealing beyond his.

Fifty-two percent in this ABC News/Washington Post poll have a favorable opinion of Clinton, compared with 59 percent for McCain. McCain's popularity is at once broader across partisan lines and less divisive in terms of intensity of sentiment. Yet the flip side is that he's considerably weaker among Republicans than Clinton is among Democrats.

Overall 46 percent view Clinton unfavorably, compared with 29 percent for McCain (more have no opinion of McCain). More ominously for Clinton, 33 percent have a "strongly" unfavorable impression of her, compared with just 11 percent for McCain.

Clinton More Polarizing

Clinton — Positive views of Clinton are highest by far in her own political party. Eight in 10 Democrats view her favorably, compared with only two in 10 Republicans. And negative sentiment is extraordinarily intense across the aisle: Almost three-quarters of conservative Republicans have strongly negative feelings toward her — likely the long hangover from her "vast right-wing conspiracy" complaint.

Fewer than half of liberal Democrats have a strongly favorable opinion of Clinton.

But positive changes for Clinton, compared with June 2003, those with "no opinion" are down by six points, her favorable rating is up by eight points, and her "strongly" favorable rating us up by 12. Her strong unfavorables, though, didn't budge.

McCain — In stark contrast to Clinton, majorities across political and ideological groups see McCain favorably. Only seven points separate Democrats' and Republicans' favorable opinions, 57 percent and 64 percent. And remarkably, McCain is viewed favorably by six in 10 liberal Democrats as well as seven in 10 conservative Republicans.


Challenges for Both

These views present challenges for both candidates. Clinton has 16 points more favorability within her own party than McCain has within his; that makes a primary campaign look easier for her. But McCain has more cross-party appeal, he edges out Clinton in favorable ratings among independents by six points and his "strongly" unfavorable ratings among independents are a third of Clinton's. All those would help in a general election campaign — if he got there.

A challenge for Clinton is that those strong disapprovers might be especially motivated to vote against her. Another challenge is that, because nearly everyone already has an opinion of her, winning more support means convincing people who currently are inclined against her. More Americans, 12 percent, still have no opinion of McCain; he's got 971 days to make the sale. But so does she.

This ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone March 2-5, 2006, among a random national sample of 1,000 adults. The results have a three-point error margin. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by TNS of Horsham, Pa.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/PollV...ory?id=1694406

Dreadnought

I dunno Hilliary has skeletons to hide as she sat on Walmarts board of directors. It will only be a matter of time before somebody (possibly one of her Dem opponents) brings it to light. Along with WhiteWater Financial holdings etc. She has been avoiding mention of WalMart the question is what does she have to hide because the Reps will surely air the laundry if she continues to avoid it.

Will her skeletons outweigh Condi's if she even has any?

Anon

"McCain — In stark contrast to Clinton, majorities across political and ideological groups see McCain favorably.....And remarkably, McCain is viewed favorably by six in 10 liberal Democrats as well as seven in 10 conservative Republicans."

Gee, where have i heard that before?

Right, that's right.....i said it.

PS: People, forget condi. That's an even bigger fantasy than Hillary. The odds of getting a black woman elected president of the US in 2006 are about 1:10,000,000.

Literally.

IMO Condi is the ONLY opponent that Hillary could actually beat.

THL

I am going to be pretty surprised if Hillary makes it all the way to election time. I'd like to see it happen, but I am not expecting it.

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"I didn't intend for this to take on a political tone. I'm just here for the drugs."-Nancy Reagan, when asked a political question at a "Just Say No" rally

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Anon

Oh, id like to see it happen even more than you would. About 10x more. So would any repub in their right mind.

Hillary almost 100% GUARANTEES a Republican victory in 2008.

Why you still have any admiration or respect for so obviously a flawed and trecherous carpet-bagger is completely beyond me, though i suppose the continued support for so obvious a loser does go a long way toward explaining why the democratic party is on the verge of fractious collapse....

I love it when the enemy suffers a fractious collapse.

Aryan

Why is Condi a bad shot? Surely the fact she's black and female will help her, right?

THL

LOL

You're funny. Not in this case it won't, no. She is not going to be able to accurately represent the majority of the country being a double minority.

Dreadnought

True but she is in a better position then Hilliary. Condi is in the inner circle.

Anon

LOL.

Anon

Neither one has any shot, and it's actually got little to do with them being women.

One is a repub and black, which will work against her with female libs and racists(which is pretty much everyone alive in the world today to some degree or another).

The other is percieved as and utterly evil and is utterky reviled by the oppositon(guaranteeing a massive grassroots effort/turnout for the right), and is generally revilled by all men in general, left and right alike. Not only that, but she has the whole carpet bagging/lack of self-respect for not leaving her husband thing going against her, and those issues seem to P-off a lot of people left and right.

Beyond that, she's an obvious socialist.

Julie

I had read somewhere last week that Condi might be on a Republican ticket as a...get this...."vice president."

Dreadnought

I think I would still vote for her even as VP.

Anon

A foolish gimmick move IMO. Condi is stilll very young. The repubs should be grooming her for major action in the 2012-2020 timeframe. Atttitudes will be more relaxed, and she'll be much more polished and experienced.

Of course, what do i know...

Julie

I think you're wrong about that since Repubicans up for re-election are dropping like flies. But, we will see.

It is a global fad now to have a woman leader. It's a "girl thang."

Yeah, well, first you have to determine who the real enemy is....and today....lots of Americans are unsure, and that's the problem.

Reagan keeps coming to my mind alot lately....remember his debate with Carter? "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" That one question won him that election....before that debate, Americans made fun of him and was leary about voting for a movie star. Reagan fought tooth and nail for changes that would be in the best interest of everyone around the world. The ending of the Cold War was major.....now Russia is slipping back into isolationism right before our eyes, and cohabitating with Iran, one of our top enemies. Germany's crawl out of economic tatters for so many years into a thriving economy, is now almost one of the worst in the EU. We have so many friends around the world now, they literally love us to death. New Orleans would probably love any carpet-baggers to bring some kind of life back to their area right now.

Oh, please, Sniper....you know Reagan is rolling over in his grave right now. I fail to see how the democratic party is on the verge of collapse, since the only direction they have to go in is up.....there is no distance to go any farther down.

Shek

Can you name some of these Republicans since you seem to think that there are so many?

Same thing - please name all of these "fad" leaders.

What you described is the exact opposite of isolationism. Instead, you can say that Russia is back up to its old tricks - that is, it is pursuing its traditional "imperial" politics in its traditional sphere of influence.

I wouldn't be so sure. I don't think they'll lose seats overall in these mid-term elections, but I won't discount the possibility of it either.

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