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Philip Bump: Was Kevin McCarthy right that the Benghazi committee has damaged Hillary Clinton?
Philip Bump: Was Kevin McCarthy right that the Benghazi committee has damaged Hillary Clinton?
Given subsequent polling and revelations, it seems clear that the email issue has been a large part of the drag on Clinton's numbers -- which ties back to the select committee.
But a decline -- perhaps not as steep -- would also likely have happened without the committee. If we extend her favorability numbers back to the beginning of her tenure as secretary of state, we can see that the decline may extend back even further.
Part of this might be the Benghazi investigations. Part of it might be the fact that Clinton was seen as heir apparent to the Democratic nomination starting on Jan. 21, 2013. The last time Clinton ran, she saw a drop in her poll numbers as the campaign progressed -- in part because Democrats bailed on her in favor of Barack Obama. In 2015, Democrats have thrown their weight behind Bernie Sanders.
But a decline -- perhaps not as steep -- would also likely have happened without the committee. If we extend her favorability numbers back to the beginning of her tenure as secretary of state, we can see that the decline may extend back even further.
Part of this might be the Benghazi investigations. Part of it might be the fact that Clinton was seen as heir apparent to the Democratic nomination starting on Jan. 21, 2013. The last time Clinton ran, she saw a drop in her poll numbers as the campaign progressed -- in part because Democrats bailed on her in favor of Barack Obama. In 2015, Democrats have thrown their weight behind Bernie Sanders.