Gallup: Hillary Rodham Clinton and the 2008 Election

[Mark E. Smith]

6/7/05: Gallup Poll Daily Briefing

A recent Gallup Poll finds that 55% of Americans have a favorable opinion of New York Senator Hillary Clinton. Thirty-nine percent view her unfavorably. These results are relatively unchanged over the past year, but are somewhat improved from the period January 2001 through 2003 after her husband, former President bill Clinton, left office. In the most recent poll, Hillary Clinton has a 61% favorable to 34% unfavorable image among women, compared with a 48% to 45% image ratio among men. The poll also finds that a majority of registered voters, 52% say they would be somewhat or very likely to vote for Clinton in the 2008 presidential election, while 47% say they would be not very or at all likely to vote for her.

http://www.gallup.com/

[GOPBasher]

1. That's good news, but I think we have better candidates than

Hillary.

[dubyaD40web]

2. True.

I would still vote for her if it came down to it. But it's to early for 2008 polls.

[arwalden]

19. But I Relish The Thought Of Freepers Having To Endure 8 More CLINTON Years

... just because.

[GOPBasher]

33. Well yeah, that's true. hehe :-) n/t

[ronnykmarshall]

43. Go Hil'ry! Go Hil'ry!!

[JRob]

46. That would be truly sweet! A Clinton YES! A WOMAN! Even better…

Do need to add however, that a Hillary ‘08 run is scary as I'm not sure that she can win... and we need to win.

[second edition]

65. That is not worth having her as president.

We need to get away from electing nothing but Bush's and Clinton's.

[lancdem]

37. I just hope whoever gets the nomination knows how to fight

the RW smear machine and the MSM's compliance with it; Gore and Kerry's campaigns didn't. I know for certain Hillary's would.

[GOPBasher]

41. True. n/t

[deadparrot]

45. Agreed.

The numbers are encouraging (better than what I would have thought, if they're true), but I think we can do better. Besides, it's far too early for serious discussion about 2008.

[GOPBasher]

63. I agree on both points. n/t

[Wright Patman]

3. Gallup is meaningless

This has been pointed out many times on this board.

I think Gallup WANTS the Dems to nominate HRC as they know it'll be another in the bag for the GOP if she is the nominee.

Of course, my extremely jaded and cynical view is that there will never be another honest election and thus there will never again be a Democratic president.

The Dems are now like the white guys who used to play the Harlem Globetrotters in their traveling exhibitions. They are allowed to score a few points, but you know they're never going to win.

[wakeme2008]

10. Right normally Gallup give the Repugs a 7-8 advantage in their

polls, for this one they could have given the Dems a 7-8 point advantage.

[Boneman]

13. I absolutely agree with your post. Republicans will jump on the Elect

Hillary bandwagon, costing the Democrats the election once again should Hillary end up the number their candidate. I voted for Kerry but I would have to vote Republican if Hillary becomes the Dems candidate.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lancdem]

39. You have to be kidding

Any Dem we nominate will be infinitely better than the Repuke nominee because the RW controls the nominating process. That's why I think McCain won't get it.

[JRob]

49. Give an example of which GOP candidate, because making a blind

typos

statement that you'd vote for GOP candidate "x" over HRC makes no sense to me at all...

It could be any one of a number of GOP cretins.

Let's see vote for someone who will continue to rip the ass out of the country or someone who may try to do the right thing (because I don't like her).

:wtf:

[BadGimp]

68. puhlease

you never voted for Kerry...

[JRob]

47. My fears exactly... nt

[ElectroPrincess]

4. Not this drivel again ...

Enough already.

[forgethell]

5. That's because Hillary

has not been under attack recently. Wait till she runs; the Republicans have lots of negative stories on her. But they'll just hold back and watch the Democrats destroy her first.

[ElectroPrincess]

8. Good, and we should discourage here promptly so we can focus

on some Democrat who can win.

I've mentioned before that I'm surrounded by right wing republicans. I do NOT exaggerate that the mere mention of her first name - "Hillary" - is enough for them to literally foam at the mouth and proceed to rant about her evilness. The spewing of spittle and pure hatred of her person is palatable.

IMO Hillary is hated MORE than Bill Clinton. It is seriously freaky to watch almost any Right Winger "go off" about her.

Nope, we need to dispense with this insanity as soon as possible. This is a huge distration from important issues of this day.

[forgethell]

12. But we won't,

will we? No, Hillary will run, get the nomination, and be crushed in the general election. If she cared a little more about the Democratic party, and a little less about HC, we might have a chance at winning in 2008.:shrug:

[LibDemAlways]

29. I agree.

There is no possible way Hillary could cobble together an electoral college win. She must be aware of this. She ought to announce now that she's only running for re-election to the Senate in 06 and put an end to the media speculation.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

74. She did that in 2004. Didn't stop the speculation. (nt)

[JRob]

54. Hillary and Jane Fonda too... They truly do flip out at the mention of

the name. I too live in among the reddest of red states (N. Idaho) and have witnessed this...

If she could win, I support her but my fear is that it would bring out droves of non-voting republicans.

The big question still in my mind is the legitimacy of the actual voting. Diabold etc. If it's a real election, I believe we win. If '04 was real, Kerry is in the WH...

[Tempest]

18. Has not been under attack recently?

Did you just crawl out from under a rock?


Two weeks ago there were TV ads run in NY against her.

Last week there was a concerted Internet campaign against her.

This week there's an anti-Hillary book coming out which has been touted 24/7 on the rightwing corporate controlled media.

[forgethell]

22. And you think that was an attack?

Nah! That wasn't even a warm-up. I'm talking all out war. Of course, Hillary, herself, is a past mistress of this form of politics, with expertise on both defense and offense. It's really going to be interesting, but in the end, I think she has too much baggage to win the White House. I could be wrong, she's surprised me before.

[Tempest]

24. You didn't say an all out war

You said an attack.

You were clearly wrong.


I'm willing to bet a one month pension check if she runs she'll win.

[forgethell]

28. Picky, picky, picky.

Minor sniping does not count as an attack, in my estimation. She'll lose. There's too much baggage there.

Look at it this way: to win she has to move to the center, something she is trying to do. However, she won't pick up any votes from the conservatives. she'll lose more votes from the base than she'll gain from the moderates. Her current positions will be compared to her past ones to make her seem like a lying slimy politician with no core convictions, a straw blowing in the wind. There's no way Hillary can lose the Democratic nomination, and no way she can win the general election.

[ElectroPrincess]

48. She's lost my vote for the general election ...

If she's the Democratic Nominee, many of us left of center folks will either vote Green or Not vote.

No way do I vote for a lover of multi-national corporations, the RULE of Israel over all of the middle east, and continued Empire of the USA's Military-Industrial machine. Hillary is worse than a Republican because she PRETENDS to care about the working class people. Newsflash - She could care less. :P

[forgethell]

55. Exactly my point n/t

[Mizmoon]

6. Yep, Tucker was right

NO ONE was interested in her book either. :eyes:

The way Hillary Clinton is treated on these boards makes me want to yak my fucking guts out. Like this: :puke:

[Tempest]

16. There's still gender bias

Even within the Democrat party.

[Mark E. Smith]

62. Agreed

Let's help the Republicans out and beat each other up.

[brentspeak]

7. Could you imagine McCain against Hillary?

Hillary Clinton would win California, New York, and Massachusets -- against McCain winning everything else.

[Tempest]

14. McCain will never get the GOP nomination

The religious conservatives wouldn't support him because he's pro-choice, pro-stem cell research and against teaching intelligent design in schools.

The conservatives won't support him because he was party to the filibuster agreement and he's pro-environment.

The only support he'd get is from the moderates, and they're a minority in the party.

[forgethell]

25. No, because

McCain is finished as a national figure in GOP politics. The conservatives will never forget his "betrayal" in the recent filibuster fiasco. But he didn't seriously have a chance, anyway.

My prediction for GOP nominee: Cheney will be drafted and accept. He will then proceed to crush Hillary in 2008. Very hypothetical: he will serve 2 years, then resign for health reasons leaving his very conservative vice-president in charge. Said vice-president will then run for 2 terms of his own.

So, for me, it all boils down to this: we must win in 2006, and run a viable (read centrist, Leiberman centrist) candidate in 2008. Anything else is a recipe for Democratic disaster for the foreseeable future.x(

[adigal]

40. I really disagree

I think by 2008, the United States will have had more than enough of this bunch of incompetents and liars. Do you think we will be out of Iraq?? I don't. Do you think the economy is improving?? I don't.

But I do agree that we nned to win before 2008; we need to grab a majority of one house of Congress in 2006 or the damage to this country will be so great, we will be unable to fix a lot of it.

[forgethell]

58. You know what I think,

I think as long as the American people compare Bush with the far left extreme that seems to be the public face of the Democratic party, we will lose. I don't say abandon our principles. I do say we need to be somewhat less assertive about expressing them. And we need ot emphasize the economic issues.

[trogdor]

53. People don't like Dick Cheney.

That's why he doesn't plan to run. Please show me if I'm wrong, but his unfavorables are off the chart.

[forgethell]

59. Unfavorables can be changed.

As can favorables. I'm not wrong about Hillary, but I could well be about Dick.

[TahitiNut]

9. 12% pure gender bias.

Disgusting. :puke:

[blindpig]

11. It's a rethug wet dream

If Hilary is nominated it will make 1972 look like a close contest. Look at the marginal enthusiasm she generates around here; it would be a massacre.

[Tempest]

15. It would be no massacre

When it comes down to it, her critics in the Democrat party will support her at the polls.

The Repugs are cutting their own throats and will lose just from defections within their own party.

[blindpig]

30. Hilary might be the only thing to rescue the rethugs after bu$h. n/t

[Tempest]

32. I wouldn't count on it

You're forgetting about DeLay and his corruption, Frist and his pandering to the extreme rightwing, the legislation and court cases the Repugs champion, the blatant disregard for the environment, etc.

Bush is only the tip of the iceburg.

[bigluckyfeet]

17. Hillary is a Repuke Lite

And I won't vote for her.Bill Clinton did nothing for the working people of America.

[Mizmoon]

20. He raised the minimum wage

That was very helpful to the working poor.

[Tempest]

23. Clinton did nothing for working people?

You can't be fucking serious.


Over 21 Million New Jobs

Fastest and Longest Real Wage Growth in Over Three Decades

Unemployment Is Nearly the Lowest in Three Decades

Highest Homeownership Rate in History

Lowest Poverty Rate in Two Decades

Largest Five-Year Drop in Child Poverty Rate Since the ‘60s

Tax Cuts for Working Families

Improved Access to Affordable, Quality Child Care and Early Childhood Programs

Increased the Minimum Wage

Enacted the Workforce Investment Act



Jesus Christ, there's a whole long list of what Clinton did for working people.
http://clinton3.nara.gov/WH/Accomplishments/summary.html


Did someone donate your star by chance?

[Hegemony Cricket]

26. Rose colored glasses

Clinton had a good public record as President. He presided over the largest economic expansion in American history. He was successful because he ruled from the center and appealed to moderate voters of both affiliations.

Some folks chant that Clinton was the best Republican president we've ever had.

I'm certain that same host of folks here could match that list of yours with Welfare Reform, NAFTA and a host of corporate accomodations to the pharmaceutical industries, securities industries...etc.etc. ad nauseum.

Some folks are uncomfortable for a Hillary run since the Republicans brought the issue up.

Some folks feel the Repubicans would love the chance to tear her apart.

We'd all be best off if we did not immediately discount criticism that may inform the results of the 2008 cycle.

[Tempest]

31. Read again what the poster said about Clinton

He/She said Clinton did NOTHING for working people.


Clinton coupled welfare reform with increases in child care credits and opening of child care centers. I've heard a lot more positive stories from former welfare recipients than negative. A lot more.

Most of the corporate accomodations were a result of the GOP controlled House and Senate, and their ability to add riders to bills Clinton supported. It was also a result of the GOP's ability to stop Clinton legislation which was designed to tighten rules on the corporations, especially the securities industry.


I agree, Clinton was a better Republican president than any real Republican. The difference was that he governed from the center.

[ElectroPrincess]

52. No Joke, huge numbers of right wingers HATE Hillary with all

their heart and soul. I've never seen such *pure and unbridled* hatred since Rodney King's verdict. It is so damn real. These people loath even the concept of Hillary staying NY state senator.

But don't believe me, go and ask a right winger you can trust. If they're being straight with you - RESPECT you as a friend more than a political opponent - they'll wink as say, "Well we sure would like you to run her so we can proceed with ripping her to shreds."

You folks don't know right wingers - this is *all* THEIR PLOY - a set up. If Hillary Clinton genuinely cares about helping Working and Middle Class people she would promptly declare with NO UNCERTAINTY that she will NOT run for President in 2008. If she does what I know she will, she'll allow this to drag on and further weaken our party of "gutless wonder" national representatives and their adoring sheeple.

[ElectroPrincess]

50. That's only due to a flourishing economy ... the START of NAFTA not

the Blow-Back. Clinton had NOTHING to do with that and HIS welfare reforms were draconian.

[Tempest]

51. Read the rest of the list in the cite I provided

Home ownership, for example, is not only a result of the economy, it's also a result of Clinton actions which enforced laws against discrimination in lending against minorities.

You may consider his welfare reforms draconian, but they were successful and people who were directly affected by them, the poor, disagree with you by a wide margin.

[ElectroPrincess]

57. You just don't get it, he's human and too far to the right for most

of the base. He was a good Republican. No, I don't believe in heroes as you seem to hint at, but if I did, it wouldn't be either Bill or Hillary Clinton.

On edit = THE POOR DISAGREE WITH ME ABOUT WELFARE REFORM?

You make me laugh. I work within an outreach program albeit I'm blessed to not be poor. You have no idea of what "the poor" think or feel. And truth be told, neither do I. :-)

[MaryBear]

27. Hillary would be an awesome President!

As good as Bill -- and better! She is a true Progressive.

[Rockerdem]

34. Maybe, if she wasnt so pro-war

Do something other than back Bushco on Iraq. Show a little leadership. No courage or risk required, since the war is unpopular.

[MaryBear]

36. She is pragmatic and would be great.

[Rockerdem]

38. How is giving the Iraq expedition a blank check "pragmatic"?

The pragmatic solution would be to save lives and money while acceding to the wishes of the majority of Americans. Shes doing the opposite.

Dont get me wrong, Hillary would be better than what the GOP will offer. But she has some real baggage when it comes to Iraq.

[MaryBear]

76. How do you figure she gave a blank check?

I don't see that.

[AUYellowDog]

35. There's no way in hell

that she'll make it through the primaries. If you think Kerry got killed here in the south, imagine what will happen to Hillary. I'm hoping Edwards or some newcomer gets the nomination.

Brandon

[forgethell]

42. No, you're wrong,

I think. She'll win the primaries, and will be the runaway Democratic nominee. However, she will suffer enormous damage from the attacks that her fellow Dems will heap on her. This will cripple her for the general election when Karl Rove will be unleashed. She will not survive the attacks politically, and will lead the Democratic party into another electoral disaster.

The only hope I see is for there to be another candidate, preferably a centrist who can bring some of the South with him.

[UCLA Dem]

44. I think unless the south miraculously becomes tolerant, the best we can

hope for is a southern centrist Dem.

[Adelante]

56. I tend to agree

Karl Rove won't have to lift a finger -- her primary opponents will do the job for him.

However, if it did happen that she won the nom, I'd have no problem working my butt off for her.

[forgethell]

66. Well,

you're supposed to stick with the party, and support it's candidates, even if yours lost the primary. Good for you, but I would bet a lot of people don't.

[Adelante]

71. No, I don't think you're right about that

When it comes down to it, Hillary is better than anything the other side has to offer and Democrats will pull together for her.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

75. So, WHO do you want to see win the presidency in 2008?

Look me in the eyes while you say it, mistah. No evasions, please. A name. It's easy. You can do it.

[byronius]

60. I'm not so sure about the assumptions concerning centrism.

It seems to me that more Americans respond to public bravery and clear statements, clear thinking -- it's less about politics than person. Yeah, Bill ran a centrist campaign, but everyone knew he was both a flaming lefty and a politico/corporate dealmaker at the same time. His ultra-socialist aspirations were tempered by realpolitik, which is why he was so successful. He made more gains for liberalism than any president in history, but was vilified by both left and right.
He was all right with me, until he threw the bucket of water on the election fraud issue, which to me seems rather scientific fact. Perhaps he has just been absorbed by The Body. I don't know.
Hillary stood with Barbara Boxer during the certification fiasco (read Munich), and although she runs a centrist face, we all know what she stands for -- everything that is right and good for America. I think she would be a fine candidate, and a better president than Bill in every way, because of her experience during his tenure, and what I believe to be her better character.
I wish Barbara Boxer would run. I like Wesley Clark a lot. I'll happily vote for Hillary. I do not believe I could excoriate any Democratic candidate, mostly because the lines are so clearly drawn now -- Gangsters versus Disorganized, Squabbling, Befuddled, Well-Intended General-Issue Americans. I suppose I choose not to add to the Squabbling. Whatever works in this Undeclared Civil War to drive them back into their holes, or to get them to rethink their absolutism, or even to restore the Rule of Law (gasp!) someday -- that will I support. It's common history for lefty/socialists to tear each other apart, while the lockstep of the nutcake fascist throwbacks carries them to many short-term victories. I don't want to go there.
Let's be civil amongst ouselves. Save the viciousness for the coming conflicts with Gangster Nation.

[ElectroPrincess]

61. Ok, you are correct ...

I'll only close with - If the Democratic party runs Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party will lose the White House again. She has ZERO chance of winning - look at the purity of the Right Wing smear machines and, I beg you, believe it, because it's true.

[second edition]

64. I no longer care what polls say about Hillary.

The more they mention her the more I don't want to even consider her as a viable candidate.

[99Pancakes]

69. I read somewhere that Americans...

...are adverse to the idea of a "Bush Dynasty" that includes Jeb in 2008. However, should Hillary run (thus creating the possibility of a "Clinton Dynasty") there is an excellent chance the Repugs would throw Jeb into the arena. So, if it was between Hillary and Jeb...........talk about the polarization of America! Whew! What a grand battle that would be!

[oneold1-4u]

67. If numbers don't change !

I will get out of the party quickly and see if I can give aid to another, more serious camp. There has to be a real woman somewhere and not just a wife of a stupid former president. Dems must get busy and find two great candidates that don't owe any allegiance to any political strings or huge corporations.
Please remember that if Hillary had been named Martha, she could have done time for listening to her financial adviser about cattle futures!
She is just an Arkansas cowgirl! LOL A doorstep away from Texas!

[Adelante]

72. You're a Democrat? Why?

"just a wife of a stupid former president"

"just an Arkansas cowgirl!"

You're really good at Dem bashing.

[TroglodyteScholar]

70. Why do people even respond to this freeperbait? n/t

[Fluffdaddy]

73. F#ck Polls. After this past November .........Well F#ck them is all

[Miss Chybil]

77. Yes! Clinton 08! nt