WP,pg1: Beyond Poll Numbers, Voter Doubts About Hillary Clinton

[DeepModem Mom]

Beyond the Poll Numbers, Voter Doubts About Clinton
By Lois Romano
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 13, 2006; Page A01


Polls show Sen. Hillary Clinton as the leading Democratic presidential choice. (By Jay Laprete -- Bloomberg News)

....Never has a politician stepped onto a presidential stage before an audience of voters who already have so many strong and personal opinions about her, or amid arguments that revolve around the intangibles of personality and the ways people react to it.

Clinton's assets are formidable: an unrivaled ability to generate publicity and money, and approval ratings that are notably strong, given her polarizing reputation and the controversies she has weathered over 15 years in the national eye. In recent public opinion polls, she handily leads potential Democratic rivals.

Beneath these positives, however, there is evidence of unease -- about her personal history, demeanor and motives -- among the very Democratic and independent voters she would need to win the presidency.

A recent Washington Post-ABC News poll highlighted the paradox. Fifty-four percent of those responding view her favorably, and a significant majority give her high marks for leadership (68 percent), strong family values (65 percent), and being open and friendly (58 percent). At the same time, only 37 percent of Democrats in the poll say they would definitely vote for her for president....

***

Follow-up interviews with skeptical Democrats and independents who participated in the Post-ABC News poll suggest that many view her as an inscrutable public figure who gets high marks for her ability and intellect but who nonetheless gives them pause because they find it difficult to relate to her on a personal level....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/12/AR2006071201680.html

[paulk]

1. why do American voters feel they have to relate to a politician

on a personal level?

Is it really true that Bush got elected 'cause people wanted to have a beer with him?

If the American voter is that shallow, we'll get the leadership we deserve.

[ndcohn]

3. we need to find a drunk

once we find a progressive which is a recovering alcoholic - we will have the white house on lockdown for a generation!

[LincolnMcGrath]

2. only 37 percent of Democrats in the poll

say they would definitely vote for her?


WTF

Crappy article, crappy poll questions.

Y'all know I ain't her biggest cheerleader around here either, but this is crap, just crap!