Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has a decided advantage over potential rivals for the White House in 2016. The former first lady is viewed favorably by two-thirds of Americans, according to a new poll from ABC News and the Washington Post.
“Sixty-seven percent of Americans see her favorably overall, numerically a new high in her long career in the public spotlight, and essentially unchanged in recent months,” ABC pollsters said.
If she decides to run, Clinton’s top challenge might come from Vice President Joe Biden. However, Biden is seen favorably by only 48 percent of Americans versus 37 percent who take a dim view of the vice president.
“That’s a slight improvement over (Biden’s) break-even rating this summer during the presidential campaign, but worse than the consistent majority positive ratings he received immediately preceding and following the 2008 campaign,” pollsters said.
Clinton is more popular with every group measured in the poll, although only slightly among blacks. Both Clinton and Biden are liked by about eight in ten African-Americans.
Biden has a chance to improve his prospects over the next four years. He has emerged as the face of the Obama administration’s push for stricter gun control measures in the wake of last month’s Newtown massacre.
Looking ahead to the general election, Clinton would present a formidable opponent for any Republican looking to take the White House back for the GOP.
Nearly four in ten Republicans have a favorable view of Clinton, a strong number for a Democrat on the national stage.
The outgoing secretary of state helped to orchestrate the killing of Osama bin Laden and has thus far emerged relatively unscathed from the investigation into the terrorist attacks on a U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
Her candidacy would also get a lift from her husband former president Bill Clinton, whose enthusiasm helped Barack Obama win a second term last November.
by RTT Staff Writer
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