Posted on 01/10/2005 8:43:06 AM PST by areafiftyone
Those who would stick their heads in the sand and maintain that Sen. Hillary Clinton could never be elected president are in for a rude shock, according to the latest data from the Fox News survey.
In a poll taken last month, Americans said they felt the New York Democrat was “qualified to be president of the United States” by 59-34 percent. Clinton showed strength among all traditional Democratic voters, winning the approval of Sen. John Kerry supporters by 80-13, blacks by 80-8, all women by 64-29 and unmarried women by 69-24 and people under 30 by 73-20.
But she also did well among more traditionally Republican constituencies. Men said she was qualified by 53-40. Southerners agreed by 55-36, as did those earning more than $75,000 per year, who felt she was qualified by 58-39. While 80 percent of liberals felt she was qualified, so did 59 percent of moderates and 43 percent of self-described conservatives. Incredibly, so did 33 percent of Republicans and 37 percent of Bush voters.
Of course, many of those voters would not actually support Hillary, and the Fox News poll was careful to precede the question by saying, “Regardless of whether you would vote for Hillary Clinton or not, …” the breadth of her acceptability indicates that she has passed the national threshold for political viability.
The Fox News poll tested Hillary against several possible 2008 GOP contenders and found that she ran ahead of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush by 46-35, ahead of New York Gov. George Pataki by 41-35 and ahead of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) by 40-33.
Nor is there any basis for believing the conventional GOP wisdom that a Hillary candidacy would trigger a backlash among men, conservatives and Republicans.
When Fox News matched the former first lady against Jeb Bush in a trial heat, Hillary’s numbers were similar to those former presidential candidate Kerry racked up in a parallel test.
Among men, for example, Hillary defeated Jeb Bush by 44-39 while Kerry broke even, 42-42. While 23 percent of conservatives supported Hillary against the president’s brother, only 21 percent backed Kerry in a similar contest.
Geographically, Hillary beat Southerners Jeb Bush and Frist in the South, beating Bush in the red-state region by 42-41 and Frist by 38-37. And, in the critical Midwest, where most swing states are located, Hillary ran 11 points ahead of Jeb Bush, 10 ahead of Frist and six ahead of Pataki.
The strongest candidate against Hillary is, of course, Rudy Guiliani, whom an earlier Fox News poll showed beating her by almost 10 points. But the former New York City mayor will have a hard time winning the Republican nomination. Can a pro-abortion-rights, pro-affirmative-action, pro-gay-rights, pro-gun-control, pro-immigration moderate win Republican primaries?
Ultimately, the only Republican who may be able to beat Hillary is Bush’s nominee for secretary of state, Condeleezza Rice. Able to appeal to black and female voters without sacrificing support among whites and men, Condi could be the only figure who stands between Hillary and the White House.
And, unlike Rudy — and also unlike Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) — Condi can probably win the nomination. A social conservative who will elaborate her largely traditional views on important values issues as an inevitable part of her service as secretary of State, Rice can win primaries where Guiliani cannot and beat Hillary where neither Frist nor Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) nor Jeb Bush nor Pataki can.
Will Condi run? It is very important that she does. But it is very important to end the Republican complaisance about a Hillary candidacy. The assumption that she is radioactive among moderates and will self-destruct is comforting but completely untrue. Hillary will be the strongest Democratic candidate since her husband ran.
Like Bill, she will tack to the center and take a traditional line on controversial social issues like gay marriage. But we must always remember that while Bill is a moderate who becomes a liberal when he must, that Hillary is a liberal who pretends moderation when she has to.
Hillary's going to be our next President. Move your money out of the country now.
Hillary is even more of a liberal than her husband. She's good at camouflaging it when its politically expedient but there's no doubt about her beliefs - hard Left.
No fricking way. There's no way in hell that 64% of women support Hitlery. I know as many women that can't stand that woman as I do women that like her. Heck, even my liberal (public school teacher) girlfriend doesn't really like her.
Expect a massive tax increase if she's elected.
Republicans would still control both houses. Maybe they will grow backbones. (Yeah what am I thinking.)
these wouldnt happen to be the same "pollsters" that had kerry winning the election..now would they? c'mon... you think she can really hold up to the scrutiny of a national election against the GOP. not a chance! shes shady and guarantee she has more enemies than friends! i say bring her on and we will lay that dog to rest once and for all!
Do I fear her? Sure. But as long as we field a good candidate, she won't win. She will put up a good fight, but she won't win.
She only needs 270 of the electoral votes. If she wins Fla. by .01%, and she holds onto Kerry's basket-case Blue States, then she's President.
Time out, the poll asked whether people thought she was qualified REGARDLESS or whether they would vote for her or not. Try asking that question and see what you get.
I agree that Hillary is going to be far tougher to beat than many here think.
I believe it. But four years of her socialism and gun control will ensure that she's a single-termer.
If the Republicans run Newt Gingrich, Hillary will be our next Presidente.
The question was posed as "do you think she's qualified"; not whether or not they'd actually vote for her. Big difference.
America is not ready for a Woman President, definitely America is not ready for a Liberal Woman President, and for sure America is not ready to elect a Liberal Woman called Hilary Clinton for President.
It's the "all women" numbers that concern me. Women elected Bill, twice.
With a complicit press who won't ask the hard questions, we're going to be in for a big fight. The press proved they can go an entire year without questioning a presidential candidate if they are a Democrat.
I don't think Kerry faced any difficult questioning once in an entire year.
Well, Hillary is "farther" right on immigration than the Republicans seem to be...
If she's elected, Congress needs to stonewall any sort of plan she has.
Morris is a toe suckin idiot. This last election he went one week to the next altenately saying Bush was toast, to he's unbeatable, and back & forth. Guess that way he covers his bases. He's useless.
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