Posted on 12/15/2001 7:19:59 PM PST by areafiftyone
A former top pollster for ex-President Clinton has produced a survey showing former Vice President Al Gore's unfavorability numbers rising precipitously, a development which could convince Democrats to drop the former VP from their 2004 presidential short list in favor of another popular Democrat.
Independent polls show the next most popular presidential candidate with Democrats is Clinton's wife, New York Senator Hillary Clinton.
Pollster Mark Penn's latest survey reveals the former veep's "lowest" ratings yet, reports this week's U.S. News & World Report's "Washington Whispers."
"In the latest Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates poll done for the moderate Democratic Leadership Council, Gore gets a 49 percent favorability rating, offset by a 46 percent unfavorability rating."
Penn says that former Gore running mate Sen. Joe Lieberman, House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle all have better favorability numbers.
Unmentioned but certainly well known by the former Clinton pollster, Mrs. Clinton beats them all among Democrats hoping to recapture the White House in three years.
In August, 34 percent of Democrats told Gallup/CNN/USA Today they'd nominate Gore again with Hillary a relatively close second at 21 percent. The only other Democrat to break into double digits was has-been New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley, with 12 percent.
Former V.P. nominee Joe Lieberman was backed by just 9 percent.
A survey of Iowa Democrats in April also showed only Gore beating Mrs. Clinton.
If this is true, then the Democratic Party is in sorry shape indeed. Hillary is unelectable as president. It would be the greatest (GOP) landslide in the history of presidential elections.
Frankly, I don't believe anybody outside of Hillary's coven seriously considers her as a serious candidate. Most likely, the Democrats will find some slick new face like they did in 1992 to run against Bush.
Enquiring minds want to know.....
Always be careful what you wish for. It might be granted.
People continually underestimate the Clintons's political skills. Both (all three?) make extremely good candidates.
From your mouth to God's ear. I hope you are right. Unfortunately, we should never underestimate the stupidity of the American public--or the Dems ability to rig an election. Is anybody anywhere doing anything to clean up the election process? I don't mean making it easier for idiots to vote. I mean making it harder for illegal votes to be cast.
Doesn't that line say she is not the most popular democrat, she is the second most popular democrat. The most popular is still Gore. Hillary among democrats is doing worse than Gore even though Gore is doing worse. With a war won and the first signs of recovery in the economy, 2002 looks like a descent Republican year. We will be in the 3rd year of a big booming economy in 2004. 2004 will be like 1984. The question will be can Bush win all 50 states or only 49 like Reagan did.
Here is your New York Times 2004 after election wrap up...
Once again George Dubya Bush has failed to live up to
expectations. Bush who was epected to win at least 50
states turned in a poor performance by even 1984
standards. Bush while winnning only 49 states failed to
carry several by the margins as large as Reagan did in
1984. Bush failed to carry Mass. which of course Reagan
carried in 1984. Bush did eek out a tiny win in
Wisconsin. Informed observers say he failed to meet
expectations even in the conservative midwestern state
of Wisconsin.
And the Republican control of the congress pales in
comparison with the Republican margins of a century ago.
Democratic pollsters say the Republican control of the
presidency and the house and senate will have long term
negative consequences for the Republicans. Democrats
say the Republicans are far too overconfidant and this
full control of government will be bad for them if
things go wrong. Former Minority leader Dick Gephardt
said, "They won't have me to blame if things go wrong
since I lost my bid for re-election. This inablility to
use me as a scapegoat spells big trouble for Bush in
the long run."
In any case, I tend to agree with the "please give us Hillary as the opponent in '04" crowd. I think she'd be a weak candidate, a near-sure loser. There are just too many people who detest her.
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