The first poll is somewhat predictable to anyone who has been following Democratic politics for any length of time: Democrats view Hillary as most electable. Of course, this is among mainstream voters and not liberal insiders (who don't much like Hillary).
PRINCETON, NJ -- A recent Gallup Panel survey shows that Democrats think Hillary Clinton has the best chance of being elected president among the Democratic presidential candidates, followed by Barack Obama and John Edwards. Even as momentum appears to be building in some political circles for an Al Gore-presidential run, less than half of Democrats and only about one-third of Americans think he has a good chance of winning should he run. Overall, Americans are split over which Democrat -- Clinton or Obama -- has the best chance of being elected, with Republicans giving Obama the better odds.*****
More than 7 in 10 Americans believe Clinton and Obama have an "excellent" or "good" chance of being elected president. At 52%, Edwards is the only other Democrat who is viewed as having a good chance by a majority of the public.
Even after his recent star turn as a presenter at the Grammys and Oscars, only 31% believe Gore has a good chance of winning, while 42% believe his chances are slim, and 26% think he has no chance at all. The poll was completed before Gore's documentary on global warming, An Inconvenient Truth, was awarded two Oscars Sunday night, so the impact of those wins on his chances, if any, is unclear at this point.
Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, and Christopher Dodd are thought to have better-than-average odds of winning the presidency by fewer than one in five Americans.
There's more to this poll that you might want to check out at their site.
The other poll is far more interesting, and it's a little surprising: Americans Predict Bill Clinton Would be Asset as First Spouse.
I'm sure there are many of us -- who feel that Bill was our best recent president -- who wouldn't even question this idea. Of course Bill would be a great asset as First Gentleman. He is one the most intelligent politicians we've had in a long time. And he knows the players on the world stage far better than Hillary does at this point.
What's surprising is that Bill's public image has been rehabilitated to the point that a broad spectrum of the populace also think he would be an asset.
Former President Bill Clinton will enter uncharted waters should his wife, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, succeed in capturing the presidency in 2008. Not only would he be the first man in a position that is defined by duties traditionally associated with women, but he would have to make the seemingly awkward transition from the former leader of the free world to a rather domestic-oriented post.The latest Gallup Panel survey, conducted Feb. 22-25, 2007, investigated how Americans say Bill Clinton might write his new resume. Although a majority of Americans (63%) say he should not hold an official government job as policy advisor to President Hillary Clinton, 61% think he should advise her unofficially. Americans also think Bill Clinton should fill such familiar duties of presidential spouses as hosting White House social events, taking up a charitable cause, and representing the White House abroad at special ceremonies. They do not believe, however, that he should deliver paid speeches before business and industry groups.
More generally, Americans predict Clinton would be an asset as a presidential spouse. By a better than two-to-one margin, 70% vs. 28%, Americans believe he would be more helpful than harmful to his wife's presidency.
You can read the rest of the poll results here.
First Spouse is not a "job," so contrary to what the article suggests, Bill does not need to follow any established tradition. It really never was a "domestic-oriented post"; it's always been undefined. Bill won't be having to clean the White House toilets.
ReplyDeleteI submit that the First Lady Bill will be most like is Eleanor Roosevelt, who traveled quite a lot and was there to begin the United Nations. Like Hillary had, he is sure to have a large office in the East Wing. From there, he'll have carte blanche to do whatever attracts him, which could include being the de facto Secretary of State.
I would greatly doubt we will see him doing much in the way of "hosting White House social events, taking up a charitable cause, and representing the White House abroad at special ceremonies."
He will be The Great American Superhero without Portfolio putting the nuclear issue, terrorism, and global warming back in the Pandora's Box they escaped from. Basically, he will fix the world for us.
Hey Tom,
ReplyDeleteI'm not quite as optimistic as you are regrading Bill's possible influence as First Gentleman. I do think that his Clinton Global Initiative will be the focus of his efforts, whether he has to act as "host" to White House events or not.
There really isn't a defined role for the First Person, but there is a tradition that is reflected in the poll questions. Bill can certainly redefine that just as Hillary did.
Peace,
Bill