Hillary Clinton's Strengths and Weaknesses

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ -- A recent Gallup Panel survey provided Americans with a list of seven reasons that could influence their vote for or against Hillary Rodham Clinton in the 2008 presidential race. Of these, Americans are most impressed with Clinton's experience as senator from New York. The fact that Bill Clinton would be in the White House as First Husband, if Hillary Clinton were elected, is the least appealing reason out of the seven tested. Although Republicans are less impressed with all of the reasons tested for voting for Clinton, on a relative basis they are most positive about Clinton's call on Democrats for a more moderate stance on abortion and for rejecting a timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq. Democrats are most impressed Clinton's term as senator, her role a prominent attorney, and her eight years as First Lady.

The poll was conducted June 26-29 of a nationally representative sample of 1,002 members of Gallup's panel.

Overall Results

The poll asked Americans whether seven different factors would be a reason why they would vote for Clinton, a reason why they would vote against her, or if it would not affect their vote either way.

Clinton's term as senator from New York scores at the top of the list, with 42% of Americans saying this is a reason to vote for her. The fact that Bill Clinton would be in the White House as First Husband ranks at the bottom, with only 22% saying that would be a reason to vote for her. A significant percentage of Americans -- between 38% and 52% -- say each of these factors would not affect their vote at all.

Five of the seven reasons tested have a net positive reaction from the American public, meaning a greater percentage of Americans say each of these five factors is a reason to vote for Clinton rather than against her. These include her service as senator from New York (42% vote for vs. 17% vote against); the fact that she was a prominent attorney before becoming First Lady (34% vs. 19%); that she would be the first women president (32% vs. 17%); that she was in the White House as First Lady for eight years (29% vs. 19%); and her call on the Democratic Party to take a more moderate stance on abortion (33% vs. 26%).

Two of the seven factors have a net negative reaction among Americans: the fact that Clinton rejected the idea of setting a strict timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq (30% vs. 32%) and that Bill Clinton would be in the White House as First Husband if she were elected (22% vs. 30%).

Republicans vs. Democrats

As would be expected, Democrats are generally more likely than Republicans to say that each of the factors listed in the poll is a reason to vote for Clinton.

On a relative basis, Republicans react most positively to Clinton's rejection of a strict timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq and the fact that she has urged Democrats to be more moderate on abortion. Fewer than one in five Republicans feel each of the other five factors would be a reason to vote for Clinton. At the very bottom of the list, just 6% say the fact that Bill Clinton would be in White House as First Husband would be a reason to vote for her.

Democrats are most positive about Clinton's service as senator from New York (69% say this is a reason to vote for her), the fact that she was a prominent lawyer (51%), and that she would be the first woman president (51%) as reasons to vote for her. At least 4 in 10 Democrats say the following are reasons to vote for her: that she was in the White House as First Lady for eight years (49%); that Bill Clinton would be in the White House if she were elected (42%); and that she called on Democrats to take a more moderate stance on abortion (41%). Democrats are least positive in their reaction to the statement that Clinton rejected a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq, with only 32% saying this is a reason to vote for her.

Men vs. Women

Women are more likely than men to say they would vote for Clinton based on factors involving her career -- the fact that she has been a prominent attorney, that she has served as a senator, and that if elected she would be the first female president.

Men, meanwhile, are only more positive than women in regards to Clinton's stance on withdrawing troops from Iraq. The poll finds no significant difference between men and women on Clinton's more moderate stance on abortion or the fact that Bill Clinton would be in the White House if she were elected.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup Panel study are based on telephone interviews with 1,002 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted June 26-29, 2006. Respondents were randomly drawn from Gallup's household panel, which was originally recruited through random selection methods. The panel was weighted prior to sampling so that it was demographically representative of the U.S. adult population. For results based on these samples, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.