Hillary Clinton's popularity surge: 4 theories
A new poll names the Secretary of State the best liked politician in the U.S. What's behind the recent good will?
Hillary Clinton is the most popular politician in the U.S., according to a poll conducted for Bloomberg. Nearly two-thirds of respondents have a favorable opinion of the Secretary of State — certainly higher than Barack Obama's feeble 45 percent approval rating, his lowest yet as president. In fact, more than one-third of respondents believe that the country would be better off with Hillary, not Obama, as Head of State. (The former first lady has already ruled out another presidential bid, saying the chances she'd challenge Obama again are "below zero.") What's behind the recent surge in Clinton's popularity? Four theories:
1. Americans are suffering buyer's remorse
"Some of her appeal is that she is not Barack Obama," says J. Ann Selzer, president of the Iowa-based company that conducted the poll. Her poll numbers should surprise nobody, says Dan Amira at New York. "Considering how many people are unhappy with the Obama presidency, wouldn't any half-respectable political figure benefit from Obama buyer's remorse?" As the Democrat who was directly passed over for Obama, Clinton becomes the de facto beneficiary of the nation's collective wistful imaginings.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
2. She's proved herself as Secretary of State
In her tenure as Secretary of State, Clinton has proved herself to be "one of the few competent people in an otherwise feckless and timorous administration," says Dennis DiClaudio at Indecision. When looking at the poll results, says John McCormick at Bloomberg, it's telling that Obama comes off well only in areas that relate to foreign politics, which is under Clinton's sphere of influence.
3. She's been shielded from political muckraking
Secretary of State, says Gary Langer at ABC News, is a "position tailor-made for broad popularity...comfortably removed from the to and fro of contentious domestic policymaking." As such, says Amira, Clinton's been "sheltered the past few years from the recession's political fallout." She's had the luxury of remaining in the spotlight, thanks to her State post, but has by and large "remained above the partisan battles plaguing Washington," echoes Zeke Miller at Business Insider.
4. She might have been a "stronger leader" than Obama
"I don't think she would have bent as much" when it comes to policy, one respondent, Susan Dunlop, tells Bloomberg. Republicans, including a majority of Tea Partiers, are more inclined than the national average to think that the U.S. would be better off under a Clinton administration, according to the poll. GOP voters may say that, says Ed Morrissey at Hot Air, but Clinton certainly would have gotten more of her policies pushed through, including, perhaps, a health-care system overhaul with the public option attached. Imagine the GOP outcry at that.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Baltimore bridge disaster: Who is going to pay and how?
Today's Big Question Politicians, legal experts, and the insurance industry are all grappling with the financial fallout of America's worst infrastructure tragedy in years
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Melting polar ice is messing with global timekeeping
Speed Read Ice loss caused by climate change is slowing the Earth's rotation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Stick guitar
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Xi-Biden meeting: what's in it for both leaders?
Today's Big Question Two superpowers seek to stabilise relations amid global turmoil but core issues of security, trade and Taiwan remain
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published