What's In A Name?

CBS' Kathy Frankovic: "Rodham" Or Not, Most Voters Think Clinton Is Qualified For Presidency

(CBS)  By Kathy Frankovic, CBS News director of surveys

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Hillary Clinton is the most asked-about woman of all time. There have been more poll questions about her than about any other woman. And, since the polls also have given her status as the front-running Democratic candidate for president, that number is likely to grow enormously through 2008.

As of July 8, 2007, there have been 2,377 public polling questions that include the name "Hillary Clinton" or "Hillary Rodham Clinton" (plus six more where "Hillary" was misspelled "Hilary"). That's according to the University of Connecticut's Roper Center iPoll database, which has archived public poll questions and answers since the early days of scientific polling in the 1930s.

Usually, when pollsters ask about first ladies — and those who want to be first ladies — the questions are very simple, like: "Is your opinion of Elizabeth Edwards favorable or not favorable?" Questions about Hillary Clinton were much more pointed, even early in her husband's 1992 campaign. The Gallup Organization may have been the first polling organization to ask anything about her — and the question already pointed to presidential ambitions. It was: "From what you know and have read, who would make the better President … Bill Clinton, or his wife Hillary Clinton?" By about two to one (45 percent to 24 percent), in February 1992, Americans chose Bill Clinton.

The coupling of Bill and Hillary Clinton in that poll was matched with questions comparing the Democratic challenger with the incumbent president and vice president and their wives. Who would make the better president — George or Barbara Bush? There was no contest — 63 percent chose then-President Bush and 28 percent his wife. Vice President Dan Quayle led his wife Marilyn by just 45 percent to 30 percent.

Also in February 1992, the TIME/CNN/Yankelovich Clancy Shulman Poll put the Clinton presidential question directly: "From what you know of Hillary Clinton, do you think she has what it takes to be President of the United States, or don't you think so?" Just 19 percent of Americans thought she did, while twice as many, 40 percent, were sure she did not.

Those early negative assessments of Mrs. Clinton as a possible president have been replaced by generally positive ones today — for nine of the past 10 years, she has ranked as the country's most admired woman (losing to Laura Bush only in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks). And Americans, especially Democrats, think she has the right stuff to be president. According to a May ABC News/Washington Post poll, she led Barack Obama and John Edwards as the candidate with "the best experience to be president." Sixty-six percent of Democrats chose Clinton, 19 percent Edwards, and 9 percent Obama. In a January CBS News Poll, 57 percent of all adults said they thought Hillary Clinton "has the right kind of experience to be a good president." Thirty-four percent disagreed.

By the way, there is not a lot of polling evidence that how Clinton is referred to makes a major difference in poll results, although in recent CBS News Polls, she received slightly higher favorable ratings without "Rodham" in her name. The differences, however, are small and not necessarily significant.

The senator has used both versions of her name. On her Senate Web site, she is Hillary Rodham Clinton, while she is simply Hillary Clinton on her presidential campaign page.

Just over a third of the pollsters' 2,377 questions, 36 percent, use the senator's full name — Hillary Rodham Clinton. In the remainder of the questions, she is Hillary Clinton, without the Rodham. Pollsters tend to follow a person's preference when it comes to their names. So during her husband's 1992 campaign, none of the 107 poll questions used Rodham in identifying Mrs. Clinton. But after the election, when she made the change, and through 2006, nearly 40 percent of poll questions used Rodham when identifying Mrs. Clinton. Now, pollsters are adapting to her latest name change. Less than a third of the questions asked about Sen. Clinton now use "Rodham" as part of her name. She has once again become just "Hillary Clinton."

For years, Americans have been asked whether they would vote for a qualified woman candidate "of their own party," and the number saying "yes" has increased dramatically since 1937. Then, just 33 percent told Gallup they would vote for a qualified woman. In a CBS News/New York Times poll conducted in January 2006, that figure reached a high of 92 percent. Eighty-eight percent now tell Gallup they would vote for a woman.

But while nearly all Americans say they would be willing to vote for a woman, far fewer say America is ready to elect a woman president. In January, a CBS News Poll found just 54 percent believing that the country was ready for a woman president.

But that 54 percent sense of likelihood is probably more of a statement about whether the public thinks America is ready to elect one particular woman — Hillary Clinton!

[notbuynit]

Why don't you step up and run thatchmo62? You seem to know an awful lot.

[adian1-2009]

At this point in time, she is the best, she'll win the nomination and she'll be our first woman president! Simple!

[guysdigdirt]

Anyone who is running against a "pretend Christian, lover of money Republican" is the lesser of two evils.
Posted by harp1963
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As opposed to a ""pretend Christian, lover of money" democrat? You are not against any of those things, just Republicans, and why is that Einstein? Can you give a legit reason with backing facts or is it just your hate of "R" words? Don't insult yourself by using the opinions of journalists or Democratic politicians, use your own words with clear concise facts, if you can.

[guysdigdirt]

Anyone who is running against a "pretend Christian, lover of money Republican" is the lesser of two evils.
Posted by harp1963
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As opposed to a ""pretend Christian, lover of money" democrat? You are not against any of those things, just Republicans, and why is that Einstein? Can you give a legit reason with backing facts or is it just your hate of "R" words? Don't insult yourself by using the opinions of journalists or Democratic politicians, use your own words with clear concise facts, if you can.

[guysdigdirt]

She also, has at her side the vast experience of her husband, that gives us a much better chance of turning this around.
Posted by skyk
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There is one huge mark against her. He is a dishonest person and she, I would hope, only stuck with him for the opportunity for power for herself which is also a great mark against her. She is not in this for the right reasons, she is a dishonest, self absorbed, liar, tavern wench and should be slinging drinks, not running for president let alone becoming president.

[thatchmo62]

Clinton is as qualified as any of the other candidates running for president. Unfortunately, that isn't saying very much. There isn't anyone currently running, Republican or Democrat, that I would vote for. None of them are true leaders. Just opportunists looking for power to satisfy their egos, rehashing the same old failed ideas. Is there anyone out there that can save this country from itself?

[skyk-2009]

would certainly never describe a bloodthirsty, AIPAC/Corporate-owned shrew as "Qualified" for anything, other that as a defendant in a war-crimes tribunal, but I guess that everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Posted by FeelFree1 at 06:05 PM : Jul 11, 2007

Well it's nice to know that the spirit of Carl Rove is alive and well today!

[skyk-2009]

I have listened to all the arguments as to why Hillary shouldn't be President. None of them make any sense. Here we have someone who KNOWS what the job is about and someone who can and will bring America back into a leadership roll in the World. We absolutely MUST renew our friendships and move to isolate those who use Terror against us. We KNOW how to fight Terrorist, we did it against our OWN Taliban during the 60's. This lady can and will bring all those things to bare against the biggest enemy we've faced since Hitler. She also, has at her side the vast experience of her husband, that gives us a much better chance of turning this around. IF we do not gain the upper hand, if we do not stop the world wide hatred, there will be no hope of ever returning to a normal life in this country.

[bayoudawg3]

Unfortunately, the next person elected President will be elected simply because he or she is not George Bush, not because they would be the most qualified person to be President. As long as we have only two major parties, I fear, we will always be faced with choosing '...the lesser of two evils.' I wouldn't give you two cents for any of the candidates from either major party. They are all bought and paid for by the corrupt elite who really run this country.

[harp1963]

I'd vote for Jeffery Dalmer if he was running against ANY Republican. Hilary, Obama, Jeffery Dalmer, homeless people living under a bridge, people who have just been discharged from mental institutions...it doesn't really matter. Anyone who is running against a "pretend Christian, lover of money Republican" is the lesser of two evils.

NEVER VOTE REPUBLICAN AGAIN!

[tcoleman12]

Right on Republic1776, except I would look at JC Watts rather than Powell. Much better conservative.

[sheldon2000-2009]

After already enduring a second Bush presidency, can America survive a second round with the Clintons? A non-partisan case against a second Clinton presidency is presented in my book, "Hillary Clinton Nude: Naked Ambition, Hillary Clinton And America's Demise." There are sound reasons why many Americans, from across the ideological spectrum, are not sanguine about trusting the nation's destiny to another celebrity politician.

[republic1776]

I would vote for a woman or a black for President.
(Mr. Powell, Dr. Rice)

The Clintons have no scruples or class.
She used her power and money to study and target a state that she could run for senate.
She is a fake!
Vote NOT for the Hillderbeast.

[michellem99-2009]

Love the canadian lady's answer. Lass is right on.The men just make messes. Hmm Time for a change ,boys haha. Hope she gets it. Yer whining now. Aiyup but who ever is Pres. better be honourable to hold that office and stand by this nation's conutution as Bush has not. I did not vote for him. What is in a name is we all have one.You love yours or you hate yours. That is the truth. oh well Hillary can make a different but men is the reason she may not be Madam Pres. True..

[tcoleman12]

Shanev,

It is not the America is not ready for a female or black president. It is just that we don't need this female or this black president.

Pick another one, I'll take a look. It's their issues, not race or gender.

[tcoleman12]

There is about 10 minutes of my life that I will never have back. A whole lot of nothing just to get her name in print for another day. Insanity...

[shanev137]

Sorry, hate to break the news to you, but Hilary or Obama will not be our next president. Americas are not ready for a black or female president.

[feelfree1]

Re: "Most Voters Think Clinton Is Qualified For Presidency"

I would certainly never describe a bloodthirsty, AIPAC/Corporate-owned shrew as "Qualified" for anything, other that as a defendant in a war-crimes tribunal, but I guess that everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

[guysdigdirt]

Get ready. No matter who becomes president, we have to pay for the Junior Bush years.
Posted by marcodele
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What a whiner, do you really think Bush is the only one who voted to go into Iraq? Do you think we would have the strenght of today's economy without having been in this war? Do you think we are in the largest time weighted defecit we have ever had? You are wrong on all accounts.

Get some real facts behind your arguements, try and make your point in an intelligent way and come back then.

[guysdigdirt]

I think that Hillary is your BEST BET.
Posted by erasmus6
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I agree, she is the best bet if you want a power seeking, lyeing, ugly, tavern wench as your president.