Polls Offer Mixed View Of Bill Clinton

CBS' Kathy Frankovic: Former President Standing Among Blacks Falls, But Only Slightly

(CBS)  This column was written by CBS News director of surveys Kathy Frankovic.

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A few weeks ago, I discussed how politicians tend to be seen more favorably after they’ve left office than during their terms. But the last few weeks have given us the opportunity to see what can happen when one of them re-emerges -- perhaps not in a very positive way.

That earlier column was about Al Gore -- this one is about Gore’s first running mate.

Bill Clinton campaigned for his wife in South Carolina. That January 26 primary now seems like a long time ago, but the former president’s statements there are still echoing in the campaign. The most recent CBS News Poll was conducted a week or so after that controversy began. Did the voters think Mr. Clinton been derogatory towards his wife’s competition, Barack Obama?

We needed additional time to see if there had been a sustained impact on voters. That’s because Democratic primary voters in South Carolina - especially African-American voters - had remained positive about Hillary Clinton (in fact, 70 percent of Obama voters would be satisfied if Clinton were the nominee). And when asked specifically about the importance of Mr. Clinton’s campaigning in their vote, the 26 percent who said it was very important actually were more likely to vote for Hillary Clinton than were those who did not think that campaigning mattered a lot.

That specific question did not measure much negative response to the former president.

Now, however, the nation’s opinion of Mr. Clinton has declined. Back in July, favorable ratings of Clinton outnumbered unfavorable ones, 51 percent to 37 percent. In the latest poll, 46 percent are favorable and 39 percent are not.

Not surprisingly, given the racially-charged component of the comments and the coverage, the change took place more among African-Americans than among whites. Whites had split 46 percent to 41 percent on Clinton last July. Now their 43 percent-43 percent split isn’t much different. But in July, blacks were favorable towards Clinton 79 percent to 7 percent. Although blacks are still among Bill Clinton’s strongest supporters, their opinions today are 63 percent favorable and 19 percent not - a drop of 16 points on the positive side, and an increase of 12 points on the negative.

There were other changes, too. After the New Hampshire primary, 31 percent of African-American Democratic primary voters nationally said Bill Clinton’s involvement in the Clinton campaign would make them more likely rather than less likely to vote for her. Now just 15 percent say that, while the proportion who says it would make them less likely stayed at about 13 percent.

Clinton’s involvement in his wife’s campaign received heavy media coverage. In fact, in the week surrounding the South Carolina primary, there was more coverage of him than of any of the Republican candidates, according to the Project for Excellence in Journalism.

By last week, that coverage and commentary had made many American voters think as pundits. When we asked Americans if President Clinton’s involvement helped or hurt his wife’s campaign, 41 percent said his involvement had hurt. Just 28 percent said he helped. African-Americans were more evenly divided. But still, 36 percent of blacks said he had hurt Hillary Clinton’s campaign while 31 percent said he had helped.

The larger question, of course, is whether or not President Clinton’s campaigning will hurt his wife’s campaign in the long run, and whether feelings about her would be affected. In South Carolina, just 19 percent of African-Americans voted for Clinton. They gave 78 percent of their votes to Obama. That was not much different from the 16 percent of the African-American vote Clinton received in the Super Tuesday primary states combined. And half of those who voted for Obama still said they would be satisfied if she became the nominee.

In the national CBS News Poll, 63 percent of both white and black Democratic primary voters had a favorable view of Hillary Clinton. Only about one in six voters were unfavorable. Those results were also not much different than they had been in the CBS News/New York Times poll conducted just after the New Hampshire primary, and before the South Carolina controversy.

If Hillary Clinton were elected president, the majority of Americans -- Democrat, Republican and independent -- expect it will, after all, be her presidency. After asking about Bill Clinton’s impact on the campaign, CBS News asked this about another possible Clinton presidency: “If Hillary Clinton becomes President, do you think Bill Clinton will have too much influence, too little influence, or about the right amount of influence on the decisions Hillary Clinton makes as president?” Just 22 percent of Democratic primary voters said he would have too much influence.

And Fox News asked this of ALL Americans: “If Hillary Clinton were elected president, who you think would really be president -- do you think Hillary would really be charge, Bill Clinton would really be in charge, or would there be a co-presidency?” Fifty-nine percent said, for better or worse, the “real” president would be Hillary.

[jack3213]

The Clintons should evaporate and we all would be happy, for those whose who don''t know it yet, will know happiness, and those who do know that we ar ebtter off without them will open a bottle of champaign. I''ll bring the glasses.

[jack3213]

The Clintons should evaporate and we all would be happy, those whose who don''t know it yet, will know it, and those who do know it, will open a bottle of champaign. I''ll being the glasses.

[fettkonserv]

Its nice and proper to be a good sport, but the object is to win. The press twists and turns statements by the major players to sell ED medication. It is important to see what you beliefs you share with the candidate vs what they look like. I could see Obama pulling some of the Moderate Christian conservatives away from the GOP.
Clinton on the other hand has a First Dude with experience, not to mention her own experience.
Just Vote Democratic in the end, or it will be THE END!

[jack3213]

The Clintons are as corrupt as can be. What''s more disheartening and hard to fathom, is the sheer number of gullible, entitlement minded supporters there are for them. Especially when the Clintons criminal history is still relatively fresh. I fear for the future of our country, when so many potential voters are more enamoured with gender politics and pop culture than the more important issue of character and adherance to the Constitution. The Clintons are not only power-mad, but they also promise a Socialist/Marxist style of government. Something their supporters either ignore, or actually support. The ignorance and rejection of the greatness of America by the Democrat electorate is stunning and sad. The ominous, looming danger of a Clinton or even an Obama Presidency is horrifying.

[rrcampbell1]

oops, should have said "herd of pink elephants"

: - )

[rrcampbell1]

There are aspects of the Clinton Presidency which are like a pack of pink elephants which are skateboarding through this campaign. That is one of the reasons we in the Democratic party need a different candidate, one like Sen. Obama.

This does not mean the Clintons cannot be valuable assets in lending their experience, when asked, to the cabinet or some other form of consultancy. If they really want to serve their country, that should be of interest to them.

Otherwise, it just seems like a power grab, but watch out, here comes one of them elephants right atcha!

[taotxzen1]

Bush Thinks This Will Help?

By Dan Froomkin
Special to washingtonpost.com
Friday, February 8, 2008; 12:56 PM

President Bush this morning gave his stamp of approval to the presumptive new leader of his party -- but he may not have been doing John McCain any favors.

"Listen, the stakes in November are high," Bush said. "This is an important election. Prosperity and peace are in the balance. So with confidence in our vision and faith in our values, let us go forward, fight for victory, and keep the White House in 2008."

But it''s a sound bite more likely to show up in a Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton commercial than a McCain one.

(cont)

[taotxzen1]

(cont)

Bush told a room full of whooping Republican die-hards at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference: "We will face other challenges ahead that will require new energy and before long, new leadership. I''m absolutely confident, with your help we will elect a President who shares our principles. As we take on the challenges, we must be guided by the philosophy that has brought us success. Our policies are working. The American people support our points of view. They share our philosophy."

But outside that room, Bush''s philosophy has been found wanting. For instance, while he specifically mentioned health care and education as areas where conservatives hold an advantage, a new poll out today shows that an overwhelming 68 percent of Americans disapprove of his handling of those issues. Even among Republicans, his support is at an all-time low.


Alan Fram writes for the Associated Press: "It''s almost as if people can barely stand the thought of President Bush and Congress anymore. Bush reached his lowest approval rating in The Associated Press-Ipsos poll on Friday as only 30 percent said they like the job he is doing. . . .

(cont)

[taotxzen1]

(cont)

"Just 61 percent of Republicans gave Bush positive reviews; his previous low was 65 percent last month. Only 28 percent of them expressed strong approval."
A Telling Moment

Bush described himself as being in high spirits. He started his speech by mocking his parents -- calling *** Cheney "the best Vice President in history" and then adding: "Mother may have a different opinion. But don''t tell her I said this, but my opinion is the one that counts." He insisted that "when the history of our actions is written, it will show that we were right."

And the crowd loved it. As Dallas Morning News reporter Todd Gillman wrote in a pool report: "Bush with greeted with near ecstatic thrill. It was hard to imagine that the 1,200 or more folks crammed into the room had been up for hours staking out seats for the 7:15 a.m. speech -- because they spent so little time sitting.

(cont)

[taotxzen1]

(cont)

"There were cheers when an aide placed the presidential seal on the podium. Cheers when the binder holding the president''s speech was put in place. And chants of ''Four more years!'' when Sen. Mitch McConnell introduced Bush, and a few more times during the speech. McConnell sat on his left, American Conservative Union president David Keene on his right.

"It was one ovation after another as Bush ran through red meat issues: making tax cuts permanent, extending the surveillance law, winning in Iraq, defeating terrorism, limiting stem cell research, upholding life, appointing conservative judges."

But a telling moment came when Bush was talking about people "swept up in a cycle of addiction, and crime, and hopelessness." Said Bush: "We know that people can change their behavior. Sometimes all it takes is the help of a loving soul -- somebody who puts their arm around a troubled person and says, I love you, can I help you."

Suddenly, as Gillman reported, a woman shouted out very loudly, "I love ya Dubya!"

Bush responded: "My soul is not that troubled, but thank you."