Hillary Clinton Gets 57% Support In 2016 Poll

So far at least, the numbers are looking pretty good for Hillary Clinton if she really does decide to run four years from now:

Public impressions of Hillary Clinton are at an all-time high, with a large majority of Americans giving her positive reviews as the country’s secretary of state and most wanting her to be a presidential candidate in 2016, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Overall, 57 percent of all Americans say they would back a Clinton candidacy, with support peaking among younger women.

Among all women, 66 percent say they would support Clinton as a candidate for president in 2016; it is 75 percent among those under 50 and 54 percent among those aged 50 and up. Forty-nine percent of men back a Clinton bid, regardless of what side of 50 they are on.

Clinton gets far higher support among independent women than men (68 vs. 52 percent), and among GOP women than men ((35 vs. 13 percent). But support for a Clinton candidacy is high among both Democratic men and women (80 and 84 percent, respectively).

Republicans are far less supportive of a presidential bid from the former first lady: in the poll, 23 percent of Republicans would support a run in 2016; 73 percent would oppose it. Some 82 percent of Democrats would back her candidacy, with most saying they would do so “strongly.” A majority of independents, 59 percent, also support another Clinton run.

Some of this support stems from her high overall popularity: 66 percent of all Americans express favorable views of the soon-to-be-former Secretary of State — the most doing so in more than 20 years of polling. Fully 68 percent approve of the way she is handling her current job, as top diplomat.

Obviously, it’s far too early for this poll to be much of anything other than a reflection of Clinton’s personal popularity. However, one suspects that as 2016 approaches there will be many Democrats waiting on the sidelines to see what Hillary does, and deciding not to run if she throws her hat in the ring.

FILED UNDER: 2016 Election, US Politics, , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Tsar Nicholas says:

    But what happens if Deval Patrick decides to run?

    It’s irrefutable that blacks first vote by race and then by party label. Obama vs. Clinton. Cardin vs. Mfume. Moseley Braun vs. Dixon. And obviously blacks make up a disproportionate percentage of the Dem primary selectorate.

    The bottom line is that Hillary could morph into the greatest thing since sliced bread and nevertheless in a primary contest between her and Patrick the latter would receive around 90% of the black vote. That would be tough for Hillary to overcome. Not impossible. But very difficult.

    Lastly, I know WaPo-ABC still are in the afterglow of the election, but they probably need to curb some of their enthusiasm. Four months is an eternity in politics, much less four years.

  2. mattb says:

    God… can we just ignore 2016 for a while? Seriously, any 2016 polls conducted this year have next to nothing to do with reality!

    Here’s an example of “relevant polling” from 2005:
    Poll Shows Giuliani over Clinton in 2008 Presidential Match-Up
    http://www.newswise.com/articles/poll-shows-giuliani-over-clinton-in-2008-presidential-match-up

    Everyone of course remembers how Giuliani set the primaries on fire in 2008…

  3. Dan says:

    I think Hilary Clinton will be an excellent president and I definitely want her to run but I am wondering if she has any vulnerabilities. In 2009, I saw a headline on a couple of websites that Hilary Clinton had a lesbian affair with one of her aides. I did not click on it to see if the story was true but I’ve been wondering ever since if it is true and if this might be a vulnerability for her if she decides to run for president again. Has anyone heard anything about this?

  4. Brummagem Joe says:

    Basically the nominatiion and probably the presidency also are hers if she want’s it 2016. And 2016 is going to be good year for the democrat probably. The economy will be fully recovered and Obama and the democrats will be smelling of roses. The campaign theme writes itself……Democrats fixed the last two Republican messes don’t let them create a third.

  5. Brummagem Joe says:

    @mattb:

    Giuliani?…..hardly a relevant comparison. Have you forgotten Hillary only very narrowly lost the nomination in 2008 and has since gone on to burnish her laurels. Giuliani bombed in the primary and has gone to become? What? Fox commentator?

  6. mantis says:

    @Tsar Nicholas:

    It’s irrefutable that blacks first vote by race and then by party label.

    Bullshit. Two words: Allen West.

    You’re a racist moron. GFY.

  7. Console says:

    @mantis:

    But what about the nominations of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, surely that proves Tsa… wait a second.

  8. Console says:

    @Tsar Nicholas:

    And to remind Tsar of why he knows nothing about american politics…

    Three words, Iowa New Hampshire

  9. AstoriaProgressive says:

    This is hardly surprising. Hillary Clinton will be the next President of the United States. The only question remaining is who, on the Republican side, will play the part of Walter Mondale to the conquering Ronald Reagan. She will be running like an incumbent; however, without the baggage of having to defend the policies of the past four years. Clinton is the second most popular politician in America. She also happens to be married to the first.

    That said, in my lifetime, 52 years, there has never been a candidate for President more qualified by experience, intellect, vision, and character. I say this as an Obama supporter in 2008. At that time in history she was the wrong candidate. Her moment is coming where she will be able to consolidate and expand on the record of President Obama. In future generations we will recall that although it is called Obamacare, its permanence and near universal acceptance was accomplished by Hillary Clinton.

    Scalia is well advised to start eating healthy and exercising regularly.

  10. stonetools says:

    Hilary Clinton would probably make a good President. But I would prefer that she go on into private life and spend time with her husband.

    Its time for the young lions to take center stage .(Warner, Patrick, Sherrod Brown). Let’s see how they do.

    God… can we just ignore 2016 for a while? Seriously, any 2016 polls conducted this year have next to nothing to do with reality!

    +1.

  11. mattb says:

    @Brummagem Joe:
    The point is not so much that Guliani was a good or bad candidate… it’s that everything is useless speculation until the race happens.

    Beyond all of that, count me among the Hillary isn’t going to run crowd. If she did run, she would have a good chance to getting the nomination and winning the whole shebang. That said, there is a lot of talent in the wings (in addition to Stonetools list, there’s also Andrew Cuomo). And I think that she’s pragmatic enough to go out on a high note, Secretary of State, rather than subjecting herself to the rigors of the modern presidential campaign and risking another failed run.

  12. Ron Beasley says:

    @Dan: In 2007 it was alleged that she had a lesbian relationship with her aid Huma Abedin but nothing ever came of it. The next time we heard of Ms Abedin she was married to disgraced congressman Anthony Weiner with whom she had a child.

  13. @Tsar Nicholas: Please see how the African American vote went in Iowa 2008 during the Caucus (significantly less than 90% AA went Obama) and btw, 93% of Dem caucus goers in 2008 were Caucasion

    Also see the oh so successful Presidential campaigns of Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Carol Mosely-Braun….

    The strongest statement that we can make is that African American Democratic primary voters will support candidates that reflect their interests and identity (and how is that different than almost any other subgroup…..)

  14. stonetools says:

    If Hilary didn’t do another further, she would probably be the most accomplished and respected woman in US history. Consider:

    Law firm partner
    Governor’s wife
    First Lady
    US Senator
    Presidential candidate
    Secretary of State

    And all this in the face of 20 years of near maniacal conservative hate.
    I think she has made her point.

    Another potential nomination candidate: Brian Schweitzer, governor of Montana.

  15. bill says:

    it’s kinda unfair right now, look who’s in office!

  16. edmondo says:

    “@Dan: In 2007 it was alleged that she had a lesbian relationship with her aid Huma Abedin but nothing ever came of it. The next time we heard of Ms Abedin she was married to disgraced congressman Anthony Weiner with whom she had a child. ”

    Anthony Weiner is now a lesbian too?

  17. An Interested Party says:

    Scalia is well advised to start eating healthy and exercising regularly.

    Oh that would be delicious if sad little bitter Tony had to wait until he was at least 88 (not that he would live that long) to retire…

    it’s kinda unfair right now, look who’s in office!

    You poor thing…those sour grapes must taste awful…

  18. Wr says:

    @mattb: After this week, Cuomo’s future on the national Democratic stage is a notch lower than Joe Lieberman’s…