December 07, 2006
The Big Number: 9
A new Gallup poll hits upon an interesting idea. The company asked 1003 adults what came to their mind when they thought of one of four possible Dem presidential contenders in '08 and the open-ended question sheds fascinating light on the strengths and weaknesses of some Dem frount-runners.
Some highlights for each of the four contenders:
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY): She's "qualified" or "capable" of serving as president, according to 10%, "strong" and "intelligent" according to 14%. But 18% say they dislike her or that she wouldn't be good for the country and 6% call her "dishonest" or say they don't trust her. A positive former negative: Just 3% say she's too liberal.
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL): 12% call him "young" or "inexperienced," while 7% say he's a "fresh face with new ideas." Obama's top responses are almost all positive, aside from those concerned with his inexperience. People call Obama "intelligent" (4%), "charismatic/dynamic/energetic" (4%), "honest" and "articulate" (2% each) before they say he's unelectable at the moment (2%).
Ex-VP Al Gore: Gore's movie was a convenient P.R. vehicle, as 13% associate him with environmentalism or global warming issues. Gore gets some negative marks, as 10% either don't like him or say he would be a bad candidate, while another 4% say he's "weak" or has "no backbone." 7% call him "not very smart" or "incompetent." On the plus side, 8% say he would be a good candidate while 5% say he was a good VP or is "experienced." 10%, though, think Gore is "past his time," and in an answer unique to this poll, 3% called him "crazy." We kid you not.
Sen. John Kerry (D-MA): The source of our big number. Of the top 10 answers given about Kerry, 9 are negative -- some astoundingly so. Plenty say he's "dishonest" (6%) or "wishy-washy" (6%), while 7% don't like him. Like Gore, a sizeable portion -- 12% -- think he's had his shot. Just 4% say he would make a good candidate, but that same percentage actually call him a "traitor" and "disloyal to the military." Are memories of Swift Boat Vets really still lingering?
The poll surveyed 1003 adults on Gallup's national panel between 11/27-29. The margin of error is +/- 3.1% and was released today. Gallup tells us they have yet to conduct similar questions for top GOP candidates. Full poll, with every answer garnering more than 4%, if you hit the jump [REID WILSON].
What Comes To Mind When You Think What Comes To Mind When You Think
About H. Clinton? About J. Kerry?
Dislike her 13% Had his chance/lost 12%
Qualified/capable 10 Don't like him 7
Riding Bill's coattails 9 Dishonest/don't trust 6
Strong 8 Wishy-washy/indecisive 6
Intelligent/smart 6 Poor choice 5
Dishonest/don't trust 6 Bad speaker 5
Would not be good for US 5 Weak/no backbone 5
Good politician 5 Would make good candidate 4
Would be first wom. pres. 4 Traitor/disloyal to mil. 4
Like her 4
Not ready for wom. pres. 4 What Comes To Mind When You Think
About A. Gore?
What Comes To Mind When You Think Environmentalist/
About B. Obama? global warming 13%
Young/inexperienced 12% Past his time 10
Fres face/good change 7 Would make good candidate 8
Good candidate/choice 6 Don't like him 5
Don't know him 5 Poor candidate 5
Like him 4 Weak/no backbone 4
Intelligent/smart 4 Not smart/intelligent 4
Charismatic/energetic 4
Posted at 12:13 PM
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