WASHINGTON, 17 October — Long hours in the Senate and dark circles under her eyes have failed to change Hillary Clinton’s standing with the American public. A new poll finds more than two out of three Americans do not want Hillary Clinton to run for president. Not now. Not ever.
"By more than two to one, voters nationwide" think she should forget about the White House, according to the New York-based Marist Institute for Public Opinion survey released earlier this week. "Republicans and independents overwhelmingly oppose a possible Clinton candidacy," the new poll stated.
And they think she is aware of her fate. Sixty-three percent of voters nationwide expect New York Sen. Hillary Clinton to serve out her full six-year term in the Senate and not run for president in 2004. Only twenty-eight percent of the national electorate thinks she will run for president in 2004.
Republicans and Independents overwhelmingly oppose a possible Hillary’s candidacy. Ninety percent of Republican voters and 66 percent of the independents feel Hillary should never run for presidency. And a whopping 53 percent of Democrats agree.
"Thirty-seven of voters nationwide have a favorable impression of Sen. Hillary Clinton. Fifty-three percent of registered voters rate her unfavorably. Nearly two-thirds of Democrats rate her favorably compared to only a handful of Republicans who view her positively," noted the survey.
Last August, Hillary said she would complete her six-year term in the Senate, which will expire in 2006.
"I have no plans to run for president," she told the Associated Press at the time, noting a certain public fascination for her unique situation as former first lady to senator.
"That’s part of the speculation and wishful thinking," Hillary told journalists. "We all hope a woman will run in our lifetime."
Still, she does take advantage of any sound bite that comes her way. During the Senate debate last week to authorize use of military force in Iraq, Hillary said: "This is probably the hardest decision I have ever had to make… but I cast it with conviction."
Voting affirmatively, Hillary said: "Perhaps my decision is influenced by my eight years of experience on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue in the White House, watching my husband deal with serious challenges to our nation. I want this president to be in the strongest possible position to lead our country in the United Nations or in war," she said.
About 1,017 Americans were polled nationwide in the Marist Institute survey.
