Summary: Hillary is all but crowned as the Democratic nominee for President, yet her low polls numbers suggest that even a moderately strong Republican candidate could defeat her. The Republicans also appear likely to nominate an unpopular candidate. If so, the 2016 will clearly show how our political system runs without us. Plus, public opinion polls provide a mirror into which we can see ourselves — and as a side-effect this polls reveals our gullibility. {2nd of 2 posts today.}
How does a Republic work if its citizens remain aloof from it politics? America seems likely to provide a demonstration, as November 2016 seems likely to give us a choice between two unpopular candidates. Unpopular to us, that is. America’s stakeholders, the people who run it while we remain on the sidelines, will love them. Today we’ll look at the anointed Democratic front-runner, to see what the polls reveal about her, about us, and about the state of the Republic.
A poll taken May 29 – 31
“Do you favorably regard politician X” goes to the bottom line of electoral politics. The results show Hillary as a polarizing figure, with both high unfavorable and small “no opinion” levels. The current ratings are among her worst ever since Bil Clinton’s election as President.
Asking about the qualities that lead to a favorably opinion yields similar results, showing that the roots of her unpopularity are broad and deep.
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The questions about Benghazi Benghazi BENGHAZI! The poll ratings showing strong support for the GOP’s delusional scandal-mongering, more evidence of American’s susceptibility to propaganda — if repeated often and loudly. For more about this see Our leaders have made a discovery of the sort that changes the destiny of nations and The secret, simple tool that persuades Americans. That molds our opinions.
For More Information
Jamelle Bouie at Slate rushes to defend the conventional narrative: “Democrats, Don’t Freak Out!” — “Hillary Clinton’s poll numbers were always going to fall a little. That doesn’t change anything.” He oddly compares Hillary’s numbers as a Presidential candidate to those of ex-Presidents. Apples, meet oranges. In “Clinton’s Resilient Popularity” he confuses popularity (she’s not) with “more favored than even less popular candidates.” Would you prefer liver or kidneys for breakfast?
Jonathan Chait at New York gives a more insightful analysis: “Hillary Clinton Isn’t Very Popular, But She’s Winning Anyway” (the GOP candidates have even worse numbers). As does Megan McArdle at Bloomberg: “Clinton Support Has Nowhere to Go But Down“.
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