Obama 35 Percent More Likeable Than Clinton. Does it Matter?

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A new FOX News poll [pdf] asks poll respondents if they find the two leading Democratic candidates for president “likeable.” The results: Hillary Clinton is considered likeable by 56% of respondents, Barack Obama by a whopping 76%. Even 68% of self-identified Republicans like BHO.

So my question is this — is the huge difference in how people perceive them a product of personality differences or the fact that Clinton has been dragged through the mud of several prominent campaigns? To put it another way, will Obama’s numbers drop after some extended time in the national spotlight?

For what it’s worth, respondents were much more likely to label Clinton a “strong leader” than Obama, but they were more likely to label Obama “honest and trustworthy” than Clinton.

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And the essential ingredient that makes all this possible? Readers like you.

It’s reader support that enables Mother Jones to devote the time and resources to report the facts that are too difficult, expensive, or inconvenient for other news outlets to uncover. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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