Editorial: Clinton’s Resilient Popularity - HRC ROOM POST

Clinton’s Resilient Popularity

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/06/hillary_clinton_s_resilient_popularity_the_democratic_frontrunner_still.html

No matter what we learn or what people say, Hillary remains one thing: One of the most popular political figures in America
----------------
No one, not even her strongest opponents, thinks Hillary Clinton is a weak candidate for president. The question is whether she’s especially strong, or a decent option with huge risk. In the past three months there’s been substantial evidence for the second possibility: There’s the questions about her private email use as secretary of state; the questions over her paid speeches and financial disclosures; and the questions about her husband and the Clinton Foundation, which took foreign donations during her time in the administration. No, there’s no proof of influence peddling or illegal behavior. But Clinton skeptics feel vindicated, and even Clinton allies are wary.

Lost in these fears of weakness, however, is Clinton’s real and enduring strength. Take the most recent poll of the presidential race, from Quinnipiac University. Within the Democratic Party, she is the favorite: Most Democrats, 57 percent, support her candidacy, compared to 15 percent for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and just 1 percent for Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley. But given her long dominance over competitors—potential and otherwise—this isn’t a surprise.

What’s actual news is the degree to which Clinton still leads her potential GOP opponents. In head-to-head match-ups with eight Republicans—Sen. Rand Paul, Sen. Marco Rubio, Gov. Chris Christie, Mike Huckabee, Jeb Bush, Gov. Scott Walker, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump—Clinton comes out on top. And while she doesn’t clear the 50 percent mark, except against Trump, she comes close, with 47 percent against Bush’s 37 percent, 46 percent against Walker’s 38 percent and Paul’s 42 percent, and 45 percent against Rubio’s 41 percent.


rest at the link