It’s often the big question as voters choose a president--who do you like?
Likability matters, and Gallup Thursday released data showing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the best-liked potential 2016 presidential candidate. But, the poll also found, her ratings are lower than she enjoyed as secretary of state.
“While Clinton's image has lost some of its luster as she has moved from a less overtly political role as secretary of state to her current role as a book author and potential presidential candidate, she is in an arguably stronger position with the public now than she was before her 2008 presidential campaign,” Gallup found.
No Democrat comes close. Clinton registered a +19 favorable rating; next was Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren at +4. Vice President Joe Biden had a -5. The rating is derived from comparing favorable and unfavorable findings--Clinton was viewed favorably by 55 percent and negatively by 36 percent.
Among Republicans, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee “is arguably in a slightly better position image-wise among the national adult population than other potential Republican presidential candidates,” Gallup said.
He posed a +12 net favorable rating, somewhat better than Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul at +9. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is at +8, and at +6 are Texas Gov. Rick Perry, 2012 vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.