Clinton's Support Among Liberals is Rising (Dan Balz)

[mwb970]

(The Trail, November 5, 2007)

Hillary Clinton's opponents have accused her of sounding too hawkish on Iran, of refusing to commit to a firmer timetable for removing troops from Iraq and of generally moving to the center -- all criticisms designed to undermine her support among the Democratic Party's liberal base.

But a new Washington Post-ABC News poll of the 2008 race shows a surprising trend: Clinton's support among liberals is actually rising, not falling, as the nomination debate has intensified.

A review of Post-ABC polls throughout the year, assembled by analyst Jennifer Agiesta of our polling unit, shows that Clinton has expanded her overall lead in the Democratic race in large part because of growing support among self-identified liberals.

The new poll showed 54 percent of liberals said they supported Clinton for the Democratic nomination, the second consecutive poll in which she has won the backing of more than half of all liberals. That represents a significant jump in liberal support from earlier in the year, when she was backed by 40-43 percent of those who identified themselves as liberals.

(More here.)

Feel the love!

[Perry Logan]

1. Shh! Are you trying to make the anti-Hillarites cranky?

[MethuenProgressive]

11. Shh! Obama's liberal support down to a mere 25%

But, now that I think about it, that might be in Obama's favor - considering the target audience of his recent pandering.

[rpannier]

2. As a liberal I must say

as the year has gone on I have liked her less-and-less.
I am nearly at the point where I'll be checking 3rd Party candidates if she's the nominee.

[LostinVA]

8. A third party vote is a Republican vote

I hope you don't go that way.

[MadHound]

Hmm, interesting, if you study the actual poll, you won't find that it makes that claim anywhere

It doesn't ask any direct questions in that regard, nor even any indirect questions. Check for yourself <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_110407.html> In fact the word liberal is only mentioned twice, both in the same question. There isn't even a definition of liberal, and God knows in this media age, liberal could range from Lieberman to Kucinich, given the nature of our media.

But there is actually no substance to back up this claim of ABC's, none what so ever. Sure, you can say that they could have organized answers based on whether the person answered if they were liberal or not, but this is not indicated anywhere on the poll or in the methodology, and frankly if they were indeed doing this, they would be piss poor poll takers(OK, WP/ABC, rather redundant I know).

So frankly, I don't see what there is to crow about. This article is simply nothing more than pro-Clinton spin, but it has nothing of substance to back it up. Congratulations are in order I suppose, the Clinton camp has a lock on the MSM spinmeisters and propagandists:eye: Like we didn't already know this, like this is really something to be proud of.

Congratulations mwb, you fell for the spin over the facts.

[maine_raptor]

10. Now why doesn't that surprise me?

The Wapo and ABC, eh?

Their polls are best digested with a 5lb grain of salt!

[MadHound]

13. Yep, I wasn't surprised by this finding,

Nor am I surprised that Hillary supporters try and tout this sort of propaganda all over these boards. I'm not even surprised by the fact that the OP isn't even addressing the points that I brought up. Typical Clinton campaign, all spin, no substance.

[mwb970]

15. A poll from Pew Research Center had similar results in August.

Clinton's Positive Image among Liberals

Liberal Democrats have always liked Hillary Clinton, but the level of enthusiasm for her has grown notably as her 2008 candidacy has gained more attention. Currently, 92% of liberal Democrats who offer an opinion of Clinton view her favorably, up from 85% in 2001 just after she became the junior senator from New York. Meanwhile, the share of conservative Democrats who view Clinton favorably has declined, from 86% in 2001 to 75% today. Currently 39% of liberal Democrats offer a very favorable assessment of Clinton, compared with 35% who say the same about Obama and just 24% for Edwards.

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/583/blacks-john-edwards

[KharmaTrain]

3. What Are The Alternatives?

Look at the Repugnicans and you're seeing it fracturing...the religious right won't support Rudy and is lukewarm about Mittens and threatens to go third party. There's the Ron Paul faction that has attracted the libertarian wing. No matter who the nominee is, someone's gonna be pissed off. This is sure to mean less people on church busses and many Repugnicans or so called "independents" taking a powder next year. Maybe Paul will become the Perot of '08...take his support and money and create a serious third party run.

While people on our side bitch (and politic) through this primary sturn and drang, Democrats are far more united than I've seen in many years. Most candidates stand for the same core values and are a welcome departure from the past 7 years of the boooosh regime. Any of the candidates can and will unite the party as the "rank and file" see a bigger picture at play in next year's elections.

For those who keep threatening to jump off a bridge or kick a cat or not vote for Hillary is she's the nominee, then who? Nader? Write in Al Gore or the Trix Rabbit? Whose the Alternative?

[ixion]

4. what do you mean "so called 'independents'?

I'm an independent and proud of it, and do not consider it a "so-called" state of being. So could you elaborate on why you chose to disparage people like me?

All an independent is is someone who refuses to put party politics before what they believe to be right.

[KharmaTrain]

5. Were You A Repugnican?

In the past year I've met many people who were big Repugnican supporters who now call themselves "independent". This is whom I'm refering to. As things have gotten worse, they have abandonded their party and use their "independent" status to absolve themselves of the blood on their hands for enabling this regime.

I have a healthy respect for those who are truly non-aligned and vote the candidate or issue rather than the party, but that's not what I'm addressing here.

[ixion]

7. ah okay... yeah, that wouldn't be me...

I've always been an independent...at least since my high school days back in the 80's.

Specifically, I look for progressive candidates who speak the truth. The GOP holds no interest for me whatsoever because the truth is anathema to them. I have more respect for the Dems, but they seem to be either spineless or capitulating most of the time, so that leaves me with the hope that someday we'll see some good progressive movement in our political system.

What do I mean by progressive? Well, someone who would end the so-called War on Drugs and it's ugly younger brother, the War on Terror, would be a great start in my book.

Thanks for your very civil response to my question. :hi:

[KharmaTrain]

9. Together It Can Happen

In a couple of elections, I "hopped the fence" and voted in a GOOP primary and thus claimed I was "independent", but did so with a snicker. I go back to the 60's...a Bobby Kennedy accolyte whose temptered over time by the realities of power and ego.

I've seen the rise of "conservatism" over the past 20 years and could never subscribe to the arrogance and selfishness that goes along with their "ideals". I also look for progressive candidates who can work within the sytem to enact change...and dare I say, I see a good future ahead...if we make it happen.

The total implosion of the Repugnican party is at hand and with it are opportunities to further our common goals and dreams, but it means the gradual change of a system that resists change. It's working together with our talents and resources to get more progressive and liberal candidates elected...be them Democrats or Independent. The '06 election was to put the brakes on a runaway government, '08 is to restore some sanity (and spine) to the legislative and the country and then work towards making gains in '10 and beyond. It can happen.

Cheers...

:hi:

:toast:

[Echo In Light]

6. You mean among those who are shifted to the right, but prefer to see themselves as "liberal" n/t

[mmonk]

12. I've seen about a thousand of these posts.

Any reason? These people keep exclaiming this lately. Maybe if it is repeated enough times?

[FreeStateDemocrat]

14. Absolutely unexpurgated BS. M$M spin-machine trying to spawn another fantasy.