I’d say this is probably inevitable to an extent, Hillary Clinton is taking on fire from her left, and the right. Bernie Sanders is throwing cold water on her polling in some regards, and she’s got the entire Republican field, Donald Trump being the loudest, attacking her on a range of issues. Beyond that, she hasn’t done much to help herself in recent press appearances.
Report from the Associated Press:
Hillary Rodham Clinton’s standing is falling among Democrats, and voters view her as less decisive and inspiring than when she launched her presidential campaign just three months ago, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll.
The survey offers a series of warning signs for the leading Democratic candidate. Most troubling, perhaps, for her prospects are questions about her compassion for average Americans, a quality that fueled President Barack Obama’s two White House victories.
Just 39 percent of all Americans have a favorable view of Clinton, compared to nearly half who say they have a negative opinion of her. That’s an eight-point increase in her unfavorable rating from an AP-GfK poll conducted at the end of April.
The drop in Clinton’s numbers extends into the Democratic Party. Seven in 10 Democrats gave Clinton positive marks, an 11-point drop from the April survey. Nearly a quarter of Democrats now say they see Clinton in an unfavorable light.
“I used to like her, but I don’t trust her,” said Donald Walters of Louisville, Kentucky. “Ever since she’s announced her candidacy for the presidency I just haven’t liked the way she’s handled things. She doesn’t answer questions directly.”
It is not uncommon for polls to fluctuate, especially as the campaigns ratchet up and attacks start flying. However, there is likely concern in some circles asking where the floor is in these polls if Hillary is to maintain her status as the “inevitable” nominee. Things will only get tougher as the campaign unfolds and the debates start on August 6.
