With Hillary being saddled with questions about her private email server, abysmal favorables, and low marks on trustworthiness/honesty, almost half of likely voters in the country want her to suspend her campaign, according to a new Rasmussen poll.
After all, the Democratic frontrunner is under an FBI investigation. Surpassingly, almost a quarter of Democrats agreed that her majesty should stand aside for now until all the legal questions she’s facing can be addressed. At the same time, 44 percent disagreed, indicating (as always) that Hillary Clinton remains one of the most polarizing figures in politics:
Voters are almost evenly divided on that question: the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters believe Clinton should suspend her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination until all of the legal questions about her use of the private e-mail server are resolved. Nearly as many (44%) disagree. Nine percent (9%) are undecided.Even one-in-four Democrats (24%) agree that the front-runner for their party’s nomination should suspend her campaign for the time being. But that compares to 73% of Republicans and 46% of voters not affiliated with either major party.
Yet, let’s throw some cold water on this development. Hillary Clinton isn’t going to suspend her campaign. While this is another troubling sign for her staff to deal with–they certainly didn’t expect a FBI investigation to be part of her 2016 campaign–Mrs. Clinton is still ahead in the polls (though things have tightened up in New Hampshire thanks to Sen. Bernie Sanders*), she has the lion share of endorsements from her colleagues in the Senate, and her war chest is more than healthy. Moreover, while the FBI may be investigating her, Bill was playing golf with the president on August 15. There’s little chance that Mrs. Clinton would be indicted for her lapse in judgment over her email arrangements.
This isn’t a partisan witch-hunt. The investigation is being conducted by Obama’s Justice Department. Publications and pundits from both sides have stated that this email arrangement has presented legitimate questions, with some saying that this development, coupled with her other baggage, makes it impossible for her to be an effective president–and that she should bow out with “grace.” Again, she won’t. Nevertheless, this is great ammunition for Republicans to use against her. The fact that both conservative and liberal commentators have criticized her not only for her private email system, but how she’s handled the situation this far gives this story more legitimacy. This story will stick around no matter how much Howard Dean gripes about it, saying it’s the work of the GOP and the bored media.
Actually, governor, it didn’t have to be this way. It was a self-inflicted wound that showed a lack of respect for the process regarding classified information. Hillary’s made it worse by treating this debacle as some conspiracy to get her, like her husband in the 1990s. The difference is that the American people, more or less, liked Bill. They can’t stand her.
Lastly, besides no real reason to suspend her campaign due to polling, endorsements, and money, she’s a Clinton. They play by their own rules. This poll might get tossed around a bit, but obviously don’t hold your breath if you’re hoping her imperial majesty decides to sit it out until this all blows over. Biden is lurking.
* Some polls have Sanders leading Clinton in New Hampshire, where he could win there and Iowa but still lose the nomination to her.
PPP NH poll:
Sanders 42%
Clinton 35%
Webb 6%
O’Malley 4%
Chafee 2%
Lessig 1%
http://t.co/BshU8Hp3R3
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) August 25, 2015
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