High On The Hill
As Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) testifies before the Sen. Foreign Relations Cmte, USA Today/Gallup released a new poll showing a restored public image of the Sec/State-designate. According to the survey, 65% of U.S. adults now have a favorable image of HRC, up from 54% in 8/08. Over the same period, her unfavorable rating has dropped from 43% to just 33%.
HRC's current fav rating is actually her highest mark in a decade. The ex-FLOTUS last hit 65% in 3/99 -- just as Monica Lewinsky sat down with Barbara Walters, graced the cover of Time and dropped by "Saturday Night Live" to promote Monica's Story.
Indeed, beyond those trying years of '97-'99, the only other time HRC's fav has crossed 60% was the first days of her husband's presidency. In 9/93, 4/93 and 3/93, USA Today/Gallup tracked HRC at 62%, 61% and 61%, respectively.
The latest poll, conducted 1/9-11, surveyed 1,031 adults and has margin of error +/- 3.1%.
(MATTHEW GOTTLIEB)