Hillary Clinton seems more popular than ever at her jam-packed book tour events – but one recent poll is telling a slightly different story.
According to a new survey by Gallup, the former secretary of state and potential 2016 presidential candidate’s favorability ratings are slipping. While the number is still high -- 54% of Americans view Clinton in a positive light -- it’s a five-point drop since February and lower than the 60% or more she consistently received during her time at the State Department.
It’s also the lowest her favorability rating has been since August 2008, when she was about to deliver a speech at the Democratic National Convention backing then-Sen. Barack Obama, who defeated her in a bruising primary battle for the party’s presidential nomination.
“Hillary Clinton’s era of higher favorability appears to be ending even before she announces whether she will run for president,” wrote Gallup’s Justin McCarthy. “Americans typically rate non-political figures higher than political ones on this measure, and her favorable ratings before, during and after being secretary of State are consistent with that phenomenon.”
The latest dip was largely among Republicans and independents. According to the poll, 21% of GOPers viewed Clinton favorably, compared to 29% in February. Among independents, 49% viewed her favorably, which was down seven points since February. Among Democrats, her popularity actually ticked up from 88% to 90%.
Clinton is currently crisscrossing the country to promote her new memoir, “Hard Choices”, which came out on Monday. Her massively publicized book tour and slew of TV interviews are, of course, being seen as part of a months-long rollout leading up to her 2016 decision. Clinton has additional book signing dates this summer in Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Austin, San Francisco, and Arlington, Va.