As Secretary of State John Kerry continues to try and find a diplomatic situation to the ongoing situation in Ukraine, a new poll reveals Americans have a favorable view of the secretary.
According to a new Gallup poll, 55% of Americans have a generally favorable view of Kerry with 34% having an unfavorable view of him, a rating that is almost unchanged since he took office. While this poll was conducted in February, prior to the crisis in Ukraine, his favorability has risen seven points since the height of the Syria crisis in September.
“Much of the world is focused on Kerry this week as the U.S. and Russia engage in brinkmanship over Russia's military involvement in Ukraine,” Gallup polling says. “In his year in office, Kerry has been involved not only in the Ukrainian crisis but also the chemical weapons situation in Syria, developing a framework for peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, and nuclear peace talks with Iran. “
While the Secretary of State can bask in his favorability rising 11 percentage points since taking the role of Secretary of State about a year ago, his rating is still lower than four of the last five Secretaries of State. More than 60% of Americans had a favorable rating of Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, and Madeleine Albright after about a year into their service and Colin Powell had an 85% favorability rating roughly one year into his term. Only Warren Christopher had a lower favorability rating at 41% at the end of his first year.