Hillary and Robert

We’re not real happy with our political leaders in Washington, D.C.

A recent Harris Poll asked the question, “Are you familiar enough with each of the following to have an opinion regarding them?” Many people were not familiar with some of those on the list. Among those who were familiar with them, eight of the 10 received more positive than negative ratings.

Harris surveyed 2,276 U.S. adults between Dec. 7-14.

Most adults were not familiar with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (56%), Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner (57%), House Minority Leader John Boehner (72%) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (72%). Only half of all adults (49%) were familiar with Bob Gates.

“These findings confirm that only a minority of the public is familiar with more than a small number of leaders in D.C.; and that most people with opinions continue to hold much more negative than positive feelings about Washington and most of our Federal Government leaders,” noted a statement from Harris.

The two most favorably rated leaders were Hillary Clinton (48% positive, 34% negative) and Bob Gates (28% positive, 21% negative).

Harris noted: “It is interesting that Hillary Clinton is the most popular leader in D.C., as were both Secretaries of State in the Bush Administration, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. Whether that is because fewer people blame them for the country’s economic and domestic problems or because they are often seen on a world stage, this survey does not tell us.”

SURVEY FINDINGS
• Among those who were familiar with them, all of the other leaders rated had more negative than positive ratings:
Vice President Joe Biden (42% negative to 30% positive);
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (49% to 22%);
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner (29% to 15%);
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (33% to 11%);
House Minority Leader John Boehner (19% to 8%); and,
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (20% to 8%).

• Survey respondents were also overwhelmingly negative for both Democrats (50% negative and only 18% positive) and Republicans (50% negative and 14% positive).