Former President Clinton’s standing among Americans has fallen precipitously since he left office, reflecting a deep skepticism over the slew of last-minute pardons he granted, a new NBC-Wall Street Journal poll shows. Clinton’s ratings, in fact, are lower now than during the depths of the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
The survey, conducted March 1-4, shows that 52 percent of Americans say they have a “somewhat negative” or “very negative” view of the former president, while just 34 percent have a “very positive” or “somewhat positive” view.
That’s a mirror image of a survey in January, when 56 percent of Americans expressed positive feelings about Clinton and 33 percent were negative.
A new low
Both Bill Clinton and his wife, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, recorded their lowest ratings ever in the history of the NBC-Wall Street Journal survey, and for the Bill Clinton, the speed of his fall is unprecedented.
His approval rating has dropped so much, in fact, it’s lower than in September 1998, after he admitted his affair with Monica Lewinksy, and independent prosecutor Ken Starr published his graphic and damning report about the president’s behavior.The new survey’s numbers are based on interview with 2,024 adults and have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points.
Americans’ views of Hillary Clinton also have flip-flopped since January. Then, 49 percent saw the former first lady in a positive light, while 36 percent had negative feelings toward her.
Now, though, 49 percent have a negative view of New York’s junior senator, while 35 percent rate her as very positive or somewhat positive.
Concern about influence
Bill Clinton’s eroding reputation appears to be the result of the controversy over the 140 pardons he granted before he left office Jan. 20.
Fifty-five percent said Clinton’s actions make them feel less favorable toward him, while 39 percent said they make no difference. Five percent said Clinton’s action make them feel more favorable toward him.
When asked specifically about the pardons, more than two-thirds of those surveyed — 68 percent — said they thought most of Clinton’s pardons and commutations were granted “because of political influence and financial contributions.” A scant 16 percent said they thought the pardons “were justified on the merits of the case.”
The skepticism extends to Hillary Clinton as well.
Sixty percent of those surveyed said they do not believe Sen. Clinton’s statement that she was not involved in pardons, while 32 percent said they do believe her. Eight percent said they weren’t sure.