by Frank James
It’s a given that Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-Ill.) and her husband are very popular with African-Americans, a popularity that was on display at last night’s Democratic debate at Howard University.
Gallup’s pollsters have a new survey that indicates just how highly thought of she is among African Americans but Hispanics as well.
According to the poll, 84 percent of blacks rated her favorably while only 10 percent viewed her negatively. That compared with 68 percent of blacks who view Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) positively and eight percent unfavorably.
Gallup’s report had this amusing explanation of Clinton’s strength with black voters:
Due to his strong support in the African-American community, some have cleverly referred to former President Bill Clinton as America’s “first black president.” Blacks also view his wife Hillary Clinton positively, with 84% rating her favorably and only 10% unfavorably.
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Blacks also have positive views of Obama, who is seeking to become the first official black president.
So does that make the former president the first black president, unofficially?Clinton also had a 63 percent favorable rating with Hispanics, the only candidate of those tested on respondents who was substantially above 50 percent.
When it came to non-Hispanic whites however, Clinton’s popularity ratings tumbled, with only a 41 percent favorable rating from that group.
Republican Rudy Giuliani fared the best with that group, with the former New York City mayor getting a 64 percent favorable rating versus a 27 percent unfavorable rating.
Obama came in second at 53 percent. Clinton’s 41 percent put her in sixth place with whites in terms of perceptions.