(Week of 12/1/2012) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remains one of the most popular leaders in the country. Despite continuing questions and criticisms surrounding the September 11 attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya that resulted in the killing of four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, the latest Economist/YouGov Poll finds 55% of Americans with a favorable view of the Secretary, not much different from her positive ratings a month after the attack, and similar to positive assessments of Clinton since she became Secretary of State.
Questions were raised about security soon after the attacks, and Congressional committees held both private and public briefings and investigations of those responsible for security at U.S. offices abroad. On October 15, Secretary Clinton took responsibility for the attack’s aftermath.
While Clinton remains popular (with higher favorability ratings than those of President Obama), the American public does not have a positive view of the woman who hopes to succeed her as Secretary of State, United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice. Just 18% have a favorable view of Rice, who was severely criticized by Republicans for statements she made about the attack. More respondents (37%) are unfavorable towards her.
Senator John Kerry, another possible candidate to replace Clinton, gets somewhat better ratings from the public, though opinion of the one-time Democratic Presidential candidate is partisan (only 15% of Republicans respond favorably to him).
Economist/YouGov poll archives can be found here
Photo source: Press Association
