While doubt about how Hillary Clinton responded to the Benghazi attacks has increased since January, her favorability has stayed the same
Following a week of testimony about the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya in September 2012, new research from YouGov shows that while Americans have shifted slightly in how they view former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s response to the attack, her favorability remains as high as ever.
Overall 28% of Americans approve of how Clinton handled the attack, while 42% disapprove and 30% are not sure.
In comparison with when we asked the question in January, the number of Americans who disapprove of her handling of the attacks has stayed the same. But the number who approve has dropped and the number who are not sure has increased.
Even while doubts are increasing, this does not seem to have affected Clinton’s overall favorability. Data from the weekly YouGov/Economist poll shows that the number of Americans with a favorable of Clinton has been roughly the same since before the attack and continuing through the present.
On June 20th, 2012, 53% of Americans had a favorable view on Clinton, followed by 57% on October 20th and 56% on December 1st. The most recent poll, from over the weekend, showed Clinton’s favorability at 57%.
The poll does offer some indication that Benghazi might affect Clinton’s chances at 2016 run. 13% of Americans said it make them less likely to vote of her, although the majority (67%) said it wouldn’t affect their vote as they had already decided whether or not they'd vote for her.
