Yeah, it's still early. Yeah, we don't know who each party's nominees will be. Yeah, anything can happen. That said...
Gallup. 5/20-23. MoE unknown. (June 2003)
Would you vote for Hillary Clinton if she runs for president in 2008?
Very Likely 29 (21)
Somewhat Likely 24
Not Very Likely 7
Not At All Likely 39 (44)
For the first time, a majority of Americans say they are likely to vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton if she runs for president in 2008, according to a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll taken Friday through Sunday.
The survey shows that the New York senator and former first lady has broadened her support nationwide over the past two years, though she still provokes powerful feelings from those who oppose her.
Clinton commands as much strong support - but more strong opposition - as George W. Bush did in a Newsweek poll in November 1998, two years before the 2000 election. She is in slightly stronger position than then-vice president Al Gore, the eventual 2000 Democratic nominee, was in 1998.
"Over time, Clinton fatigue has dissipated ... and people are looking back on the Clinton years more favorably," says Andrew Kohut, director of the non-partisan Pew Research Center. In a Pew poll released this month, Kohut called former president Bill Clinton and the senator "comeback kids" because of their rising ratings.
"This may also reflect that she has been recasting her image as a more moderate person," he says.
Hillary isn't as toxic with the public as large as many assume. Just because Rush and his ilk can't stand her doesn't mean middle America has it out for her.
Update: Arianna mocks Hillary's response to a question about an Iraq exit strategy.
I’ve just decided that I do have a litmus test for the 2008 Democratic nominee: someone who can utter, in plain English, an unambiguous, unequivocal sentence about Iraq.
Hillary has another two years to get it right.