These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
26% Have Higher Opinion of Bill Clinton Since He Left Office
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Former President Bill Clinton was in the news again last week, gaining the release of two American reporters from North Korea, and 26% of U.S. voters now say they have a better opinion of Clinton since he left office in January 2001.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just eight percent (8%) have a worse opinion of the former Democratic president, while 65% say their view of him has stayed about the same.
Twenty-nine percent (29%) of women have a better opinion of Bill Clinton now, compared to 21% of men. Twelve percent (12%) of male voters have a worse opinion of him versus just five percent (5%) of female voters.
Predictably, 35% of Democrats think more highly of Clinton, a view shared by only 16% of Republicans. But 24% of voters not affiliated with either party feel the same way. GOP voters are twice as likely as the others to have a worse view of Clinton now then eight years ago.
Clinton is also viewed slightly more favorably than his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who still hopes to sit in the Oval 
Fifty-eight percent (58%) of all voters have at least a somewhat favorable view of Clinton, while 40% regard him at least somewhat unfavorably. But those who have a very favorable opinion of the former president outnumber by nearly two-to-one those with a very unfavorable view - 30% to 16%.
Fifty-three percent (53%) of voters have a favorable opinion of Hillary Clinton , and 59% approve of the job she is doing as secretary of State. In a hypothetical match-up between the two most formidable female presidential contenders in their respective parties, Mrs. Clinton defeats former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin 51% to 39%.
The ex-president's numbers mark a noticeable shift from August of last year just before the Democratic National Convention when 25% had a very favorable view of Clinton while 22% viewed him very unfavorably . But Clinton had been dogged by controversy earlier in the year when comments he made in support of his wife's presidential candidacy versus Barack Obama's were criticized as racist.
In fact, in an April 2008 survey , 43% of Americans said Clinton's behavior during the campaign would hurt his reputation in history. Just 17% believed his reputation would be helped while 29% said it would have no impact.
But the new numbers suggest otherwise. Twenty-seven percent (27%) now say Clinton was one of the best presidents ever, down three points from August, but only 15% say he was one of the worst, down six from the previous survey. Fifty-seven percent (57%) say he was somewhere in between one of the best and worst presidents, while just 48% felt that way last August.
Forty-five percent (45%) of voters say the ex-president is a plus in terms of Hillary Clinton's chances for the White House, but 29% say he is a minus. Seventeen percent (17%) believe he has no impact on his wife's chances to be elected president.
This, too, marks a significant change from December 2007 when voters were evenly divided over whether Clinton was a plus or minus in terms of his wife's presidential hopes.
In a July 2007 survey asking Americans to rate the post-World War II presidents, Clinton ranked eighth out of 11, ahead of only Lyndon B. Johnson, George W.
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To view the original report, please use this link: She's Not Channeling Bill