Hillary Clinton Fares Better Than Obama In Matchups Against GOP Frontrunners: Poll

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton performs better than President Barack Obama in a speculative matchup against frontrunning GOP presidential contenders, a new poll from Time finds.

The poll, released as part of a series for the magazine's latest cover story, which features Clinton, shows Obama's 2008 rival leading Romney by 17 points, Cain by 22 and Perry by 26 in a hypothetical competition. Obama leads Romney by 3 points and both Cain and Perry by 12 in the same poll.

The results are just the latest buzz in an ongoing saga of speculation and denial about Clinton's aspirations for higher office. Some have suggested that she'd replace Joe Biden as Vice President ahead of Obama's 2012 reelections campaign, while others have posited, or perhaps just hoped, that she'd mount a primary challenge to Obama in 2012. Clinton's response has been unequivocal denial to both. In fact, she's said that she wouldn't serve in Obama's cabinet past 2012, and that her role as Secretary of State was likely her "last public position."

Time explains their polling methodology:

A national poll conducted for TIME on Oct. 9 and 10 found that if Clinton were the Democratic nominee for President in 2012, she would best Mitt Romney 55% to 38%, Rick Perry 58% to 32% and Herman Cain 56% to 34% among likely voters in a general election. The same poll found that President Obama would edge Romney by just 46% to 43%, Perry by 50% to 38% and Cain by 49% to 37% among likely voters.

In a recent interview with Time, Clinton described her thoughts on President Obama and their relationship:

Well, I think that the President is an American exceptionalist almost by definition. He exemplifies American exceptionalism. But I think he also governs with that belief as well. He has a deep respect for other people's opinions and their own values of their culture and their history, which I think makes sense, because if you're going to work with people, you need to know where they're coming from and not just assume you can assert your own position. And I think that what captured people about his election was that they knew nowhere else in the world could that have happened than the United States of America.

For the entire interview, click through to Time.

Comments

[Levelheaded Guy]

10:10 PM on 10/29/2011

It's a shame Hillary didn't win the nomination in 2008. She's 100 times the person Obama is. It's also a shame she won't challenge Obama this time around. She would smear him, and probably win the election. Obama has no chance to win. I will, however, support the republican nominee no matter what. But if the republicans lose, I would much rather have Hillary in the White House than Obama.

[election2012]

08:56 PM on 10/29/2011

The media is fond of fantasy polling. Take the number of speculative polls pitting Christie against Obama before that issue became moot. It's not really rocket science. The race is Obama vs. Romney/Cain/Perry at the moment, according to polls. Hillary occupies the enviable position of being above the fray. While she's part of the administration, she hasn't taken the hits that the President and Congress have had to endure. If you want to talk numbers, Congress hit a historical low approval rate of 9%. It seems the majority thinks that's where most of the responsibility lies.

[sherlockhemlock]

05:02 AM on 10/29/2011

These polling numbers rather obviously reflect the combined states of disappointment, disillusionment and confusion that the Democratic Party's base has come to.

Wanna clear the air?

Primary Obama.

It's the democratic (though perhaps not necessarily Democratic) thing to do.

[yweston]

06:03 AM on 10/29/2011

Why should we. He's going to win in 2012. He can just run on TeapubliCorps record of accomplishments.

[sherlockhemlock]

07:04 AM on 10/29/2011

As opposed to running on his own, which would include among other things expanding the war in Afghanistan, HUGELY expanding the use of predator drones in the Middle East and Africa in order to carry out extra-legal assassinations (now including 3 American citizens), expanding ICE depredations upon Latin-American migrant workers right here at home, persecuting whistle-blowers at every turn, and in general aiming low to achieve less?

But hey who needs democracy when you can flash your Democrat badge?

[roberto8ag]

04:00 PM on 10/29/2011

"...He's going to win in 2012. He can just run on TeapubliCo­rps record of accomplish­ments."

Indeed, why President Obama would risk the possibility of having one more term running on the accomplishments of his own administration?

[mwade002]

02:21 AM on 10/29/2011

Sounds like republicans are jealous of the exciting 2008 democratic nomination race. One of the most exciting in history. Only question now is will Obama's victory surpass his own record for most votes in any election.

[Joe Goforth]

10:51 PM on 10/28/2011

Great choices we've had enough of the Bush Monarchs now we have the Queen of Clinton again. Get creative America- shove Ron Paul up the establishments ho.

[Jimbo2001]

11:15 PM on 10/28/2011

Pretty disgusting thoughts. Typically liberal.

[election2012]

09:51 PM on 10/28/2011

Hillary Clinton is Obama's Secretary of State. She isn't currently running for President. You got both of them in '08 if you voted Democratic. Though, there's always a chance she might run in 2016.

[TKI]

09:12 PM on 10/28/2011

apples & oranges

[MizzMaat]

07:46 PM on 10/28/2011

Hillary should have been the Dem candidate in the first place. She would have been a better prez and she could beat any GOP candidate on the ticket for 2012.

[Jimbo2001]

11:10 PM on 10/28/2011

LOL, yeah, good luck with that.

[annyp]

05:39 PM on 10/28/2011

Anyone not running for President, of course is going to poll better. Just look at the polls for Christie or even Trump earlier. Non issue.

[k9school]

04:31 PM on 10/28/2011

First President to hide his medical, educational and travel records.


First President to win a Nobel Peace Prize for doing NOTHING to earn it.


First President to coddle American enemies while alienating Americas allies.


First President to publicly bow to Americas enemies while refusing to salute the U.S. Flag.


First President to go on multiple global apology tours.


First President to go on 17 lavish vacations, including date nights and Wednesday evening White House parties for his friends, paid for by the taxpayer.


First President to refuse to wear the U.S. Flag lapel pin.


First President to have 22 personal servants (taxpayer funded) for his wife.


First President to keep a dog trainer on retainer for $102,000.00 a year at taxpayer expense.


First President to repeat “the Holy Qur'an tells us,” and openly admit “the early morning call of the Azan (Islamic call to worship) is the most beautiful sound on earth.”


Remember that 32 months of Obama White House we the people have accumulated national debt at a rate more than 27 times as fast as during the rest of our nation's entire history, as the Obama's plan their next extravagant vacation to the Indonesian Island nation of Bali .


Hope and change anyone?
* sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Wall Street Journal, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Dept of Labor, Standard & Poors/Case-Shiller, Federal Reserve, US Treasury, Heritage Foundation.

[mwade002]

02:24 AM on 10/29/2011

Won by most votes in any election in America.

[avacat]

06:03 PM on 10/29/2011

Don't confuse them with facts..Talking to an Obamabot is about as productive as try to teach a pig to fly. You get frustrated, the pig gets mad.

[k9school]

09:07 PM on 10/29/2011

you are absolutely right .. it is just a shame how disasterous he has been for our great nation .. and so many that are blind and will not see.. as far as the most votes won as claimed by the left .. put it in perspective .. 99 percent of the black vote 99 percent of the illegal alien vote .. 100 percent of the multiple voting by acorn and never checked by voting commission in those areas.. but hey .. they will talk only about facts that suit their needs and devotion.. even though we put out pages and pages of FACTS

[Ron D]

04:31 PM on 10/28/2011

Hey anyone could beat a communist Republican

[Homer for real]

04:37 PM on 10/28/2011

..thing is, there is no such thing as a 'communist Republican.'

[Jimbo2001]

11:16 PM on 10/28/2011

Yeah, it's an oxymoron.

[k9school]

04:26 PM on 10/28/2011

First President to have a social security number from a state he has never lived in.


First President to preside over a cut to the credit rating of the United States .


First President to violate the War Powers Act.


First President to be held in contempt of court for illegally obstructing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico .


First President to defy a Federal Judges court order to cease implementing the Health Care Reform Law.


First President to require all Americans to purchase a product from a third party.


First President to spend a trillion dollars on shovel-ready jobs and later admit there was no such thing as shovel-ready jobs.


First President to abrogate bankruptcy law to turn over control of companies to his union supporters.


First President to by-pass Congress and implement the Dream Act through executive fiat.


First President to order a secret amnesty program that stopped the deportation of illegal immigrants across the U.S. , including those with criminal convictions.


First President to demand a company hand-over $20 billion to one of his political appointees.


First President to terminate Americas ability to put a man in space.


First President to encourage racial discrimination and intimidation at polling places.


First President to have a law signed by an auto-pen without being present.


First President to arbitrarily declare an existing law unconstitutional and refuse to enforce it.

[Jimbo2001]

10:53 PM on 10/28/2011

Great research. I was aware of all these things, but, I'm kind of old and forgetful. Thanks for the reminder. Fanned & Faved.

[giftsthatpurr]

12:53 AM on 10/29/2011

Community organizing is a process where people who live in proximity to each other come together into an organization that acts in their shared self-interest. A core goal of community organizing is to generate durable power for an organization representing the community, allowing it to influence key decision-makers on a range of issues over time.
A community organizer helps people to help themselves.

[yweston]

04:53 AM on 10/29/2011

Yap...Yap...Yap...with your "right wing" lies. Try googling Pres. Obamas accomplishment instead of all your "right wing" exaggerations. His accomplishments are "ALL OVER" the internet. "Defying a Federal Judge about Healthcare". Guess you missed all the Federal Judge rulings in favor of ObamaCare". Why don't you start there. Oops...can't do that because then you can you justify your H8.... Now run over to Focker for more "propaganda" you think you can sell here.

[k9school]

04:20 PM on 10/28/2011

Barack Obama's 32 Month Report Card
by Rich Carroll

Mr. Hope and Change wants to create a nation humbled; humiliated, casting-aside capitalism and individual freedoms for one where “we the people” are government controlled. This would be a system that genuflects mediocrity, steals personal aspiration and opportunity, and punishes those who strive to succeed.


A gallon of regular gasoline the day Obama was inaugurated was $1.79 on average in the U.S. Today that price is $3.59, a 100.6% increase.

The number of food stamp recipients has risen since Obama took office from 31,983,716 to 43,200,878, a 35.1% jump.

Long term unemployment soared 146.2% during the same 32 month period from 2,600,000 to 6,400,000. Staggering “hope and change” isn't it?


American citizens living in poverty have risen 9.5% from 39,800,000 to 43,600,000, and the number of unemployed has jumped almost 25% from 11,616,000 to 14,485,000 as of August 31, 2011.

The number of unemployed blacks has risen from 12.6% at the end of George Bush's term to 15.8% today, a 25.4% increase, and finally, our national debt is up 34.4% from 10.627 trillion to 14,278 trillion *
Keep these figures in mind as we recount the number of “firsts” for this presidency:


First President to refuse to show a valid birth certificate.


First President to apply for college aid as a foreign student, then deny he was a foreigner.

[Ron D]

04:35 PM on 10/28/2011

And this is caused by the republican house

[k9school]

04:39 PM on 10/28/2011

he had a liberal senate and congress for 2 years .. duh

[Homer for real]

04:52 PM on 10/28/2011

..sorry Ron. Obama and his cohorts had control of the White House and "both" houses of congress for half of his current term. They still (currently) have control of the White House and the Senate.

...maybe you should just stick to blaming Bush!

[mwade002]

02:25 AM on 10/29/2011

75 % of the population likes him

[yweston]

05:00 AM on 10/29/2011

They think because they H8 him everyone else does. Pat Robertson and Haley Barbour is trying to tell them if they don't stop all their unsubstantiated lies and foolishness they are going to lose the in 2012. But, of course, they only listen to themselves and any rational thought isn't in their mindset. Even Bag(R)z know they can't win and are NOW concentrated on the Senate. They're telling "their Princess" Bachmann to hang it up. And...even pretending "all of a sudden" she doesn't speak for them. That she's an opportunist...Gee that's NOT news to us.

[somerscollc]

05:51 PM on 10/29/2011

yeah the population of communist china!

[IloveUSA]

03:18 PM on 10/28/2011

Even Biden would beat Obama, he's proven how badly he handles the job:

"Obama Not Being Serious About Cutting The Budget" / "Obama Buying His Union Votes With Our Tax Money" / "Obama Empowering The Muslim Brotherhood" / " Obama's Hate Speech Provocations" / "Obama putting Muslim's Rights Over All Other American's Rights" / "Obama Ignoring North Korean Aggression"...etc. etc.
But the worse one is to 'organize' the protests thet are going on nation wide. He's shown his real commi intentions.

[jgrienin]

03:36 PM on 10/28/2011

Where do you get this stuff? Fox?

[yweston]

03:46 PM on 10/28/2011

Eh... Nope!!! All your claims are false. And give you Freedom on Death. You've got Freedom Bozo...that's why you can post your "tripe" on YouTube. And, once again, all your claims are Nonsense. Just more Right Wing B.S. to get you to vote for them so they can protect the top 1% in this country.

[Timur Graham]

03:15 PM on 10/28/2011

“Folks.. in January 2008, I was a Clinton supporter. By april 2008, I converted over to Obama, primarily because I watched in slow motion as Hiliary's mettle became rattled, as she became feisty, and then as she became bitchy..
I'm sorry Folks.. I dont think Hiliary would have been the measured, thoughtful­, calculatin­g, graceful president we have now..Repub­licans would have attacked her relentless­ly based on her past.. and I fear she would have re-acted to their nonsense..­and the country would be no better for it..
I also dont think she would have had the fortitude to kill Bin Laden, or accomplish some of the other measured decision making made by this president.

[Jimbo2001]

11:26 PM on 10/28/2011

And now, it's obvious that you were right about Clinton and wrong about Obama. Clinton would have been as bad as you say. Obama has been worse. It's time to get a real president.

[giftsthatpurr]

12:31 AM on 10/29/2011

Acorn was a community organization - NOT a community organizer - - A community organizer is a person/individual - not an organization. Your ignorance is showing.