Of all the candidates from either party competing for the presidency, which two have the highest unfavorability ratings? You guessed it … at number one, Donald Trump; number two, Hillary Clinton.
In the latest 10 national polls measuring a candidate’s approval ratings, as compiled by Huffington Post, Donald Trump’s disapproval numbers range from 51% to 61%. Hillary Clinton does slightly better with unfavorability numbers from 50% to 58%.
Just for comparison purposes, Bernie Sanders’ unfavorability numbers clock in at 35% to 43%.
How is it possible that the candidates with the highest unfavorability numbers are each their party’s leading candidate to become their party’s presidential nominee? Do favorability/unfavorability numbers matter anymore? Or are they a thing of the past, just like about ever other bit of conventional wisdom that used to apply in politics?
For Democrats, it has gotten so bad that many Bernie Sanders supporters are flat out refusing to support Hillary if she is their party’s nominee. A good number of Progressives are even willing to support the slightly more hated Trump over Clinton.
We are truly swimming in uncharted waters this election cycle. Yes, it is still early in the game, with many more primaries to go until we get to the nominating conventions. But if all goes according to Hoyle, we will have the two most disliked presidential candidates competing against one another. In an ironic twist, the candidates’ negatives would put them on equal footing, as their unfavorability numbers would cancel each other out.
For the GOP establishment, that their leading candidate for its party’s presidential nomination has the highest unfavorability rating of any presidential candidate ever, can be forgiven. They are not backing him but trying to buck him.
For the Democrats, it’s the opposite. The party establishment has done just about all it could to insure the most hated Democratic candidate is their party’s nominee. (see Debbie Wasserman Schultz)
Followers of American politics around the world must be wondering, “is this the best Americans can do?” Is the American political system so broken that it needs a complete overhaul? Perhaps a revolution, as heralded by Sanders?
Photo | salon.com
Excellently well written article. Superb presentation, precise excision, and spot-on social and political insight. Truly sums up the “Where-No-Man-Has-Gone-Before” socio-economic and political sea that America seems to be swimming, faltering, and perhaps drowning in at the present.
“Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.” – Richard Armour
Politicians and diapers should be changed frequently and all for the same reason. ~José Maria de Eça de Queiroz
Thanks Jon. Great quotes.