Politics

Poll: Will Bringing Up Bill Clinton's Misconduct Help or Hurt GOP White House Hopefuls?

By Michael Catalini, Sarah Mimms, Peter Bell, and National Journal
Saved Stories

Will bringing up former President Clinton's misconduct help or hurt possible Republican presidential candidates?

DEMOCRATS (92 VOTES

Help: 15%
Hurt: 85%

Help

"In the primaries it's a winner, but whoever faces Hillary in the general would be a fool to raise it as an issue."

"It helps Hillary down the road and is of no consequence to the 2014 elections."

"It rallies the GOP base, for sure."

"Bring it on!"

"Americans are not into history."

Hurt

"By all means, please remind voters of the Clinton years of growth, prosperity, and peace. Please!"

"Remember Ken Starr."

"Voters are not interested in more personal attacks."

"My advice on a GOP slogan is, Roll Back the Clock: Vote Republican. If Rand Paul thinks beating up Hillary Clinton through Bill's bad behavior more than a decade ago will help, his presidential race will soon also be a thing of the past."

"Bill Clinton is likely the most popular person in America."

"It's ancient history for most voters, but the GOP hatefulness reminds everyone that they have no agenda. Keep it up, Rand!"

"It would be like the Democrats running on Teapot Dome."

"It's old news and unfair to Hillary."

"It will expand the gender gap and makes her look sympathetic — and will hurt the Republicans' ability to attack her on substance."

"And to think we thought Rand Paul's father was somewhat unstable."

"Only the fringe wants to hear this crap, and why keep blaming Hillary for what Bill did?"

Will bringing up former President Clinton's misconduct help or hurt possible Republican presidential candidates?

REPUBLICANS (88 VOTES)

Help: 26%
Hurt: 74%

Help

"Bring on the blue dress!"

"Bill Clinton is the best of times and the worst of times. But he is yesterday, not tomorrow."

"Rand Paul gets points for telling a truth that even the mainstream press is troubled by: Bill Clinton's gross, uninterrupted rapaciousness and Hillary's toleration of it."

"Short-term gain for long-term pain."

Hurt

"This is what the stupid wing of the GOP would focus on. No thanks."

"Voters want new ideas from new people. And if it's not the economy or Obamacare, don't bring it up."

"How does it make sense to rehash a battle we lost so spectacularly last time?"

"No one cares anymore."

"No one will blame Hillary for her husband's behavior. Republican candidates need to stay away from this. So, will someone please muzzle Santorum?"

"While it is true that voters under 25 didn't live Lewinsky, it's new info to no one. As they say on Wall Street, this information is already baked into Bill's stock price."

"Move forward."

"We don't need to bring it up. It is always there."

"This is the best we have to talk about?"

"Let's talk about who knew what when in Benghazi. That is more relevant."

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Democratic Political Insiders Jill Alper, John Anzalone, Brad Bannon, Dave Beattie, Andy Bechhoefer, Cornell Belcher, Matt Bennett, Mitchell W. Berger, Mike Berman, Stephanie Bosh, Paul Brathwaite, Donna Brazile, Mark Brewer, Ed Bruley, George Bruno, Bonnie Campbell, Bill Carrick, Guy Cecil, Martin J. Chavez, Tony Coelho, Larry Cohen, Jerry Crawford, Brendan Daly, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Howard Dean, Scott DeFife, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, David Di Martino, Debbie Dingell, Monica Dixon, Patrick Dorton, Pat Dujakovich, Anita Dunn, Jeff Eller, Steve Elmendorf, Carter Eskew, Vic Fazio, Peter Fenn, Scott Ferson, Jim Fleischmann, Tina Flournoy, Don Foley, Jeffrey Forbes, Vincent Frillici, Gina Glantz, Niles Godes, John Michael Gonzalez, Joe Grandmaison, Anna Greenberg, Stan Greenberg, Pat Griffin, Larry Grisolano, Michael Gronstal, Lisa Grove, Marcia Hale, Jill Hanauer, Dick Harpootlian, Paul Harstad, Laura Hartigan, Doug Hattaway, Mike Henry, Karen Hicks, Leo Hindery Jr., Harold Ickes, Marcus Jadotte, John Jameson, Steve Jarding, Jonathon Jones, Jim Jordan, Gale Kaufman, Lisa Kountoupes, Celinda Lake, David Lang, Penny Lee, Chris Lehane, Jeff Link, Bob Maloney, Jim Manley, Steve Marchand, Jim Margolis, Paul Maslin, Keith Mason, Susan McCue, Gerald McEntee, Steve McMahon, Tom McMahon, Phil McNamara, David Medina, Michael Meehan, Mark Mellman, John Merrigan, Michael Monroe, Steve Murphy, Janet Napolitano, David Nassar, Marcia Nichols, John Norris, Tom Ochs, Tom O'Donnell, Jeffrey Peck, Debora Pignatelli, Tony Podesta, Jefrey Pollock, Jack Quinn, Larry Rasky, Mame Reiley, Ed Rendell, Steve Ricchetti, Will Robinson, Steve Rosenthal, David Rudd, Ryan Rudominer, John Ryan, Michael Sargeant, Stephanie Schriock, Terry Shumaker, Sean Sinclair, Phil Singer, Erik Smith, Doug Sosnik, Greg Speed, Darry Sragow, Ken Strasma, Doug Thornell, Jeffrey Trammell, Ed Turlington, Rick Wiener, James Williams, JoDee Winterhof, Brian Wolff, Jon Youngdahl, and Jim Zogby.

GOP Political Insiders Dan Allen, Stan Anderson, Gary Andres, Saulius (Saul) Anuzis, Rich Ashooh, Whit Ayres, Brett Bader, Mitch Bainwol, Brian Baker, Gary Bauer, David Beckwith, Paul Bennecke, Clark Benson, Wayne Berman, Brian Bieron, Charlie Black, Kirk Blalock, Carmine Boal, Jeff Boeyink, Ron Bonjean, Jeff Buley, Luke Byars, Nick Calio, Al Cardenas, Danny Carroll, Alex Castellanos, Ron Christie, Jim Cicconi, Jonathan Collegio, Rob Collins, Cesar Conda, Jake Corman, Scott Cottington, Jay Cranford, Greg Crist, Diane Crookham-Johnson, Fergus Cullen, Tom Davis, Mike Dennehy, Ken Duberstein, Debi Durham, Sara Fagen, Frank Fahrenkopf, John Feehery, Don Fierce, Mindy Finn, Carl Forti, Alex Gage, Bruce A. Gates, Sam Geduldig, Adam Geller, Benjamin Ginsberg, David Girard-diCarlo, Bill Greener, Jonathan Grella, Lanny Griffith, Janet Mullins Grissom, Doug Gross, Todd Harris, Steve Hart, Christopher Healy, Ralph Hellmann, Chris Henick, Terry Holt, David Iannelli, Ed Ingle, Jim Innocenzi, Clark Judge, David Keating, David Kensinger, Bob Kjellander, Ed Kutler, Chris LaCivita, Jim Lake, Steven Law, Steve Lombardo, Kevin Madden, Joel Maiola, Gary Maloney, David Marin, Mary Matalin, Dan Mattoon, Brian McCormack, Mark McKinnon, Kyle McSlarrow, Ken Mehlman, Jim Merrill, Lisa Camooso Miller, Tim Morrison, Mike Murphy, Phil Musser, Ron Nehring, Terry Nelson, Neil Newhouse, David Norcross, Ziad Ojakli, Jack Oliver, Todd Olsen, Kevin O'Neill, Connie Partoyan, Billy Piper, Van B. Poole, Tom Rath, Scott Reed, David Rehr, Tom Reynolds, Steve Roberts, Jason Roe, David Roederer, Dan Schnur, Russ Schriefer, Rich Schwarm, Brent Seaborn, Rick Shelby, Andrew Shore, Kevin Shuvalov, Don Sipple, Ken Spain, Fred Steeper, Bob Stevenson, Terry Sullivan, David Tamasi, Eric Tanenblatt, Richard Temple, Heath Thompson, Jay Timmons, Warren Tompkins, Ted Van Der Meid, Dirk van Dongen, Jan van Lohuizen, Stewart Verdery, Dick Wadhams, John Weaver, Lezlee Westine, Dave Winston, Ginny Wolfe, Fred Wszolek, and Matthew Zablud.

Will bringing up former President Clinton's misconduct help or hurt possible Republican presidential candidates?

DEMOCRATS (92 VOTES

Help: 15%
Hurt: 85%

Help

"In the primaries it's a winner, but whoever faces Hillary in the general would be a fool to raise it as an issue."

"It helps Hillary down the road and is of no consequence to the 2014 elections."

"It rallies the GOP base, for sure."

"Bring it on!"

"Americans are not into history."

Hurt

"By all means, please remind voters of the Clinton years of growth, prosperity, and peace. Please!"

"Remember Ken Starr."

"Voters are not interested in more personal attacks."

"My advice on a GOP slogan is, Roll Back the Clock: Vote Republican. If Rand Paul thinks beating up Hillary Clinton through Bill's bad behavior more than a decade ago will help, his presidential race will soon also be a thing of the past."

"Bill Clinton is likely the most popular person in America."

"It's ancient history for most voters, but the GOP hatefulness reminds everyone that they have no agenda. Keep it up, Rand!"

"It would be like the Democrats running on Teapot Dome."

"It's old news and unfair to Hillary."

"It will expand the gender gap and makes her look sympathetic — and will hurt the Republicans' ability to attack her on substance."

"And to think we thought Rand Paul's father was somewhat unstable."

"Only the fringe wants to hear this crap, and why keep blaming Hillary for what Bill did?"

Will bringing up former President Clinton's misconduct help or hurt possible Republican presidential candidates?

REPUBLICANS (88 VOTES)

Help: 26%
Hurt: 74%

Help

"Bring on the blue dress!"

"Bill Clinton is the best of times and the worst of times. But he is yesterday, not tomorrow."

"Rand Paul gets points for telling a truth that even the mainstream press is troubled by: Bill Clinton's gross, uninterrupted rapaciousness and Hillary's toleration of it."

"Short-term gain for long-term pain."

Hurt

"This is what the stupid wing of the GOP would focus on. No thanks."

"Voters want new ideas from new people. And if it's not the economy or Obamacare, don't bring it up."

"How does it make sense to rehash a battle we lost so spectacularly last time?"

"No one cares anymore."

"No one will blame Hillary for her husband's behavior. Republican candidates need to stay away from this. So, will someone please muzzle Santorum?"

"While it is true that voters under 25 didn't live Lewinsky, it's new info to no one. As they say on Wall Street, this information is already baked into Bill's stock price."

"Move forward."

"We don't need to bring it up. It is always there."

"This is the best we have to talk about?"

"Let's talk about who knew what when in Benghazi. That is more relevant."

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Democratic Political Insiders Jill Alper, John Anzalone, Brad Bannon, Dave Beattie, Andy Bechhoefer, Cornell Belcher, Matt Bennett, Mitchell W. Berger, Mike Berman, Stephanie Bosh, Paul Brathwaite, Donna Brazile, Mark Brewer, Ed Bruley, George Bruno, Bonnie Campbell, Bill Carrick, Guy Cecil, Martin J. Chavez, Tony Coelho, Larry Cohen, Jerry Crawford, Brendan Daly, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Howard Dean, Scott DeFife, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, David Di Martino, Debbie Dingell, Monica Dixon, Patrick Dorton, Pat Dujakovich, Anita Dunn, Jeff Eller, Steve Elmendorf, Carter Eskew, Vic Fazio, Peter Fenn, Scott Ferson, Jim Fleischmann, Tina Flournoy, Don Foley, Jeffrey Forbes, Vincent Frillici, Gina Glantz, Niles Godes, John Michael Gonzalez, Joe Grandmaison, Anna Greenberg, Stan Greenberg, Pat Griffin, Larry Grisolano, Michael Gronstal, Lisa Grove, Marcia Hale, Jill Hanauer, Dick Harpootlian, Paul Harstad, Laura Hartigan, Doug Hattaway, Mike Henry, Karen Hicks, Leo Hindery Jr., Harold Ickes, Marcus Jadotte, John Jameson, Steve Jarding, Jonathon Jones, Jim Jordan, Gale Kaufman, Lisa Kountoupes, Celinda Lake, David Lang, Penny Lee, Chris Lehane, Jeff Link, Bob Maloney, Jim Manley, Steve Marchand, Jim Margolis, Paul Maslin, Keith Mason, Susan McCue, Gerald McEntee, Steve McMahon, Tom McMahon, Phil McNamara, David Medina, Michael Meehan, Mark Mellman, John Merrigan, Michael Monroe, Steve Murphy, Janet Napolitano, David Nassar, Marcia Nichols, John Norris, Tom Ochs, Tom O'Donnell, Jeffrey Peck, Debora Pignatelli, Tony Podesta, Jefrey Pollock, Jack Quinn, Larry Rasky, Mame Reiley, Ed Rendell, Steve Ricchetti, Will Robinson, Steve Rosenthal, David Rudd, Ryan Rudominer, John Ryan, Michael Sargeant, Stephanie Schriock, Terry Shumaker, Sean Sinclair, Phil Singer, Erik Smith, Doug Sosnik, Greg Speed, Darry Sragow, Ken Strasma, Doug Thornell, Jeffrey Trammell, Ed Turlington, Rick Wiener, James Williams, JoDee Winterhof, Brian Wolff, Jon Youngdahl, and Jim Zogby.

GOP Political Insiders Dan Allen, Stan Anderson, Gary Andres, Saulius (Saul) Anuzis, Rich Ashooh, Whit Ayres, Brett Bader, Mitch Bainwol, Brian Baker, Gary Bauer, David Beckwith, Paul Bennecke, Clark Benson, Wayne Berman, Brian Bieron, Charlie Black, Kirk Blalock, Carmine Boal, Jeff Boeyink, Ron Bonjean, Jeff Buley, Luke Byars, Nick Calio, Al Cardenas, Danny Carroll, Alex Castellanos, Ron Christie, Jim Cicconi, Jonathan Collegio, Rob Collins, Cesar Conda, Jake Corman, Scott Cottington, Jay Cranford, Greg Crist, Diane Crookham-Johnson, Fergus Cullen, Tom Davis, Mike Dennehy, Ken Duberstein, Debi Durham, Sara Fagen, Frank Fahrenkopf, John Feehery, Don Fierce, Mindy Finn, Carl Forti, Alex Gage, Bruce A. Gates, Sam Geduldig, Adam Geller, Benjamin Ginsberg, David Girard-diCarlo, Bill Greener, Jonathan Grella, Lanny Griffith, Janet Mullins Grissom, Doug Gross, Todd Harris, Steve Hart, Christopher Healy, Ralph Hellmann, Chris Henick, Terry Holt, David Iannelli, Ed Ingle, Jim Innocenzi, Clark Judge, David Keating, David Kensinger, Bob Kjellander, Ed Kutler, Chris LaCivita, Jim Lake, Steven Law, Steve Lombardo, Kevin Madden, Joel Maiola, Gary Maloney, David Marin, Mary Matalin, Dan Mattoon, Brian McCormack, Mark McKinnon, Kyle McSlarrow, Ken Mehlman, Jim Merrill, Lisa Camooso Miller, Tim Morrison, Mike Murphy, Phil Musser, Ron Nehring, Terry Nelson, Neil Newhouse, David Norcross, Ziad Ojakli, Jack Oliver, Todd Olsen, Kevin O'Neill, Connie Partoyan, Billy Piper, Van B. Poole, Tom Rath, Scott Reed, David Rehr, Tom Reynolds, Steve Roberts, Jason Roe, David Roederer, Dan Schnur, Russ Schriefer, Rich Schwarm, Brent Seaborn, Rick Shelby, Andrew Shore, Kevin Shuvalov, Don Sipple, Ken Spain, Fred Steeper, Bob Stevenson, Terry Sullivan, David Tamasi, Eric Tanenblatt, Richard Temple, Heath Thompson, Jay Timmons, Warren Tompkins, Ted Van Der Meid, Dirk van Dongen, Jan van Lohuizen, Stewart Verdery, Dick Wadhams, John Weaver, Lezlee Westine, Dave Winston, Ginny Wolfe, Fred Wszolek, and Matthew Zablud.