Poll: When Should Hillary Clinton Announce Whether She's Running?

Q: When should Hillary Clinton announce whether she is running for president?

DEMOCRATS (86 votes)

Hillary Clinton. (Saul Loeb/Getty Images)By the end of the year: 7%By February 1: 40%By April 1: 31%By July 1: 22%

By the end of the year

"Continuing to freeze the field is not good for her or the Democratic Party."

By February 1

"A year before the Iowa caucuses."

"The earlier in 2015 Clinton announces, the better off she'll be. She needs to control her own destiny rather than leaving it to others. An early announcement might discourage other Dem candidates. By January, the Iowa caucuses will only be a year away."

"Time to end the soap opera and the endless intrigue. Make some decisions and get going. The pre-campaign is damaging the campaign."

"A quick coronation would be best."

"This has been like 'watching a rock grow,' as it is."

"She should announce by 2/1 if she's NOT running, to leave others time to organize."

By April 1

"No rush, but she has to get to it eventually, and if she isn't running, she can't make the others scramble too much."

"But an exploratory committee sooner."

"Wait until April 1. Let [Sen. Elizabeth] Warren show her cards."

"Only when Hillary is ready to announce her vision for the country."

By July 1

"Wait as long as she can—it is not like there is much doubt. The only reason to move that up would be if another primary opponent started to gain traction."

"No need to get in before midyear. She doesn't need to run for president for two years. Everyone knows her."

"No one benefits from a longer Hillary campaign. Except her opponents and, possibly, the Republicans."

"Why does she need to jump in early? Let the GOP begin to fight itself."

Q: When should Hillary Clinton announce whether she is running for president?

REPUBLICANS (83 VOTES)

By the end of the year: 13%By February 1: 30%By April 1: 22%By July 1: 35%

By the end of the year

"Her entry into the race has too much weight on the rest of the field. She needs to let them know her intent."

"She'd better lock up all the commitments she can ASAP, in writing."

By February 1

"If she's going to pass—and there's a good chance she will—the party needs a lot of time to produce a viable candidate."

"She's freezing everyone. In fairness to her party, she needs to declare within the next couple months."

"If she waits any longer, she will irreparably hurt those who might run if she doesn't. If she doesn't know by February, she ain't ever gonna know."

By April 1

"Those speaking fees end when she announces."

"April Fools' Day."

"What's the hurry?"

By July 1

"If she is running, the 'will she or won't she' story keeps her in the news."

"She benefits by staying above the fray. Let our guys play demolition derby without having her to shoot at."

"Formal announcement not urgent, but she should get a campaign up and running, with fundraising, early next year."

"Later the better. More you see, the less you like."

"It is in her interest to hold off as long as possible, keeping the rest of the field uncertain and delaying the barrage of hit pieces generated by likely opponents that will follow."

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

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, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Howard Dean, Scott DeFife, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, David Di Martino, 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, 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.

Q: When should Hillary Clinton announce whether she is running for president?

DEMOCRATS (86 votes)

Hillary Clinton. (Saul Loeb/Getty Images)By the end of the year: 7%By February 1: 40%By April 1: 31%By July 1: 22%

By the end of the year

"Continuing to freeze the field is not good for her or the Democratic Party."

By February 1

"A year before the Iowa caucuses."

"The earlier in 2015 Clinton announces, the better off she'll be. She needs to control her own destiny rather than leaving it to others. An early announcement might discourage other Dem candidates. By January, the Iowa caucuses will only be a year away."

"Time to end the soap opera and the endless intrigue. Make some decisions and get going. The pre-campaign is damaging the campaign."

"A quick coronation would be best."

"This has been like 'watching a rock grow,' as it is."

"She should announce by 2/1 if she's NOT running, to leave others time to organize."

By April 1

"No rush, but she has to get to it eventually, and if she isn't running, she can't make the others scramble too much."

"But an exploratory committee sooner."

"Wait until April 1. Let [Sen. Elizabeth] Warren show her cards."

"Only when Hillary is ready to announce her vision for the country."

By July 1

"Wait as long as she can—it is not like there is much doubt. The only reason to move that up would be if another primary opponent started to gain traction."

"No need to get in before midyear. She doesn't need to run for president for two years. Everyone knows her."

"No one benefits from a longer Hillary campaign. Except her opponents and, possibly, the Republicans."

"Why does she need to jump in early? Let the GOP begin to fight itself."

Q: When should Hillary Clinton announce whether she is running for president?

REPUBLICANS (83 VOTES)

By the end of the year: 13%By February 1: 30%By April 1: 22%By July 1: 35%

By the end of the year

"Her entry into the race has too much weight on the rest of the field. She needs to let them know her intent."

"She'd better lock up all the commitments she can ASAP, in writing."

By February 1

"If she's going to pass—and there's a good chance she will—the party needs a lot of time to produce a viable candidate."

"She's freezing everyone. In fairness to her party, she needs to declare within the next couple months."

"If she waits any longer, she will irreparably hurt those who might run if she doesn't. If she doesn't know by February, she ain't ever gonna know."

By April 1

"Those speaking fees end when she announces."

"April Fools' Day."

"What's the hurry?"

By July 1

"If she is running, the 'will she or won't she' story keeps her in the news."

"She benefits by staying above the fray. Let our guys play demolition derby without having her to shoot at."

"Formal announcement not urgent, but she should get a campaign up and running, with fundraising, early next year."

"Later the better. More you see, the less you like."

"It is in her interest to hold off as long as possible, keeping the rest of the field uncertain and delaying the barrage of hit pieces generated by likely opponents that will follow."

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

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, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Howard Dean, Scott DeFife, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, David Di Martino, 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, 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.