Hillary Clinton's New Book Gains Her Few Friends, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Bush Approval Drops As Economic Fears Grow

While three out of four American voters have read or heard about Sen. Hillary Clinton's new book, 67 percent say it makes no difference in their opinion of her. Only 8 percent think more favorably of her for writing it, while 18 percent think less favorably, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

There is little difference in the attitudes of men and women on the subject, but 27 percent of Republicans and 9 percent of Democrats think less favorably of Sen. Clinton.

Sen. Clinton leads the Democratic pack in the 2004 run for the White House, but she trails Republican incumbent President George W. Bush 53 - 40 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

Meanwhile, worries about the economy have deflated President Bush's approval rating, which is 57 - 35 percent, down from 73 - 22 percent in an April 16 Quinnipiac University poll. By a 61 - 32 percent margin, American voters are more concerned about the U.S. economy than about terrorist attacks in the U.S.

"Americans to Sen. Clinton: We're talking about your book, but it doesn't much change how we think of you," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Write a book; give a speech; campaign relentlessly in Iowa and New Hampshire - it doesn't seem to make any difference. President Bush easily beats the new author and the big three declared Democratic candidates."

With Sen. Clinton in the race for the White House, she gets 40 percent of Democratic voters, followed by 16 percent for Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, 10 percent for Missouri Congressman Richard Gephardt and 8 percent for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, with 12 percent undecided.

With Clinton out of the running, Lieberman gets 22 percent of Democratic voters, with 17 percent for Gephardt and 15 percent for Kerry. No other Democrat breaks 6 percent and undecided gets 21 percent.

If Bush faces either Clinton or Lieberman, he leads 53 - 40 percent and widens his lead slightly against either Gephardt or Kerry.

Voters approve 63 - 31 percent of the way President Bush is handling terrorism overseas and 69 - 25 percent of the way he is handling terrorism at home. But Bush gets a negative 45 - 50 percent for his handling of the economy.

He gets a 56 - 38 percent approval for handling foreign policy and a 57 - 25 percent approval for handling the situation between Israel and the Palestinians.

The economy is "excellent" or "good," 33 percent of American voters say, while 66 percent say it is "not so good" or "poor."

But the economy will get better in the next year, 46 percent say, while 17 percent say it will get worse and 33 percent say it will stay the same.

"'Like father, like son,' must be a phrase they hate to hear in the White House," Carroll said. "Bush scores in the stratosphere on the fight against bad guys abroad and at home. But like his father after Gulf War I, his numbers on the economy are low."

From June 4 - 9, Quinnipiac University surveyed 865 registered voters nationwide, with a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percent. The survey includes 331 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 5.4 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and nationwide as a public service and for research.

For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?

2. Now I'm going to name nine Democrats who might run for president in 2004. After I read all nine names, tell me which one you would most like to see the Democrats nominate for president in 2004. Here are the choices... Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, North Carolina Senator John Edwards, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, the Reverend Al Sharpton, Florida Senator Bob Graham, former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, or Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

3. Suppose New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton decides to run for president in 2004. Who would you most like to see the Democrats nominate for president in 2004? -- New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, North Carolina Senator John Edwards, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, the Reverend Al Sharpton, Florida Senator Bob Graham, former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, or Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

4. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were Hillary Rodham Clinton the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote?

5. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were Joe Lieberman the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote?

6. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were John Kerry the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote?

7. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were Dick Gephardt the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote?

8. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling... the economy?

10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling... foreign policy?

11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling... the war against terrorism overseas?

12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling... policies to prevent and minimize terrorism at home?

13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling... the situation between Israel and the Palestinians?

14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dick Cheney is handling his job as vice-president?

15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Rumsfeld is handling his job as secretary of defense?

16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Colin Powell is handling his job as secretary of state?

17. Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as: Excellent, good, not so good, or poor?

18. During the next 12 months, do you think the economic conditions in the United States will get better, get worse, or stay about the same?

19. Which are you more concerned about - terrorist attacks in the United States or the United States economy?

20. Have you heard or read about Hillary Rodham Clinton's new book called "Living History", her memoir about her eight years in the White House?

21. (If heard or read q20) Does this book make you think more favorably of Hillary Rodham Clinton, less favorably, or doesn't it affect your opinion