http://mediamatters.org/items/200706140002?f=h_topWhile discussing a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll on the June 13 edition of NBC's Nightly News, host Brian Williams, after noting that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) is leading the Democratic field for the presidential nomination, said to NBC News Washington bureau chief Tim Russert that "the $60,000 question is: Is she electable as president?" Russert cited a June 1-3 Gallup poll, which found that Clinton's "favorable rating amongst all Americans was 46 percent, her disapproval, 50 percent," and called this "a real warning sign." He concluded that "it would be a very difficult, hotly contested campaign -- winnable -- but no doubt difficult." But the June 8-11 NBC News/WSJ poll itself actually included a question specifically addressing the issue of Clinton's electability. The poll found that in a head-to-head match-up with the Republican front-runner, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Clinton would win, 48 percent to 43 percent, a 10-point change from the last NBC News/WSJ poll taken in March, which showed Giuliani leading Clinton 47 percent to 42 percent.
From the poll:
If the next election for president were held today, and Rudy Giuliani were the Republican candidate and Hillary Clinton were the Democratic candidate, for whom would you vote?
06/07
03/07
Rudy Giuliani
43
47
Hillary Clinton
48
42
Depends (VOL)
1
3
Neither/other (VOL)
5
4
Not sure
3
4