Roy Exum
There are over 9,000 students who attend Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn., which – in an effort to be relative -- is just a touch smaller than our UT-Chattanooga. What makes Quinnipiac unique is that it is home of The Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, which produces what’s called the “Q Poll” because hardly anybody knows how to pronounce “Kwin-uh-pe-ack.”
The Q Poll, with 10 full-time staff and about 160 work-study students who work as interviewers, is bigger than other academic polling centers and on Thursday its latest figures and comments regarding the 2016 presidential race were released.
Understand, the poll does not accept clients or outside funding to eliminate any fear of bias so on this last Sunday in August of 2015, it might be fun to share some of the Q Poll’s latest findings of what today’s voters are thinking.
As the poll’s assistant director Tim Malloy tells us, “Donald Trump soars (28 percent); Ben Carson rises (12 percent); Jeb Bush slips (7 percent) and some GOP hopefuls seem to disappear. Trump proves you don't have to be loved by everyone, just by enough Republicans to lead the GOP pack.
"On the Democratic side, Secretary Hillary Clinton continues her slide (45 percent, down from 55 on July 30) while Sen. Bernie Sanders (22 percent) continues to narrow the gap," Malloy said. "But the real news is the man who isn't there - yet. Vice President Joseph Biden (18 percent) has the best appeal in general election matchups against top Republicans.
"Note to Biden: They like you, they really like you, or they like you more than the others. If he is sitting on the fence, his scores in the matchups and his favorability ratings may compel his to say, ‘Let’s do this.’”
The juiciest part of the poll – by far – was when 1,563 of the registered voter who took part were asked, “What is the first word that comes to mind” when the leading candidates’ names were mentioned. You better be sitting down …
QUESTION: What is the first word that comes to mind when you think of Hillary Clinton? (Figures show the number of times each response was given; they are not percentages): Liar (178), Dishonest (123), Untrustworthy (93), Experience (82), Strong (59), Bill (56), Woman (47), Smart (31), Crook (21), Untruthful (19), Criminal (18), Deceitful (18), Democrat (16), Intelligent (15), Email (14), Politician (13), Benghazi (12), Corrupt (12), Crooked (11), Capable (10), Determined (10), Good (10).
QUESTION: What is the first word that comes to mind when you think of Donald Trump? (Number of mentions, not percentages): Arrogant (58), Blowhard (38), Idiot (35), Businessman (34), Clown (34), Honest (30), Ego (29), Money (29), Outspoken (28), Crazy (26), Rich (26), Showman (23), Strong (20), A****** (18), Joke (16), Loud (16),Leader (15),Pompous (15), Bombastic (13), Egomaniac (13), Loudmouth (13), Racist (13), Big-mouth (12), Aggressive (11), Buffoon (11), Unfavorable (11), Braggart (10), Brash (10).
QUESTION: What is the first word that comes to mind when you think of Jeb Bush? (Number of mentions, not percentages): Bush (136), Family (70), Honest (53), Weak (45), Brother (41), Dynasty (40), Experience (35), George (28), Florida (25), Politician (24), Republican (24), Moderate (21), Governor (20), Establishment (16), Conservative (14), Father (14), Legacy (13), Nice (13), Trustworthy (13), Untrustworthy (12), Decent (11), Boring (10), Competent (10), Education (10), Favorable (10), Nepotism (10), War (10).
QUESTION: Is Your opinion of (CANDIDATE) favorable, unfavorable, or haven’t hear enough about him/her? (Table ranked by net favorability; favorable vs. unfavorable of all registered voters): Carson (20), Rubio (14), Kasich (13), Fiorina (12), Biden (9), Sanders (4), Webb (0), Walker (-1), Huckabee (-2), Jindal (-4), Chafee (-5), Gilmore (-6), Cruz (-6), Pataki (-7), Bush (-9), O’Malley (-9), Clinton (-12), Santorum (-17), Christie (-18), Paul (-18), Paul (-18), Trump (-18), Perry (-19), Graham (-24).
By Republican voters only: Rubio (69), Carson (56), Huckabee (49), Walker (47), Bush (42), Fiorina (41), Cruz (41).
By Democrat voters only: Biden (77), Clinton (65), and Sanders (46).
* * *
Matchups among all American voters show:
-- Biden tops Trump 48 - 40 percent. He beats Bush 45 - 39 percent and gets 44 percent to Rubio's 41 percent.
-- Clinton edges Trump 45 - 41 percent. She gets 42 percent to Bush's 40 percent and gets 44 percent to Rubio's 43 percent.
-- Sanders edges Trump 44 - 41 percent and edges Bush 43 - 39 percent. Rubio gets 41 percent to Sanders' 40 percent.
If Trump runs as a third party candidate, Clinton gets 40 percent, with 24 percent each for Bush and Trump.
-- Jeb Bush has a negative 32 - 41 percent favorability rating among all voters, with Clinton getting a negative 39 - 51 percent score, her worst ever. Ratings for other top contenders are:
-- 48 - 39 percent for Biden;
-- Negative 36 - 54 percent for Trump;
-- 41 - 27 percent for Rubio;
-- 32 - 28 percent for Sanders.
Trump and Clinton have the worst scores among top candidates on honesty: Clinton is not honest and trustworthy, voters say 61 - 34 percent, her lowest score ever; Trump is not honest and trustworthy, voters say 54 - 38 percent.
royexum@aol.com