Poll: Majority of Americans would vote against Gore in 2000

Less than half of Americans want Hillary Clinton to run for Senate

By Keating Holland/CNN

May 26, 1999
Web posted at: 5:08 p.m. EDT (2108 GMT)

WASHINGTON (May 26) -- A majority of Americans currently say they would vote against Vice President Al Gore for president in 2000, according to the latest CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll.

How much trouble is Gore in? Forty percent all Americans say they are not likely at all to vote for him in 2000 if the Democrats nominate him, and another 15 percent say that they are not too likely to vote for him.

So, a majority of Americans currently say that they are likely to vote against Gore even before the GOP picks its nominee. To be elected next November, Gore must win over two-thirds of the people who say they are "not too likely" to vote for him.

One of Gore's supposed advantages -- being the heir apparent of a popular president -- may actually be working against him. Fifty-two percent of all Americans say they are less likely to vote for Gore if President Bill Clinton actively supports him and campaigns for him.

Another legacy of the Clinton era -- Kosovo -- may also drag on Gore's candidacy. A majority say that Gore would do a bad job on foreign affairs if he becomes president. And despite a booming economy under his boss, just 50 percent say that Gore would do a good job with the economy if he takes over from Clinton.

But one charge the GOP has recently launched -- that Gore is an environmental extremist -- does not seem to have stuck so far. Sixty-nine percent say that Gore would do a good job on the environment if he becomes president. Sixty-three percent say the same about education.

Gore continues to lose to George W. Bush in a hypothetical match-up with the Texas governor winning 54 percent and Gore 40 percent, if the election were being held today. That is essentially unchanged since early May. Bush and Gore continue to maintain large leads over their rivals for their parties' nominations in 2000.

The poll was conducted May 23-24 and included interviews with 1,050 adult Americans. The polls sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points, unless otherwise noted.

Looking ahead to the presidential election in November of next year, if Al Gore is the Democratic nominee for president in 2000, how likely is it that you would for him: extremely likely, very likely, fairly likely, not too likely, or not at all likely?

Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for Al Gore for president if President Clinton were actively support him and campaign for him?

Next, please say whether you think Al Gore would do a good job or not a good job on handling each of the following issues if he were to become president?

The economy
Yes	50%
No	43

The environment
Yes	69%
No	25

Education
Yes	63%
No	29

Suppose the year 2000 presidential election were being held today. If Vice President Al Gore was the Democratic Party's candidate and Texas Gov. George W. Bush was the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for?

Next, I'm going to read a list of people who may be running in the Republican primary for president in the next election. After I read all the names, please tell me which of those candidates you would be most likely to support for the Republican nomination for President in the year 2000.

Asked of Republicans only. Sampling error: +/-5 percentage points.

Next, I'm going to read a list of people who may be running in the Democratic primary for president in the next election. After I read all the names, please tell me which of those candidates you would be most likely to support for the Democratic nomination for president in the year 2000?

Asked of Democrats only. Sampling error: +/-5% percentage points.

More than seven out of 10 Americans approve of the job Hillary Rodham Clinton is doing as first lady, but only 44 percent say they would personally like to see her run for a U.S. Senate seat from New York next year. Forty-seven percent would not like to see her run for the Senate. But Americans are unconcerned that a Senate bid would distract her from her duties as first lady. Nearly two-thirds say that they would not be concerned if a Senate campaign meant that the duties of first lady were not being properly met.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Hillary Rodham Clinton is handling her job as first lady?

Approve	71%
Disapprove	23

There has been some discussion of Hillary Rodham Clinton possibly running for the Senate in New York next year. Would personally like to see Hillary Clinton run for the Senate in New York or not?

If Hillary Clinton decides to run for the Senate and it turns out her campaign interferes with her duties as first lady, how concerned would you be that the duties of first lady are not being properly met: very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned or not concerned at all?

Wednesday, May 26, 1999

•Clinton's polls: Damaged by Kosovo -- but hardly plunging
•Republican presidential candidates attack White House on China
• Democrats push Republicans to pass gun control legislation, now
• Gore urged to officially announce presidential bid
• Poll: Majority of Americans would vote against Gore in 2000
• Lott offers China spying legislation
• Publicist wins GOP gubernatorial primary in Kentucky
• Rubin not worried about possible delay in Summers' nomination
• Five Republicans side with Democrats, push for campaign finance vote
• Quayle: Bush backers making mistake
• Mississippi governor's tumultuous private life back in news
• New York Democrat says first lady is running
• Unhappy conservatives slow House work on spending bills
• Clinton takes vacation but gets no break from Kosovo
• A penny for your thoughts on the Clinton presidential library
• Presidential candidates in Texas
• Missing hiker, grandson of politician, found in good shape
• Senate rejects administration attempt to close more military bases
• Republicans eyes estate tax relief
• Book discloses secret documents from Clinton presidency
• Nebraska governor vetoes execution moratorium

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