Californians support big role for Bill Clinton

Voters in California strongly believe former President Bill Clinton should play an active role in his wife's bid for the White House and also think he would be an asset in a Hillary Clinton administration, a new Field Poll revealed Wednesday.

But the poll of 579 registered voters conducted Oct. 11-21 found comparatively lukewarm views on the Democratic Party front-runner herself.

According to the poll, 48 percent of California voters said they have a favorable view of Hillary Clinton, with 39 percent having an unfavorable view.

Meanwhile, more than seven in 10 voters – 72 percent – said Bill Clinton's participation in his wife's presidential campaign would help her either "a lot" or "somewhat."

Even Republicans – of whom 63 percent said they "definitely would not" support Hillary Clinton for president – said the former president would help her White House run, with 28 percent saying he would help "a lot" and 37 percent "somewhat."

Among those who see Bill Clinton as a benefit to his wife is El Dorado Hills Republican Larry Carr.

On one hand, Carr called Hillary Clinton "a big-government candidate" and said, "I can't imagine the Republican Party putting up anyone I would prefer less than Hillary."

Yet, while he backs either Arizona Sen. John McCain or former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani for president, he said "many people have a good recollection" of Bill Clinton.

"He's a great campaigner. He's very charismatic, and I think he would be a great asset to her campaign," Carr said. "Of the Clinton fatigue that might have existed, eight years later a lot of it has disappeared."

According to the Field Poll, 62 percent of the state's voters said it would be a "very good thing" or "a somewhat good thing" if the former president takes an active role in his wife's administration if she is elected.

"I think voters have a certain longing for the past Clinton administration, perhaps because of the failure, in many voters' eyes, of the Bush administration," said Mark DiCamillo, director of the state Field Poll. "They feel that reverting back to a Clinton administration, with Bill at least partly involved, would not be such a bad thing."

Such sentiments are shared by Frank Gladik, a 67-year-old Elk Grove resident and independent voter who backed Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for re-election last year.

"I wouldn't mind it a bit if Bill became secretary of state under her," said Gladik. "Let's face it, the man's a Rhodes Scholar and, of all presidents, he has among the highest IQs."

Gladik backs Hillary Clinton, but his support is tepid.

"If the Republicans had better candidates, I might not vote for her because she has her flaws," he said. "She might be a little bit vindictive. ... But I think no one is more qualified on an international platform."

While 67 percent of Democrats said they viewed the New York senator favorably, a similar proportion of Republicans – 66 percent – viewed her unfavorably. But she fared well among nonpartisan voters, with 52 percent favorable and 34 percent unfavorable ratings.

Luis Vizcaino, spokesman for Clinton's California campaign, downplayed her husband's strong poll showing and argued that her support among independent voters shows she is connecting with more California voters.

"President Clinton is an asset to the campaign and would be an asset to her as president. But this campaign is about Hillary Clinton, and it is evident that support for her candidacy continues to grow as voters get to know her better," Vizcaino said.

Other Field Poll results, released last week, showed Clinton dominating among likely Democratic primary voters, with 45 percent support for her, 20 percent for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and 11 percent for former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.

Democratic voter Richard Warg of Woodland, a computer scientist who prefers Obama, hopes Bill Clinton is closely involved in his wife's campaign if she wins the party nomination.

"He certainly did a good job of running a campaign, and he got re-elected despite a segment of Republicans and conservatives who really hated him and had a lot of venom for him," Warg said.

The senator's 39 percent unfavorable rating in the new state poll was little different from her 37 percent negative tally as first lady in 1996. Meanwhile, over 11 years, the margin of California voters viewing her favorably has shifted narrowly between 46 percent and 55 percent.

"That steady state of her image works to her advantage because Democrats outnumber Republicans in this state by a fair margin," DiCamillo said. "And independents in California are closer to Democrats than Republicans.

"But a steady unfavorable segment remains unchanged. It will be very hard for her to win over those voters."

About the writer:

• Call Peter Hecht, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5539.