Why Hillary Clinton Will Be Hard to Beat

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton takes the stage to speak in New York City on Saturday.

 

CARLO ALLEGRI/REUTERS

Hillary Clinton is often at the center of controversy. But it would be a mistake to think this has undermined her candidacy, at least based on polling so far. As a political figure, she has a strong foundation.

Here are five charts, showing why she remains formidable—and where she has potential vulnerabilities.

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1. When matched against GOP rivals, Mrs. Clinton retains a big lead among minority voters. These voters were a pillar of President Barack Obama’s winning coalitions and make up a growing share of the electorate.

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2. Moreover, Mrs. Clinton shows signs of expanding the Obama coalition by drawing more white women, a group that Republicans won by 14 percentage points in 2012. When matched against likely GOP rivals, Mrs. Clinton leads among white women.

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3. Views of the economy—likely the top issue in the campaign—play to Mrs. Clinton’s advantage. She leads likely rivals among voters who say job creation and the economy are their top or second-highest concern:

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4. Where is Mrs. Clinton vulnerable? Voters tend to cast ballots for people they like, and so Mrs. Clinton’s declining public image could prove to be a problem. The share of people with a negative view of her is rising.

Via: Wall Street Journal

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