Hillary Clinton Leaving State Department With Sky High Approval
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, once considered one of the most polarizing figures in American politics, will be stepping down from her post with extraordinary approval ratings.
According to a recent Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, a full 69 percent of Americans rate Clinton's performance as the nation's top diplomat favorably, while just 25 percent disapprove of her performance.
An overwhelming 92 percent of Democrats approve of Clinton's job performance, along with 64 percent of independents.
Despite criticism from Congressional Republicans over the State Department's handling of security in Libya, where an attack on September 11, 2012, resulted in the death of the U.S. Ambassador, 41 percent of Republicans surveyed in the poll also approved of Clinton.
Clinton's approval rating, according to the poll, is higher than that of any other departing Secretary of State since 1948, with the exception of Colin Powell, who left the administration of President George W. Bush with a 77 percent approval rating.
Clinton's popularity would seem to position her well for a potential second run for president in 2016, though Clinton herself has repeatedly said she has no interest in attempting a second presidential campaign.
Her focus, Clinton has reportedly said, is recovering from the strenuous travel demands of the last four years. She was also hospitalized in recent weeks for treatment of a blood clot.
President Barack Obama has nominated Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to replace Clinton for his second term.
by RTT Staff Writer
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