March 7, 2011 - U.S. Voters Have Warmest Feelings For Michelle Obama, Quinnipiac University National Thermometer Finds; Christie Is Hottest Politician, Topping President Word format First Lady Michelle Obama gets the warmest rating, with a 60.1 degree mean score, more than 3 degrees hotter than fourth-place President Barack Obama, when American voters rate their feelings about politicians and other national figures in a Quinnipiac University national thermometer poll released today. New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie is the hottest politician on the thermometer. At 59.2 degrees, former President Bill Clinton is second place on the thermometer scale by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll. Gov. Christie is third with 57 degrees, topping President Obama who gets 56.5 degrees. But 55 percent of American voters don't know enough about Christie to form an opinion. Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House of Representatives and now the Democratic leader in the Republican-controlled body, gets the coolest rating from voters. Democratic Senate leader Harry Reid ranks next lowest and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin ranks third from the bottom. Among Republican voters, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty gets the hottest score among 2012 GOP presidential contenders. American voters don't fire Donald Trump, but they're not fired up about him, ranking him 16th in a field of 23 people. "New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie has ruled out running for president next year despite the urging of many Republicans, but he has clearly made a positive impression on the American people, at least the half who are familiar with him," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "It is important to remember that this measure is not any kind of presidential trial heat, but it does reflect how voters feel about national figures, including politicians." The Quinnipiac University poll asked voters to rate leaders from 0 to 100 degrees on a "feeling thermometer," with the highest numbers reflecting the warmest feelings. The mean scores and the percent who said they did not know enough about the people to rate them are: Michelle Obama 60.1 degrees 4 percent President Clinton 59.2 2 Christopher Christie 57 55 President Obama 56.5 0 Rudolph Giuliani 52.3 13 Mike Huckabee 51.8 22 John Boehner 51.1 41 Mitt Romney 50.4 23 Tim Pawlenty 48.2 67 Jon Huntsman 47.9 84 Ron Paul 46.3 34 Michael Bloomberg 46 35 Michele Bachmann 45.6 55 Mitch McConnell 45.2 48 Mitch Daniels 45.1 78 Donald Trump 45 5 Rick Santorum 43.9 63 President George W. Bush 43.9 0 Haley Barbour 43.5 65 Newt Gingrich 42.7 17 Sarah Palin 38.2 4 Harry Reid 34.8 37 Nancy Pelosi 32.9 15 From February 21 - 28, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,887 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research. For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 6. (INTRO TO Q6a-6w ROTATED) I'd like to get your feelings toward some of our political leaders and other people who have been in the news. I'll read the name of a person and I'd like you to rate that person using something called the feeling thermometer. You can choose any number between 0 and 100. The higher the number, the warmer or more favorable you feel toward that person, the lower the number, the colder or less favorable. If we come to a person who you haven't heard enough about to form an opinion, you don't need to rate the person. Just tell me and we'll move on to the next one. (Split sample, names were rotated, each respondent asked 15 names) SUMMARY TABLE HIGH TO LOW MEAN SCORE................. PERCENT SCORING WITHIN RANGES.................. Mean 0-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 <50 50 >50 Score M. Obama 19% 09% 14% 25% 28% 29% 09% 57% 60.1 Clinton 18 11 20 24 26 30 11 57 59.2 Christie 07 06 10 10 11 15 05 24 57.0 Obama 21 13 14 22 29 37 08 54 56.5 Giuliani 14 14 23 24 10 30 13 43 52.3 Huckabee 16 11 20 21 10 28 10 39 51.8 Boehner 13 07 15 14 08 21 07 30 51.1 Romney 12 16 23 18 08 30 13 34 50.4 Pawlenty 07 05 09 07 03 13 06 13 48.2 Huntsman 03 02 05 03 02 07 03 05 47.9 Paul 16 12 19 13 06 30 11 25 46.3 Bloomberg 14 12 21 14 03 28 12 24 46.0 Bachmann 14 05 10 09 07 19 06 19 45.6 McConnell 11 09 17 10 03 21 09 20 45.2 Daniels 05 04 07 04 02 11 03 07 45.1 Trump 25 17 26 18 08 43 16 34 45.0 Santorum 11 04 10 07 03 16 05 14 43.9 GW Bush 34 13 18 21 14 48 11 41 43.9 Barbour 11 05 09 07 03 16 05 13 43.5 Gingrich 26 14 21 14 08 41 13 29 42.7 Palin 41 11 18 14 12 54 09 32 38.2 Reid 26 09 17 08 02 36 10 17 34.8 Pelosi 41 10 17 11 06 51 09 24 32.9 SUMMARY TABLE - POTENTIAL 2012 PRES CANDIDATES.......... PERCENT SCORING WITHIN RANGES.................. Mean 0-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 <50 50 >50 Score Christie 07% 06% 10% 10% 11% 15% 05% 24% 57.0 Obama 21 13 14 22 29 37 08 54 56.5 Giuliani 14 14 23 24 10 30 13 43 52.3 Huckabee 16 11 20 21 10 28 10 39 51.8 Romney 12 16 23 18 08 30 13 34 50.4 Pawlenty 07 05 09 07 03 13 06 13 48.2 Huntsman 03 02 05 03 02 07 03 05 47.9 Paul 16 12 19 13 06 30 11 25 46.3 Bloomberg 14 12 21 14 03 28 12 24 46.0 Bachmann 14 05 10 09 07 19 06 19 45.6 Daniels 05 04 07 04 02 11 03 07 45.1 Trump 25 17 26 18 08 43 16 34 45.0 Santorum 11 04 10 07 03 16 05 14 43.9 Barbour 11 05 09 07 03 16 05 13 43.5 Gingrich 26 14 21 14 08 41 13 29 42.7 Palin 41 11 18 14 12 54 09 32 38.2 TREND: How do you feel about -- ? MEAN SCORE............................ Mar 07 Nov 27 Sep 06 Jun 05 Mar 06 2011 2006 2006 2006 2006 Bachmann, Michele 45.6 na na na na Barbour, Haley 43.5 na na na na Bloomberg, Michael 46.0 51.1 na na na Boehner, John 51.1 na na na na Bush, George W. 43.9 43.8 46.4 42.9 44.1 Christie, Christopher 57.0 na na na na Clinton, Bill 59.2 55.8 na na 56.1 Daniels, Mitch 45.1 na na na na Gingrich, Newt 42.7 42.0 na na na Giuliani, Rudy 52.3 64.2 64.1 63.5 63.5 Huckabee, Mike 51.8 na na na na Huntsman, Jon 47.9 na na na na McConnell, Mitch 45.2 na na na na Obama, Barack 56.5 58.8 54.9 58.4 59.9 Obama, Michelle 60.1 na na na na Palin, Sarah 38.2 na na na na Paul, Ron 46.3 na na na na Pawlenty, Tim 48.2 na na na na Pelosi, Nancy 32.9 46.9 34.7 na na Reid, Harry 34.8 41.2 37.9 na na Romney, Mitt 50.4 45.9 46.8 47.5 na Santorum, Rick 43.9 na na na na Trump, Donald 45.0 na na na na 6a. How do you feel about Michael Bloomberg? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 14% 16% 10% 15% 16% 11% 21-40 12 15 11 12 12 12 41-60 21 24 22 20 23 19 61-80 14 14 14 15 14 13 81-100 3 2 2 5 4 3 DK 35 28 40 31 29 41 RF 1 1 - 2 1 1 <50 28% 35% 21% 30% 30% 26% 50 12 11 14 11 13 11 >50 24 25 24 26 27 22 Mean 46.0 43.6 48.9 46.4 45.0 47.1 TREND: How do you feel about Michael Bloomberg? Mar 07 Nov 27 2011 2006 0-20 14% 8% 21-40 12 8 41-60 21 24 61-80 14 13 81-100 3 3 DK 35 44 RF 1 - <50 28% 17% 50 12 15 >50 24 24 Mean 46.0 51.1 6b. How do you feel about George W. Bush? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 34% 5% 60% 28% 30% 38% 21-40 13 5 14 16 13 13 41-60 18 15 13 24 19 17 61-80 21 43 8 20 23 20 81-100 14 31 4 12 15 13 DK - - - - - - RF - - - - - - <50 48% 11% 75% 46% 44% 51% 50 11 8 9 14 12 10 >50 41 80 17 40 44 39 Mean 43.9 71.4 24.3 45.4 46.6 41.6 TREND: How do you feel about George W. Bush? Mar 07 Nov 27 Sep 05 Jun 05 Mar 06 2011 2006 2006 2006 2006 0-20 34% 36% 35% 39% 37% 21-40 13 13 11 13 12 41-60 18 16 12 14 14 61-80 21 16 18 15 17 81-100 14 18 22 20 19 DON'T KNOW - 1 1 - - REFUSED - - - - - <50 48% 50% 47% 52% 50% 50 11 10 9 9 7 >50 41 39 43 39 42 Mean 43.9 43.8 46.4 42.9 44.1 6c. How do you feel about Bill Clinton? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 18% 29% 9% 16% 19% 16% 21-40 11 21 1 12 12 10 41-60 20 25 13 24 20 19 61-80 24 18 29 25 21 27 81-100 26 6 47 21 25 28 DK 2 2 1 2 3 1 RF - - - - - - <50 30% 53% 10% 30% 33% 28% 50 11 16 6 13 12 11 >50 57 30 82 54 52 61 Mean 59.2 41.5 75.2 57.5 56.6 61.4 TREND: How do you feel about Bill Clinton? Mar 07 Nov 27 Mar 06 2011 2006 2006 0-20 18% 26% 22% 21-40 11 9 11 41-60 20 14 16 61-80 24 20 23 81-100 26 30 26 DON'T KNOW 2 1 1 REFUSED - - - <50 30% 36% 34% 50 11 8 9 >50 57 55 56 Mean 59.2 55.8 56.1 6d. How do you feel about Newt Gingrich? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 26% 5% 41% 28% 24% 28% 21-40 14 16 11 15 14 13 41-60 21 23 18 23 20 21 61-80 14 24 8 12 17 11 81-100 8 19 2 8 10 7 DK 17 13 20 12 14 19 RF 1 1 - 1 - 1 <50 41% 21% 53% 46% 39% 43% 50 13 13 11 15 13 13 >50 29 52 15 26 34 24 Mean 42.7 61.9 28.7 40.8 45.8 39.8 TREND: How do you feel about Newt Gingrich? Mar 07 Nov 27 2011 2006 0-20 26% 25% 21-40 14 17 41-60 21 22 61-80 14 14 81-100 8 7 DK 17 15 RF 1 - <50 41% 44% 50 13 12 >50 29 29 Mean 42.7 42.0 6e. How do you feel about Rudy Giuliani? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 14% 2% 24% 14% 14% 14% 21-40 14 7 14 19 12 17 41-60 23 25 22 25 23 24 61-80 24 32 21 24 28 20 81-100 10 19 7 8 12 9 DK 13 11 13 11 11 15 RF 1 3 - - - 1 <50 30% 10% 40% 33% 27% 32% 50 13 14 11 16 12 14 >50 43 62 36 40 49 38 Mean 52.3 66.4 44.2 50.5 54.9 49.9 TREND: How do you feel about Rudy Giuliani? Mar 07 Nov 27 Sep 05 Jun 05 Mar 06 2011 2006 2006 2006 2006 0-20 14% 10% 10% 8% 8% 21-40 14 8 7 9 7 41-60 23 20 19 20 22 61-80 24 31 29 29 29 81-100 10 22 23 21 20 DON'T KNOW 13 9 12 13 13 REFUSED 1 - - - - <50 30% 18% 18% 19% 17% 50 13 11 10 11 13 >50 43 62 60 58 58 Mean 52.3 64.2 64.1 63.5 63.5 6f. How do you feel about Barack Obama? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 21% 42% 6% 22% 23% 19% 21-40 13 28 3 13 17 10 41-60 14 17 8 19 14 15 61-80 22 10 28 26 23 21 81-100 29 3 55 19 21 35 DK - - - 1 1 - RF - 1 - - - - <50 37% 71% 10% 39% 42% 32% 50 8 11 4 13 9 8 >50 54 17 87 47 48 59 Mean 56.5 30.4 78.3 52.6 51.9 60.4 TREND: How do you feel about Barack Obama? Mar 07 Nov 27 Sep 05 Jun 05 Mar 06 2011 2006 2006 2006 2006 0-20 21% 11% 10% 7% 6% 21-40 13 5 5 6 5 41-60 14 12 10 9 9 61-80 22 14 10 13 11 81-100 29 16 11 10 10 DON'T KNOW - 41 54 55 59 REFUSED - - - - - <50 37% 17% 15% 13% 11% 50 8 7 5 5 5 >50 54 35 26 26 25 Mean 56.5 58.8 54.9 58.4 59.9 6g. How do you feel about Nancy Pelosi? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 41% 72% 12% 41% 46% 35% 21-40 10 10 7 13 10 10 41-60 17 7 20 21 16 18 61-80 11 3 21 10 11 12 81-100 6 - 17 3 4 8 DK 15 7 23 10 12 17 RF 1 1 - 2 1 - <50 51% 83% 20% 56% 57% 46% 50 9 4 13 9 8 9 >50 24 5 44 23 22 27 Mean 32.9 13.1 58.2 30.9 29.0 36.8 TREND: How do you feel about Nancy Pelosi? Mar 07 Nov 27 Sep 05 2011 2006 2006 0-20 41% 20% 20% 21-40 10 7 8 41-60 17 14 10 61-80 11 16 6 81-100 6 9 2 DON'T KNOW 15 34 53 REFUSED 1 - - <50 51% 28% 28% 50 9 8 6 >50 24 30 13 Mean 32.9 46.9 34.7 6h. How do you feel about Harry Reid? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 26% 43% 6% 28% 32% 20% 21-40 9 13 4 10 9 8 41-60 17 12 24 18 17 18 61-80 8 3 14 9 9 7 81-100 2 1 5 1 2 2 DK 37 26 46 35 30 43 RF 1 2 1 - 1 1 <50 36% 57% 11% 40% 42% 30% 50 10 6 12 12 10 9 >50 17 10 30 13 17 17 Mean 34.8 23.0 56.6 32.1 32.0 37.9 TREND: How do you feel about Harry Reid? Mar 07 Nov 27 Sep 05 2011 2006 2006 0-20 26% 12% 13% 21-40 9 7 6 41-60 17 9 10 61-80 8 8 5 81-100 2 2 2 DK 37 61 65 RF 1 1 - <50 36% 19% 19% 50 10 5 6 >50 17 14 10 Mean 34.8 41.2 37.9 6i. How do you feel about Mitt Romney? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 12% 3% 24% 11% 12% 13% 21-40 16 10 17 21 17 14 41-60 23 24 16 28 25 20 61-80 18 34 6 16 20 15 81-100 8 14 3 7 7 9 DK 23 14 34 15 18 29 RF 1 1 - 1 1 - <50 30% 14% 43% 33% 29% 30% 50 13 12 10 17 13 12 >50 34 59 13 33 39 29 Mean 50.4 63.1 35.5 49.6 50.6 50.1 TREND: How do you feel about Mitt Romney? Mar 07 Nov 27 Sep 05 Jun 05 2011 2006 2006 2006 0-20 12% 8% 7% 6% 21-40 16 6 6 6 41-60 23 12 8 12 61-80 18 7 7 6 81-100 8 2 2 2 DON'T KNOW 23 64 69 67 REFUSED 1 1 - 1 <50 30% 15% 13% 13% 50 13 7 6 8 >50 34 13 12 11 Mean 50.4 45.9 46.8 47.5 6j. How do you feel about Sarah Palin? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 41% 9% 71% 42% 33% 48% 21-40 11 10 12 10 11 11 41-60 18 24 8 22 22 15 61-80 14 29 2 13 17 11 81-100 12 27 2 10 14 10 DK 4 1 5 2 3 5 RF - - - - - - <50 54% 21% 84% 55% 47% 61% 50 9 12 4 12 10 9 >50 32 65 6 31 40 26 Mean 38.2 63.8 15.6 37.8 44.3 32.8 6k. How do you feel about Mike Huckabee? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 16% 5% 29% 15% 15% 17% 21-40 11 6 17 12 9 12 41-60 20 23 13 23 23 17 61-80 21 34 12 19 25 17 81-100 10 18 5 10 10 11 DK 22 14 24 21 18 25 RF 1 1 1 - - 1 <50 28% 11% 47% 28% 25% 31% 50 10 9 9 14 10 11 >50 39 65 20 37 46 33 Mean 51.8 67.2 35.6 51.3 53.7 49.7 6l. How do you feel about Ron Paul? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 16% 9% 25% 17% 13% 19% 21-40 12 9 16 12 10 13 41-60 19 20 12 23 21 16 61-80 13 21 6 13 15 11 81-100 6 9 - 7 10 2 DK 34 31 42 28 29 39 RF 1 2 - 1 1 1 <50 30% 20% 41% 31% 25% 34% 50 11 9 9 14 11 11 >50 25 39 8 27 34 16 Mean 46.3 56.5 30.1 47.8 52.3 39.5 6m. How do you feel about Michelle Obama? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 19% 36% 5% 19% 24% 15% 21-40 9 16 1 11 10 9 41-60 14 22 9 13 15 13 61-80 25 13 29 29 23 27 81-100 28 7 57 23 22 33 DK 4 5 - 6 5 2 RF 1 1 - - 1 1 <50 29% 53% 5% 31% 34% 25% 50 9 17 4 8 10 8 >50 57 23 91 55 50 64 Mean 60.1 37.0 81.7 58.6 55.1 64.4 6n. How do you feel about Christopher Christie? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 7% 2% 14% 6% 7% 7% 21-40 6 7 8 5 8 5 41-60 10 9 12 10 9 10 61-80 10 15 3 10 13 6 81-100 11 18 2 12 15 7 DK 55 47 60 55 46 64 RF 1 3 1 1 2 1 <50 15% 9% 24% 13% 16% 14% 50 5 6 6 4 6 4 >50 24 36 10 26 31 17 Mean 57.0 70.2 36.1 60.3 60.7 52.2 6o. How do you feel about Donald Trump? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 25% 19% 29% 25% 24% 25% 21-40 17 19 16 18 18 17 41-60 26 27 26 27 24 28 61-80 18 19 16 18 20 16 81-100 8 10 7 7 7 8 DK 5 4 4 5 6 5 RF 1 1 2 1 1 1 <50 43% 40% 47% 45% 43% 44% 50 16 18 17 15 14 19 >50 34 38 30 35 36 32 Mean 45.0 48.5 42.4 44.7 45.7 44.4 6p. How do you feel about John Boehner? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 13% 4% 22% 12% 13% 13% 21-40 7 5 11 7 9 6 41-60 15 12 11 22 16 15 61-80 14 24 5 17 18 10 81-100 8 18 2 7 11 6 DK 41 36 47 35 32 49 RF 1 1 2 1 1 1 <50 21% 9% 35% 19% 22% 20% 50 7 8 5 9 8 6 >50 30 46 12 35 36 24 Mean 51.1 67.2 31.9 52.5 53.5 48.1 6q. How do you feel about Mitch McConnell? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 11% 1% 21% 11% 13% 9% 21-40 9 7 9 10 9 9 41-60 17 20 11 21 20 14 61-80 10 16 6 9 13 7 81-100 3 5 2 2 4 2 DK 48 50 49 45 39 58 RF 1 1 2 1 2 1 <50 21% 9% 30% 23% 23% 19% 50 9 11 6 12 10 8 >50 20 29 13 19 26 14 Mean 45.2 59.5 32.8 44.7 46.5 43.4 6r. How do you feel about Haley Barbour? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 11% 6% 19% 7% 12% 9% 21-40 5 3 4 6 5 4 41-60 9 10 6 11 12 5 61-80 7 11 3 8 10 4 81-100 3 5 - 2 3 2 DK 65 65 65 63 57 74 RF 1 - 2 2 1 2 <50 16% 11% 23% 14% 18% 14% 50 5 6 3 8 7 3 >50 13 18 7 13 17 8 Mean 43.5 55.9 27.2 47.9 45.5 40.0 6s. How do you feel about Tim Pawlenty? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 7% 1% 13% 6% 9% 5% 21-40 5 4 9 5 6 5 41-60 9 8 9 11 12 6 61-80 7 14 2 9 10 4 81-100 3 9 - 2 4 2 DK 67 62 66 66 57 77 RF 1 1 1 1 2 1 <50 13% 5% 23% 11% 15% 10% 50 6 5 5 9 8 5 >50 13 27 5 12 18 8 Mean 48.2 68.1 31.1 48.4 49.6 45.7 6t. How do you feel about Mitch Daniels? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 5% 1% 8% 6% 5% 6% 21-40 4 3 4 4 4 3 41-60 7 8 3 9 7 6 61-80 4 5 2 3 5 2 81-100 2 2 - 2 2 1 DK 78 79 80 73 75 80 RF 2 2 2 2 2 2 <50 11% 4% 14% 13% 10% 11% 50 3 4 2 4 3 3 >50 7 11 3 8 10 4 Mean 45.1 60.1 32.0 44.9 49.7 39.7 6u. How do you feel about Rick Santorum? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 11% 2% 18% 11% 14% 8% 21-40 4 6 2 5 6 3 41-60 10 12 8 12 13 8 61-80 7 12 3 6 9 5 81-100 3 7 1 2 3 3 DK 63 59 65 62 53 72 RF 2 1 2 2 2 1 <50 16% 10% 21% 17% 21% 12% 50 5 8 3 6 7 4 >50 14 22 8 13 17 11 Mean 43.9 60.6 29.3 42.0 43.8 44.0 6v. How do you feel about Jon Huntsman? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 3% 0% 6% 3% 4% 2% 21-40 2 3 3 1 2 2 41-60 5 4 6 6 5 5 61-80 3 3 4 1 3 2 81-100 2 2 - 2 2 1 DK 84 87 79 86 82 87 RF 1 - 2 - - 1 <50 7% 5% 12% 5% 7% 6% 50 3 2 2 5 3 3 >50 5 6 5 4 8 3 Mean 47.9 58.2 40.2 47.1 48.8 46.6 6w. How do you feel about Michele Bachmann? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom 0-20 14% 3% 23% 16% 14% 14% 21-40 5 2 5 6 5 4 41-60 10 14 8 11 11 9 61-80 9 13 5 9 11 7 81-100 7 12 2 7 9 5 DK 55 55 56 51 49 60 RF 1 2 1 1 1 1 <50 19% 5% 28% 22% 20% 18% 50 6 8 5 7 5 7 >50 19 30 9 19 25 13 Mean 45.6 65.8 28.3 44.1 49.0 41.3
