Clinton Favorability: Weak in the Center

Well-liked among Democrats but less so in the political center, Hillary Clinton ends her presidential campaign as a more divisive figure than Barack Obama, less popular overall and less strongly popular in her own party as well.

In the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, 52 percent view Hillary Clinton favorably.

(AFP PHOTO / ROBYN BECK/Getty)

Among all registered voters, 52 percent see Clinton favorably, less than Obama's 62 percent. The shortfall occurs chiefly among independents, a key swing voter group. Just 41 percent of independents rate Clinton favorably vs. 59 percent for Obama.

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Winning Clinton supporters -- she addresses the Democratic National Convention Tuesday night -- is a key task for Obama. Among Democrats who preferred Clinton for the nomination, 69 percent currently support Obama against John McCain. That's the chief reason for his weaker-than-desired support among Democrats overall, 79 percent.

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Obama comes up similarly short among Democratic-leaning independents who favored Clinton. And these numbers have held essentially steady all summer, underscoring his continued need to shift them. It may not get easier after this convention week.

Among Democrats only, Clinton and Obama are rated similarly -- 78 percent favorable for her, 83 percent for him. Each is seen favorably by about seven in 10 of the other's primary supporters. But Obama has stronger intensity within the party: Sixty-one percent of Democrats view him "strongly" favorably vs. 48 percent who strongly like Clinton.

GROUPS -- Clinton is better-liked by women than by men; she's rated favorably by 58 percent of women who are registered to vote vs. 46 percent of men. Obama also does better among women than men -- women are more apt to be Democrats -- but unlike Clinton, Obama is viewed favorably by majorities of both sexes. Indeed Obama's favorable rating among women (67 percent) is significantly better than Clinton's.

Race tells a similar story. Obama is overwhelmingly popular among blacks. But even among whites alone, his favorable rating, 58 percent, exceeds Clinton's 50 percent.