The 'Hottest Politicians' in the Country? Christie and Clinton
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Quinnipiac University is out with a new type of poll Monday, surveying the "hottest politicians" in the country.
In the poll of voter attitudes toward the country's major political figures, the "hottest" are New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The third place spot on Quinnipiac's "Thermometer of Voter Attitudes" is Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, although the poll notes 51 percent of voters said they didn't know enough about her to rate her.
Christie, at 53.1 degrees on the "Thermometer," Clinton, 52.1 degrees and Warren, at 49.2 degrees, are "hotter" than President Obama, at 47.6 degrees. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand matches the president, at 47.6 degrees, although 75 percent of voters said they didn't know enough about her to rate her.
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas scores 46.8 degrees, with 60 percent saying they didn't know enough about him to rate his temperature. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida rates 46.5 degrees and Vice President Joe Biden comes in at 46.2 degrees.
"Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's score is not surprising, given her lengthy political career, and [she's] especially strong support among Democrats and women," Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said in a statement. "But Gov. Christopher Christie's rating is impressive given that his experience - less than four years as governor - pales when compared to Mrs. Clinton' s resume. What is interesting is that only two of the 22 figures rate better than the absolute middle of the scale, not exactly a ringing endorsement of the nation's political establishment."
Although Christie is the "hottest" leader in the eyes of all American voters, he comes in eighth among Republican voters, at 59.8 degrees. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the GOP's 2012 vice presidential candidate, "generates the most heat," according to the survey, among Republican voters, with 68.7 degrees.
"Christie's great strength is among independent voters, who give him 50.6 degrees of love, and Democrats, who give him 53.2 degrees," Brown said. "His rating on the "Thermometer" is a good indication of what may face him should he travel the 2016 campaign trail. His tougher problem may be winning the GOP nomination, because in most states only registered Republicans can vote in party primaries. For example, Christie is much hotter than Sen. Rand Paul among all voters, but trails him by a bit among Republicans."