After initially ignoring the ABC News/Washington Post poll showing bad approval ratings for President Obama and Hillary Clinton, Thursday’s Good Morning America finally noticed the Clinton numbers 48 hours after the poll was released. Co-host George Stephanopoulos noted: “...and a new challenge for Hillary Clinton, too, as her poll numbers take a dip.”
Moments later, White House correspondent Jon Karl spent a mere 25 seconds discussing the poll:
But look at Hillary's poll numbers, George. She now has a favorability rating of just 45%. 49% disapprove of Hillary Clinton right now. And the biggest problem for her, George, is that a strong majority now say they don't consider her honest or trustworthy. That's the kind of poll numbers that looks like somebody who would be real vulnerable but, again, none of these [Democratic] candidates that are challenging her seem to be very formidable at this point.
No mention was made of President Obama’s approval matching Clinton’s, with 45% approving of his job performance and 49% disapproving.
Coverage of the bad numbers for Clinton did not warrant a full segment, but was tacked on to a brief report on Jeb Bush and Rick Perry set to enter the Republican race.
On Tuesday, CBS This Morning similarly skipped its own poll showing sinking poll numbers for Obama.
Here is a full transcript of the June 4 GMA segment:
7:09 AM ET
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We’re gonna turn to a different kind of race right now, the race for the White House. Two new candidates jumping in, with former Texas Governor Rick Perry releasing a new video overnight ahead of today's formal announcement and a new challenge for Hillary Clinton, too, as her poll numbers take a dip. ABC's Jon Karl tracking all the new moves and, Jon, this is a bit of a comeback bid for Perry.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Perry & Chafee Enter Crowded Race; Clinton Facing Falling Poll Numbers]
JONATHAN KARL: Yeah, he sure hopes it’s a comeback. Perry ran, of course, four years ago. When he got into the race then he was ever so briefly the front-runner, but that campaign was a bit of a disaster, especially those debates. Now Perry comes in, even with a record as Governor of Texas for 14 years, good record on jobs – there you see his announcement video which came out overnight – Perry gets into this as a real long shot. And, George, we now have ten declared Republican presidential candidates and believe me several more to come.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Not only that and now four Democratic candidates, Lincoln Chaffee, former Governor of Rhode Island, saying he wants to challenge Hillary Clinton.
KARL: That's right, Lincoln Chaffee, former Governor, former Senator, former liberal Republican, he jumps into this. With those three challengers to Hillary, none of them really, you know, have – seem to have much of a shot. All are real, real long shots.
But look at Hillary's poll numbers, George. She now has a favorability rating of just 45%. 49% disapprove of Hillary Clinton right now. And the biggest problem for her, George, is that a strong majority now say they don't consider her honest or trustworthy. That's the kind of poll numbers that looks like somebody who would be real vulnerable but, again, none of these candidates that are challenging her seem to be very formidable at this point.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Not yet. Okay, Jon Karl, thanks very much. We also learned this morning that Jeb Bush formally getting into the race on June 15th.
