Americans largely disapprove of the way Hillary Clinton has handled the controversy around her private email address, according to a new Washington Post/ABC News poll that shows the Democratic frontrunner’s support dropping significantly within her party over the two months.
The poll illustrates the challenges the Clinton campaign has faced in controlling the narrative around her use of a private email server during her time as Secretary of State. Some 55% of Americans disapprove of the way Hillary Clinton has handled questions about her use of private email, and 51% say Clinton broke government regulations in her use of private email. Fully 54% say that she tried to cover up the facts.
It’s unclear, however, whether the email issue will persist into 2016 and hurt her if she is chosen to represent the Democrats in the general election: fewer than half of Americans think it is a legitimate issue in the presidential election, according to the poll. And Clinton still holds a commanding lead in the nominating contest: 42% of Democratic-leaning voters support Clinton, compared with 24% supporting second place Bernie Sanders.
But a summer dominated by headlines about the email controversy has impacted her bid for the nomination. Her support among Democrats has dropped 21 points since July.
Clinton did not break any rules by emailing work-related information from a private account, as the rules that restrict that practice were enacted in 2014, after Clinton left the administration. It is illegal to intentionally transmit classified information on unsecured channels, and some of the emails Clinton sent from her server have since been marked classified.
But none so far have been found to be marked classified at the time they were sent, which Clinton has repeatedly noted. Yet questions remain about the content of emails she deleted from the server before handing it over to the State Department. Clinton has apologized for using a private email address as Secretary of State, and her campaign has sought to shift its tone and carefully explain the details of a complicated issue to the public.
The poll was conducted among a national sample of 1,003 adults using both landline and cellphones, and has an overall margin of error of +/-3.5 percentage points.
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President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton prepare for a formal portrait in the East Room of the White House on the evening of the President's second inauguration, Jan. 20, 1997. Barbara Kinney, The White HousePalestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and King of Jordan Hussein bin Talal take a cue from President Bill Clinton, all adjusting their ties before the ceremony to sign an accord expanding Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank, Sept. 28, 1995.Barbara Kinney, The White HousePresident Clinton in a limousine with George Stephanopoulos and Wendy Smith, signing autographs during a Presidential tripBarbara Kinney, The White HouseHillary Clinton does a last-minute touchup in the Blue Room before the 1996 National Governors Association dinner as longtime butler James Jeffries stands nearby, Feb. 4, 1996. Barbara Kinney, The White HousePresident Clinton in the Oval Office after an event on the South Lawn.Barbara Kinney, The White HouseFirst Ladies (from left to right) Nancy Reagan, Lady Bird Johnson, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Rosalynn Carter, Betty Ford, and Barbara Bush at the "National Garden Gala, A Tribute to America's First Ladies", May 11, 1994. Barbara Kinney, The White HouseHillary Rodham Clinton meets with Mother Teresa at the opening of the Mother Teresa Home for Infant Children in Washington, D.C., June 19, 1995. Barbara Kinney, The White HouseThe first time President Clinton met Buddy, the chocolate lab that became the family's pet. He took the dog on a walk around the South Lawn. "I asked the President if I could accompany them so I could take photos," says Barbara Kinney.Barbara Kinney, The White HouseChelsea Clinton at a ballet recital at the Washington School of Ballet in Washington, DC. Barbara Kinney, The White HousePresident Clinton in his secretary's outer office next to the Oval Office.Barbara Kinney, The White HouseSecretary of state Madeleine Albright briefs First Lady Hillary Clinton in a ladies room during a trip to Prague, 1997. Barbara Kinney, The White HouseSen. Clinton and Sen. Obama meeting unexpectedly in the back hall of the Washington convention center, the day after the last primary elections when it had become apparent that Obama had the most delegate votes, yet Clinton had not conceded.Barbara Kinney, The White HouseHillary Clinton's concession speech at the National Building Museum in Washington DC. The place was packed with her supporters as she gave her "18 Million Cracks in the Ceiling" speech.Barbara KinneySen. Hillary Clinton works on remarks in a back room during the 2008 campaign.Barbara KinneyPresident Clinton and Hillary Clinton on the campaign plane, heading back to Washington after one of her last campaign stops.Barbara KinneySen. Hillary Clinton responding to press questions at a tense time during the primary elections in 2008.Barbara KinneyA campaign stop in Puerto Rico during the 2008 presidential elections. It's tradition that candidates ride through town on a truck with music blaring.Barbara KinneySen. Hillary Clinton greeting supporters after a speech on the campaign in Hidalgo, Texas.Barbara KinneyChelsea Clinton and her mother, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, share a moment backstage at the Clinton Global Initiative University meeting at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., March 22, 2014. Barbara KinneyFrom left to right: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Dorothy Rodham and Chelsea Clinton pose for formal photos after the Chelsea's wedding at Astor Court at Rhinebeck, N.Y., July 31, 2010. Barbara KinneyPresidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama behind the scenes at the 2012 Democratic Convention.Barbara KinneyAt a Clinton Global Initiative meeting. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chelsea take a selfie.Barbara KinneyHillary Clinton visits the Iowa State Capitol. April 15, 2015.Barbara Kinney—HillaryClinton.comHillary Clinton visits Capital City Fruit Company in Norwalk, Iowa. April 15, 2015. Barbara Kinney—HillaryClinton.comHillary Clinton visits Jones Street Java House in Le Claire, Iowa. April 14, 2015.Barbara Kinney—HillaryClinton.comHillary Clinton visits the Iowa State Capitol. April 15, 2015Barbara Kinney—HillaryClinton.com
