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How Hillary Can Shave Those Negatives

Political consultants predict candidate can overcome poor ratings

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 30, 2007 5:28 PM CDT

(Newser) – After Karl Rove’s parting shot at Hillary Clinton’s negative ratings, political consultants weigh in on the hurdle—and conclude that her highest-ever figures aren't fatal. One consultant tells the New Republic the numbers aren’t locked in, and voters who once disliked the First Lady don’t yet know the presidential front-runner.

Another analysts offers the adage, “Not everyone is going to love you”; as long as Clinton can pick off and persuade some fence-sitters, he predicts, her platform will take her home. A third strategist says recovering from negative numbers is purely a resources game. And no one can doubt that Hillary’s got the bucks to re-tell her story.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., left, talks to Pascale Mossin, 2, as her mother Mame McCutchin, 38, of New York, center, holds her at a news conference on children's health care in New York,... (Associated Press)

Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., addresses the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention Monday, Aug. 20, 2007 in Kansas City, Mo. Former Bush advisor Karl Rove slammed... (Associated Press)

"In Hillary's case, the first thing she should do is not worry about what Karl Rove says. Whatever problems she has, the Republicans are in a much worse position" said career campaign consultant Hank... (Associated Press)

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., speaks during a campaign stop at the Grand River Center, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007, in Dubuque, Iowa. "She enters the general election... (Associated Press)

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How Hillary Can Shave Those Negatives