ABC, CBS, and NBC's Thursday morning newscasts all covered the latest Quinnipiac University poll showing Hillary Clinton's "lowest numbers so far this campaign," as ABC's Cecilia Vega put it on Good Morning America. However, the Big Three network shows all failed to mention how the poll also found that the first three words that come to mind when Americans think of Mrs. Clinton are "liar," "dishonest," and "untrustworthy."
CNN Newsroom actually covered these words associations later in the morning on Thursday. The Daily Beast's John Avlon noted that the Democratic presidential candidate is "still is doing twice in this poll as well as Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders," but underlined that "the downward trend is troubling, and those five words...are really troubling for Hillary Clinton." Anchor Carl Costello then listed the words, and asserted that they were "kind of a weird, mixed bag."
Costello first noted that Clinton "still maintains a double-digit lead with voters, but she's lost 10 percentage points in the last month." She asked Avlon, "So will this trend continue, or will her new tone make a difference?" The guest replied, in part, by pointing out that "what's significant is – about this poll – it's the first poll showing that a Biden hypothetical candidacy could do better against some Republicans. That's got to make Hillary Clinton's camp nervous." He continued with his "really troubling" label about the word associations for Clinton.
Avon later seconded Costello's "weird, mixed bag" phrase about the poll results, but asserted that "the first three are basically synonyms for having a truth-telling problem. That is no good for the Hillary Clinton camp....clearly, the damage has been done, and it's been reflected in the downward trend of the polls over the last month."
It should be pointed out that the CNN anchor, along with an on-screen graphic (screen cap at right), misread the third word associated with Mrs. Clinton as "trustworthy," instead of "untrustworthy." However, an chyron moments earlier in the broadcast gave the correct term (see screen cap above).
The transcript of the relevant portion of the John Avlon segment from Thursday's CNN Newsroom:
CAROL COSTELLO: Let's take a look at this new Quinnipiac poll – because it shows Mrs. Clinton still maintains a double-digit lead with voters, but she's lost 10 percentage points in the last month. So will this trend continue, or will her new tone make a difference?
JOHN AVLON, EDITOR IN CHIEF, THE DAILY BEAST: Well, clearly, it's the hope of the campaign it will make a difference. I think what's significant is – about this poll – it's the first poll showing that a Biden hypothetical candidacy could do better against some Republicans. That's got to make Hillary Clinton's camp nervous, in part, because it's, sort of – you know, red flag to a bull about getting Biden in the race.
But a bit of a reality check here: she still is doing twice in this poll as well as Joe Biden or – or Bernie Sanders. That's significant, but the downward trend is troubling, and those five words you mentioned – that association at the top – those numbers are really troubling for Hillary Clinton-
COSTELLO: Okay – well, let's-
AVLON: When you have five words, and three of them are negative and synonyms for 'liar,' that's not good-
COSTELLO: Well, let's – let's lay those words on our viewers right now. So, the Quinnipiac poll asked voters about the first word that comes to mind when they thought of Hillary Clinton. That word was 'liar,' followed by 'dishonest,' followed by 'trustworthy' (sic), 'experience,' and 'strong.' So that's kind of a weird, mixed bag, right?
AVLON: It's a weird, mixed bag, but the first three are basically synonyms for having a truth-telling problem. That is no good for the Hillary Clinton camp. 'Strong' is good; 'experience' is good; but – but clearly, the weight is on the negative associations resuscitated by the server scandal – which is why she's got to change her tone. The campaign needs to change their tack, and try to get past this. It's not going to be done in one day. But clearly, the damage has been done, and it's been reflected in the downward trend of the polls over the last month.
COSTELLO: All right. John Avlon, thanks for your insight. I appreciate it.
