Favourability ratings of Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump rise

The favourability ratings of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have increased since they clinched the presidential nominations of the respective Republican and Democratic parties, a Gallup survey said on Thursday.

Since clinching nomination in early June, Ms Clinton’s favorable ratings among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents have gone up slightly to 71 per cent, compared with 68 per cent in April and May, the survey said.

68-year-old Ms Clinton’s image is now partly restored to what it was at the start of the year when 74 per cent of Democrats viewed her favourably.

Mr Trump has also maintained higher favourable ratings among Republicans and the party leaders since he emerged as the sole Republican candidate in May compared with earlier in the year.

Mr Trump’s favourable ratings among Republicans averages 64 per cent so far in June, the same as in May but higher than the 54 per cent to 56 per cent in the three prior months.

His current favourable ratings also exceed the average 61 per cent he earned from this partisan group in January, the survey noted.

Ms Clinton (68) and Mr Trump (70) have each lost ground over the course of 2016 among independents who lean toward neither party.

“Because of this, the candidates’ national favorable ratings have stayed still or declined slightly, despite recent improved ratings from their own partisans,” it said.

Ms Clinton’s overall favourable ratings since clinching the nomination have averaged 41 per cent, nearly matching her 40 per cent in May but down slightly from 44 per cent in January.

Mr Trump’s average 31 per cent thus far in June compares with 32 per cent in May and 34 per cent in January.

However, the electoral importance of pure independents will likely be muted as Gallup polling traditionally shows this group to be less engaged in politics and less likely to vote than those who identify with or lean toward one of the two major parties, it said.

Gallup is an American research-based, global performance-management consulting company.