Quinnipiac: Rudy, McCain Hot Contenders, Hillary "divisive"

A Quinnipiac University poll asked voters to rate 19 national leaders from 0 to 100 on a "feeling thermometer," with the highest numbers reflecting the warmest feelings. Results in mean scores, not percentages, show:

• Giuliani with the highest overall score - 63.5, with Republicans giving him a 73.5; Democrats 57.5 and independents 61.1.
• McCain with an overall score of 56: 59.3 from Republicans, 53.5 from Democrats and 56.4 from independents.
• Clinton with a total score of 49.9, with Democrats giving her a 72 rating, Republicans 25.2 and independents 48.9.

"Sen. Clinton is a more polarizing figure than either Sen. McCain or Mayor Giuliani," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "She has almost universal name recognition. Because it is harder to change a voter's opinion once it is formed, her work is cut out for her once she gets past her core supporters."

While I have little regard or trust for Hillary, it seems to me that Quinnipiac is quicker than other "independent" pollsters to offer broad stroke conclusions on what their numbers mean. Or maybe I'm just a little cranky. Anyway, here's how others fared:

The leaders, their mean scores and percent of voters who said they did not know enough about them to offer an opinion:

• Giuliani - 63.5 - (13 percent)
• Obama - 58.4 - (55 percent)
• Condoleezza Rice - 56.1 (9 percent)
• McCain - 56 (17 percent)
• Clinton - 49.9 (2 percent)
• Edwards - 49.4 (21 percent)
• Biden - 48.8 (55 percent)
• Bayh - 47.9 (74 percent)
• Romney - 47.5 (67 percent)
• Warner - 47.1 (72 percent)
• Allen - 46.8 (72 percent)
• Gore - 45.7 (3 percent)
• Dodd - 45.3 (64 percent)
• Kerry -45.2 (6 percent)
• Feingold - 45.1 (62 percent)
• Bush - 42.9 (0 percent)
• Frist - 41.8 (51 percent)
• Rumsfeld - 41.5 (12 percent)
• Cheney - 40.5 (5 percent)

Only thin I got to say, that 5% who don't know enough about Chaney to give an opinion -- they ought to be banned from all future polls.

Here's a crayon, kids, draw yer own conclusions. For me, it's way to early to do anything but encourage Hillary not to run.