+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

1,000 voters were asked to describe the Democratic candidates with a single word

Oct 2, 2015, 00:39 IST

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Vice President Joe Biden.Reuters/Brian Snyder (composite: Mike Nudelman/Business Insider)

A new Suffolk University/USA Today poll released Thursday asked 1,000 voters to describe the three main figures in the Democratic presidential race using a single word.

Advertisement

The results revealed how many people impulsively feel about the candidates - both in positive and negative terms.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the front-runner in the the primary contest, attracted a number of terms that questioned her honesty.

Just over 13% of respondents described her as either "liar" or "dishonest," 8.2% said "untrustworthy" or "fake," and 5.9% said "deceitful," "sneaky," or "tricky," among other critical words.

On the other hand, 7.7% said Clinton was "smart," "intelligent," or "knowledgeable."

Advertisement

According to other surveys, Clinton's trustworthiness took a hit after questions were used about her email use as secretary of state.

Clinton exclusively used a private email server for government work and then raised eyebrows by deleting the tens of thousands of messages her team deemed personal. The FBI is reportedly now investigating whether any classified information was mishandled in connection to the account.

Because all voters got to participate in the survey, the words used to describe the Democratic candidates were undoubtedly more critical than if only primary voters had been asked. Additionally, because Clinton is such a prominent figure, right-leaning voters could have a more cemented narrative against her than other Democratic contenders.

However, Vice President Joe Biden is also a very public figure - and he drew far more positive one-word descriptions. Biden, who is mulling whether or not to run, was described as "favorable" or "like" by 12.1% of voters, while 7.1% said "honest," "honorable," "integrity," or "trustworthy."

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) was also tested in the Suffolk poll. More 11% of voters used the word "socialist" to describe Sanders, who identifies as a democratic socialist in the European sense of the terms.

Advertisement

View the full one-word description lists below.

Clinton:

13.1% - "Liar/Dishonest"
8.2% - "Untrustworthy/Fake"
7.7% - "Smart/Intelligent/Knowledgeable"
5.9% - "Deceitful/Sneaky/Tricky"
4.8% - "Nice/Okay/Excellent/Good"
4.8% - "Awful/Despicable/Bad/Evil"
3.6% - "Unfavorable/Dislike"
3.5% - "Aggressive/Determined/Dedicated"
3.4% - "Experienced/Established/Connected"
3.0% - "Competent/Capable/Qualified"
2.7% - "Corrupt/Crook/Criminal"
2.7% - "Go-getter/Motivated/Hard worker"
2.3% - "Favorable/Like"
2.1% - "Strong"
2.1% - "Establishment/Old school/Status quo"
1.6% - "Politician"
1.1% - "Woman/Female/Feminist"
1.0% - "Democrat/Liberal"
0.9% - "Selfish/Self Serving"
0.9% - "Trustworthy/Honest"
0.9% - "Caring/Considerate"
0.8% - "Old"
0.8% - "Flip-flop/Wishy-washy"
0.6% - "Arrogant"
0.5% - "Difficult"
0.4% - "Power Hungry"
0.4% - "Bill Clinton"
0.3% - "Incapable/Incompetent"
5.0% - Other
14.9% - Don't know/refused

US Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) eats ice cream during a campaign stop at Windmill Ice Cream Shop in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, August 29, 2008.REUTERS/Jim Young

Biden:

12.1% - "Favorable/Like"
7.3% - "Honest/Honorable/Integrity/Trustworthy"
4.7% - "Idiot/Joke/Ass"
4.5% - "Fun/Funny/Character/Goofy"
3.3% - "Unfavorable/Dislike"
3.3% - "Nice/Sweet/Kind"
3.1% - "Quiet/Calm/Easy going"
2.6% - "Experienced"
2.5% - "Intelligent/Knowledgeable/Qualified"
2.4% - "Compassionate"
2.0% - "Old"
1.9% - "Untrustworthy/Dishonest"
1.8% - "Family/Father"
1.8% - "Follower/Puppet"
1.7% - "Crazy/Delusional"
1.7% - "Steady"
1.7% - "Wishy-washy/Unreliable"
1.6% - "Genuine/Sincere/Caring"
1.6% - "Incompetent/Incapable/Unintelligent"
1.5% - "Competent/Capable"
1.4% - "Committed/Dedicated/Determined"
1.3% - "Weak/Vulnerable"
1.2% - "Dependable/Reliable"
1.0% - "Friendly"
1.0% - "Politician"
0.7% - "Fair"
0.7% - "Vice President"
0.7% - "Clueless"
0.6% - "Humble"
4.9% - Other
23.4% - Don't know/refused

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders pauses to talk to the media before the start of the Milford Labor Day Parade in MilfordThomson Reuters

Advertisement

Sanders:

11.2% - "Socialist"
4.3% - "Favorable/Like/Good"
3.3% - "Liberal/Democrat"
2.9% - "Unfavorable/Dislike"
2.7% - "Intelligent/Knowledgeable"
2.5% - "Idiot/Evil/Outrageous/Rude"
2.3% - "Honest"
2.2% - "Passionate/Committed/Dedicated"
2.1% - "Trustworthy/Truthful/Integrity"
1.9% - "Best/Nice/Fair"
1.8% - "Old"
1.6% - "Communist/Marxist"
1.6% - "Sincere/Genuine/Personable"
1.4% - "Innovative/New ideas/Visionary"
1.3% - "A character/Joke/Clown"
1.2% - "Old school"
1.0% - "Compassionate"
1.0% - "Progressive"
0.9% - "Kind/Caring/Thoughtful"
0.8% - "Aggressive"
0.8% - "Different/Change"
0.8% - "Incompetent/Incapable"
0.8% - "Untrustworthy/Corrupt"
0.8% - "President/Statesman"
0.7% - "Independent"
0.6% - "Interesting"
0.6% - "Outspoken/Outgoing"
0.6% - "Realist/Straight"
0.6% - "Idealistic"
0.5% - "Enthusiastic/Exuberant"
0.4% - "Naive/Optimistic"
0.3% - "Forward Thinking"
6.4% - Other
38.1% - Don't know/refused

NOW WATCH: Obama has been getting the best of Trump for years

Please enable Javascript to watch this video
You are subscribed to notifications!
Looks like you've blocked notifications!
Next Article