Hillary Clinton more popular than Barack Obama, Quinnipiac poll says HAMDEN, Conn., Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's popularity is higher than that of President Barack Obama, the Quinnipiac University National Poll said. In findings released Friday, Clinton's 61 percent favorability rating, with 34 percent unfavorability, surpasses Obama's 51 percent favorability rating and 46 percent unfavorability. The poll noted Clinton's favorability is higher than other national figures including Vice President Joe Biden; House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio; U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis.; and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Peter A. Brown, Quinnipiac polling assistant director, called Clinton "easily the most popular actor on the American political stage today. The difference in favorability ratings for the two leaders (Clinton and Obama) lies in Clinton's ability to win thumbs up from many more independent voters and Republicans than does the president. The survey was taken Jan. 30-Feb. 4 of 1,772 registered voters, by live interviewers on cellphones and land lines. It has a margin of error of 2.3 percentage points.