Rajendra G. Kulkarni^1*, Roger R. Stough² and Kingsley E. Haynes³

¹ Corresponding Author, Research Instructor, Mason Enterprise Center, The Institute of Public Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA,
Tel.: 703-993-3177, Fax: 703-993-2284, E-mail: [email protected]
² NOVA Endowed Chair, Eminent Scholar and Professor of Public Policy, Director, Mason Enterprise Center, The Institute of Public Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
³ Director, The Institute of Public Policy, University Professor/Eminent Scholar, Professor of Decision Sciences, Geography and Public Affairs, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
^* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 3 September 1999 / Accepted: 27 September 1999 / Published: 30 September 1999

Abstract: This paper discusses an analytical approach to explaining a nearly constant high job approval rating of president Clinton between January, 1998 and February, 1999. Despite all the controversy and massive information exposure to mostly unflattering news about Mr. Clinton; the public, in nearly all major opinion polls expressed their wish that Mr. Clinton be allowed to complete his second term in the office. The analytical approach is based on the information entropy theory of Shannon. The model is tested using the data from the polling archives of ABC/Washington Post. The results are confirmed by the Kendall's τ statistics.

Keywords: Clinton presidency; President's job approval rating; public opinion polls; information entropy; rRelative entropy.