A popular statistics blog recently calculated the approval ratings of a variety of different “Star Wars” characters — with astounding results.
Darth Vader, one of the most notorious villains in cinematic history, scored a net favorability rating of +30, according to Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight. When you compare his numbers to real political figures, it’s higher than each and every one of the likely candidates for the 2016 presidential election.
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The one who comes closest to the popularity of “Star Wars” characters is Hillary Clinton, who nets a 19 percent favorability. She also has the distinction of being tied with Boba Fett, the popular bounty hunter from the original trilogy. Clinton, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio are also all more popular than “Star Wars” villain Emperor Palpatine, who just beats out Paul Ryan and Rick Perry.
But at least their favorability ratings are still in the positives. Potential 2016 candidates Joe Biden, Jeb Bush and Rick Santorum all netted negative favorability ratings. Scoring even worse, not surprisingly, are the most visible Congress leaders: Nancy Pelosi, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell and Harry Reid. And Congress itself, with its -65 favorability rating, is the worst of all.
See photo: Darth Vader Celebrates ‘Star Wars’ Instagram Launch With First Selfie
Yes, Congress is even more unpopular than Jar Jar Binks, the only “Star Wars” character to score a negative rating at -8.
- Washington Post
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