The U.S. reaction to the earthquake in Haiti again finds Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the shadow of President Obama when it comes to American foreign policy, but voters have a more favorable opinion of Clinton than they’ve had in months.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 58% of likely U.S. voters now have at least a somewhat favorable view of Clinton. Forty-one percent (41%) have an unfavorable opinion of the secretary of State.

These numbers reflect a slight improvement from November when Clinton was seen favorably by 54%.

The latest figures include 29% with a very favorable opinion and 21% who regard her very unfavorably.

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Lat November, 27% of voters said that Clinton would be doing a better job as president than Barack Obama if she had won the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. Only 14% said she’d be doing a worse job, and 49% thought they would both be performing about the same.

Women continue to regard Clinton more favorably than men, but 51% of male voters now have a favorable view of the former first lady.

Eighty-nine percent (89%) of Democrats and 52% of voters not affiliated with either major party have a favorable opinion of Clinton. Seventy percent (70%) of Republicans view her unfavorably.

Still, Clinton’s overall favorability ratings are much higher than those of several other prominent members of President Obama’s Cabinet. Of course, she’s also much better known.

Forty-four percent (44%) view Secretary of Defense Robert Gates favorably while 35% view him unfavorably.

Gates is better-known than when Obama announced he was keeping him in the Cabinet in November 2008, but his favorables are little changed.

Just 25% of voters now have a favorable opinion of Attorney General Eric Holder, down 10 points from August when he announced the justice Department’s decision to investigate the Bush administration’s handling of terrorist suspects. Holder now is viewed unfavorably by 40%.

Kathleeen Sebelius, the former Kansas governor who is now secretary of Health and Human Services, is viewed favorably by 24% and unfavorably by 41%.

Obama’s job approval ratings continue to track just below the 50% mark in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

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