(CNN) – A new national poll suggests that most Americans don't think Sarah Palin's decision to step down as Alaska governor was a smart political move.
Sixty-one percent of people questioned in a Marist survey released Tuesday say Palin's resignation was a bad political move, while 15 percent feel it helps whatever political aspirations last year's Republican vice presidential nominee may have in the future. Eleven percent said it makes no difference, and 13 percent were unsure of its impact. Even among Republicans, 51 percent think the move hurt more than helped, with one in five GOP voters saying it was a smart move.
Palin, who stepped down last month as Alaska governor with a year and a half left in her first term in office, has been non-committal about any aspirations to run for national office, but she says that she wants to campaign across the country for candidates with ideas that she supports.
According to the poll, 43 percent hold an unfavorable view of the now-private citizen Palin, with 37 percent seeing her in a positive light and one in five unsure. Among Republicans, Palin has a 73 percent favorable rating, with 16 percent holding an unfavorable view. Independents appear split, and Democrats overwhelmingly hold an unfavorable opinion of Palin.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national survey conducted at the beginning of August had similar results on Palin's favorability.
"Our early August poll had Palin's favorable rating at 39 percent, with 48 percent holding an unfavorable view," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "So both show her just about as popular as Dan Quayle was a few months after the Bush/Quayle ticket went down to defeat in 1992."
Quayle declared himself a presidential candidate in 1994, but dropped out of the race in February, 1995.
Palin's resignation last month fueled speculation about a possible run for the White House. When it comes to a hypothetical matchup for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, the Marist poll suggests a dead heat among three possible contenders, with 21 percent backing former Massachusetts governor and 2008 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, 20 percent supporting Palin, and 19 percent backing former Arkansas governor and 2008 Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. That's consistent with most other national surveys of the 2012 race conducted this year.
The Marist poll was conducted August 3-6, with 938 U.S. residents questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points for the overall sample, and plus or minus 5.5 percentage points for questions only asked of Republicans.
From CNN Politics
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Good for the Dems – unequivacally showed the world she's a liar and a quitter (pitbull in lipstick, my eye!).
Given how dumb her "base" is, she'll probably have a lucrative career with her book and as a speaker. Lots of cash to pay whomever is taking care of Trig ...
Who cares?
Okay enough already! Now tell us what's happening with JoethePlumber. You know I am starting to think he MAY be a better candidate than Palin. At least he gives interviews (used to, maybe)
Palin is exactly what represents the republican party, they should approve of her overwhelmingly....
Shoot. And we were doing so well this morning. Half a day with no articles about Sarah. Oh well. At least the octomom is back in the spotlight. Have a nice day!
Using the word 'Smart" in a sentence pertaining to Palin is stupid!
P.S. will you never stop reporting on this Bigot / Racist Right Wing Loony!
Papasan
I think she's been used by the GOP. They expected voters to vote for her because she's cute. But they account for the fact she lacked intelligence and political experience.
The "death panel" for her and Trig was either stupid or lying.
She is too nutty to be anything but a hate spewing FOX news correspondent.
Palin, – just like the gun totin', flag wavin' trailer trash that would vote for her – give clear definition to the term "village idiots"...
Sarah Palin, I think had to do something unconventional to stay relevant. If she had just stayed in Alaska to finish her governorship people would have forgotten about her and the GOP would have established new voices in the party.
Ride your momentum while you have it. I don't think she even wants to run for President, I think she wants to make a ton of money on book deals and speaking across the country, motivating the Republican base. If she loves governing she would have stayed governor.
Yes.
Her approval plummeted among many of her supporters. This means she is less a threat then ever of having power. And that's certainly a good thing.
No – She should have finished out the job she was elected to do.
Who cares, she's not a smart woman. She's taking credit for killing something that was not in the healthcare reform bill.
Stick to killing wolves!
The woman is incapable of doing anything smart on purpose, but I'd guess that the people of Alaska have never felt better.
To the GOP, please please make Palin your candidate! I'm sure everyone wants to hear her twisted half baked views on everything, I know all the comics do and certainly SNL. If you thought the Johnson – Goldwater election was a landslide, wait until you see the Obama – Palin election results!
And 91% think she's a twittering twit.
You've got to be kidding! With everything going on, you found time to report this! Why is this news?
Was it a smart move? Well, it kind of depends. If you are looking at it from the perspective of her future opponents, yes. If from her standpoint, I'd say not.
It shows how weak she is under pressure, no matter how some might want to try and spin it. Can't stand up to the media talking about you? HAH. Good luck in national politics.
Of course not. America doesnt like Quitters. She said she didnt want to end her term fighting with the Alaska legislature, well, she had options. she could have WORKED with them in a BIPARTISAN manner, but that would have meant she had to stop running off at the mouth all the time. maybe that was too tall an order for her. anyhow, I'm sure her supporters would have preferred she go down swinging rather than quitting. Now even they have to question whether she has the courage to stand by her convictions at crunch time.
"Smart" and Caribou Barbie just don't mix.
wish palin would just go away-–she love to stir up trouble.
The question is... should CNN still post information about S. P. when very few of your audience could care less what she does and why she does it?
This chick is really, very very sad. Pay attention to the fam chick – make sure your other girls don't get preggers before it's time...
Oh God No! Another Sarah Palin story?!
If it were not for polls, CNN would have to do real journalism