(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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What...we still talking about how much of a failure she as become. Her career in politics is OVER. Cheeseball of a so called converative, who kills animals for sport
All she got is a wink and a you bet ya!!!
What about the neverending commentary on her resignation - is that a good move. Whoever wrote that she still manages to get talked about got it right. You media outlets need to get your priorities in order. Especially you, CNN.
If you noticed, Palin's campaigning across the country allows her to talk but not be interviewed that way she avoids being asked questions she can't answer. Palin is ducking and dodging all questions and just wants to "talk at you" using negativity with no solutions. Well, Americans aren't stupid and at some point she will have to face Katie Couric and others again. Didin't work then for Palin and it won't work now. See Ya.
A NON-Democrat who did NOT vote for Obama and WILL not vote for Obama that wishes Sarah Palin would just go away and not screw things up in 2012.
golly gee gosh no it wasn't! who wants a quitter in public office?
CNN, WHY do you keep providing fodder for the left-wing hatemongers on this ticker????????? We already know how they have demonized this normal, mainstream, honest, respectable woman, and we know how they love to spew forth their vitriol.
Say what u will..half of the guys making negative comments would still hit that.
Any person who believes that the earth is only 4000 years old (as she and all the fundies believe) has no business making decisions for other human beings whose genetic lineage stretches back over 50,000 years. Who's bones do they think we've dug up in France and Germany??!
Good for Alaska...Bad for the rest of us, since now she comes down here in the lower 48 and spouts lies and hatred. For being such a religious person...does she really think God will forgive her for starting all the hatred and lies. The God I know won't. Please media, no more Palin.
C'mon, people. Why even bother using the words "Palin" and "smart" in the same sentence?
The woman is nothing but a total failure–as a politician, a mother, and a human being.
Just take a look at the gaggle of nincompoops that admire her.
Palin, unfortunately, is the true face of America: STUPID, STUPID, STUPID...
will someone finally put a stake through her heart? Enough of this moron. She has no political future (or does she, think GWB).
I think that Sarah Palin leaving office was great. She needs to keep her nose out of politics though because she's a nutcase and doesn't belong. She speaks about everything because of her fears and anxieties, not to mention, she doesn't even know what she's talking about 90% of the time. She needs to keep her business as a soccer mom!!!
She is weak, a lier, a quitter, a whinner, a complainer and you think the other Republican politicians want her on stage with them, speaking on their behalf......don't think so........the only reason the other republicans are glad she quit her office as govener is because if she runs against them in any primary they will use it against her, they will use it to their advantage.......because a politician is a politician whether Republican or Democrat they will all throw all the dirt they can to discredit her........and she can't take that.......that's when she starts to whine.....and the public is sick and tired of that little gimmic.......it doesn't work anymore......
Keep it going CNN! You will make this women rich by keeping her in the media! Just when we think she is gone, CNN drags her into the spot light. Why don't you go after Hanity, Limbaugh, Colter, and Glenn Beck. They are making millions turning this country into a war zone. Their Fox news agenda will start a new civil war. These are the same clowns that told us to support Bush and his agenda in Iraq, "BECAUSE IT WAS OUR PATRIOTIC DUTY TO SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT"
Sarah Palin is and has always been a joke and the best thing she could of done is resign the governership. Now people realize how lucky we are that McCain was not elected, Mike
Was anything she did or said SMART?!
OK, so terrible move for her but great move for Sebelius, Daschle, and others along with the Great One Himself, Obama? Go figure! How about some consistency here folks? Obama didn't finish the majority of his first term as Senator before he resigns to do something different. Doesn't matter what he is doing, he is a quitter too by the same standard.
Well lets see 43% hold an UF for Palin and 50% hold an UF for Obama.
You figure.
I don't like quitters running for President. I hope someday a Wolf will shoot back.
Slow news day.....
She should join OctoMom's reality TV series and ask Tom DeLay to co-star. Don't forget to add Joe the Plumber or whatever his name is. Who cares what the facts are anyways or what somebody's first name is.
Unless you are a right-wing conservative Republican, Sarah Palins everyday life means nothing. Most people think she's an idiot.....me included!
Nothing that woman does is smart.
Sara who????? Get over it CNN, no one cares!!!!!!!