Views of Palin deteriorate as GOP looks ahead
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/11/12/palin.future/art.palin.gi.jpg caption="New polls suggest just under half the American public have an unfavorable opinion of Palin."]
(CNN) - Just a week after this year’s presidential election, 2012 buzz may already be swirling around Sarah Palin – but a new national poll suggests just under half the American public holds a favorable opinion of the Alaska governor, with nearly as many viewing her unfavorably.
Forty-nine percent of those questioned in the survey released Wednesday have a favorable opinion of the woman John McCain picked as his running mate. Forty-three percent view her unfavorably.
And perceptions of Palin seem to be dropping.
"In early September, just after the GOP convention, her favorable rating among registered voters was 57 percent, and only a quarter of all registered voters had an unfavorable view of her," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. Now, Palin is less popular than vice president-elect Joe Biden, with a 64 percent favorable rating, or ticket-mate John McCain, who is seen favorably by 61 percent of the public
The poll also suggests that men may have a slightly more positive view of Palin than women, with 51 percent of males viewing her favorably, compared to 48 percent of female respondents. Forty-one percent of males questioned in the survey have an unfavorable opinion of Palin, as do 44 percent of women.
"With fairly high negatives and lower support among women, who should be a natural constituency for Palin, she's not starting off from a position of strength," says Holland. "The question is no longer whether Palin was a drag on the McCain ticket, but whether her unfavorables could be a drag on a future Palin ticket."
Among Republicans. Palin's rating remains high, with 86 percent of Republicans questioned in the poll holding a favorable opinion of her. That number drops to 48 percent among Independents, and down to 27 percent among Democrats.
Palin is attending the Republican Governors Association conference in Miami, Florida today and tomorrow – the first major gathering of GOP leaders since the party lost the White House, along with additional seats in both the House and the Senate.
There's been speculation that Palin – along with other incumbent governors at the conference like Charlie Crist of Florida, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota - could have designs on running down the road for the Republican presidential nomination in the next race for the White House. All three governors were on John McCain's list of possible running mates, before the Arizona senator named Palin as his running mate.
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted November 6-9, with 1,246 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
The poll comes as Palin sits down for a one-on-one interview today with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, which can be seen on the Situation Room starting at 4 pm ET. Palin is also speaking with CNN's Larry King: that interview can be seen on Larry King Live at 9 pm ET, and again at 9 pm PT.
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We already have a President that is incompetent. Why would the American people want another one?
If she runs I'll call Acorn and vote twice just so she doesn't see any elected office other than that state, Uh where is it, Uh somewhere up north near Siberia.
I really wanted to meet this 49% percentage of stupid people.
Funny how the Obama Zombies talk about unity and yet continue to throw out hateful rants. I guess they are practicing for a place in Obama's national security force. Hey zombies, how do those brown shirts fit?
Now, the question is what is driving this rating on Palin.
Is it because she is a woman? remember Hillary?
Is it because of the relentless attacks by the insiders and the media?
Is it because of her social conservative views?
Is it because she gave birth to a baby with down syndrome?
Is it because she is not a Washington politician and does the Washington speak?
Is it because she is a beautiful woman since women turn to be their own worst enemy?
I wish your polling would reflect these issues otherwise I see no credibility in the results.
Remember Biden has been in DC for 36 years, McCain for 26 and Obama has been running for president for 2 years. Palin just showed up 4 weeks ago.
When I first heard the announcement about McCain's pick of Palin, my first reaction was surprise, as in "WHO??? WHAT is he THINKING??" My second reaction was joy, as in "GOOD, now no rational person can take his criticisms of Obama's inexperience seriously!" Next came a type of sympathy for her, as in "This woman is being cynically exploited by McCain in order to attract disaffected female PUMA-types." Then came "Wait a minute! She said YES! What is SHE thinking???"
I think Sarah Palin is reasonably smart. Obviously, she pushes a lot of emotional buttons (both good and bad, depending on one's political affiliation). She is also miserably uninformed. She will have to expand her knowledge basis dramatically in order to begin to be ready for national office. Will she bother? Hard to tell. If she does bother, I hope that dramatically expanding her knowledge base will also dramatically open up her mind. Only then will she be ready for the next level.
"And perceptions of Palin seem to be dropping"
Because she lost and we no longer have to listen to that irritating voice of hers. Just shake a can of pennies at her and make her go away. She's done
If this is who the Rethugs want to run their racist party, the Dems don't have anything to worry about for years. Palin is a liar a nut case and a serious WHACK JOB. The GOP doesn't care who their leaders are as long as they can spread hate and racist talk, they're ok with them.
It seems that GOP's talents has reach the bottom that they are even comtemplating PALIN.
IS THAT ALL GOP LEFT WITH TALENT WISE? PALIN?
Do they think that we American are fool not to recognize that Palin has no interest in learning and just ambition to rule. I am sorry, but it's scary to give the control of such a great nation to someone who just want the position but does not have the interest to educate herself. BTW, we WILL NOT BE FOOLED IN 4 or 8 YEARS EITHER. IF SHE REALLY WANTED TO LEARN ABOUT THIS COUNTRY, SHE WOULD HAVE DONE SO BY NOW. I don't buy the fact that she will learn in next 4/8 years. The issue is not learning now, the issue is her ambition and lack of interest in GENERAL.
Between Alaska and the national stage, there is a huge abyss for Palin to cross.
My guess is she will stay in Alaska.
Palin 2012
MEDIA – PLEASE GIVE US A BREAK.
You're letting candidates already start the 2012 campaign. We put up with 2 years of campaigning. It's time now to govern.
If Sarah Palin is the best WOMAN Presidential candidate that the Republican Party can come up with, then that party and America are in serious trouble.
I saw a sticker on a van the other day that said, "Palin in 2012."
WOMEN should be very proud that they finally have the BEST representative for women available in Sarah Palin for Presidnet 2012.
Palin is a literal symbol of everything that is terribly wrong with the republican party: Ignorance, Intolerance and Corruption. If Republicans want to continue losing, be our guest and nominate Palin 2012.
Please, can't she just go away. How could anyone have a favorable view of her?
Gov. Palin has revealed just how hurt she is about the nasty comments from some of the McCain campaign staff. She should take heart in the fact that it reflects more on their lack of professionalism and their refusal to accept responsibility. Pettiness over the RNC clothes and other nonsense should simply be recognized for what it is: finger-pointing and immaturity.
And Gov. Palin, that's an Obama supporters opinion. Thank you for serving your country. Even if we disagree on the issues or the McCain campaigns focus on personal attacks instead of issues, you took the hits and kept going. Dust yourself off and begin again.
The reason men favor Palin so much more than women isn't only that they find her attractive.
She doesn't share the same philosophy as most women in this country. That's why so many women supported the Democrat in the election. Why would they want to support the party that doesn't have the best interest of women or any other minority at heart?
It would be voting against yourself to be a woman who votes for Palin. Just like it would be for a gay person or African-American to vote Republican.
Good grief. The media is obsessed with talking about Palin and giving her air time since the election. Newsflash to media. We could care less what Palin's doing, saying and thinking. Get over her so she can go away. Please!
Oh...and CNN...I swear to God you're going to lose me and 2 others in this household as viewers if you don't STOP COVERING PALIN!!
That seems like something you, and your advertisers, can understand...right?
The proof is in the numbers.
She'll get Reps to vote for her. But if Indies don't, and we know Dems won't, she can't win a national election.
I'd still like to know how Todd Palin got access to 3 stacks of personnel files for Trooper Wooten. And, if Gov. Palin thinks that the person who gave him those files should be fired.
If the GOP is seriously considering Palin for future leadership over Jindal and others who are obviously qualified and respectable leaders, they deserve the demise that will come.
I cannot agree more with most of these postings - CNN has got to stop giving her air time - I am sick to death of her - we have a grand opportunity to focus on the future and the Barack Obama-Joe BIden administration - lets go!!
Now she wants to pal around with the Media!
Go Away, Go Away NOW!
I have not been any more impressed with the Governor since this new round of interviews is being shown. Funny how last week the Republican handlers leaking information were "mean" and now she reports that that was "no tension" on the trail, and that she and John McCain love and respect each other.
I'm also fascinated by the admiration Republicans have for a woman who cheated on her husband and a man who did the same to his handicapped wife, yet they want to crucify John Edwards. Typical Republican hypocrisy.
Just because the Obama campaign chose to not make an issue of these things, and the MSM did not follow up on them, does not mean they never happened. Wonder what her God thinks of that behavior. And her race-baiting off script showed people who she really is- a mean, competitive, win-at-all-costs politician, not some benign, misunderstood, picked upon hockey mom with a cute, junior high approach to the world.