CNN Poll: 7 in 10 say Palin not qualified to be president
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/28/art.getty.palin.waving.jpg caption="More than seven in 10 Americans think Sarah Palin is not qualified to be president, according to a new national poll."]WASHINGTON (CNN) - More than seven in 10 Americans think Sarah Palin is not qualified to be president, according to a new national poll.
Seventy-one percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday morning believe the former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee is not qualified to be president, with 29 percent saying she does have the credentials to serve in the White House. Republicans appear split, with 52 percent saying she's qualified and 47 percent disagreeing with that view.
Related: Palin moves show high risk, high reward strategy
The poll indicates that about half of the country, 51 percent, has an unfavorable view of Palin, with 42 percent seeing her in a positive light. Nearly two-thirds of those questioned say Palin's not a typical politician, and feel she's a good role model for women. Fifty-six percent add that Palin cares about people, and a similar amount think she's honest and trustworthy. But the survey indicates Americans are split over whether Palin shares their values, agrees with them on the issues, or if she's a strong leader.
"Sarah Palin has one advantage that many past Republican candidates have not shared - Americans think she cares about people like them," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "But her biggest Achilles heel is the number who think she is not qualified to be President. Those numbers are similar to what Dan Quayle got in 1993, when only 23 percent thought he was ready for the White House."
Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter @steinhauserp
In a very early look at the next race for the White House, the survey indicates that nearly one in three Republican voters, 32 percent, say they would be most likely to support former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in a hypothetical battle for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, with Palin seven points back at 25 percent, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at 21 percent. Five percent said they would back Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, with one in ten suggesting they would support some one else.
"Huckabee appears to have more support among Republicans than Palin and her unfavorable rating among all Americans is twice as high as Huckabee's," Holland says. "Palin may attract a lot of attention but the GOP may be looking elsewhere for their frontrunner."
It's the pre-season for the next White House contest, as possible GOP contenders form political action committees, campaign for fellow Republicans, write books and address conservative conferences and party dinners. The poll's release comes the same day that Romney, a 2008 Republican presidential candidate, campaigns in Virginia with Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell, and less than three weeks before the release of Palin's book, "Going Rogue, an American Life."
The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted October 16-18, with 1,038 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for all respondents and plus or minus 4.5 percentage points for questions asked only of Republicans.
The only thing that's surprising is that there are still 3 out of 10 who think she WOULD be qualified to be president! Who are these people? I'd like to find them and exploit their foolishness in some way, like selling them some magic beans or something.
I want to know who are these 52% of Republicans and just how low have they set their bar?
She is qualified to be the next commander in chief. She has the credentials and has already proved to the world. Give her a chance. Go Sarah!
She is a beautiful woman...Too bad her politician skills aren't as sharp as her looks...
7 in 10. I was hoping for 10 in 10. Palin is evil. A true believer, in that voodoo stuff.
Hey Republicans! Don't believe this kind of stuff from the evil, left-wing, Obama loving media – Sarah HAS to run for president in '12! You go girl!!! Yes, sir – it will be a LANDSLIDE! Of course, it will be a landslide for the Democrats, but YOU GO GIRL!!!
Let the Dems register and vote for her as independents in the primaries since there will be none for the democrats.She will make a wounderful candidate.
Its a photo finish to decide who is more unqualified Palin or our community organizer on chief.
That still leaves 3 out of 10 Americans who think she is perfectly qualified...now thats scary!!!!
Who are these 29% of people that think she's qualified? Isn't it uncomfortable walking around with your head up your backside everyday?
Palin not qualified to be President? Next they'll be telling us fire is hot!
I agree that Palin is not qualified at this point, though I am wondering of Obama was any more qualified either. But a comment on fair and balance news. This political ticker appears to be a forum for Left and Right to sling mud. More mud comes from the left than the right. But if you look at the ariticles, more than 70% are about Republicans, the titles seem to be more negative towards republicans as well. I believe there is some bias reporting by CNN as well – CNN appeals to the left, just look at the blogs.
I have to laught at this. Same comments were made when the present President was being considered. Polls too biased!
Somewhere out there in this beautiful nation we call America, there are 3% of people who need to be slapped back into reality.
OBAMA 2012
Who are the 30% that do? I've spoken to Republicans, Democrats and Independents. They don't agree on much but they all agree on her. The GOPers blame he for costing them the White House the Dems thank her for pretty much the same reason and the Independents are sick of hearing about her and her annoying family. Oh wait I think I know are these those same 30% who think George W. was the best President ever? Maybe that is it.
So I guess its fairly safe to say there is a large chunk of the population (29%) that is so far removed from reality that its frightening. This is the same group that still think Saddam Hussein was involved with 9/11 and that invading Iraq was a good idea.
In my world we have an old fashioned word for them. Idiots.
Only 30 % think she is not qualified to be president. Funny almost 30 % think Bush did a good jjob as president. That proves once and for all that 30% of the American people are just plain idiots.
She should read the Constitution (if she knows how to read). She didn't know the job of the Veep when asked. Does she know the job of POTUS??? Definately NO!!!
All she is is a pig without lipstick.
People who think Sarah Palin is honest obviously don't read the news, or don't want to believe what they read in the news unless it is what they want it to say. I'm guessing they rely on FOX for their news and don't realize it's not news.
What a sexest group of people here, Palin was better then Obama
Palin not qualified? Is that supposed to be a news story? Of course she's not qualified for the Oval Office. After all, she's the failed governor of a backwards state. How could she possibly be ready for the highest office in the land?
No, Sarah Palin does not care about the people. Let's get that clear right now. Sarah Palin cares about one – and only one – person. And that person, of course, is Sarah Palin. She's a narcissist with an insatiable ego. On top of that, she's not too bright (check her college transcripts.) This is a very dangerous combination. Feeding that ego only makes the beast more dangerous.
So what...... Barack Obama "does not have the credentials to serve in the white house". I would be a whole lot more comfortable with her there than I am now.
as I read here yesterday, "CNN and MSNBC have sold her book for her"
and its true
what, she is not qualified for the presidency... of course she isn't, and if she was she would just quit at the first sign of trouble
she will have her supporters that even if she goes helter skelter and starts killing people, will still support her
but, it is really a civic duty to talk about issues, and while she is barely an issue, she keeps throwing her self out there, she likes the punishment
She could not fulfill her term as governor of Alaska. There is simply no way this lady is qualified to POTUS.
Lol! And Obomba, who never even managed a KFC prior to becoming POTUS had so much more experience? LOLOLOL!