Poll: Iowa Republicans like Palin, but have doubts
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/01/art.palinmoney.gi.jpg caption="Palin's favorable numbers among Iowa Republicans are strong, says a new poll - though one in four members of her party there have doubts."](CNN) - Sarah Palin's book tour brings her to Iowa in two weeks. If the former Alaska governor and last year's GOP vice presidential nominee decides to return to Iowa down to road to explore a race for the White House, a new survey suggests that Republicans in the state like her - but have some doubts.
According to a Des Moines Register Iowa poll, 68 percent of Hawkeye Republicans view Palin favorably. That's a statistically insignificant 2 points behind those who have a positive view of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who won the 2008 Iowa caucuses, which traditionally kick off the presidential primary season.
Among other potential 2012 candidates: The survey indicates that two out of three view former House Speaker Newt Gingrich favorably and 58 percent have a positive view of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
"With those kinds of numbers, if she were to become a candidate, while it's not a sure thing, she would be starting out in a very good position," veteran Iowa GOP strategist David Roederer told the Des Moines Register. Roederer ran McCain's 2008 Iowa campaign.
But according to the poll, nearly one in four Iowa Republicans view Palin unfavorably. That's double the 12 percent who view Huckabee in an unfavorable way.
Among all Iowans, the survey indicates that 55 percent hold an unfavorable opinion, with 37 percent seeing her in a positive light.
Palin's tour for her new book, "Going Rogue: An American Life," brings her to Iowa on December 6. Palin's scheduled to sign copies of her book at a Barnes and Noble bookstore in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Des Moines Register Iowa poll was conducted November 8-11, with 800 registered voters in Iowa questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for the overall sample.
–CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report
Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @psteinhausercnn
Goin' mavericky! Please let her be the candidate, please please please please. Talk about a turkey shoot....she wouldn't get past single digits.
As a democrat I have only one thing to say: Please Sarah, run for president!!!
CNN, how dare you continue with more of this non-news drivel. So little of your reporting concerns actual meaningful events around the globe. Instead, you're focussing on an irrelevancy 2 years in the future. No wonder your station is doing so poorly.
Really CNN?
I understand why your poll #s continue to slide.
You continue to propagate "useless news."
LOVE that picture - it is very clear why middle aged uneduated protestant men find themselves drawn to her, wishing they were a microphone......
of course they don't know enough about psychology to connect those dots........
Why are Republicans so afraid of liberals being afraid of Palin? The hate that's pointed out by conservatives of the liberals is hateful. The majority of people in this country do not like Mrs. Palin, nor do they want her to be President. Her future Ptresidency is shaping up to be the worst Presidency in history...
This is what it sounds like, when Elephants cry...
Did you see the SNL skit with Bobo and Chinese president. Hilarious! Sad thing about it, its the truth! You know your in trouble when SNL makes fun of you! And your a democrat!
As a Democrat let me say this:
"Please, GOP, please, please, pretty please with sugar on top, nominate Palin in 2012."
That would be a blast.
It's great we live in a country where anybody can become anything.
But they is a little requirement call, QUALIFICATIONS. Has there every been a time in American history where we have had such a vast collections of unqualified politicans. It's no longer about motivating people with ideas, it about do you have the party's support and can we fool enough voters.
Palin may not be the best person to run this country, but there is no doubt she would certainly do a better job than Obama, hands down. Palin could do a better job blindfolded.
Stop giving her air time.
I'd say she's doomed if this is all the support she can muster on a surge of publicity. Can you imagine when she has to compete with Huckabee's folksiness or Romney's smarts? Sooner or later people wil have to confront who she is and what she can do and then....
CNN, how about some coverage of the OTHER political figures in this country? It would be great to read about what OTHERS are saying about the events of the day instead of rehashing the same old story day after day. Despite your attempt to make your company into SeeSarahNN, most Americans want to hear from other people.
so... conservative repulicans have a favorable view of conservative republican potential candidates?
How would we know the important news unless you tell us CNN?
For someone the dems don't like, she sure is selling a lot of books. She is setting up a run for Pres. in 2012. Can no longer say she doesn't have the experience to be Pres. thanks to Bobo. He lowered the bar when it comes to experience! And it shows! Hows that working out for ya!
Who in the editor's chaIr gets their jollies from all the Sarah going down on the microphone pics?
Run Sarah Run! Can't wait to see you in 2011/2012 in the live television debates against her fellow Republicans. They are going to tear her up and she won't be able to whine about the liberal media.
Do you really think Romney, Huck, Jindal. Gingrich, and any newcomers are going to give her a free pass.
Obama will sit back and watch the carnage.
However, it is a longshot that she will run. She is being coy about it but in her head she know she doesn't have the stomach for a 2 year presidential run. But it sure would be fun to see her fall on her face! RUN SARAH RUN! We need comedy!
Read between the lines folks. Palin knows nothing about running a government Her book is about herself and her kids and her husband. We've heard enough about that. Give us some substance!! No wait. The GOP has no substance. She's a shoe in then. Legs and all.
Right now Sarah Palin is suffering from Dan Quayle syndrome. Her enormous ego is riding sky high. Eventually she will get a dose of reality and come back to earth. There is only so far that a poorly educated, quitter of a governor can go when it comes to politics.
If anyone other than Sarah Palin thinks that selling books and signing them for crowds translates into Presidential timber, they are in for a rude awakening.
Anyone dumb enough enough to vote for this simpelton, who's more of a divider then a unifier deserves her. She's dangerous and a quitter who left her "executive" Governor's position for $$$$$$$$. Palin rates right up there with Kate Gosselin...being rewarded for failure and being dumb, dumb dumb. If she looked like Janet Reno we wouldn't be talking about her at all and everyone knows that.