Palin’s Polling Problem
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein reports: If Sarah Palin is hoping that the media frenzy surrounding her new book will fuel a political comeback, some new numbers out today suggest how far back she'd be coming from.According to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, 3 out of 5 Americans say they think Palin, R-Alaska, is not qualified to be president. They're not saying they don't like her, or wouldn't support her; they're saying she's unqualified for the job.Fifty-two percent say they view her unfavorably (34 percent say they "strongly" share that sentiment), while 43 percent have a favorable opinion.
Fifty-three percent say they definitely would not vote for Palin if she were to run for president in 2012.
ABC's polling director, Gary Langer, went back and checked a 2006 poll for similar feelings toward other contenders. Just 28 percent said they definitely wouldn't vote for Sen. John McCain in 2008, and 42 percent ruled out voting for Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The numbers hint at one of many reasons that this week's Palin craze isn't being universally embraced by Republicans.
Bad polls are a problem for Palin on two levels. First, should she decide to run for president in 2012, she'd do so with a solid majority saying they will not consider voting for her. Political makeovers only go so far.
Second — and perhaps more troubling for Palin — these numbers will fuel a media storyline that would probably haunt her campaign every step of the way: The question from the start would be, can she win?
Hillary Clinton faced that, to some extent, in her early days as frontrunner. But the impact could be worse for Palin: She would be part of a crowded primary field, and you betcha every other candidate could take aim at her vulnerability on this front.
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I did not support Hillary Clinton in the Democrtatic primaries, because I was afraid not enough Independents would vote for her.
And Hillary was smart, articulate, and qualified. Ironic, isn’t it?
PS. Hillary is an outstanding Secretary of State.
Posted by: Amy in Maine | November 16, 2009, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
The prospects of Palin becoming the party’s candidate, in 2012, are fairly low.
She might be an asset on the ticket, but not as the Presidential candidate.
My view is that the candidate will be someone not currently considered to be a front runner.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | November 16, 2009, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm
on surface i would have to say that she is not qualified, but after seeing how unqualified our current president is she cant help but be qualified.
Posted by: catman | November 16, 2009, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
Here are the key words:
According to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, 3 out of 5 Americans say they think Palin, R-Alaska, is not qualified to be president.
These polls are always tilted towards
Democrats.
Posted by: jane | November 16, 2009, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm
Time will tell, and the media will not run her down. She is strong and it will backfire on the media.
Posted by: jane | November 16, 2009, 12:47 pm 12:47 pm
Maybe between now and 2012 she could get a little community organizing in. That should shore up her qualifications.
Posted by: Sue | November 16, 2009, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
And Obama was qualified??? Wake up folks…he still isnt.
Posted by: angus | November 16, 2009, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
Heck, 3 out of 5 voters today would
say Obama is “unqualified”….especially
since he has begun instituting his
“vision for America”. I take that back.
They THINK it, but would never SAY it.
Posted by: grizzlybare | November 16, 2009, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
The Republicans cannot, under any circumstances, allow her to run for president. Taking the position that obama was as unqualified as her is, dosent correct the bind obama has put us in. Remember the old saying “Your better off with the devil you know, than one you don’t”, would work for obama and aginst palin.
We require and will demand, a strong and direct hand, to correct the sunken economic policy of obama, not another round of let’s try this approach.
Replacing a recoginized dud with a another potential dud, has to be out of the question.
There are great potential republican candidates that exist now at the state levels, who understand arithmatic, and value and believe in the principles, that amde this what it is and will always be “Example to the world”, not some out of date system, that must embrace socialism, and accept second best, in the name of social conscience
and baloney schemes to spread the wealth.
Europe is used up and hurtling toward a
muslim society at the speed of light.
Posted by: KDL | November 16, 2009, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
No matter how wonderful people think Sarah Palin is, would they vote for someone who has so many issues with veracity and her versions of history claims are so easily debunked?
Posted by: palmer | November 16, 2009, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
Palin will not be the Republican party. I suspect she will run and be rejected. She will then blame it on sexism, the media, or something and then run as an Independent conservative. It’s all about Sarah with Sarah…
Posted by: indy_voter | November 16, 2009, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm
I do not beleive ABC poll but I also do not know that why a lot people scare about Sarah will run 2012.The fear itself speak out her ability to run.I really admire the candidate who in the campaign dare to say the word “socialist” which point to the opposition. The confrontation lift up the truth and open up the trap and lure. This is the new wave of the campaign, hope so
Posted by: Bui Nga | November 16, 2009, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
I hope Palin pulls a Perot and runs as a 3rd party Conservative party, Tea party, I don’t care. Whatever she does I hope it ends out splitting the conservative vote.
Posted by: blue arkansan | November 16, 2009, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
WOW!!! This is quite a LOOPY thread.
Posted by: bobj72 | November 16, 2009, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
And Obama is qualified??????????
Posted by: Lizzie | November 16, 2009, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm
Lizzie
Harvard Law. Editor of Harvard Law Review. State Senator. Author of two books (without a ghost writer. Senator from Illinois. Beat the Clinton machine. Beat the Republican machine. Oh. yeah. He’s qualified.
Posted by: Amy in Maine | November 16, 2009, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
amy in maine…the voters were weak last november and it was a perfect storm qualified.by the way what were your mans grades at harvard? dont think anyone knows
Posted by: catman | November 16, 2009, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
Did you see that Obama’s book was written by Ayers? And that he wrote about himself when he was asked to write a book at the Harvard Review? And that he was a Senator in absentee form, that voted Present most of the time?
Compare that with Palin, who was in charge of the Alaska Oil Commission, took on the Repub heads and defeated them, became Mayor, then Governor, and then became Vice Presidential candidate. That far outweighs the two books, Senator in absence and Harvard Law, which we don’t have any indication of grades or attendance at that school either, since no records are purposely available.
Posted by: Candy | November 16, 2009, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
Candy
“became Mayor,” (Of Wasilla? Not exactly Rudy Guiliani level,is it?) “then Governor,” (for two years, afterwards she quit, cause she couldn’t take the same difficulties every governor faces), “then Vice Presidential candidate” when a desperate McCain plucked her from obscurity because she was attractive and appealing to the base. The worst decision he could have made. I am so glad he is not President.
You’re questioning what grades Obama got at Harvatrd? Really?
Posted by: Amy in Maine | November 16, 2009, 5:00 pm 5:00 pm
The decision to add Sarah Palin to the Republican 2008 ticket was a major factor in their failure, she pretty much ruined any chance McCain had of getting elected. It would be ludicrous for Republicans to even consider bringing a failed disaster back to the national ticket, for either President or Vice President. However, it would be terrific for Democrats if she was on the ticket in 2012, as it would be a relatively easy victory for Obama.
Posted by: Jacob C | November 16, 2009, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm
The anti-Palin crowd is howling. She scares the hell out of them. Keep on howling folks, the next president will be Sarah Palin. They trashed Reagan the same way. Folks, if there is still a country in 2012, there are a legion of Palinistas
that will put her comfortably in the White House. I am one.
Posted by: dave777 | November 16, 2009, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
Anybody ever see Sarah’s birth certificate?
Posted by: A2 | November 16, 2009, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm
“Anybody ever see Sarah’s birth certificate?”
And how about her grades – from all 5 colleges.
Posted by: WWW | November 16, 2009, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm
Amy from Maine,
Sarah Palin had to quit because of lies and lawsuits pursued by Democrats from Alaska that were hired by the DNC. And yes, where are the grades and even the results of anything that Obama has ever done? Not even his college records are available as other presidents have provided.
Posted by: Candy | November 16, 2009, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm
Sarah Palin is an interesting person – that is for sure. I think quitting the Alaska Governor’s position may really hurt her long-term for for a Vice President or President’s position. She remains fairly popular in Alaska even amid some of the controversies there. I bet she will sell a lot of books then become a United States Senator representing Alaska. Obama is really smart Harvard Law School & Columbia education. Americans have been giving their presidents two terms quite frequently so they have a chance to learn the most difficult job in the world. I’m an independent and I think Americans will likely vote in Obama for a second term. He could guarantee a victory if he asked Hillary Clinton to serve as his Vice President in his second term, and if he asked Joe Biden to serve in a different cabinet post.
Posted by: Mike | November 17, 2009, 1:24 am 1:24 am
So what are the qualifications to be President? We had one that developed Alzheimer’s near the end of his last term, one that didn’t know what sex is, one that decried that he isn’t a crook, one that claimed good intentions in deposing a dictator, etc… Apparently the latest qualification is to be an effective pied piper so that the people can’t wise up to the whole-sale fraud being levied against the working class.
Posted by: TX_MBell | November 17, 2009, 1:38 am 1:38 am
“We require and will demand, a strong and direct hand, to correct the sunken economic policy of obama, not another round of let’s try this approach.”
1)The economic woes were all a result of previous acts and or pressures – some of which didn’t show until Elmer Fudd left office. The Bernie Madoffs, AIGs, etc… Are not now, nor were they ever President Obama’s fault – he’s just trying to clean up the last 20 years of BS that’s piled up.
2) I hate that Democrats are too far left leaning; and Republicans are too far right leaning. Most Americans are closer to the middle with a little leaning towards the left or right.
It’s time we make the politicians work for us – they are elected to represent our wishes as a whole; and the only way to do that, is for them to come more towards the middle.
3)Have you ever heard the saying: “Divide and conquer”; that’s what the politicians have done; both sides back and fourth in power. The politician wins, while all of the people lose.
4) Stop hating the players, and start hating the game; we the people have to make sure the politicians come back towards the middle – where most of us live.
Posted by: Gary | December 31, 2009, 7:22 am 7:22 am