Poll: Voters uncertain on Palin

ST. PAUL -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin faces a getting-to-know-you process as the Republican vice presidential candidate, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds: Most Americans say they've never heard of her.

There is also wide uncertainty about whether she's qualified to be president. In the poll, taken Friday, 39% say she is ready to serve as president if needed, 33% say she isn't, and 29% have no opinion.

That's the lowest vote of confidence in a running mate since the elder George Bush chose then-Indiana senator Dan Quayle to join his ticket in 1988. In comparison, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden was seen as qualified by 57%-18% after Democrat Barack Obama chose him as a running mate last week.

"Americans are just beginning to discover that Gov. Palin is an experienced executive who has held office since 1992 and demonstrated time and again her willingness to roll up her sleeves and taken action," says Maria Comella, Palin's spokeswoman for the campaign. "As governor, she has proven to be a real reformer, bucking the establishment to enact sweeping ethics reform, utilize her veto power to cut spending and stand up to big oil to enact legislation to develop Alaska's energy resources."

The campaign will use Palin's speech Wednesday before the Republican National Convention here to introduce her to voters as a fresh face who reinforces John McCain's image as an independent-minded reformer.

The Arizona senator announced at a campaign rally in Dayton on Friday that he had chosen Palin, 44, a first-term governor and former mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.

Whatever their views on their qualifications, voters say neither Palin nor Biden will have much impact on their vote. Two of three registered voters, 67%, say putting Palin on the ticket won't affect their vote; 72% say that of Biden.

Of those who say the running mates will make a difference, 18% say Palin makes them more likely to vote for McCain, 11% less likely. That net-positive impact of 7 points is similar to Biden's: 14% said his pick made them more likely to vote for Obama, 7% less likely.