July 8, 2009 1:20 PM

Polls Show Palin Retains Support

By
Prerana Swami
Topics
Republicans
5132045 Since the moment Sarah Palin announced Friday that she is resigning as governor of Alaska, rumors have been circulating about her future. Her options may well be wide open: According to new polls, Palin's unorthodox move doesn't seemed to have significantly diminished enthusiasm for her amongst Republicans nationwide.

A new USA Today/Gallup poll shows that 19 percent of Americans are very likely to vote for Palin for president in 2012. A whopping 72 percent of Republicans think it is at least somewhat likely that they will vote for her should she run.

"For independents and Democrats, she's already not their candidate, and with Republicans her support is not based on her record as governor of Alaska," GOP consultant Alex Castellanos told USA Today.

A new Rasmussen poll, meanwhile, finds that Palin and Mitt Romney would be the top candidates in a Republican president primary. Palin garners 24 percent of the vote while Romney takes 25 percent.

The poll also shows, however, that 21 percent of national Republican voters say that Palin is the candidate they would least likely see as the 2012 GOP nominee.

"Conservative Republicans are the least fazed by Palin's decision to resign," the poll authors note. "Just 37% think she's hurt her chances of winning the nomination, compared to 52% of moderate Republicans."

While Palin's resignation has garnered headlines, the USA Today/Gallup poll found that 70 percent of Americans have not changed their views on the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee. The Rasmussen poll finds that 76 percent of Republican voters still hold a favorable view of the governor, as opposed to the 21 percent that view her unfavorably.

According to another new Rasmussen poll, 40 percent of Republican voters believe that Palin has hurt her chances of winning the nomination in 2012 while 24 percent think that her resignation will help her bid.

"In general, the higher a Republican voter's income level and educational achievement, the more likely he or she is to think Palin's decision to resign will hurt her bid for the GOP nomination," the poll reports.

While Palin hasn't officially announced any of her future plans, 61 percent of Republican voters think that it is at least somewhat likely that she will run for president, the Rasmussen poll finds.

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by toldyouso29 July 10, 2009 3:29 AM EDT
How odd... to only poll Republicans on Palin. Because if, as the Republicans say, over 70% of Republicans vote for her and at least 21% will not--what does that mean? Here are facts--if the number of Republicans was at their zenith of 34% of the electorate--could Palin win with ALL of their votes? Not likely.

Because it would leave 66% NOT voting for Palin. Now.. if the votes that were left could be split away from the Dems--Palin might have a chance. If 21% of Republicans will not vote for Palin, then she has almost no chance--but she could if that decreased the Republican electorate to 28% and for some reason out of the remaining 72% the majority did not vote or did not vote for Dems.

That is the take from "la la land" now..the reality: Presently, those who identify as the Republican base number about 17% of the electorate. If this holds by 2012--she will have NO chance.

If she stays stupid and airheaded, she will have NO Chance.

The reason is that Independence might not care for Dems or Republicans but they are not about to hand their country over to an idiot and let's face it, during the last interviews, Palin came across as an idiot. A charismatic, pretty idiot--but an idiot just the same. Republicans are known for towing the line and revering their "leaders" no matter who they are or what they are--most suffer from "latent messiah complex" they speak about Palin in terms of being "hot" or likeable. But really, when one has lost their job and can't afford cancer treatment--will the attractiveness or friendliness of Palin matter?

The fact is, she acts like an airhead and that is her downfall. As for her quitting her governorship--if it is to run for higher office--that is arrogant and sort of grasping. Maybe she just wants a break.

NO matter what, stupid or not--she will be interesting to watch. This does not translate into people voting for her--but it does mean that just like a train wreck--people will flock to view not only the carnage of any debates and interviews she gives (she will not be able to hide if she is a candidate or to have her interviews screened) but to also watch the amazing rationale of the people who try to love and defend her no matter how inane or stupid she appears. All of that will have people shaking their heads as they watch the show--then either stay home or vote for someone else.
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by velma179 July 9, 2009 1:02 PM EDT
***This article was saved in my tabs from yesterday... and I could not let the previous post be the last word***

It's lies like tautomer [above] chooses to propagate that give all the world eyes to see what kind of people are the "goons".

These bits of propaganda have no basis in truth and that fact, by the way is verifiable! Yet people like tautomer continue to "play to the chorus" of their own small minded and deluded ilk.

It would be only sad, if it weren't so destructive to the civility of the actual debate we as Americans of differing viewpoints SHOULD continue in order to keep our beloved country strong.
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by tautomer July 8, 2009 8:20 PM EDT
Most certainly Palin will not be the next Republican nominee. Rather Palin is testament to the politics of hatred and character assasination that Obama has brought to the table.

Obama has long been a disciple of Saul Alinsky, a long dead Chicagoradical thinker among who's rules of engagment was "Select a Target, Freeze It, Polarize It and Personalize It".

This, of course, is precisely what Obama's goons have done to Palin.
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by velma179 July 8, 2009 7:30 PM EDT
1togolf....

What?

I think you might be referring to VP Biden as the side kick...? But you first call him a "clear and present danger" and then, "the gift that keeps on giving".

Your circular rhetoric, bereft of logic does seem familiar... hmmm... hmmmmm?
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by 1togolf July 8, 2009 6:53 PM EDT
All that is to be said is " A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO US IS OBAMA AND HIS SIDE KICK THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.
Reply to this comment
by johndevinejr July 8, 2009 6:20 PM EDT
by socalsage July 8, 2009 3:14 PM PDT
Air Head are you talking about the son of a who-e, sl0t, mother and a drunken wife beater father? Or better know as our Affirmative Action President.

What we got in the white house now is the Air Head

You are a good example of a republican. Barely literate, not particularly bright, a racist. You would make a good Palin supporter.
Please do everything you can to get her on the ballot for the 2012 Presidential election.

Work hard, get her out there, hopefully she won't quit, but I think you should take the chance.

After all if you are a republican, and a quitter, you are not a quitter.
Reply to this comment
by johndevinejr July 8, 2009 6:15 PM EDT
by pmsnbc2 July 8, 2009 12:09 PM PDT
He established a democracy in the heart of the middle east....and, oh yea, kept this country safe from attack. Your boy nobama is trying to undo both of those

So allowing jet aircraft to be flown into THREE BUILDINGS is the republican version of being safe?

ALLOWING THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND THE PENTAGON TO BE BOMBED IS KEEPING US SAFE?? I guess if he is a repub, letting 3000 civilians get killed is ok? Doesn't seem right to me.


More accurately, he bungled TWO wars. One that he started in Iraq for the purpose of stealing oil and the other in Afaghanastan which he ignored because Osama Bin Laden was there and he didn't want to catch him and offend his good friends, the Bin Laden family.

George left a mess in Iraq for Obama to clean up. With luck we will have another of Georges messes cleaned up within 3 or 4 years.
Reply to this comment
by velma179 July 8, 2009 7:05 PM EDT
john... you forgot to mention the 4000+ service members killed in the wars. I wouldn't be saying to any family members that these men and women were kept "safe".... they are a part of "we' aren't they?
by steeepe July 8, 2009 6:14 PM EDT
72% of Republicans are intellectually challenged if that's the percentage that would vote for Palin. I guess they didn't get enough dumb from Bush and need more.
Reply to this comment
by saj210 July 8, 2009 6:14 PM EDT
This world is going mad!!!!

Anyone who would vote Sarah Palin for President or Vice President has lost their mind!!!!

I don't understand the Republicans or anyone else who would vote for Palin. It's like their common sense just went out the window. But maybe common sense is not their strong suit.

Palin in CLUELESS!!! The Republicans know that. If you are going to vote for a Republican, vote for someone who has a brain!!!!!!!
Reply to this comment
by bassinapple July 8, 2009 6:09 PM EDT
The bottom line is: in resigning she put Alaska ahead of any future politial ambition she might have. That is called selflessnes.
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