Poll: 1 in 5 say Eastwood was highlight of RNC

(CBS News) At last week's carefully-planned Republican National Convention, it was Clint Eastwood's convention "surprise" speech that many viewers considered the event's main highlight, according to a new poll by the Pew Research Center.

According to the survey, conducted from August 31 to September 3, 20 percent of people who watched at least a little of the convention coverage cited Eastwood as the convention highlight - whereas 17 percent pointed to Romney.

Eastwood, who spoke directly before Mitt Romney on the convention's final night, attracted some raised eyebrows after delivering his speech, during which he addressed an empty chair meant to symbolize President Obama and spoke several minutes longer than planned..

The Romney campaign defended Eastwood in the following days, but some wondered if Eastwood's remarks might have taken away from the nominee's address.

According to Pew, viewers certainly paid attention to Eastwood's speech.

Clint Eastwood's Republican convention surprise
Clint Eastwood's GOP convention speech: Full transcript
Clint Eastwood entertained but stretched the truth

While more Republicans ranked Romney as the convention highlight than they did Eastwood, at 25 percent to 19 percent, only 15 percent named vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan's speech as the highlight, and 13 percent said the same of Ann Romney's speech.

Among independents, Eastwood had the advantage over Romney: 26 percent cited him as the highlight and 17 percent cited Romney.

Forty percent of Democrats said there was no highlight at all, and 20 percent of viewers overall said the same thing.

According to Pew, the public tuned in less to the GOP convention this year than in 2008. Only 37 percent of respondents said they watched all or some of the convention, a drop from 56 percent in 2008.

Even so, Romney appears to have gotten a boost among people who see him favorably in the aftermath of the convention: Between August 31 and September 3, 25 percent of people said their view of the candidate was more favorable than before. In the days leading up to the convention, 18 percent said that. Meanwhile, 20 percent said their view of Romney had become less favorable after the convention, as opposed to 26 percent who said that beforehand.

[Maerzie]

Well, of course it SHOULD have been the highlight! The FLOP of it was finally some comic relief from listening to their continuing barrage against Barack Obama, though never offering ONE positive plan for all their OWN wonderful things they plaan to do differentl! Going right back to all the failed policies of Bush that put us INTO this depression, is NOT much of a "plan"!

[hhandyman]

Poor mr Eastwood's humor attempt makes Joe Biden's errors look like Einstein in reflection

[bigmanfrommaine]

not that the bar was set very high...

[Mikexxxxxxx]

Poll: 4 out of 5 say Eastwood did more harm to the GOP! And the pundits try to put a positive spin on this? What a joke!

[tmn]

Eastwood certainly drove home the point that his better days are FAR behind him.

[A_Canadian_Opinion]

That oughta "make his day."

[stephand]

If somebody is not doing the job, you've got to let him go...

[mikethebarba]

We need to solve problems.... and Eastwood is the highlight! Entertainment for idiots.

[AlanBeasley]

Hey Clinton - 15 years after treating bin Laden "on the cheap" -
DO NOT tell me that Bush ruined some phantom surplus!
Bush cleaned up yout mess - recession, response to 9/11, Homeland Security Dept.... Half a Trillion dollars cleaning up Clinton's post impeachment mess he left behind!

Now Clinton says this? How dare him?

[chelandriano]

These events at NRC presented yet another opportunity for all Americans to see how deep the corruption has set in.The video footage on this page is conclusive proof that we are witnessing the end of democracy in the United States of America.

http://www.crisishq.com/why-prepare/rnc-fraud-election-rigged-democracy-trashed

This affects absolutely every single American. It does not matter whether you are a Republican or a Democrat. It does not matter whether you support Romney, Obama or Ron Paul. Democracy is being trashed and America is collapsing into tyranny right in front of us!

[nuttyworld]

Yes, he did promise to fundamentall change the United States and when the health care bill kicks in in its entirety the collapse will be complete.