Political Hotsheet
By

Leigh Ann Caldwell /

CBS News/ September 5, 2012, 2:22 PM

Poll: More describe Biden with negative terms

Vice President Joe Biden speaks Aug. 13, 2012, during a rally at the Durham Armory in Durham, North Carolina.

/ Raleigh News & Observer

(CBS News) When asked for one word to describe Vice President Joe Biden, more respondents used negative words to describe him than positive words, according to a new poll by the Pew Research Center and the Washington Post.

Thirty-eight percent used negative terms while 23 percent used positive ones. Although the most common response was "good," the second most common word used was "idiot." Other common negative descriptions pinned on Biden included "incompetent," "stupid," and "clown." Of the remaining 39 percent of respondents used neutral terms such as "vice president" or "OK."

Biden is often in the news for his verbal gaffes. During an August campaign rally in Virginia, Biden told a predominantly black crowd that Republicans will "put ya'll back in chains." At the signing of the health care bill, Biden whispered - not quietly enough - in President Obama's ear that the bill was a "big f***ing deal."

Not surprisingly, Republicans were more likely to use a negative description of Biden than Democrats: 63 percent of Republicans to 8 percent of Democrats. Nearly half of independents - 42 percent - described Biden negatively.

The poll surveyed 1,008 adults between August 31 and September 3.

Pew did a similar survey of Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan last week with 37 percent of adults offering positive words and 35 percent negative. The most popular words to describe him included "conservative," intelligent," "young" and "unknown." Like with Biden, positive descriptions also divided along party lines while 38 percent of independents had negative descriptions and 36 percent had positive descriptions of Ryan.

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
24 Comments Add a Comment
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Maerzie says:
That's the picture the Teapublicans tried to disseminate about him, in their campaign to try to defame Obama, and anyone connected with him, and Hitler's propagandist, Joseph Goebbels', method is usually quite successful. However, in his speech tonight, Biden blew that theory all to heck! Some people, like Joe Biden, are so genuine, they never adjust to being under the microscope of evil, divisive failures. That's WHY he's a Democrat! He's REAL; NOT a phony!
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sharkboy234 says:
Obama go right back in!
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DOGGYPANTS says:
Biden is a bigger fool than Obama. Obama-Biden: not the dynamic duo.

Obama-Biden: a Duo of Dunces.
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sandy 1027 says:
Joe Biden is a very "real", lovable guy, who says what's on his mind.Although he has said some things inartfully,he is usually right on the substance, which is what matters the most.The GOP's offensive against Biden is a matter of trying to destroy the credibility of the guy who has been most effective against them.This is all just "noise".I read his autobiography last year,and couldn't put it down. He is by no means a lightweight.Biden is sharp, seasoned, compelling; and I don't think that there is anyone who understands the issues better.After the GOP nominated a woman 4 years ago who proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was not qualified to be vice-president almost every time she uttered anything, this Biden flap is ridiculous.Furthermore,the man at the top of their ticket has been given to gaffes and just odd remarks.
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marychgo says:
So 62% of the poll respondents gave either positive or neutral words in response to Biden's name; only the 38% who get their "news" from Rush or Fox maligned him. That sounds about right!
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RealWorldNow replies:
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Nice try stick up for the buffoon !
Mistral99 replies:
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Again how is that you want to spin 2/3 of people polled with favorable rating of the VP a BAD THING??? Some people obviously are not good at math. Last time I checked 2/3 favorable beats 1/3 unfavorable. Considering that the population is split almost down the middle 50% DEM OR REP, 62% is a pretty good rating in my book.
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greenlantern1 says:
Remember when Spiro Agnew pled guilty to bribery charges?
Remember when Nixon's first AG, John Mitchell, was convicted?
Role models?
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hhandyman says:
now that you have all the polish Republican voices accounted for seeing the glass a hair over a third full 2/3 don't hold that opinion and Majority rules. Now ask how many folk believe the lies that Ryan stated in his Republican speech start with the half truths then the bold lies and see which is worse to have in your corner. Misrepresentation of the truth is worse than a half truth like Ryans co writer of the Failed Abortion legislation
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nfission says:
I flat out don't believe the poll___I have Republican friends that even think he's a genius. Biden has Scotch-Irish roots, and nobody has command of the English language better than they do. The idiot Ryan will look like Beetle Bailey after he battles with Biden.
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alanrobisch replies:
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in your dreams.biden is a bomb waiting to go off whenever he speaks.
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nohater says:
wondering. was there ever a vice-president that was ideal, near perfect, adored by the masses? honestly can't think of one in either party.
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ballwyllo says:
And the survey was of Democrats...lol
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nonameindependent replies:
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Biden, in case you do not know. is Catholic.

With every advance in science, the case for religion becomes less persuasive and more irrelevant. Thus the separation of church and state can be made absolute. The religion case is more and more a political power play by foreign agents. No "religious" character is an American. Therefore, attempts to put a foreign diety, or their dogma in charge, and destroy the Constitution of America is a serious crime. Al Finnell.
alanrobisch replies:
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noname your post is totally nonsensical. Paul Ryan is a brilliant catholic. Jfk was a catholic as well as teddy kennedy. Your president says he is a christian. If you seriously believe this you are not working on all cylinders
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