Sarah Palin's Popularity Grows, Poll Finds

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Republicans

(AP)

A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released today (PDF) finds that Sarah Palin's favorable rating has risen to 46 percent. That represents an increase from the 39 percent favorable rating for Palin in CNN polling over the summer, following her decision to resign from her job as Alaska governor.

Palin, the former GOP vice presidential candidate, remains a polarizing figure, of course: 46 percent view her unfavorably, matching her favorable rating. Just 8 percent of those surveyed did not offer an opinion on Palin, who is currently on a book tour for memoir "Going Rogue: An American Life."

The poll also found that former Vice President Dick Cheney, a frequent critic of President Obama, remains unpopular. Cheney's unfavorable rating sits at 53 percent, while 39 percent view him favorably.

Eight in 10 Republicans view Palin favorably, CNN reports, while more than seven in 10 Democrats views her unfavorably. Men are more likely to view Palin favorably than women.

Palin spoke at the Washington Gridiron Club's winter meeting over the weekend, along with openly gay liberal Democrat Rep. Barney Frank; she suggested to an audience of journalists than they are ideologically biased and don't understand her home state, according to Politico.

"If the election had turned out differently," Palin joked, "I could be the one overseeing the signing of bailout checks, and Vice President Biden could be on the road selling his book, 'Going Rogaine.'"

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by raydernation December 10, 2009 3:00 PM EST: Question? What is she popular for?; Reply to this comment

by chuckiewuckie December 10, 2009 1:48 PM EST

Palin admits she doesn't read...if she did read, she would know or would have researched the definition of rogue. Possibly one of the definitions does fit.

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by JV1970 December 10, 2009 2:56 PM EST: If you'd read her book you'd know her reason for titling her book "Going Rogue". Going rogue is a term that political parties use for candidates or politicians who don't follow their party's directions and won't do as the RNC or the DNC tell them. She got enough of being controlled and doing as she was told during the campaign and now she's "going rogue" and speaking out through her book.


by Unclemercer December 10, 2009 1:08 PM EST: Of course, strong men and self-confident women all admire Sarah Palin. It's only the weak limpo libs who weep, wail, and waste their lattes over their birkenstocks every time she says, "drill, baby, drill".; Reply to this comment


by chuckiewuckie December 10, 2009 12:37 PM EST: Actual definition of "ROGUE" AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY. Pass it on.
rogue (rg) KEY

NOUN:

An unprincipled, deceitful, and unreliable person; a scoundrel or rascal.
One who is playfully mischievous; a scamp.
A wandering beggar; a vagrant.
A vicious and solitary animal, especially an elephant that has separated itself from its herd.
An organism, especially a plant, that shows an undesirable variation from a standard.
ADJECTIVE:

Vicious and solitary. Used of an animal, especially an elephant.
Large, destructive, and anomalous or unpredictable: a rogue wave; a rogue tornado.
Operating outside normal or desirable controls: "How could a single rogue trader bring down an otherwise profitable and well-regarded institution?" (Saul Hansell).
VERB:
rogued, rogu·ing, rogues
VERB:
tr.

To defraud.
To remove (diseased or abnormal specimens) from a group of plants of the same variety.
VERB:
intr.

To remove diseased or abnormal plants.; Reply to this comment

by CarlosdelGato December 10, 2009 11:35 AM EST

Palin's popularity shows how low the ethics and morals of Americans has sunk. When so many can find her to their liking it shows that our country is overrun with ignorant, TV zombies with childlike ideals of government.

Embarrassing.

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by palinisamoron December 13, 2009 12:46 PM EST: Well said.

by velma179 December 10, 2009 11:29 AM EST

Folks

You need to either go to Cooper's Opinion Blog on this CBS site: "Palin's People Speak" and watch the video or go directly to you tube and watch "Sarah Palin Book Signing - Interviews with Supporters"

You will learn just how unimportant facts are to Mrs. Palin's ardent supporters. Also -- understanding of policies and being informed about our country with the problems/challenges we face as a nation seem to be non existent in these people's reasons for supporting this woman.

"She's like us" -- that is their rallying cry. When you look at them, please, decide for yourself if that is a compliment, or more important -- a qualification for national leadership.

Every day when I read what people post on these comment boards, my heart breaks -- the level of ignorance in our country is exhaustive and the equal level of lies and misinformation constantly in the feeding tubes of these who have let their brains sleep, MUST be extinguished.

Wake up America -- we may have honest disagreement in our country, but please let's disagree based on facts and truth rather than the fear of something that does not exist.

Support thinking, support reason, support hope -- change is going forward, don't be afraid.

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by palinisamoron December 13, 2009 12:43 PM EST: I agree with you completely. I don't understand how other people see Palin as a woman of substance and intelligence and I see an uninformed, phony person who is in way over her head. Many of my family members love her and I just don't get it.


by daffy64 December 10, 2009 10:01 AM EST: Men are more likely to view Palin favorably than women.

-

Especially from the rear. Va-va-va vooom.

Who says Americans are shallow?; Reply to this comment


by daffy64 December 10, 2009 9:59 AM EST: Sarah's found the path to success!

Tour around looking pretty.

Don't let those nasty journalists ask you any mind boggling questions.

Don't waste valuable photo op time by actually BEING in the current government.

Don't let anyone tape anything you say.

Now the public's starting to like her again. Maybe she WILL be President some day. As long as they can keep her mouth shut...; Reply to this comment


by bobmarisol December 10, 2009 8:46 AM EST: Sarah Palin is now more popular than Obama! Seems it didn't take very long for the American voters to get buyer's remorse.; Reply to this comment