Palin's Favorability Rating Drops As She Nears Exit: Poll

WASHINGTON — A majority of Americans take a negative view of outgoing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and although she remains popular among Republicans, her image within the party has slipped, according to a new poll.

Palin's favorabilty rating has dipped to its lowest level in the Washington Post-ABC News since she came to national attention last summer as GOP presidential nominee John McCain's running mate. Fifty-three percent of those polled view her negatively and 40 percent have a favorable impression.

Last summer, almost six in 10 Americans viewed her favorably, but her poll numbers have slipped since.

Palin, seen as a possible GOP presidential contender in 2012, is stepping down as governor Sunday, ending her term 18 months early.

Palin, who said it was time to change course, remains strikingly popular within her own party, especially with white evangelical Protestants and conservatives. Seventy percent of Republicans view her favorably. But the number who have "strongly favorable" opinions has dropped since last fall, the Post reported Friday.

The poll involved 1,001 randomly selected adults on standard and cell phones and was taken from July 15-18 with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points.

Comments

[bronceye]

Most of her favorability stems from her exiting the stage(hopefully). Her hair really, really is getting thinner. Check it out, the female sideways combover. Kinda like cheney's mate.

[Bude]

Correction:

Palin, (was) a possible GOP presidential contender in 2012.

[Prakosh]

The reason all polls survey more Democrats is because so many more people in America are currently self-identifying as Democrats. If only about 30 percent of the population is claiming they are Republicans trying to half and half it is disingenuous and fool-hardy.

[cdkang]

Actually, Democrats are losing more voters than Republicans. More people from both parties are identifying themselves as Independent - me included. I WAS a Democrat.

[ewadswor]

Most Independents are Democratic-leaning.

[Prakosh]

She can't think, she can't write, she can't speak extemporaneously and she can't hold a job. Who in their right mind could approve of her?

[sammyscout]

The Wilderness Party

Remember W.

[Gatorray11]

How can you forget the man who had 9/11 on his watch and ran the economy of the country into the ground -- just like he ran everything he touched in life into the ground?

[Gatorray11]

How can you forget the man who had 9/11 on his watch? Who was briefed that "Osama bin Laden Determined to Strike Within the U.S.?" Who refused to interrupt his vacation and did nothing? Who ran the economy of the country into the ground, just like he ran into the ground everything he touched in life? Who presided over the failed government response in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and told us "Brownie you are doing a heck of a job?

[Womanvoter4Obama]

If this woman were not on the political stage making decisions that affect me and my children I doubt I would care what she does. There are certainly things that I admire about her..her commitment to physical fitness. Her dedication to her children and the fact that people constantly underestimate her..as a person who is often underestimated I totally identify with her on that..you should never underestimate people. It's foolish to do so. I just don't want her running things for me politically. I don't believe she's ethical despite what her press releases say. She scares me on a lot of levels. She reminds me of myself in high school..she thinks a lot like I did before I actually left my small town and was exposed to other people and other ways of thinking and saw that my way of thinking was not always right. It was right some of the time but what I wanted or was taught was not always the gospel. She reminds me of someone who has a very small world view. I was like that once..very much like this. I didn't believe in abortion on any level..then I got pregnant..and had to look at another point of view. While I am still prolife I see another side of things. I was forced to. What in the world will force her to see life outside of herself and her small town? The world has and is changing.

[jimrs6]

She still has higher favorability rating than any Dem woman.

[godsense2]

Touche'

tou·ché (t-sh)
interj.
Used to acknowledge a hit in fencing or a successful criticism or an effective point in argument.

[pumpkin]

Thanks so much for the definition. I had no idea what touche' meant.

[Buddy McCue]

Palin: 40 percent favorability (according to this article.)

Hillary Clinton: 58 percent
CBS News poll http://www.secretaryclinton.blogspot.com/2009/03/hillary-clinton-favorability-ratings.html

[Gatorray11]

Not true. Hilary Rodham Clinton has a much higher favorability rating.

[ewadswor]

If she does, it's because they want to Boehner her and don't respect her for her intelligence.

[Gatorray11]

After seeing John Boehner's performance somebody should question his intelligence. Like questioning Nancy Pelosi because she said the CIA lied when he and other Republicans said the same thing.

You can't be shocked that she said the CIA lied when you don't like the subject matter and say the CIA lied when it's an issue you are upset about.

[NotStarvingArtist]

How do you know? Have there been any polls lately to find out? Sarah is the only woman I know of who is even implying they might run for the Presidency in 2012. If a female Democrat throws her hat in the ring, then some polls will be done and you may have some facts on which to base your assertion.

[pbziegler]

40% see her favorably. That's a frightening thought.

[ewadswor]

Not really. Weed out the guys that want to sleep with her, and you probably don't have many left!

[Prakosh]

HAHAHAHAHA­HAHAHAHAHA

[Realitylost]

i thought that was 40% of repubs?

[MrBurlesk]

On Sunday, everyone should have a party, play Anita Bryant records, and set fire to effigies of Sarah Palin.

[Gatorray11]

Why not just drink Florida orange juice?

[Pjnpurcell]

BYEEEE!

[LemonMeringue]

Quitting sure didn't help.

[belyeu]

It helped keep an unqualified half wit from being elected by other half wits.

[truesteam]

Amen.

[godsense2]

Poll had 50% more Dems, 25% more Dem leaners. Translates to 47 Fav 46 UnFav

[godsense2]

Washington Post-ABC News Poll

901. Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as (a Democrat), (a Republican), an independent or what? IF NOT DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN: Do you lean more towards the (Democratic Party) or (Republican Party)?

Democrat Republican Independent
7/18/09 33 22 41

33% more Dems in the survey. Clearly biased. Even it up and Palin's 47 Fav 46 UnFav

Not so bad considering resigning and major attacks from MSM and ethics probes

[godsense2]

Check that: 50% more Dems

[TruthJusticeForAll]

Not if you use "fuzzy math".

[Gatorray11]

Your right wing new math makes no sense. Only 21 percent of the country consider themselves as Republicans. Even at the time of resignation, Tricky Dickey I had 24 percent rating. Sarah Barracuda is only 16 percent higher. My point is you can play all kinds of games with numbers.

However, the major consideration is when John S. McCain made the mistake of nominating a woman with the only qualification to foreign policy that she can see Russia from Alaska to be a running mate for a man over 70 she had a 58 percent favorability rating.

Now after being a year in the spotlight that rating has dropped by 18 percent and is down essentially to the base of the Republican Party. The more people see of this phony incompetent the less they like her. And now she is an opportunist quitter and career gold digger.

[ewadswor]

According to Gallup:

Dem or Dem Leaning to GOP to GOP Leaning: 52-39 (1st Q 2009)
Dem or Dem Leaning to GOP to GOP Leaning: 49-40 (2nd Q 2009)

[ewadswor]

S/B

According to Gallup:

Dem/Dem Leaning to GOP/GOP Leaning: 52-39 (1st Q 2009)
Dem/Dem Leaning to GOP/GOP Leaning: 49-40 (2nd Q 2009)

[thegreatstu]

Isn’t this just great, you all are here bashing Sarah Palin about her favorability ratings dropping as the approval ratings for Obama drop below 50%. Pathetic little trolls you all are. Oh by the way, your savior is only 9 points ahead of Sarah Palin, and she actually resigned from her job; wow, something all of you can be proud of. The Healthcare Rationing Bill and the Cap and Trade Bill are both going down in flames, and you people have nothing better to do with you miserable little lives than to bash Sarah Palin. What I love seeing is all the people abandoning Obama, and you people sit here and think that you are helping him by making feeble efforts at destroying Sarah Palin. When you realize what is really happening, it will be too late for you and your liberal agenda. Oh, and keep your focus on Sarah Palin, that is just where we want you.

[TruthJusticeForAll]

Come on now. Sarah has done more to destroy herself than any 10 others possibly could.

[kellabeck]

Yeah. The Cons have the country right where they want it.

[daedelus]

By "we" do you mean you and the voices inside your head?

[Gatorray11]

We are not going to let another incompetent like George II slip by under the radar. The main stream media may not dig up and report Sarah Barracuda's incompetence and corruption, but blogs will not let her keep that information a secret.

[Gatorray11]

I have a more detailed reply, but the HP censors aren't posting it.

1. Barack Obama's popularity is over 50 percent.

2. He dips below 50 on some issue polling. Not surprising since he is tackling such complicated issues as healthcare reform and energy. The first one no President has succeeded since Harry Truman proposed it. Actually the first one to talk about it was Teddy Roosevelt. The second issue divides interests in Congress along regional lines and a bill has been passed by the House.

3. Sixty seven percent of the American people consider Obama a strong and decisive leader, according to a major poll just released.

4. You fanatical Sarah Barracuda Palin backers are just upset because we are not going to let this phony, incompetent quitter slip under the radar -- like George II did.

5. I am confident Obama will get Congress to pass both healthcare reform and an effective energy bill.

[Gatorray11]

You right wingers want to slip in a female version of George II.

Let's see some of the key points the main stream media did not report or when it did it was by one news outlet only about George II:

1. That he ran four oil companies into the ground.

2. That he was repeatedly bailed out by the Saudis.

3. That he was a drunk more than half of his adult life and reportedly used cocaine.

4. That he was a Yale University and Harvard University affirmative action admission case for the rich and well connected.

5. That as managing partner of the Texas Rangers his two chief accomplishments were getting a sweetheart stadium deal at the expense of the local taxpayers and that he was known as the man who traded Sammy S. away.

6. That his religious conversion came after the idea was suggested to him by political advisers for George I in order to cover up his earlier failures in life. The documentation is provided in Russell Baker's book Family Secrets.

7. That the Bush and Walker (the maternal side of the family) have benefitted from their involvement in government since World War I. This is documented in both Baker's book and American Dynasty by Kevin Phillips.

[deadcustodian]

Iam a student. Iam from india. I am a Hindu. I am quite happy with my religion and respect all other religons. But your Sarah Palini m onster? I don’t understand. .
i want to know the foolowing things?
What or Who is this Sarah P alini m onster?
What is this m onster up to? what does she want?
How did she contact you?
Does she Talk?
Is this m onster a good m onster or is she spreading evil?

God bless you
Ram
Goa
India

[Buddy McCue]

You said earlier that your religion was that of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Now you say you are a Hindu.

Which is it?

[ThermoChemist]

The Sarah Palin Monster..???
==========­==========­=====

The Daily Show already explained here...

Sarah Palin: From Maverick To Rogue To Sci Fi Monster
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-october-29-2008/goin--rogue

"Goin' Rogue
They found Sarah Palin in the wild, taught her everything, and set her loose, but they forgot one thing: she couldn't be contained."

[Oregondemo]

Or trained.

[urweatherman]

Please post these results along side of the same rating of Pelosi....­.....Palin whoops her in favorability more than 2 to 1.

[LibraLady]

In your wet dreams.

[Truelee]

Only in the reality of a schizophrenic like you. What other images do you see?

[DCinFrance]

The difference is, Pelosi is employed.

[MrBurlesk]

Pelosi doesn't have a history of quitting positions like Palin. Palin is a ruthless ladder climber that will beg, borrow, and steal (as well as abuse power and government resources) to further her own personal agenda. Palin presents herself as someone who quits a job when it is clear she can no longer use the position to personal advantage. She's the type of person who takes a job so she can gorge on the perks but do as little real "work" as possible. She's a highly strung narcissist who loves (and wholeheartedly believes) the sound of her own voice. She is categorically a "diva" or you can go one further and say she's a full blown "fascist." Palin treated her stewardship as governor as though she were some kind of royalty. It's no wonder that she and the First Dood had strong ties to whack-job Patriot secessionists. Now that this woman is leaving office, we can all hopefully give a sigh of relief that someone so inneptly unqualified and undereducated is no longer a realistic political threat. To any party.

[Gatorray11]

And she doesn't quit.

[ewadswor]

You do realize that there is an initial response with Sarah Palin that has more to do with her physical attributes than her intelligence?

If polled the GOP privately about who they'd like to work with (party affiliation aside; just based on intelligence and ability), I think we all know who they'd choose. They'd choose the person who reads and thinks, and it ain't Palin.

The GOP politicos don't respect Palin; they humor her because the basest of the GOP base likes her. You know those people: The ones that kill pro-choice MDs and speak in tongues.

[Gatorray11]

She sat at a two-hour plus presentation by a Jews for Jesus advocate at her church last year. The speaker said the Jews of Israel are being punished by God for not converting to Jesus. As a naturalized American citizen who was born in Israel and immigrated to the U.S. when I was 12, I resent such an attack on my religion.

[thegreatstu]

Isn’t this just great, you all are here bashing Sarah Palin about her favorability ratings dropping as the approval ratings for Obama drop below 50%. Pathetic little trolls you all are. Oh by the way, your savior is only 9 points ahead of Sarah Palin, and she actually resigned from her job; wow, something all of you can be proud of. The Healthcare Rationing Bill and the Cap and Trade Bill are both going down in flames, and you people have nothing better to do with you miserable little lives than to bash Sarah Palin. What I love seeing is all the people abandoning Obama, and you people sit here and think that you are helping him by making feeble efforts at destroying Sarah Palin. When you realize what is really happening, it will be too late for you and your liberal agenda. Oh, and keep your focus on Sarah Palin, that is just where we want you.

Conservati­sm…America­’s only real hope.

[MrBurlesk]

Thanks for the tips. We'll be sure to bury Sarah Palin for good on the 26th and focus our liberal energies on the Conservi-Dems in Congress who consistently cave in to pressure from big insurance and the pharmaceutical industry.

Neocons Like Palin Are The New Nazis. Believe It.

[Oregondemo]

I believe it. She's dangerous, not just stupid.

[Back2Life]

Let's see, Obama has a job with massive responsibilities, and is considered a brilliant, strong, leader. Palin is just a quitter. You can't compare this simpleton in polls or otherwise to our President. On the bright side, this gives Palin more free time to hang out with Tito the barber, Fred the fisherman, Harry the Hunter, etc. What a dimwit!

[indy girl]

"Conservat­ism...Amer­ica"s only real hope"

Keep up the great work with that GOP "rebrandin­g".....lov­e that Michael Steele and the C Street Party House!!!!!!!

[slc1950]

"Conservat­ism�Americ­a"s only real hope."

That's what has destroyed America. Yes, destroyed. Starting with the con's god Ronnie.

Where have you been for the last 8 years?

Sarah Palin has made a mess of herself, her career and her political life. You betcha!