New poll shows Palin no longer Alaska's most popular politician [not really but still interesting]

The Alaska Standard ^ | 3 Jan 09 | Dan Fagan

[GATOR NAVY]

New poll shows Palin no longer Alaska's most popular politician

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Posted on 03 January 2009

By Dan Fagan

Ask conservative Republicans across the country what they think of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and the vast majority of them will begin to gush in cult-like fashion about how wonderful she is. Palin has energized the conservative base unlike anyone since Ronald Reagan. But how is she doing in the state in which she governs?

Some speculate Palin has every intention of running for president four years from now after tasting the national spotlight. She has yet to rule out a race for Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski’s seat two years from now. Murkowski’s seat opens the same time as Palin’s term as Governor ends. Palin may be better positioned to run for president after spending a couple years in the Senate. But how would she do against Murkowski?

A poll commissioned by TheAlaskaStandard.com and conducted by Dittman Research shows Palin would have a tough time beating Murkowski.
In fact, in a Republican primary, Murkowski would defeat Palin soundly, by a margin of 58 percent to 31 percent.

In Alaska, registered Democrats are not allowed to vote in the Republican primary, but independents and non-partisans are. The poll shows Murkowski beating Palin by 8 percentage points, 50 percent to 42 percent among registered Republicans. But what is really surprising is how poorly Palin does with independents. A group that had overwhelmingly supported her during her run for governor. Murkowski gets a whopping 70 percent of support from independents in Alaska while leaving Palin with only 19 percent.

One place Palin does do well is with 18 to 29 year olds. She holds an eight-point lead over Murkowski with that group. But her support drops off dramatically with the older the voter. Thirty to 44 year olds prefer Murkowski by 14 percentage points. Forty-five to 49 year olds would vote for Murkowski over Palin by a significant 37 percentage points and old time Alaskans, age 60 plus like Murkowski more than Palin by 34 percentage points.

By gender, Palin continues to have her problems when running against Murkowski. The poll shows with men, Murkowski holds a 19-point lead and she has an even larger lead with women. Only 27 percent of Republican and independent women say they would vote for Palin over Murkowski.

If Sarah Palin has hopes of holding the White House in four years, according to our poll, she’ll have to run from the Governor’s mansion.

[GATOR NAVY]

Not really what the headline claims but it is an interesting look at Palin's current chance at beating Lisa Murkowski in the 2010 Alaska Senate primary.

[madprof98]

Everything possible has been done to destroy this woman. I’m surprised they didn’t ask how many Alaskans would prefer that she be beheaded.

[SolidWood]

Yaaaaawn... some new toys for the media to fool around. Since when is Palin running for Senate?

Also this revealing quote got my attention:

begin to gush in cult-like fashion about how wonderful she is

Unlike the gushing and fawning for the Obamessiah. LOL.

[LiberConservative]

Governor Palin could pull an 0bama by beating Murkowski in 2010 and then spend the next 2 years campaigning for President and building the conservative base. Hey, turnabout is fair play.

It would be really tough on her family, though.

[Lilpug15]

The assumptions and underlying factors of the polls and surveys are always left out. That’s why these polls are very misleading - a follow up question to this poll would be what people think about those in the senate or the changes of being president from being gov. vs. being a senator. That’s what I would like to know because I tend to believe that looking at the age group stats - those that have been around longer and know how politics work as repubbies and conservatives that the older age groups knows she has a better chance remaining gov. and therefore would rather have her there than in DC - because the younger age groups as you can see want her in DC that’s my indication there... sorry I’m rambling but you get the point :)

[FlingWingFlyer]

A partial list of "contributors" to the Alaska Standard. I guess Governor Palin is too busy to write for these guys. I sure do miss not being bombarded by "polls" now that the "election" is over.

Contributors

Dan Fagan

Rebecca Logan

Dave Stieren

Alex Gimarc

Glen Biegel

Penny Nixon

Andy Clary

Sen. Lisa Murkowski

Roger Maynard

[Lilpug15]

changes = chances

[tgusa]

The libs are scared witless about Sarah. Thus, they are trying to destroy her before she can become the next Reagan. They know she has the pulse of America.

[SolidWood]

Good catch!

[Northern Yankee]

Ask conservative Republicans across the country what they think of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and the vast majority of them will begin to gush in cult-like fashion about how wonderful she is.

As oppose to the objective approach the media takes towards Obama. /Sarcasm off.

[St. Louis Conservative]

Sarah should stay as far away from the senate as possible, IMO. That place is a laughing stock. It has approval ratings in the teens, and is about to get more absurd with the likely additions of Al Franken, Caroline Kennedy, and whoever the Chicago Machine throws in there. She should stay in Alaska and concentrate on being a good governor.

[Seven plus One]

I don't like to see Republicans chewing each other up in primaries. You've got two strong candidates for different offices. Do another term as Governor, and if she still wants to be in the senate (which could be false anyway) run against Begich next time.

[TYVets]

The Alaska Standard the CNN, New York Times, AP etc of the north?

[GATOR NAVY]

If you think that the possibility of Palin running for Murkowski’s senate seat and the “gushing” of some conservatives is not real, you haven’t been reading FR lately.

[PaleoBob]

It’s inconceivable to me that ANYONE would believe a WORD of ANYTHING the MSM has to say about Sarah Palin. How dumb would you have to be believe any of it?

[SolidWood]

I’ve been one of the chief “gushers” so I should know.

[tgusa]

You raise a good point. We tend to eat our young. Perhaps one answer would be to kick the RINOs out of the process; they corrupt everything.

[ccmay]

Do another term as Governor, and if she still wants to be in the senate (which could be false anyway) run against Begich next time.

Wise counsel, especially if the economy turns around and Obama remains tough to beat in 2012. Let Mitt or Huck be the sacrificial lamp. Palin and Jindal would be too valuable to lose in this scenario.

[Dahoser]

In Alaska, registered Democrats are not allowed to vote in the Republican primary, but independents and non-partisans are.

What's the point of calling it a Republican primary if non-Republicans can vote in it?

[RobinOfKingston]

Aught eight notwithstanding, it is relatively rare to elect a senator directly into the presidency. The last time it happened was kennedy. Our friend Sarah will be better off to stick in the governorship and do a bang-up job there, than to get watered down among the 99 pygmies in the senate.

In all fairness, though, she still hasn’t returned the call I made with the intention of passing on my political advice.