Go away, Slick Willard. You've destroyed enough of the GOP already.
Posted on 06/24/2009 8:23:54 AM PDT by GOPGuide
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has seen his favorability ratings improve and now enjoys a positive balance of opinion among the general public: 40% rate him favorably, 28% unfavorably. This marks a reversal of opinion from February 2008, during the latter stages of the GOP primary campaign, when just 30% viewed him favorably and 44% expressed an unfavorable opinion.
The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted June 10-14 among 1,502 adults reached on landlines and cell phones, finds that impressions of Sarah Palin have not changed much since the presidential campaign. Palin continues to be a divisive figure among the general public, with about as many saying they have an unfavorable impression (44%) as a favorable view (45%) of the Alaska governor.
Among Republicans, however, the balance of opinion about Palin is more positive than it is regarding Romney or other leading GOP figures, Newt Gingrich and Michael Steele. More than seven-in-ten Republicans (73%) express a favorable opinion of Palin while just 17% have an unfavorable opinion. Romney, Gingrich and especially Steele are less familiar figures – among the public overall and Republicans – than is Palin. While comparable percentages of Republicans rate Palin and the other Republicans unfavorably, far more view Palin favorably. And Palin continues to be overwhelmingly popular with key parts of the GOP base – white evangelical Republicans (84% favorable) and conservative Republicans (80% favorable).
Romney’s Image Improves Since February 2008, shortly before he abandoned his race for the GOP presidential nomination, opinion of Romney has improved across most political and demographic groups, but the shift has been particularly pronounced among independents. In February 2008, just 29% of independents had a positive impression of Romney while 46% had a negative view. Today, that balance is reversed: 44% view Romney favorably and 25% unfavorably.
Positive opinions among both Democrats and Republicans have increased by eight points since early 2008. Among Republicans, Romney has made identical nine-point gains in favorability among conservative Republicans and moderate and liberal Republicans; currently, 61% of conservative Republicans and 52% of moderate and liberal members of the GOP express positive opinions of Romney.
Romney’s favorable ratings have not changed significantly among white non-Hispanic evangelical Republicans; 54% have a favorable opinion now, compared with 52% in February 2008. Among all other Republicans, by contrast, positive opinions of Romney have increased by 11 points, while negative opinions have fallen considerably (from 31% to 16%).
Sarah Palin Favorability Almost a year after capturing the attention of the political world as John McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin remains a broadly popular figure within the Republican Party, despite receiving mixed reviews from the public as a whole.
Palin received her highest overall favorability rating of 50% in mid-September 2008, shortly after McCain named her as his vice-presidential running mate. At that time just 34% expressed an unfavorable opinion of the Alaska governor, while 16% offered no opinion. But her favorability slipped later in the campaign. In mid-October, more people expressed an unfavorable opinion of Palin (48%) than a favorable opinion (42%). Since the election, public views of Palin have shifted only slightly.
Unlike Romney, Palin’s ratings continue to be much better among conservative Republicans (80%) than among moderates and liberals in the party (62%). And while positive views of Palin have slipped among non-evangelical Republicans (from 77% to 67%), they remain overwhelmingly positive among white evangelical Republicans (84% now, 85% last October).
Notably, as was the case during the election, Palin is rated somewhat better by men than she is by women. About half of men (48%) say their overall opinion of Palin is favorable, while 40% say it is unfavorable. Among women, the picture is reversed: 48% offer an unfavorable view, 41% a favorable one. This difference largely arises from gender differences in party affiliation. For instance, among Republicans, men and women express similar views of Palin (73% favorable).
Palin receives a more favorable rating from those with a high school degree or less (48% favorable, 36% unfavorable) than she does from college graduates (41% favorable, 52% unfavorable). Regionally, she is somewhat better regarded in the South (49% favorable) than she is in the Northeast (39% favorable).
snip
NOT ROMNEY! Palin -yes.
Let the Romney-bashing begin!
Go away, Slick Willard. You've destroyed enough of the GOP already.
Sadly, 0bama is so bad that he is making all GOP candidates look better by comparison.
I’ll second that. A Massachusetts Rhino will not be my President.
Sarah has may vote already all she has to do is decide to run.
Slick Williard will embrace Obamacare. Wait and see.
I think more people trust Palin.
There is a core there that isn’t going to cave.
Romney, NO!!!!!
Palin, OH, YOU BETCHA!!!!
Flip Romney is part of the problem, not part of the solution. It’s a mystery to me how this flim-flam artist has so many people fooled.
Embrace Obama’s plan, hell he made his own, I am sure he is willing to talk shop with Obama at anytime...
Embrace it ? Hell, he INSPIRED it !
opinion of Romney has improved across most political and demographic groups, but the shift has been particularly pronounced among independents.
I concur. And I hope that the vitriol and vituperation that the ‘cool’ contingent directs against her (coupled with the sense of responsibility she clearly feels towards the well-being of the Republic) push many independents and Democrats to her the way they pushed me (erstwhile Democrat) to George W. Bush.
I love that you’re still holding on to the GOP. I understand Reagan’s commandment, but I’m sick and tired of this party and I think the time has come for the conservatives to just up and leave. I’m there. I feel no shame or embarassment about Ensign because I’m no longer a Republican and feel not one whit of loyalty to the GOP.
I’ve heard people say that about a Kenyan Muslim.
I think we will know when she decides not to run for reelection. The way the Dems have been after her in Alaska says it all about how much trouble they would cause if she ran and was Governor. The Ethics complaints keep getting thrown out but they keep filing them.
She needs to not run for re-election and spend her time in the lower 48 campaigning for Republican candidates. She brings the crowds to every event that the other candidates have not been able to achieve.
Signs point that she will not seek re-election.
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