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).
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Pew! That says it all...
Au contraire, it's physical size AND geographical location is very relevant.
I'm talking about population. I'm not disparaging Alaska or Alaskans by pointing out that it is a State outside of the mainstream of American life, just pointing out facts.
What facts? Anchorage is a cosmopolitan big-city of over 200,000 people. Besides, what does people have to do with anything? Joe Biden is VP of a state with with barely more people than Alaska but probably less land than the state capital of Juneau. Do you realize how vast Alaska is and how geographically strategic it is?
And bordering two countries doesn't give its Governor any real foreign policy experience.
Right, because we all know anyone who runs for President have a wealth of foreign policy experience already. BS - Fact is, no presidential candidate outside of a sitting VP has no foreign policy experience. Alaska borders two foreign countries and as I explained before, Palin has had to deal with the situation there. That's more foreign policy experience than any other potential candidate in 2012.
Which is exactly the type of things she needs to focus on in the next few years to fatten her foreign policy resume. I think Palin and her team know this is a weak spot for them and they're working on fixing it.
Foreign policy isn't Governor Palin's weak spot - I would say she leans populist on economic issues when she needs to embrace all-out free market principles, and clarify herself on border security and immigration. Other than that, she's a fine conservative. You're not influencing anyone here.
Pssst - It's just a furlough they have to take LOL
Well, you should be concerned. Especially since Sanford just crashed and burned. Palin is the most viable Republican right now.
The were probably at a training camp...
They are so naive, Palente is dead in the water before he even starts, zero personality and very weak!
- Boston Herald, 11/12/2006
Maybe so; but it must have yelled too loud for the Moderator.
What was it about?
Very well said - I hope some of it hits home
“It’s a mystery to me how this flim-flam artist has so many people fooled.”
Yep, people like Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter are real idiots, fooled by Mitt Romney. They are just useful idiots for Mitt Romney.
This site is ridiculous in its anti Romney ramblings.
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