Posted on 11/07/2008 8:31:02 AM PST by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Republican voters say Alaska Governor Sarah Palin helped John McCain’s bid for the presidency, even as news reports surface that some McCain staffers think she was a liability.
Only 20% of GOP voters say Palin hurt the party’s ticket, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Six percent (6%) say she had no impact, and five percent (5%) are undecided.
Ninety-one percent (91%) of Republicans have a favorable view of Palin, including 65% who say their view is Very Favorable. Only eight percent (8%) have an unfavorable view of her, including three percent (3%) Very Unfavorable.
When asked to choose among some of the GOP’s top names for their choice for the party’s 2012 presidential nominee, 64% say Palin. The next closest contenders are two former governors and unsuccessful challengers for the presidential nomination this year -- Mike Huckabee of Arkansas with 12% support and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts with 11%.
Three other sitting governors – Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Charlie Crist of Florida and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota – all pull low single-digit support.
These findings echo a survey earlier this week which found that Republicans were happier with their vice presidential candidate than with their presidential nominee. Seventy-one percent (71%) said McCain made the right choice by picking Palin as his running mate, while only 65% said the party picked the right nominee for president.
The key for the 44-year-old Palin will be whether she can broaden her base of support. An Election Day survey found that 81% of Democrats and, more importantly, 57% of unaffiliated voters had an unfavorable view of her.
Palin, Alaska’s first woman governor, was elected to a four-year term in 2006. She was largely unknown nationally until McCain chose her to be the party’s vice presidential candidate. She quickly became a darling of the GOP’s conservative base and energized the party’s rank-and-file.
Speculation about her future has run high for weeks when it appeared Barack Obama was likely to beat McCain. Already this week there is talk of her possibly taking the seat of embattled Republican Senator Ted Stevens if he manages to hang on and win won reelection despite recent federal felony convictions. Stevens would have to step down if his appeal of the convictions is unsuccessful.
Palin could also run for another term as Governor in the state where she still enjoys very high approval ratings.
Among Republicans, 66% of men and 61% of women say Palin is their choice for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. Sixty-six percent (66%) of GOP women have a Very Favorable view of her, as do 64% of men.
While Palin’s high favorables suggest she has a bright political future in the Republican Party, it is important to note that favorites four years out from a presidential election quite often do not get the nomination. Obama, for example, was just an Illinois state senator four years ago, and Hillary Clinton appeared a shoo-in for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008.
Similarly, vice presidential candidates historically have seldom risen to the highest office by election.
Republicans are closely divided over the two most important issues in the next presidential election: 31% say economic issues, 30% say national security. Fifteen percent (15%) list fiscal issues, followed by cultural issues (12%) and domestic issues (6%). Five percent (5%) are undecided. Palin is overwhelmingly the top choice for 2012 among voters in all these categories.
Over two-thirds of Republicans describe themselves as conservative in terms of foreign policy, fiscal and social issues.
Eighty percent (80%) of Republicans have a favorable view of Huckabee, including 46% Very Favorable. Sixteen percent (16%) regard him unfavorably.
Eighty-one percent (81%) view Romney favorably, with 45% Very Favorable. Fifteen percent (15%) have an unfavorable opinion of him.
Jindal, Pawlenty, and Crist are far less known than the other candidates. Roughly 40% of GOP voters have no opinion one way or the other of these three Republican Governors.
Why not?
The one with the moose is pretty cool.
Bill Hickman, stunt driver, and the first person on the scene of James Dean’s fatal accident.
You rock! I think he’s most famous for being the bad-guy driver in “Bullitt”. In all the entire history of cinema, NOBODY has ever scored so many cool points while being on camera for about one single minute and uttering not a single word. BTW — I had no idea of the James Dean link. Interesting.
Exactly my assessment. Whatever you want to say about him, Mr. Dole is and always was an honorable man.
Yes, I liked the genuine emotions as well. She was in it to win. It seemed Sarah and McCain’s supporters were more disappointed with the loss than McCain. I’m surprised she could hold it in even that much. I had tears freely streaming down my face that night.
Hee, hee ... I cheated. IMDB rocks, not me. :-)
You know, I was a bit suspicious... What, pray tell, is IMDB???? I’m dying to know what kind of tech. can ID a face on an internet post.
Well, it can take years of effort, but it can pay off.
If they are willing to listen and accept facts, that is half the battle.
Amen that she IS the base!
She got almost 30% fewer votes in this election than Bush did in 2004.And a handful more than Bush in 2000. Alaskan’s maybe weren’t so happy to have their native daughter in DC?
I have talked to thousands of people outside of FR.
You are 100% wrong and a real Unlikely Hero.
The Olbermans and the Matthews and the hardcore liberals are calling her a caricature of herself and now a member of FR is doing so.
Oh that's right, you just got here.
Are you working for McCain and Carl Cameron?
Welcome to Free Republic, look around and see what it's all about.
They are getting our fight on..
Support Governor Palin against the attacks. Join Operation Freep Palin.
What a hypocrite
Romney forgives own campaign loans, clears deck as possible McCain VP
Friday, July 18, 2008 1:17:50 PM · 153 of 164
Unlikely Hero to Diogenesis
“Romney may not be the preeminent choice among FR, but in the general population I think he would be. I think a great many FReepers are out of touch with the electorate if they honestly think politicians like Duncan Hunter or the chick from Alaska are going to strike a chord.
Conservatism is going through a tough time right now, rightly or wrongly. That’s one of the reasons McCain is the nominee—it’s not a DNC conspiracy to select him, it’s a reflection of voter discontent with the perceived “conservative” elements of the GOP.”
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You are so “out of touch” it makes me wonder why you even lowered your rino Romney self to join this conservative site.
Let’s ask people who voted against Palin if she helped the ticket. That’s a CNN poll for ya.
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