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.
Believe me, I wish Romney were paying me. I could use the $.
Although I would probably end up giving it to the government, thanks to new tax policies by Obama.
Somewhere, John McCain may be laughing.
That would be in Mudville, no doubt.
“That can only be accomplished through popular pressure for conservative policies on existing politicians, or achieving elected office for conservatives. In order to do either of those, a degree of adaptability and pragmatism is called for.”
Palin is a sitting Governor and has won a number of elections and has just come off a veep campaign that made her a national star.
Your man has squeezed out one lonely term has a Governor and failed in his other elections, he has nothing to do for the next four years other than fight to knock down conservative leaders that pose a threat to him and the only way that he can do that is through the media since he is unlikely to get elected to anything again.
LOL!!!!! Sign me up, too! ;)
Yes, she is popular as the Governor of Alaska. She may even become a fixture on the national scene. As for leading it from the presidency, I have my doubts. But then who would have though Obama would be president-elect, when 4 years ago he was best known for giving a speech?
I made this one back in September...(post at #244)
Whoa! SHRAPNEL -- !!! ;)
“Yes, she is popular as the Governor of Alaska. She may even become a fixture on the national scene. “
You need to scroll back up and read the post at the top of the thread again. It really is too bad that you think so little of conservatism and FR.
I remember seeing that one...there are a few starting to pop up around the web. Nice job.
So I guess a Palin/Shays ticket is out of the question? :-)
Damn Straight! And we do NOT want a Sarah Palin that’s been filtered through the RINO Machine! We want only the Sarah true to God, herself and her convictions!
The anti-Palin trolls will be just like the Bush Bots....they will be removed with force from the New Conservative Republican Party
Preferably with hacksaws.
(ohpleaseohpleaseohpleaseohplease...!) ;)
I can tell you with certainty that Saint Athanasius and rhinohunter feel EXACTLY the way you do.
I wonder what percentage of GOP voters would say exactly the same thing.
maybe a butter knife....slow and painful like the last 8 Liberal years under Bush
I think there are some guys who would never vote for a female for President or VP. On both sides of the aisle.
“But at this point, I am opposed to her being our nominee in 2012.”
What’s the nature of your opposition?
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