ABC’s Gary Langer points out the reason’s why Sarah Palin’s Going Rogue rehabilitation tour is unlikely to amount to much of a “comeback”:
Just over half of Americans in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll have an unfavorable opinion of her overall, as many say they wouldn’t consider supporting her for president and more – six in 10 – see her as unqualified for the job.
These views are much like they’ve been for the past year, when initially favorable responses to Palin’s selection as the Republican vice presidential nominee quickly turned down in the heat of the 2008 campaign.
Today 43 percent of Americans express a favorable opinion of Palin overall, while 52 percent see her unfavorably. Favorability is the most basic measure of a public figure’s popularity; in politics, where majorities win, it’s trouble when it goes negative, as it’s been for Palin since October 2008.
Intensity is against her as well: considerably more see her “strongly” unfavorably, 34 percent, than strongly favorably, 20 percent.
Fifty-three percent say they definitely would not vote for Palin if she were to run for president in 2012; that compares with 9 percent who say they’d definitely support her, while the rest, 37 percent, would consider it. (For comparison, in a 2006 ABC/Post poll fewer flatly ruled out Hillary Clinton, 42 percent, and fewer still wouldn’t consider John McCain, 28 percent.)
Palin moreover fails a basic hurdle on the road to the White House, were she to choose to take it: Just 38 percent of Americans see her as qualified to serve as president; 60 percent think she’s not qualified for the job.
This is consistent with other polls about Palin:
So, while Palin remains popular with Republicans, among the public as a whole she qualifies as one of the most unpopular, least-regarded politicians in modern history and, as James Joyner notes, that’s the least of her problems:
When Palin resigned as governor, she gave away her best chance at rebutting the impression that she was unprepared for the highest office in the land. Had she worked to enact a bold agenda and then gotten herself re-elected, she could have brought a more impressive resume to the table. Instead, she decided to double down on her pop culture celebrity.
Right now, people think she’s a lightweight but one who’s likable, charismatic, and decent. It’s not at all clear how putting out a book that alienates a prominent wing of her own party and calls her integrity into question will help her.
True, but it sure will make her popular among the true believers.
November 16th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
I think she’s hot. She needs to wear more running shorts though and keep her hair down.
November 16th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Let me do the math here. About 50% have a favorable opinion of her, but about 40% think she’s qualified for office. So what, exactly are the other 10% of favorables going for? Her moose-shooting skills? Mothering skills?
November 16th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Oh, wait! I’ve got it! Her speaking skills! Right?