Sarah Palin Remains The Most Polarizing Political Figure In America

Doug Mataconis · · 16 comments

It doesn’t appear that Sarah Palin’s reality show/Alaskan travelogue/hunting documentary is doing much of anything to change wht the American public thinks of her:

WASHINGTON — Sarah Palin is the most polarizing of the potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates, while impressions of Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney lean more positive, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll. Palin, the former Alaska governor and 2008 vice presidential nominee, is the best-known and most divisive of the bunch. In the wake of her high-profile role in endorsing candidates all over the country, 46 percent of Americans view her favorably, 49 percent unfavorably and 5 percent don’t know enough about her to form an opinion. Her “don’t know” score is considerably lower than those registered by other possible candidates tested in the poll

This is consistent with polls that we’ve seen for months that show that the public’s opinion of Sarah Palin is largely set in stone. People either like her or dislike her, and in both cases the feeling is typically strong and seemingly immobile. There are few people who have “no opinion” of Sarah Palin, and even fewer who say they don’t know enough about her to have any opinion.

Also, the poll shows the same sort of partisan divide when it comes to Palin; Republicans love her, Independents and Democrats most definitely do not:

In terms of winning the 2012 nomination, the question is how Republican-leaning Americans view the contenders. Palin comes out on top. Among adults who identify themselves as Republicans or GOP-leaning independents, 79 percent view her favorably, and 17 percent unfavorably. These findings worry many Republican officials. The poll suggests Palin might be able to win the nomination. But among independents — who could be the deciding factor in the general election — just 43 percent hold a favorable view of Palin, compared with 61 percent with a positive view of Obama. And with half of independents viewing Palin unfavorably, she would have to work hard to persuade a majority of voters to back her.

Palin’s numbers are just as bad in the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released today:

The other chief headline in the NBC/WSJ poll is Sarah Palin’s starting position for 2012, if she decides to run. In addition to Obama leading her by a whopping 22 points — compared with Romney’s seven-point deficit, and a generic GOP candidate’s three-point deficit in the poll — Palin’s negative rating has climbed to 50%. That’s the highest negative rating for anyone measured in this poll (and it’s two points lower than Nancy Pelosi’s negative rating from last month). And get this: The only major subgroups that Palin wins in a head-to-head match-up with Obama are Republicans, conservatives, and FOX viewers. That’s it, folks. NBC/WSJ co-pollster Bill McInturff (R) says that this is “a sobering starting point” for Palin if she decides to run for president

For a person who doesn’t want to be embarrassed and ruin their parties chances in 2012, it would be a reason not to run. One wonders how Palin evaluates such information.

Republicans, the message is clear – support this woman for your nomination and you are handing the White House back to Barack Obama on a silver platter, and who knows what else.