58 percent of GOP not sure/doubt Obama born in US

Shocker poll from Kos/Research2000 today.

A whopping 58 percent of Republicans either think Barack Obama wasn't born in the US (28 percent) or aren't sure (30 percent). A mere 42 percent think he was.

That means a majority of Republicans polled either don't know about -- or don't believe the seemingly incontrovertible evidence Obama's camp has presented over and over and over that he was born in Hawaii in '61.

It also explains why Republicans, including Roy Blunt, are playing footsie with the Birther fringe.

Surprise, surprise: Birther sentiment was strongest in the South and among the 60-plus crowd - presumably because seniors can't log on to the Internet and rely on rumor, word of mouth and right-wing talk radio.

When do we start a serious dialog about the Birther movement being a proxy for racism that is unacceptable to articulate in more direct terms?

In all 77 percent of Americans overall think the president is actually an American.

Research 2000 for Daily Kos. 7/27-30. All adults. MoE 2% (No trend lines) Do you believe that Barack Obama was born in the United States of America or not? Yes 77

No 11

Not sure 12 How do those numbers break down? Yes No Not sure

Dem 93 4 3

Rep 42 28 30

Ind 83 8 9 Northeast 93 4 3

South 47 23 30

Midwest 90 6 4

West 87 7 6 18-29 88 4 8

30-44 72 14 14

45-59 82 8 10

60+ 69 17 14

Glenn Thrush is senior staff writer at Politico Magazine.