Posted on 09/10/2011 3:51:27 PM PDT by smoothsailing
by The Anniston Star Editorial Board Anniston Star
Sep 10, 2011
The Capital Survey Research Center, which does polling for the Alabama Education Association, has surveyed Alabamians about President Barack Obama and the candidates seeking the Republican nomination.
First, the president.
Of the 841 registered voters who were polled, a majority said they did not like Obama and the direction he was taking the country. This comes as no surprise since a majority of those polled (488) said they would vote next year in the Republican primary.
In the GOP contest, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is favored by Alabamians over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, though nearly half of those polled didn’t know who Perry was.
The fly in the ointment seems to be former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. She was rated unfavorable or very unfavorable by 56 percent of those polled. She also polls as the weakest candidate against Obama. But 12 percent of polled Alabamians who plan to vote in the Republican primary said they would support a Palin bid for the White House.
As polls in other states and regions have shown, Palin would take votes from Perry. With Palin in the race, 22.5 percent would support the Texas governor, 20 percent would support Romney.
But if Palin is not in the race, Perry would get the votes of nearly 30 percent of Alabama Republicans — a jump of 7.5 points. Romney would gain only 4 points. About 14 percent of GOP voters were undecided, so if Romney can hold his base and attract the undecided, then Romney might pull it out. But it will be difficult.
Since a majority of those polled said they thought the country was going in the wrong direction, it was not surprising that 64 percent rated current economic conditions as poor. What is surprising is that more than 47 percent told pollsters that their personal economic condition was good or excellent, despite the pessimism about the economy. That’s possibly an indication that those polled are doing well in comparison to others they know, but they are nonetheless concerned about the future.
This early polling says several things about Alabama Republicans.
Perry is slightly on top, but he has name-recognition work to do.
Romney remains firmly in the race, but he has far to go.
Perry supporters surely hope Palin stays on the sidelines.
Any of the Republican candidates can beat Obama in Alabama, but the former Alaska governor is the weakest in the field.
Now Republicans must wait to see what Sarah Palin will do.
My goal is to oust Obama, nothing else. The “Palin or nothing” crowd does not share that same goal and will gladly see Obama for four more years if their messiah Sarah does not get the nomination in 2012, or so that she can run in 2016 is a repub loses.
Its reached almost like a cult just as bad as we accuse Obama of doing. Until she declares for Presidency and actually works for it like the others are doing, the 365/24/7 all threads, all posts, all the time, sarah, sarah, sarah, sarah, is doing no one any good and fomenting deep divisions in the chances to oust that commie dirtbag obama.
“The “Palin or nothing” crowd” Such a group on FR does not exist.
There are a few misguided, very passionate folks, that say they are, but when it comes down to it, they will support whomever is the (R) nominee, and so will I.
“Its reached almost like a cult...” First, You’re wrong.
Strong support, hooray, yeah, yeah, yeah, cheer leading, for sure (and why not?), but still it’s not like they spike personal attacks like the supporters of some other candidates do.
Second, don’t do that. Do not equate any FReeper with a knee pad wearing, greased lipped, anti-American, 0bama aider and abettor.
“Fomenting deep divisions”? Really? Are you saying that a Palinbot could piss you off enough so that you wouldn’t vote for her if she gets the nod? Do I have that right?
It’s like this before the primary for every General and Mid term. THIS is the time for it. After all, we circle our wagons and solidify our support for the (R) NOMINEE after the Primaries. Don’t we?
I like Sarah and would volunteer and donate money to her. It’s her fanatical supporters that drive me nuts considering Sarah has not even declared.
Why does she have to declare to have supporters? Hey, I was P.O’d at her for her decision to support McManiac’s reelection, especially before the Primary. But, I got over it.
I believe that she’s the best shot a righting our tilting Nation of those that have stepped forward. IF she runs, IF she can get the nod, IF she can get elected. And IF she does announce, I’ll work my fat ass off helping her.
Otherwise, as it stands now, I’d vote for Perry.
Why are you spreading lies? I do find it funny that the reason you give for not supporter her any longer never occurred.
Any of the Republican candidates can beat Obama in Alabama,In other words Palin is beating Obama in AL. I thought Palin would lose in a landslide. She is beating Obama in a Red state something I was told was imposssible and told that Palin would lose in a 50 state landslide. I guesss I was told wrong.
Nope, I didn’t miss it. I would expect her to do well in any Red State. It’s the Blues that would the challenge.
How in the world are they going to accept Perry? George W Bush II, but they'll paint him even more hard right wing (even though that's false) and they'll succeed easily. Nuff said.
And which GOp candidate do yuo think will win the blue states like NY and CA?
Palin can win every Bush 2004 state. Thus she can win the race.
I will vote for son f sam over Obama at this point.
Well Okie Dokie!
And not thought through very well.
It could be done. Of course the odds of it happening would increase dramatically if she were actually a candidate. She'd certainly get my vote.
That's your fantasy, I never said it. What is it with you, why do you always want to pick a fight?
:-)
well she hasn’t said she wasn’t a candidate yet.
Nonsense, you're not trying to help anyone, and you're certainly not helping Sarah Palin. You're just being snarky, it doesn't bother me, but it's childish, it makes you look small. I hope you're better than that. If you support Sarah, you should strive to be better than that. She's earned it.
That’s certainly true. I think it’s always been pretty clear that she marches to her own drummer. I like that independence.
Prove to me where I’m wrong!
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