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.
I think she's smart enough to know that is true and has never really been serious about running for POTUS in the 2012 election.
LOL! Um, ok. Did the mayor of Houston accomplish all Palin did in her first two years?
Polls mean nothing at this time. Take a guess who was leading 4 years ago today the click this link.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/2012_2008_gop_presidential_race_4_years_ago.html
unless there is a very good reason for her not to run, demand for her speeches, books etc will likely head south actually. there is a lot at stake here for her personally. then again, maybe she can be critic in chief from the sideline? it seems unlikely. i mean, even if her sideline criticism is great, the response will be, “well then why didnt you run?” so i dont think that will work. No i think she will run “an unconventional campaign” as she has said. And really if she doesnt run, i think you are wrong, the risk to her value as speaker writer declines. So she had better run if she knows whats good for her!
she has no book planned that i know of. she did not sign on for a 2nd season of Alaska show (I wonder why not, the few mill$ not enough? i dont think so)
indeed Sarah Palin is her own person.
Sarah did great in Alaska. Sort of like a baseball player who tore up AA league and has great promise, once in a generation type stuff.
I want to see her get shot at the presidency.
They don’t “know” Gov. Palin. They only “know” what the media has embedded in them. Just like you have these so called polls embedded in your mind that she has “the highest” negatives. It is not true.
If that were true, which it is not, why does she outdraw every single politician in the Country, in every venue, TV, speeches, print, she partakes of? If that were true, which it is not, why is the left so afraid of her that they, continually and constantly, attack her, misquote her, mock her, lie about her, denigrate her?
On the day she announces, if she does announce a run, just make sure your hat’s on tight, ‘cause the draft from the rush of her supporters leaving the likes of Perry and others will, otherwise, blow it off. lol
My favorite saying about Palin is that the support we see for her at rallys doesn’t translate to votes...really? The other day where she spoke folks had driven hundreds of miles and stood in the rain, why on earth would anyone think that people who would do that wouldn’t actually vote for her?
What a stupid question. Yes and no. Apples to oranges.
So you think her 15 minutes are about up?...either way.
Just proves you weren't really a Palin supporter.
I don’t doubt that you think that...and don’t doubt that I think you are stupid!
I can see illegals from my house!
I KNOW!!!! ;)
Calling me a shill for the rino wing of the Republican Party and claiming I was here to get a rino nominated again, that was the personal attack. I just threw it back at you.
But I'll tell you what, I shouldn't have called you an a blithering idiot. I apologize. Namecalling puts me on the same level as you, and I don't want to be there. Again, my apologies.
Seems to me, every single one of the candidates right now has a big problem... there is no excitement for a single one of them. Not one.
And yet, people whine and cry because Palin had a rally on the day of the debates, Palin did this, Palin did that... if your candidate can't generate enough media interest, that's your guy's fault- not Palin's.
Since Perry has gotten into the race your posts have been overwhelmining in favor of getting him nominated. This thread is just another example of that....trying to reduce SP’s chances by posting propoganda from a communist rag.
I saw the same kinds of post from others 3 years ago trying to get McCain nominated.
You are shilling for a rino. Its not a personal attack its an observation of your behavior.
“I can see illegals from my house!”
Yes, and I’m going to take private property away from you to build a tollway for them to take more American jobs and travel through our Country in their dilapidated POS trucks! Whoopee!
Sarah is a celebrity, people go to her rallies but how many would vote for her? I don't have a clue.
I don't think she has said anything I haven't heard before. The media gives her more attention than they give the real candidates.
Most people I know are not thinking about POTUS candidates that much. At our past 2 Repub meetings we've had state and Congressional candidates talk... no mention of POTUS candidates even in small talk.
I like Rubio so I don't have a horn to toot! He isn't ready yet either.
FReepers think about it more than "normal" people. LOL!
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