CNN Poll: 7 in 10 say Palin not qualified to be president

[Ian David]

CNN Poll: 7 in 10 say Palin not qualified to be president

WASHINGTON (CNN) - More than seven in 10 Americans think Sarah Palin is not qualified to be president, according to a new national poll.

Seventy-one percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday morning believe the former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee is not qualified to be president, with 29 percent saying she does have the credentials to serve in the White House. Republicans appear split, with 52 percent saying she's qualified and 47 percent disagreeing with that view.

The poll indicates that about half of the country, 51 percent, has an unfavorable view of Palin, with 42 percent seeing her in a positive light. Nearly two-thirds of those questioned say Palin's not a typical politician, and feel she's a good role model for women. Fifty-six percent add that Palin cares about people, and a similar amount think she's honest and trustworthy. But the survey indicates Americans are split over whether Palin shares their values, agrees with them on the issues, or if she's a strong leader.

"Sarah Palin has one advantage that many past Republican candidates have not shared - Americans think she cares about people like them," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "But her biggest Achilles heel is the number who think she is not qualified to be President. Those numbers are similar to what Dan Quayle got in 1993, when only 23 percent thought he was ready for the White House."

In a very early look at the next race for the White House, the survey indicates that nearly one in three Republican voters, 32 percent, say they would be most likely to support former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in a hypothetical battle for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, with Palin seven points back at 25 percent, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at 21 percent. Five percent said they would back Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, with one in ten suggesting they would support some one else.

More:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/28/cnn-poll-7-in-10-say-palin-not-qualified-to-be-president/

Hat-tip to: http://twitter.com/radioguychris/statuses/5228727014

[rpannier]

1. The polls must have only been conducted in Wasila

I can't believe 30% of the rest of the country feels she's qualified
Either that, or they have no clue who she is

[Mike Daniels]

5. Why is it unreasonable that 30% feels she's qualified?

Bush and Cheney at their lowest ratings never got much below 30%> Palin's number is reflective of the hard core supporters that would still vote Republican even if Jesus was on the ballot and running as an independent.

[livetohike]

6. Cheney was at 19% approval rating when he left office, so

30% is very high for Palin, imo.

[Mike Daniels]

9. Thanks for that.

I didn't realize Cheney has fallen that far but he does seem to have rebounded back to the 30's since that time.

[Sinistrous]

7. Isn't 30% the same as the fraction of US citizens who

are illiterate?

[LiberalFighter]

13. You give the American people as a whole too much credit.

Too many of them don't have a clue about politics and government. And they think they do.

Remember that Bush was elected in part because he was Governor of Texas, the biggest state in the lower 48. And a population much larger than Alaska. With that those voters figured he had to know something about running a government even though the duties of Governor are not the same in other states.

Too many believe that how it is done in their state is the same in other states with the exception of a few so called quirks they read or hear about.

[Yavin4]

15. Why Can't Some DUers Ever Accept The Fact That

We live in a nation with some dumb, ignorant, bigoted people? The rest of America is not like DU. This is why Obama has to struggle.

[doc03]

2. May be but 3 of 10 would vote for her

In a three way race she could win. I think the Faux wing-nuts are setting her up for a third party run.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Which means 3 in 10 have OD'd on conservative Kool-Aid.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. I know some guy who loves her, he also thought rumsfeld was great.

[Orsino]

8. Sounds about right.

At least 50% seemed to have thought George W. Bush qualified.

[rucky]

10. There's that 30 percent again.

[AspenRose]

12. Exactly.

At least they're consistent.

[gkhouston]

16. Is it really 30, or is there some weird rounding thing going on?

"If the person funding the poll wants a certain result, minimum allowable result is 30%."

[rucky]

18. I think 30's about right.

then again, I live in a pretty darn red area, so I may be skewed. Then again, I moved here from Portland, OR, so I may also be in shock.

[BeyondGeography]

11. Ugly #'s on the Republican side

They're basically split down the middle.

[PBS Poll-435]

14. But, but, but... I know of a poll that said 51% said she WAS qualified

And the number never moved!

[Tribetime]

17. those 30% are holding signs in another thread n/t

[Enthusiast]

19. Yeah, 7 out of 10 also

want the public option.