Most still doubt Palin's presidential qualifications, poll finds #p2 sarahpalinusa

from http://voices.washingtonpost.com/behind-the-numbers/2010/10/most_still_doubt_palins_presid.html?wpisrc=nl_pmpolitics

Most voters continue to hold negative views of Sarah Palin and doubt that she has the qualifications to be president, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Despite Palin being a nearly ubiquitous presence in campaign 2010, public opinion of the former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential nominee remains fixed in time.

Some 54 percent of registered voters surveyed say they have unfavorable impressions of Palin, with more than twice as many holding "strongly unfavorable" as holding "strongly favorable" ones. Thirty-nine percent view her positively. These numbers are little changed from earlier this year.

Palin gets very high marks from those who are strong backers of the tea party movement, but overall inspires a more intense negative than positive reaction. Fully 78 percent of liberal Democrats hold "strongly unfavorable" views of Palin, while 37 percent of conservative Republicans have "strongly favorable" impressions. Among solid tea party supporters, 72 percent say they are strongly positive about Palin (she's at 91 percent overall favorability among this group).

Solid tea party supporters are also the most apt to say Palin is qualified to serve as president at 73 percent. That contrasts with 67 percent of all registered voters who see her as not qualified to hold the office, a figure that's hardly budged since spring.

Democrats and independents are broadly skeptical of Palin's presidential qualifications, while Republicans divide evenly (47 percent say she is qualified; 46 percent say not). Even 46 percent of those who say they voted for the McCain-Palin ticket in 2008 now see Palin as unqualified for the presidency.

Q: Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Sarah Palin? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?

                   -- Favorable --  - Unfavorable - No   
                   NET Strly Smwht  NET Smwht Strly opin.
Registered voters  39   16    23    54    15   39    7

Democrats          13    6     7    82    17   65    4
 Republicans        71   30    41    22    12   10    8
Independents       39   14    25    53    18   35    9

Liberal Democrats   8    3     5    89    11   78    3
Cons. Republicans  82   37    45    14     8    6    5
 
Strong tea party   91   72    19     8     3    5    1

Q: Regardless of whether or not you'd vote for her, do you think Palin is or is not qualified to serve as president?

                        Is        Is not       No
                     qualified   qualified   opinion
Registered voters     27         67        6

Democrats             14         82        3 
Republicans           47         46        7
 Independents          23         70        7

Liberal Democrats      7         88        4
Cons. Republicans     55         40        5

Strong tea party      73         22        5