Poll Watch: CBS News Survey on Sarah Palin and the Tea Party

CBS News Survey on Sarah Palin and the Tea Party

Is your opinion of Sarah Palin favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about Sarah Palin yet to have an opinion?

• Favorable 22%
• Not favorable 48%
• Undecided 21%
• Haven't heard enough 8%

Among Democrats

• Favorable 6%
• Not favorable 73%
• Undecided 12%
• Haven't heard enough 8%

Among Republicans

• Favorable 44%
• Not favorable 22%
• Undecided 24%
• Haven't heard enough 10%

Among Independents

• Favorable 21%
• Not favorable 44%
• Undecided 27%
• Haven't heard enough 7%

View Tea Party Favorably

• Favorable 61%
• Not favorable 14%
• Undecided/Don't know 25%

Can Sarah Palin be an effective president?

• Yes 22%
• No 64%

Among Democrats

• Yes 8%
• No 81%

Among Republicans

• Yes 39%
• No 45%

Among Independents

• Yes 22%
• No 64%

View Tea Party Favorably

• Yes 47%
• No 39%

Is your opinion of the Tea Party movement favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about the Tea Party movement yet to have an opinion?

• Favorable 22%
• Not favorable 21%
• Undecided 18%
• Haven't heard enough 38%

Among Democrats

• Favorable 4%
• Not favorable 39%
• Undecided 16%
• Haven't heard enough 41%

Among Republicans

• Favorable 41%
• Not favorable 3%
• Undecided 19%
• Haven't heard enough 35%

Among Independents

• Favorable 23%
• Not favorable 18%
• Undecided 20%
• Haven't heard enough 38%

Under Age 65

• Favorable 18%
• Not favorable 21%
• Undecided/Don't know 60%

Over Age 65

• Favorable 39%
• Not favorable 21%
• Undecided/Don't know 40%

Survey of 1,129 adults was conducted October 1-5, 2010.  The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.

Inside the numbers:

Only 16 percent of Americans who know about the Tea Party say a candidate's affiliation with the movement would make them more likely to vote for that candidate, and even more (29 percent) say that would make them less likely to support the candidate. For almost half, though, affiliation with the Tea Party would make no difference.  Not surprisingly, Tea Party affiliation is much more appealing to Republican voters.