Poll Watch: Washington Post-ABC News Survey on Sarah Palin

Washington Post-ABC News Survey on Sarah Palin

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

• Strongly favorable 16% [17%] {18%} (20%)
• Somewhat favorable 23% [20%] {20%} (23%)
• Somewhat unfavorable 15% [14%] {16%} (18%)
• Strongly unfavorable 39% [41%] {38%} (34%)

Among Democrats

• Strongly favorable 6%
• Somewhat favorable 7%
• Somewhat unfavorable 17%
• Strongly unfavorable 65%

Among Republicans

• Strongly favorable 30%
• Somewhat favorable 41%
• Somewhat unfavorable 12%
• Strongly unfavorable 10%

Among Independents

• Strongly favorable 14%
• Somewhat favorable 25%
• Somewhat unfavorable 18%
• Strongly unfavorable 35%

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

• Is qualified 27% {26%} (38%)
• Is not qualified 67% {71%} (60%) 

Among Democrats

• Is qualified 14% {6%} (22%)  
• Is not qualified 82% {91%} (76%)

Among Republicans

• Is qualified 47% {46%} (61%)
• Is not qualified 46% {52%} (36%)

Among Independents

• Is qualified 23% {29%} (37%)
• Is not qualified 70% {67%} (59%)

Survey of 1,202 registered voters was conducted October 25-28, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted March 23-26, 2010 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted February 4-8, 2010 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted November 12-15, 2009 are in parentheses.

Inside the numbers:

While there are political and ideological divides on Palin, she faces hurdles across the board. Even in her own party, Republicans divide, 47 percent to 46 percent, on whether she’s qualified or unqualified to serve as president. Conservatives split, 45-48 percent, as do Tea Party supporters, 48-48 percent.

In only two groups do majorities see Palin as qualified – conservative Republicans, by 55-40 percent; and “strong” supporters of the Tea Party movement, by a broad 73-22 percent. (They’re a small group, one in 10 registered voters.)

While 82 percent of Democrats and 84 percent of liberals see her as unqualified, as do 70 percent of swing-voting independents and 77 percent of self-described political moderates.

At her peak, shortly after the Republican National Convention, 58 percent of Americans saw her favorably. That fell to 46 percent by the 2008 election and 40 percent last summer, and hasn’t recovered since.

Beyond the expected partisan and ideological differences, Palin is notably more popular among evangelical white Protestants, 61 percent favorable, than among their mainline counterparts, 41 percent. And fewer than half in two key voter groups, independents and white Catholics, see her favorably overall.