Back in Alaska, Sarah Palin's poll ratings tumble a bit

Sarah Palin may be the darling of the United Nations, but back home in Alaska, the bloom on the state rose is fading a bit.

New poll numbers show the Alaska governor's approval rating has taken its biggest hit since her election in 2006. "The Honeymoon Is Coming to an End," Ivan Moore Research of Anchorage said in its report.

True, Palin's approval rating of 68% surely must cause envy among President Bush (check out his numbers here) and members of Congress (go here).

But the new figure for Palin is down from a high of 82% in January, which she replicated in the days following her surprise selection Aug. 29 as John McCain's running mate.

Also, her disapproval rating in the survey of 500 likely voters conducted Saturday through Monday was at 27% -- double what it was at the beginning of the month. The survey's margin of error was plus or minus 4.4%.

Predictably, the biggest erosion in good feelings about Palin occurred among Alaskan Democrats. But there also was a measurable slip in her standing among independent/third-party voters.

Chalk it up to the bruising effects of a national campaign and all the harsh scrutiny that brings? Probably. And, Moore notes, lots of governors would be pretty happy with Palin's 68% approval mark.

That's "still pretty positive," he says. "But I suspect we've only caught the slump kind of halfway through here."

In other words, there may be more bad news awaiting Palin when she gets back home -- whenever that happens.

-- Kim Murphy

Comments

[I Predict...]

In other words, there may be more bad news awaiting Palin when she gets back home -- whenever that happens.
- -
November 5 2008

[Chuckles]

Alaskans love the "living on the edge" sham that their state has been labeled with. However, take a journey into any city and you will find the same Taco Bell, WallMart and strip mall you see in every other part of the US. The electorate instantly transformed from pure independent voters into a GOP stronghold once oil started gushing out of the ground. Okees and Texas transplants swamped local communities, turning them into bible belt backwaters. Ask any old Alaskan from pre-oil tax days and they will smile and, without missing a beat, turn cold and bitter, complaining about how that dirty liquid destroyed their big piece of heaven. If you were to interview the most strident Palin lovers, you will see their lineage go straight back to Texas. Interview anyone who doesn't trust her, and you will see either a nature lover or an old timer from pre-oil days.

[Lloyd Revalee]

Most of us are easily swayed by the slick talking media, and with almost the entire media out to get Obama elected, its no wonder that Palins poll ratings are falling. I did not believe that the adventurous, down home type of people that seem to be in Alaska would not believe all the false, half truths, and dowright lies being spread by Obama's group would be taken seriously. After all, the man who wrote in his book about his father (who he never knew, deserted he and his mother when he was 2 yrs old), that he began to disassociate himself from his white mother when he was about 12 or 13 years old, and stated that if the world situation was to change, he would stand by his Muslim friends.

[Ed Grey]

The poll you should look at shows BOTH that Gov. Palin has strong approval ratings, even among Democrats, but that, nonetheless, Alaskans recognize that Biden has more "background and experience" and would be better suited to handle an international crisis: http://publicmind.fdu.edu/veepstakes/ or http://news.aol.com/story/_a/poll-alaskans-like-palin-but-give-props/n20080924141809990015

[Frank]

I think Obama may even get close to Palin's rating except for the people he hangs around with.

" Ahmadinejad Feted at Obama Fundraiser’s Hotel
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was feted on Thursday night by left-wing U.S. religious leaders and self-styled pacifists at a gala reception at New York’s Hyatt hotel — which is owned by the family of the Obama campaign’s national finance chairperson, Penny Pritzker."

[fsteele]

As Governor of Alaska, doing her job, no threat to the bots' precious Messiah, she had very good ratings. She gets nominated for VP, the Obama campaign and national media start trashing her, and her ratings go down.

Surprise surprise!

[ccinatl]

She's being bashed on a daily basis by the Obama mad media--what do you expect? It doesn't mean she's suddenly doing a poor job as Governor. This poll seems rather meaningless.

[steve evans]

Sarah Palin doesnt need any help from Barrack Obama to look stupid.She does this fine everytime she opens her mouth.

[mcj3691]

Can we stop with this myth that the media are somehow bringing Palin down? She's doing it all herself, with her non-stop chatter of incomprehensible sentences filled with mangled phrases and cliches. "Joe Sixpack, Maverick, Maverick, Maverick, You Betcha, Drill Baby Drill, etc." She's sinking herself just by opening her mouth. The media is not doing anything other than giving her opportunities to put her foot her mouth.

[robert thomas]

I have been reading the LA TIMES (which I am a daily subscriber) and wonder why your editorial staff is so biased. I don't care if you are totally Democrats, which you obviously are, but a little truth mixed in would flavor things a bit. Sarah is a bright and capable person, as is Barak, but you do not see it that way in any respect. I prefer to give each individual a fair shake but you guys do not see it that way. What a shame, as I do read through you each day. Predjudice is not becoming.
Bob T