Half of Republicans polled still don't believe Obama was born in USA

More than a week after the White House unearthed President Obama's original, long-form, Hawaii birth certificate, only 48% of Republicans polled said they believe he was born in the United States.

In a poll conducted by Public Policy Polling from May 5-8 of 610 Americans who usually support Republicans in primaries, 34% said they did not believe Obama was born in the U.S. while 18% said they still aren't sure.

Of those surveyed, 77% considered themselves either somewhat or very conservative while only 7% identified themselves as either somewhat or very liberal.

Despite the majority of those polled agreeing with other birthers, Donald Trump, who most loudly demanded that the president release his birth certificate, fell significantly in the PPP poll.

The billionaire last month led other would-be GOP presidential hopefuls with 26% support from those surveyed, but this month Trump slid below former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (19%), former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (18%), former Speaker Newt Gingrich (13%), and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (12%), and is now tied with Texas Congressman Ron Paul with 8%.

"As Trump got more and more exposure over the last month, Republicans didn't just decide they weren't interested in having him as their nominee, they also decided they flat don't like him," PPP wrote in their blog post titled "Trump collapses."

"Only 34% of GOP voters now have a favorable opinion of Trump, to 53% who view him in a negative light," the North Carolina pollsters blogged.

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Obama birth certificate released by the president: What's really behind his inevitable decision

-- Tony Pierce
twitter.com/busblog

Photo: President Barack Obama laughs in the White House briefing room on Wednesday as he speaks to reporters about his birth certificate. Credit: J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press

Comments

[Lee B.]

One thing Obama's presidency has made clear to me is the number of ways in which our educational system is failing our citizens, based on many of the remarks directed against him (see this thread). It is extremely rare to read, "I know Obama's a citizen, but I disagree with his economic policies because of (points cited here)."

[sue d.]

Yes, Obama was born Kenya a certificate of live birth a short form that his mother got pregnant and she is not married . Obama's mother did not want to go back to U.S.A because its was 1961 in their time was embrassed and shamed that she did not want to tell her family so she did stayed in kenya for 2 years or so then she found out that Obama's Father had 3 wife and total 10 kids or so then she went back home with her son . That certificate of live birth short form birth mother with no Father 's signed it and out of country. Obama's father died of car accidents 1982. Obama did not made a good decision on that day Osama bin killed , that is not how is American way , its not very pleasant and he lied ! Hello !!!!! Once lied one way the anothers then leak period . Its not suitable . Again White house and Gop faulted did not do the properly checked on Obama everything before to become president of USA its real embrassed and shamed ! Every Body know that MUST BE BORN IN USA TO BE PRESIDENT ! Hello !!! Do we trust them- Those people who are represenative , congress,senate,and President of white house did something dishonesty and fishy around and spending lot of money so silly it does not improving anything . Its scary in the world right now , Don't know what to believe anymore ? Racial , those people who are very racism is OVER is an enough ! We are a HUMAN BEGIN remember that!

[ZOMG]

Yes, Obama was born Kenya a certificate of live birth a short form that his mother got pregnant and she is not married . Obama's mother did not want to go back to U.S.A because its was 1961 in their time was embrassed and shamed that she did not want to tell her family so she did stayed in kenya for 2 years or so then she found out that Obama's Father had 3 wife and total 10 kids or so then she went back home with her son . That certificate of live birth short form birth mother with no Father 's signed it and out of country. Obama's father died of car accidents 1982. Obama did not made a good decision on that day Osama bin killed , that is not how is American way , its not very pleasant and he lied ! Hello !!!!! Once lied one way the anothers then leak period . Its not suitable . Again White house and Gop faulted did not do the properly checked on Obama everything before to become president of USA its real embrassed and shamed ! Every Body know that MUST BE BORN IN USA TO BE PRESIDENT ! Hello !!! Do we trust them- Those people who are represenative , congress,senate,and President of white house did something dishonesty and fishy around and spending lot of money so silly it does not improving anything . Its scary in the world right now , Don't know what to believe anymore ? Racial , those people who are very racism is OVER is an enough ! We are a HUMAN BEGIN remember that!

Posted by: sue d. | May 11, 2011 at 03:12 PM

Brilliant, I couldn't have said it better myself! You have an amazing way with words, bravo! You should run for president, then the country would be fixed!

[truther]

"I used to think that conservatives were, by and large, somewhat more educated than the general population. But that notion went out the window years ago, and they actually seem to be getting dumber by the month.

Posted by: DG3"

This is exactly right. The fact that half of all Republicans still don't believe Obama is a natural born US citizen is staggering.

[Tom]

The Times: "In a poll conducted by Public Policy Polling from May 5-8 of 610 Americans who usually support Republicans in primaries, 34% said they did not believe Obama was born in the U.S. while 18% said they still aren't sure."

Bad enough, but the Times lead in about "half?" The author and editor need a math class. 34% is not half.

There will always be birthers, truthers, deathers, those who believe Bush lied people died, etc., etc.

That is truly sad. The Repulbicans who fell for this nonsense certainly did not pay attention to Democratic politics of the primary. The Clinton political machine was the most powerful in the nation. She brought this up during the primary. No doubt her political team dug deep trying to find this issue, or any other issue to beat Obama in the primary. Fools on the extreme right spun this up and many fell for it. They should have kept on track with the record and facts, policy and record. Instead they wasted time and effort, making themselves look foolish.

Time to move on to the record.

[carl]

Let's start this one: Obama didn't really kill Osama. He had him whisked away and now Osama lives in a bunker underneath the White House. He and Obama are planning to switch identities so that Osama can take over the country. The birth certificate issue is a just a red herring to divert the attention of Americans away from Obama's true intentions.

[michael]

One useful way to understand the birthers is to start with the fact that they are delusional. Delusions are highly resistant to evidence and reason, so continuing to provide evidence and arguments is pointless. The fun part is watching how the delusions evolve to incorporate or dismiss new evidence. Conspiratorial delusions are even more fun than simple delusions, which makes the birthers, deathers, deniers, and truthers so entertaining.

[MT]

"Brilliant, I couldn't have said it better myself! You have an amazing way with words, bravo! You should run for president, then the country would be fixed!

Posted by: ZOMG"

Wow. What a hateful, snarky, zenophobic remark. Grow up.

[tj]

Is it just bigotry that a lot of people still believe that President Obama was not born in the United States? May be the reason why the issue persist is because of his name. I guess even if he was born out of a mixed marriage, but carrier an american sounding name, this will issue will not perist as much.

I am nor white or black, but I believe that for most part, President Obama is doing his best to lead the most democratic country in the world.

[Mike K]

I would like to see the questions. There is a group of Republicans who doubt his birth but the larger group wonders about his college records and some of his associations. Something like 25% of Democrats think Bush knew about or was involved in the Twin Towers collapse on 9/11. Some of them are celebrities but, of course, that includes a lot of pretty dumb people.

[Bingo]

While I hate to rain on this parade, perhaps a moment for resolution of an apparent anomaly in the Obama BC?

There is obvious "kerning" in the document friends. Not once, but in many textual examples. As Dan Rather is currently indisposed, perhaps someone can provide an explanation for "kerning" in a 1961 document?