Polls: Voters Doubt Palin’s Qualifications While Obama Expands Lead

1069 · 08-30-08, 07:59 PM

Polls: Voters Doubt Palin’s Qualifications While Obama Expands Lead

by FOXNews.com
Saturday, August 30, 2008

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Most voters are unfamiliar with John McCain’s new running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and many question her qualifications to be president, according to a USA TODAY/Gallup poll.

Meanwhile, another Gallup poll shows Barack Obama maintaining an 8 percentage point lead over John McCain following the end of the Democratic convention Thursday.

Republicans begin their four-day convention Monday here even as Hurricane Gustav picks up steam as it approaches the Gulf Coast. Palin is scheduled to speak Wednesday.

In the poll taken Friday, 39 percent said she is ready to serve as president if needed, 33 percent said she isn’t and 29 percent have no opinion.

That’s the lowest rating any running mate has had since then-Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle was selected in 1988 to join George H.W. Bush’s team.

By contrast, 57 percent of voters rated Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as qualified after Obama selected him last week. Eighteen percent said he wasn’t qualified.

Meanwhile, the Gallup daily tracking poll shows good news for Obama, following the close of the Democratic National Convention and his high-profile nomination acceptance speech Thursday.

The poll, taken from Wednesday to Friday, showed Obama leading McCain by 49 percent to 41 percent for the second day in a row — a campaign high for him.

link

Told you so.

McCain made a big, weird, rash, hasty, silly mistake.
But I'm glad he did, for more reasons than one.

MC.no.spin · 08-30-08, 08:11 PM

They simply don't know who she is - yet.

1069 · 08-30-08, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MC.no.spin

They simply don't know who she is - yet.

Yes; once they do, I expect to see Obama's lead expand dramatically.

aps · 08-30-08, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MC.no.spin

They simply don't know who she is - yet.

I totally agree. I am genuinely interested to see if her status goes up or down in the next month or so.

I'm going to wait to see what the polls show after the RNC. I'm interested to see the number of people who watch McCain's speech.

MC.no.spin · 08-30-08, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1069

Yes; once they do, I expect to see Obama's lead expand dramatically.

What's not to like? That she likes to fish?

mikhail · 08-30-08, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1069

Polls: Voters Doubt Palin’s Qualifications While Obama Expands Lead

by FOXNews.com
Saturday, August 30, 2008

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Most voters are unfamiliar with John McCain’s new running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and many question her qualifications to be president, according to a USA TODAY/Gallup poll.

Meanwhile, another Gallup poll shows Barack Obama maintaining an 8 percentage point lead over John McCain following the end of the Democratic convention Thursday.

Republicans begin their four-day convention Monday here even as Hurricane Gustav picks up steam as it approaches the Gulf Coast. Palin is scheduled to speak Wednesday.

In the poll taken Friday, 39 percent said she is ready to serve as president if needed, 33 percent said she isn’t and 29 percent have no opinion.

That’s the lowest rating any running mate has had since then-Indiana Sen. Dan Quayle was selected in 1988 to join George H.W. Bush’s team.

By contrast, 57 percent of voters rated Delaware Sen. Joe Biden as qualified after Obama selected him last week. Eighteen percent said he wasn’t qualified.

Meanwhile, the Gallup daily tracking poll shows good news for Obama, following the close of the Democratic National Convention and his high-profile nomination acceptance speech Thursday.

The poll, taken from Wednesday to Friday, showed Obama leading McCain by 49 percent to 41 percent for the second day in a row — a campaign high for him.

link

Told you so.

McCain made a big, weird, rash, hasty, silly mistake.
But I'm glad he did, for more reasons than one.

10 i knew you wouldnt like her.She has done too well as a person for your liking.She isnt a female vote winner because she makes females feel inadequate

Kandahar · 08-30-08, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MC.no.spin

What's not to like? That she likes to fish?

I'm sure we'll find out soon. We'll undoubtedly be treated to lots of media coverage of Troopergate, and any other skeletons the media might manage to dredge up.

I think she's a relatively decent pick for McCain (at least compared to a train wreck like picking Lieberman). But she does need to answer the experience question, since McCain has made it an important part of his campaign.

Sounding all the appropriate messages won't be enough if she can't overcome this hurdle. Just ask Harriet Miers.

MC.no.spin · 08-30-08, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aps

I totally agree. I am genuinely interested to see if her status goes up or down in the next month or so.

I'm going to wait to see what the polls show after the RNC. I'm interested to see the number of people who watch McCain's speech.

The RNC will have the theme "Country First" - I am curious how that theme will unfold.

The Democrats want to take the lead in the world in the fight against global warming (anti-business), not drill for more oil, bring the troops home before order has been restored, negotiate with terrorists, raise taxes and make jobs more scarce, etc. I imagine these will be showcased in various ways, along with McCain's POW story, his fight to battle earmarks, his stance on the surge from day 1, his willingness to drill for more oil and get us more off foreign oil, etc. It will be interesting to watch the theme unfold.

MC.no.spin · 08-30-08, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kandahar

I'm sure we'll find out soon. We'll undoubtedly be treated to lots of media coverage of Troopergate, and any other skeletons the media might manage to dredge up.

I think she's a relatively decent pick for McCain (at least compared to a train wreck like picking Lieberman). But she does need to answer the experience question, since McCain has made it an important part of his campaign.

Sounding all the appropriate messages won't be enough if she can't overcome this hurdle. Just ask Harriet Miers.

One response to the experience question has been that she first ran for a public office 16 years ago.

I think it's dangerous to try to pin her as inexperienced. If experience is made a focal point of this election, the GOP has the edge.

aps · 08-30-08, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MC.no.spin

One response to the experience question has been that she first ran for a public office 16 years ago.

I think it's dangerous to try to pin her as inexperienced. If experience is made a focal point of this election, the GOP has the edge.

I don't know if addressing the experience issue is a bad thing for Democrats. People should make their own assessment on whether they think Obama and/or Palin are experienced enough for the job for which they are running.