Palin vs. Biden in Alaska. Surprising Poll Numbers.
“What about the 80% approval rating?”
That question can raise the hair on the back of the neck of many progressives in the lower 48, who, now being over-educated on the subject of Sarah Palin, are at a loss to explain this phenomenon. The question is usually asked by our Republican kin, who thrust out their chins, raise their eyebrows and smugly fold their arms. It truly does fly in the face of all we seem to know. So, how does one answer this question?
Are all Alaskans just crazy? Well, some are…but not 80%. I’ve been waiting for some new numbers to come out, because frankly the 80% approval rating is feeling pretty meaningless at this point. It’s like using census numbers nine years after the last census. They were right at the time, but you just feel like waiting for the new ones to come out before you even talk about it.
So, it was with great delight that I read about a new poll conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University, in New Jersey. The poll questioned 601 likely voters in Alaska, and 601 in Delaware about how they rate their home state Vice Presidential candidates. This is not a massive poll by a well known group, but it’s something, and it was conducted from 9/17 to 9/21.
According to their results, Palin is viewed favorably by…..drum roll please……62% of Alaskans surveyed. Yes, this is still more than half. But it is not 80% by a long shot.
So why even 62%, if that is our new number? First, there’s the home team phenomenon. Nothing like this ever happens to Alaska, and lots of people think it’s just cool to have an Alaskan running for Vice President. It’s like we all know someone famous. Then, there’s the fact that a good chunk of Alaska is made up of people who agree with her policies – anti-abortion, evangelical, drill baby drill, shoot baby shoot….you get the picture. There are also those who are still grateful to her for not being Frank Murkowski (the previous Republican governor that she ousted), and for ‘taking on big oil’, whatever that means to them individually. And finally, Alaska is just a red red state. The last time Alaska went blue in a presidential contest was for Lyndon Johnson.
But, here’s the important thing to understand. This 62% that feel favorably about her, do not necessarily think she can or should be Vice President. I feel favorably about a lot of people I’d never put in the VP slot. We need to look a little deeper.
Which candidate:
Hmmm. All those Russian planes that might some day fly over Alaska’s ‘narrow maritime border don’t convince even 1/3 of Alaskans that she’s the best candidate to deal with an international crisis.
Alaskans were also asked:
Which VP candidate is better able to clean up the problems on Wall Street?
Palin: 35% Biden: 30% (Pretty close)
Which VP candidate can better develop the nation’s future energy policy?
Palin: 58% Biden: 28% (Drill baby drill!)
Which VP candidate has the background and experience to be a good president?
Biden: 43% Palin: 37%
Ouch. That one had to hurt. And yes, that was coming from Alaskans.
But Palin need not lose heart just because the majority of Alaskans think Joe Biden is more qualified to be president. 61% of Alaskans would rather have dinner with her than Joe Biden. And the way the trend is going, she may be eating dinners in Alaska a lot after November 4.
Now im not calling Alaskans ignorant, But I believe Biden number isnt higher on the “Which VP candidate has the background and experience to be a good president?’ question because they dont know a thing about him.
What I like to know is how involved is Alaska in the going on in the lower 48 on a day to day basis and not just during election time?
Not only may she be eating a lot of dinners in Alaska after Nov 4th, she may end up being a one term governor, too.
I think my favorite part of all this will be when mudflats writes about Palin’s return to Alaska the day/week/month after. I.can’t.wait!
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Me either! AKM
Yay! a new website and new poll numbers! isn’t it a great day?
Oh and we now have 888 members at the forum.
Can we have a “days until Palin returns to Alaska” counter?
This is great news! It’s almost embarrassing to watch her with Katie Couric. It’s appalling how clueless she comes across. She is not ready for prime time. I hope we send her back to you soon!
Gerri – I lived in Alaska most of my life and believe me, what happens “Outside” is literally that – it’s even tough for most people outside of the populated areas to know what is going on in the populated areas of Alaska. To answer your question, not a lot of every day people in Alaska are going to know who Biden is or anything about him and probably don’t care. Heck, they keep voting Ted Stevens and Don Young back in!
The Alaska/Delaware polls are encouraging but I hope they put out some national figures soon – she is a home grown Alaskan, people there love that – and are probably used to the way she non-verbalizes; I would like to see what people in the Lower 48 say.
Thanks for the poll update, AKM.
For those who haven’t been over at the Mudflats Forum, a scathing piece in conservative journal “National Review Online” today by feminist and syndicated columnist Kathleen Parker. “If BS was currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street by herself.” Her op-ed ends with a plea to Palin….step down now, for the sake of the country.
AKM, question for you – how about your own poll? Not asking for scientific poll but how are people around you reacting? Who do you think they are for? Your own perspective might be more meaningful to US [mudflatters] than this poll. You might be having better understanding of their moods and minds then these polls I would assume.
You must read this! Palin says she has experience with Russia because you can see Russia from Alaska (??????.) This is what Pravda has to say about her. If nothing else, read the last paragraph.
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/12-09-2008/106354-palindevil-0
You watch…even with all of the bad Palin pub and McCain’s bad, bad decisions, they’ll end up in the White House. Then, finally, we will ALL see just how screwed up America really is. Has Alaska even paid attention to the lower 48 at all before Palin’s nomination? With Palin’s policy and lack of brains. I think not!
Alaskans were asked:
“Which VP candidate has the background and experience to be a good president?
Biden: 43% Palin: 37%”
Are you kidding me? C’mon!
One term gov- heck, she may end up impeached.
After the election, as Prez. Obama is moving his traps to DC, there will be the sad spectacle of Palin in free fall after the Rovian support net presently being constructed under her is yanked away with an audible snap. All those suppressed Troopergate road apples will come tumbling out.
I’m laughing. Don’t ask me why this particular post strikes me as funny, but it does. Maybe it was the review of her quick slide up and down the pole…I mean poll, but it’s grin-provoking to imagine her coming back to Alaska and facing folks over the dinner table. Pass the Tums, please.
The more I read about Alaskans’ opinions I feel that our dear 49th state is nothing more than LA without the snow. That’s Lower Alabama.
I don’t think that her approval rating, whether its 80% or 62% means very much in the scheme of things. How many registered voters are there in Alaska? The population of the entire state is somewhere around 650,000. Granting that half this number, 325,000 are registered voters that mean that about 200,000 voters in Alaska approve of her.
That’s about the same number of people that live in Spokane, WA the U.S.’ 104th largest CITY. I’m sure she has her thumb on the pulse of Alaska but any way you look at it she’s a country mouse who if she is elected will have to contend with whole lot more than predator control (wolf hunting), natural resource stewardship (taxes on oil company profits), or infrastructure construction (bridge and road to no where)
We would all be better off if she could stay in Alaska and keep doing what seems keeps so many Alaskans happy.
Bobg (10:24:13)
Did the Trooper Mike Wooten ghost write that Pravda article??
Yes but will she be eating those dinners in Wasilla and asking for per diem or in Juneau at that little Governors Mansion they have there?
Will she in an attempt to rehab her image begin actually showing up in Juneau and governing? Or will they continue to wear buttons that say, “Where’s Sarah” (I think that was the saying).
Whatever the outcome, come November she can expect to say goodbye to all those high powered lawyers who have flown in to ruin the state. I think she’s going to feel pretty lonely this winter up there in good old Alaska. I hope Todd, the kids, and soon to be grandkid don’t desert her too!
Nice to see the new site, you deserve it and the webmaster deserves a job well done as well!
Love the new site! I would love to self-host as well, I just haven’t had the chance to move. Looks GREAT!
I’m sure the real numbers were posted here a while ago in regard to number who voted for her when she was running for gov. It was in the 120,000 range. I don’t expect that it will be as high this time around. At least I am hoping desperately, based on conversations that I’ve had with registered republicans that I know (my husband for one!), that a presidential ticket with her name on it is reason enough for them to NOT vote repub! I know several people who feel that way, and many of them will be joining us at the rally this Saturday.
look for the rally this Saturday, Alaskans for Truth rally, and see how Alaskans feel about their gov.
You must read this! Palin says she has experience with Russia because you can see Russia from Alaska (??????.) This is what Pravda has to say about her. If nothing else, read the last paragraph.
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/12-09-2008/106354-palindevil-0
And another scary read from Pravda. The world should unite against the USA. Again, the last paragraphs sum it up nicely:
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/106413-0/
“Sheer Evil. Just look at their faces, after all. McCain represents a continuation of the policy to dangle demons before the eyes of the American people, basing policy presentation on the manipulation of fear. After all, he claims Palin is a good choice because she is Governor of Alaska and that is near to Russia. It is not funny. If it were not so dangerous to have a clown of this caliber vying for the Presidency of one of the world’s most powerful countries, it would be utterly pathetic.”
“hopefully President Obama can make enough inroads to guarantee a second term which really implements his policies, hopefully with a like-minded Vice-President. We have a dream.”
I will feel sorry for Alaska when you get that Crazy woman back.
Great job on the new site. Wonderful surprise on the Alaskan numbers. Hope she will be returning to Wasilla soon.
a bleak outlook, indeed:
http://pundits.thehill.com/2008/09/26/the-bush-cheney-mccain-palin-banana-republicans/
Mk2000
Wow, the second Pravda article is something else; I’m not sure that it would help Obama get votes as they seem tooooo vehemently intent on bashing everything else American???
A good source for poll information is http://www.electoral-vote.com/
Besides the polls and the electoral-vote map, there is daily commentary from the Votemaster. You can browse previous days with the “Previous report” and “Next report” links near the top right corner of the map. Today’s topics are:
Bailout Bill in Turmoil
Washington Mutual Goes Belly Up
Psychological Warfare, Friday Edition
Americans Want the Debate Tonight
Sen. Ted. Stevens Trial Has Started
Straniere Stays on the Ballot in NY-13
Today’s Polls
On this nice new website, it would be really nice if the comment facility had a Preview button.
Update:
I now see that there’s an after-the-fact capability to make changes, but being able to make one’s mistakes in private is still a real benefit.
Happily joining the conversation at the new site.
I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings in downtown Anchorage. That will be more telling than any poll. Got that webcam set up yet?
Rock on, AKM!
And thanks for the link to the signcam.
Not sure which thread we’ll get back to discussion about the debates and financial crisis on here yet – but I had to share what I just read in my paper that really alarms me.
The University of Illinois sent a memo to its employees last week telling them they can’t wear or distribute anything on campus that supports a particular candidate or party! U of I President Joseph White says the memo was intended to remind employees not to, as he put it, use school resources for politics.
Whaaaaaaaaaaat? No buttons, tees, bumper stickers? I can’t believe this on a major university campus, in Obama’s home state. What college campus doesn’t have political discussion and identities present? It wouldn’t be a institution of higher learning if it didn’t.
I’m used to hearing about nearby Wheaton College firing faculty for drinking (in the privacy of their own homes) or for getting a divorce. But U of I – not even a campaign button? YIKES
New Video Footage Found –
1984 Miss Alaska Pageant – Swimsuit Addition:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/26/15128/3031/666/611578
First AKM Congrats on OUR new site. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Couldn’t wait to share my little martini meeting with you guys…
I had this martini conversation last night with two of the Rep/Libs in my office, I started this conversation only one drink in (i had cranberry) It is almost verbatim, as I am no secretary and couldn’t type that fast.
me – So what are you guys thinking about Sarah Palin and this Gop ticket?
Lib1- It’s gonna make it hard for me to vote republican, I have to see who else is on the ballot come november.
Lib2- Are you crazy? and let the Dems win? Let’s face it, as dumb as that Palin chick is we can’t let Obama win, you know that don’t you?
me- So even if the GOP ticket is unqualified you would vote for them?
Lib2- We can’t risk certain people getting into the White House.
me- Oh you mean black people like me? Didn’t you just move to a fancy condo in Harlem? How would your neighbors feel if they knew how you felt about Obama not getting into the White House because he’s Black?
Lib2- Aww Come on! you know I’m not racist! It’s bigger than that.
me- Thanks for enlightening me on why stupid ass McCain and Palin still have a shot at the White House. Don’t say one more thing as I may cause a riot in this place. Done with your drink yet?
Lib2- Sorry if I offended you I thought you wanted me to be honest.
me- Yes you were right and I guess I wasn’t ready for the ugly truth.
Lib1 sat there in amazement.
The rest of the night went better, after an hour we talked about Troopergate and I was able to give them a mudflat insight on it and they then started to get an idea why people are being resistent to Palin beyond her being dumb.
One of my last comments was “Dumb you can work with, liars always lie and you certainly can’t fix stupid”
An hour ago I went into Lib1′s office and he was on Mudflats from an email I sent him last week. Hoo-ray, I don’t think it will a productive day for him today. heheheheheheeeee
educating the GOP one at a time… I love you all!
%%%% you may read this post as I know you are on mudflats now, I stand by every comment I’ve made here and hope you understand why I feel the way I feel.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have been waiting for these new numbers for weeks! I am so happy to see specific questions were asked, instead of just her overall approval rating.
If Alaska goes blue this year, I don’t know what I’ll do!
Story in Washington Post – re Gifts given to Palin
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/25/AR2008092503988.html?nav%3Dhcmodule&sub=AR
I don’t know what the procedure is if a candidate strokes out or otherwise implodes prior to the election but does it strike anyone else that McCains’ campaign is degrading a little too fast for comfort?
I know that the debate could change the dynamic a little; it would need a disaster from Obama to change it a lot but, I could be comfortable with a less steep nosedive from McCain. I want him, yes, and Sarah, to get to election day because they are so inept that I can’t imagine a better pair of muppets (without the charm) to run against and if Jonah augers in 3 weeks short of The Day GOP will have time to put up a halfway decent replacement duo.
So please, join with me in wishing the McCain campaign a slightly slower slide into oblivion and a delicately delayed deterioration.
I can see the universe from my backyard !
And I have witnessed lots of falling stars !
That makes me qualified to run nasa !
Whatta ya mean it time to get my meds adjusted ??!!
Isn’t Big Diomed in the Bering strait about 650 miles from Wassila? Sarah’s house must be up on stilts
Good news all around today. New Numbers on Palin are great to see. I’ve always known there are some smart people in AK. Polls are only good to prove what you want to prove, however. It’s very hard to ask questions in polls that are not slanted one why or another.
I was called earlier this week by a person that identified themselves as a NCC pollster. No real information on who NCC was, but she promised it wouod be a quick poll with just a few questions. It ended up taking over 45 minutes, because everytime I answered in a cetain way the pollester kept reframing the question trying to get me to answer in favor of a Republican view point. I finally caught on near the end of the questions that this poll was about how to get someone that didn’t agree to certain “talking points” to change their mind and agree to the statement.
I have to give the pollster an E for effort, she tried her best to get me to agree to the standard R party line, then when she couldn’t get me to rate the statement (agree 10 -1 disagree) she would reword it over and over until she could me to at least a 4, in that it was less offensive to me. In the end, she finally gave up and said, “Is there anything we can do to change your mind about this, this, and this. When I said, “nO” as in for the last time, I don’t agree with you. She finally, said thank you for your time. And hung up.
I Googled NCC but got so many choices I couldn’t really decided who the pollster might have been other than some Republican somewhere.
Thanks for adding the new edit feature.
@Epic
That’s what we call a runaway train to hell. I am going to focus my prayers on slowing down the decline of the economy. They can derail like all those poor trains on the Metrolink. Only I won’t be as sad about their fate. You reap what you sow.
Just the election of a Dem may be enough to boost the economy because we all know that there is an element of perception in the equation, partly about certain investors feeling confident. I think the boost in confidence when a Dem enters the WH will happen. Though they won’t admit it EVERYBODY knows that McCain is weak on the economy. Hey, a lack of confidence caused the bank run on WaMu.
McCain is like Jason, he just keeps coming back to life. I just wish this campaign would die already. so SWMNBN can give some love and nurture to her newborn and McCain can get the kickstand holding him up replaced.
Lord Forgive Me!
I ask all of my GOP this question eventually;
Would you have John McCain and his financial advisors handle your investment and retirement portfolio? Almost all say NO!
My Challenge to Mudflatters;
Talk to people, ask the right questions that are not so confrontational but a little thought provoking and plant a seed of curiousity. People need to stop voting with their nuts and guts and start using the Big head.
@Enough Already
Not only does the kickstand need repair, but his left eye seems to be heading south. You must admit that he was brilliant during the debate tonight.
Personally I feel a bit like Chris Rock, to paraphrase from his Larry King interview, “after 4 minutes of Sarah responding to questions you start to feel sorry for her.”
I hope Joe Biden treats her gently but, if he isn’t able to showcase her complete incompetency for the Vice Presidency to which she aspires, then the Democratic Party, as well as the American People, deserve what they get.
Good luck Mudflatters on tomorrow’s demonstration.
Are Mudflatter tee shirts available? I for one would like one.
37% of Alaskans thing Palin would be a better VP than Biden!!!! I won’t be moving up there anytime soon. I already live with idiots.
I live in Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s congressional district and I think she’s more qualified to be VP. She probably get’s 80% of the votes in her district. If Gov Palin is VP (and perhaps POTUS someday) I wonder if Alaskans could sleep well being right next door to Putin! Who’s really pulling her strings?
Please, Queen Sara lives (when she is not somewhere else) about 4 miles away from us in Wasilla. The air is sweeter and so much cleaner with her gone. Is there no where else that wouldn’t love to have her as their queen. Please find some place else for her. Have pity on the 49th state. We rally at least once a week for Obama here in Wasilla, we phone we write letters, we do all we can please help! We who live in Palinville live in fear that she will return to regain her throne and her rath we know will pour out on us.
Jan
Great commentary. I’d love to have dinner with her and enjoy post-dinner cocktails as well. Would love to be added to your blog roll.
http://www.abstractionreaction.com
Once again I wonder why the republicans claim that Palin is themost popular governor in USA. I wonder why nobody brings up the fact that 93% of Americans actually know California’s ! Doesn’t this mean that Arnold Schwarzenneger is really USA most popular governor? Let the republicans rip themselves up .
Wait until the debate.
I don’t care that Palin sounded like idiot on CBS & ABC – she showed she can perform w/ Biden or anyone during her FOX interview.