Palin ‘losing the Alaska vote,’ as more say they’d vote against her

By Ron Brynaert

Former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin doesn't believe in global warming, but her home state has apparently grown "colder" since she quit her job suddenly last Fourth of July, and that has nothing to do with the weather.

According to the latest Rasmussen telephone survey, "Palin appears to be losing the Alaska vote."

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of likely voters in the state finds that just 41% say they would vote for the former Alaska governor if she ran for president in 2012. Forty-eight percent (48%) say they would not vote for Palin, and 11% more are undecided.

Alaska voters are almost evenly divided in their views of Palin. Forty-nine percent (49%) view her at least somewhat favorably, while 50% share an unfavorable opinion of her. This includes 31% who regard her Very Favorably and 37% with a Very Unfavorable view.

Perhaps this can be explained in part by the feeling that the ex-governor who became Republican John McCain’s surprise running mate in the 2008 presidential campaign is bad for Alaska’s image. Thirty-eight percent (38%) say Palin’s views and activities reflect positively on Alaska’s image, but 45% think they reflect negatively on the state. Twelve percent (12%) say they have no impact.

Palin chose to resign as governor of Alaska last July in part, she said, because the political attacks on her were hurting the state and her ability to govern it. Unhappiness with that decision may explain in part her declining support in the traditionally Republican state.

Washington Examiner's Mark Tapscott observes, "It’s still a long way to the 2012 presidential race and nobody knows if Palin will even run, but the Rasmussen results can’t be encouraging for those among her legion of admirers who hope she will seek the White House.

"Some of them no doubt recall that Vice President Al Gore quite likely would have won the 2000 presidential election if only he had carried his home state of Tennessee," Tapscott adds.