Fed-Up Americans Not Wowed by Sarah Palin: Poll

71% believe Alaskan is unqualified to be president

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 11, 2010 2:35 AM CST | Updated Feb 11, 2010 7:41 AM CST

(Newser) – An overwhelming number of Americans are seriously ticked off at their government but that anger isn't driving them into the arms of Sarah Palin, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll. A full 71% of voters—including a majority of Republicans—feel that Palin is unqualified to be president. Only 37% have favorable views of Palin, the poll found.

Two-thirds of voters are angry or dissatisfied with their government, the highest level recorded since 1996. They estimate that Washington wastes 53 cents out of every dollar they pay in taxes, according to the poll. The Tea Party movement is still poorly understood despite national media attention, the poll found. Two-thirds of those surveyed say they know little or nothing about what the movement stands for, although 45% say they agree with Tea Partiers on at least some issues.

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin addresses the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville last weekend. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

The new poll offers a portrait of tea party supporters as overwhelmingly white, mostly conservative and generally disapproving of Obama. - Washington Post

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

13%

62%

13%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Sarah Palin: It's Not Too Late to Jump In

'I'm not there yet with the field as it stands,' she grouses

(NEWSER) - She's baaaack ... maybe. With the GOP line-up still creaky, Sarah Palin let slip on the Fox Business Network that it's "not too late for folks to jump in. Who knows what might happen in the future?" Or so she mused last night when asked on Follow the Money if she might make a late entrance. The tease didn't lead to any specifics. Palin announced in October she would not seek the nomination but that could change. When she was quizzed over the weekend about whom she would endorse, she didn't have an answer, notes the New York Times. “I am just not there yet with the field as it stands,” she responded, adding more sauce to the tantalizing mystery. More»

Fox Chief 'Fed Up With Palin'

Roger Ailes furious that decision not to run wasn't announced on network

(NEWSER) - Fox News chief Roger Ailes was furious when Sarah Palin decided to announce her non-candidacy outside of the network, sources tell New York . Ailes—who grumbled that he "paid her for two years to make this announcement on my network"—was so angry that he considered yanking Palin off the air until her $1 million-a-year contract expires in 2013, the sources say. More»

Sarah Palin: GOP Candidates Already Calling

Alaskan 'didn't want to make a big darn deal' out of non-candidacy

(NEWSER) - Republican hopefuls didn't waste any time getting in touch with Sarah Palin after she announced that she isn't going to run for president . Several candidates have already called and Todd Palin is setting up some meetings, Palin told Fox's Greta Van Susteren in an On the Record appearance last night. Palin says she announced her non-candidacy in a low-key way after seeing Chris Christie's press conference and deciding she didn't want to make a "big darned deal" out of not running for president. More»

Sarah Palin: I'm Not Running

She says she won't seek Republican nomination

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin will not be joining the GOP candidates at the next debate: She announced today she won't seek the Republican nomination, reports ABC News . "As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision," she wrote to supporters. "When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order." The full text of her letter is here . More»

GOP Voters to Palin: Don't Run

But Giuliani might thrash Obama, poll finds

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin is leaving the door open for a presidential run —but most Republican voters want that door slammed shut, according to the latest McClatchy-Marist poll . More than 70% of Republican and Republican-leaning voters don't want Palin to run for the presidency, the poll found. If Palin and Rudy Giuliani were to enter the race tomorrow, Giuliani would be in second place, with 14% backing, to front-runner Rick Perry's 20%, while Palin and Romney would be tied at 13%. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Fed-Up Americans Not Wowed by Sarah Palin: Poll