When An Endorsement From the big grizzly herself Backfires

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_07/024916.php

WHEN AN ENDORSEMENT BACKFIRES.... The conventional wisdom suggests Republican candidates, especially those in Republican primaries, are anxious to get an endorsement from former half-term Gov. Sarah Palin (R).

There are, however, exceptions.



To be sure, it's just one poll, so I don't want to overstate matters. But this nevertheless offers some evidence to bolster other recent polls that show a great deal of hostility for the right-wing Alaskan from everyone who isn't part of the far-right Republican base.

In the case of the PPP survey, it's pretty dramatic -- Ayotte was faring well among moderate voters, and now she's not. The only thing that's changed of late is the endorsement, which New Hampshire Democrats were anxious to tout among in-state reporters.

Indeed, there's a great irony here. For quite a while, Granite State Dems were anxious to tie Ayotte to Palin, noting the similarities between them (most notably, the fact that both quit their jobs, mid-term, to pursue grander ambitions). The charges didn't really connect in New Hampshire -- until Ayotte went ahead and accepted an endorsement from the conspicuously unintelligent Fox News personality.

Overall, Ayotte's lead over Rep. Paul Hodes has dropped from seven points to three fairly quickly. This is currently a Republican seat -- held by the tiring Judd Gregg -- and Democrats have long hoped to turn it into a pick-up opportunity.

Thanks to Palin, that opportunity is suddenly looking more achievable.

—Steve Benen

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/07/more_evidence_sarah_palin_shou.html

snip//


A recent NBC/WSJ poll found that a majority of adults nationwide would look negatively on candidates endorsed by Palin.

The pattern is becoming overwhelmingly obvious. Palin's current role of celebrity quasi-candidate works for her. It's allowed her to insulate herself from direct media cross-examination and to communicate directly to the Palin Nation hordes, who remain as transfixed as ever. But the rest of the world continues to find her more and more distasteful, and it's growing less likely that she'll succeed if she ever steps outside the bubble she's crafted for herself.

UPDATE, 1:03 p.m.: It gets better: That new poll out of New Hampshire also finds that 51 percent say they're less likely to back a Palin-endorsed candidate; among moderates that number is 65 percent.

:D

YES! And Inhofe, Sessions, King, the list is long. :D

:hi:

Thanks for the thread, babylonsister.

:thumbsup:

.. from Jerimiah Johnson. Bear Claw asks Jerimiah... "Can you skin Grizz?"

Oh...yes... we CAN skin that Griz.

as in bucks, cause we all know in politics that's what makes the world go round. GO HODES!

Remember how Mooselini gave their keynote at the first "national" conference? And then, they couldn't book enough people for the Las Vegas date this summer? They canceled it? Thom pointed out that Netroots Nation had no "summer heat" problem as they claimed and had a much bigger turnout than expected.

I wonder if Palin will kill the tea klan.