Poll says Palin endorsement could hurt GOP nominees - Decision time for Rigell..

Virginia Democrats see Sarah Palin coming and they're banking that the negative feelings toward the former Alaska governor far outweigh her draw at the ballot box.

By any metrics Palin is a star with conservative Republican voters. She's draws big crowds and sparks a high level of loyalty and devotion from a intense pack of hardcore fans. But more broadly, Palin inspires indifference, jokes and even hatred even within the GOP ranks - let along with Democrats.

If you think the "elite liberal media" is simply making this up, all you need to do is return to the Virginia gubernatorial campaign trail where Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell ran circles around Democrat Creigh Deeds. McDonnell made no bones about his conservative roots and his ties to Regent University - the Hampton Roads college founded and run by controversial evangelical leader Pat Robertson.

Palin's team offered to campaign and help fundraise for McDonnell on the trail - after all the Virginia gubernatorial race was a high profile nationally watched race - but McDonnell steered clear of the the GOP star. McDonnell was certainly running to the center and painting himself as a moderate - so you could kind of understand why he wouldn't want a firebrand nearby.

But if Palin is such and star why would McDonnell avoid her?

The answer likely lies in some recent polling data put out by NBC/and the Wall Street Journal (with the WSJ on board this numbers can't simply be chalked up to liberal bias.) 

Plus it's not like the poll is a boon for Democrats. In fact the overall outcome of the poll suggests that it will be a Republican year come Election Day an idea that we've repeated over and over here on the plank.

But here's some great digging analysis from Greg Sargent over that the Washington Post. breaking down how Palin's positives are far outweighed by her negatives. The conclusion: a Palin endorsement is TOXIC in a general election campaign.

The poll asked people how they'd respond if a Congressional candidate had various hypothetical attributes. Asked how they'd feel if a candidate were "endorsed by Sarah Palin," the response was....

Enthusiastic about this attribute 8

Comfortable with this attribute 17

Have some reservations about this attribute 15

Very uncomfortable with this attribute 37

So a majority, 52%, reacted negatively. And an astonishing 37 percent would be "very uncomfortable" about a Palin endorsement, more than four times the eight percent who would be "enthusiastic" about it.

Even better, there were only two attributes a candidate might have that were seen as worse than a Palin endorsement: Supporting Bush's economic policies; and supporting the elimination of various Federal agencies and/or Social Security.

Ouch - supporting Bush's economic policies? That is not good territory.

Those kind of numbers leave Republican Scott Rigell with a predicament. Rigell is running against Democratic freshman U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye and he'll be on stage with Palin during this weekend's "Freedom Fest" in Norfolk.

The wind appears to be at Rigell's back in the race for Virginia 2nd District, which includes parts of Hampton and Norfolk and all of Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore. The conservative district went Democratic in 2008 - but the national political mood suggests that Rigell has the advantage here if he plays his cards right.

But Nye has shrewdly carved out a moderate record in Congress, he's got the ingrained benefit of incumbency and a healthy bank account. He's not going quietly.

So what does Rigell do - does he follow the path of his political godfather McDonnell and try to downplay his links to Palin on the trail? Or does he consider Palin and asset and try to trumpet her support?

Virginia Democrats are going to try to get their base riled up about Palin and it appears to be working. They've set up a website where Virginia voters can sound off on Palin.  Here's a statement Virginia Democratic Party chair Dick Cranwell emailed out to supporters.  

Many people laugh at the things Sarah Palin says, but what she's trying to do is no laughing matter. President Obama and our democrats in Congress have spent the last 18 months cleaning up the mess that President Bush left behind - and right-wing ideologues like Sarah Palin have been fighting us every step of the way.

And here are some of the responses arriving at Democratic offices:

Sarah, Please submit some positive ideas. Attacking others is not policy making! - Webb N.

Have you ever thought you could do more good for the country by working with the president, than against him? - Sylvia

It ought to be interesting to see exactly where Rigell stands on Sunday.

Comments

[Teddy Goodson]

Pali endorsements are gold? Maybe you meant to say fool's gold?

[KarenJ]

Palin was a major FAIL for Doug Hoffman.

Fiorina and Whitman in CA are paying multimillions out of their own pocket to maintain their momentum -- Palin has nothing to do with that -- she's riding THEIR coattails.

As for Nikki Haley -- well, it's South Carolina, where sex scandals make you a shoo-in. S.C. insiders said Haley's numbers were surging before Palin endorsed her, so it seems Palin's riding her coattails, too.

Palin the Bandwagoner.

[mymati]

Stupid poll, Look at the record Sarah endorsed Haley in SC and she went from worst to first and them trounced the one time race leader in the runoff. Pali endorsements are gold if you look at the record.