Ivan Moore, owner of Ivan Moore Research, released new numbers Thursday showing Palin with a 64 percent positive rating and 33 percent negative rating in the state. The survey was conducted with 500 likely voters statewide and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percent. Moore said out of 500 surveys about 75 were conducted in the Mat-Su Valley.
Moore’s previous poll, taken before the Troopergate report was released, showed Palin’s rating at 64 percent positive and 30 percent negative.
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Still, yesterday’s rating is far lower than Palin’s January high of 82 percent favorable and 11 percent negative.
A spokeswoman with the McCain-Palin campaign said she had not seen the numbers yet and did not comment.
The Troopergate report found that while Palin had the right to fire former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, she abused her office by trying to get her former brother-in-law, Alaska State Trooper Michael Wooten, fired.
The state’s Legislative Council hired Stephen Branchflower as an independent investigator after a unanimous vote of eight Republicans and four Democrats to investigate Palin.
Shortly after Palin was picked as Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s running mate Aug. 29, the Troopergate probe became mired in controversy.
Palin, who initially agreed to cooperate before being named McCain’s VP pick, said the probe became too partisan and amounted to a smear campaign.
After the report went public Oct. 10, many political pundits predicted it would destroy Palin’s favorable ratings among Alaskans.
Judging by Moore’s report, those pundits were wrong.
“What this shows was that, largely, people had made up their minds” about Troopergate before the report came out, Moore said.
Moore’s report also asked three Troopergate-related questions. The answers to those questions create what appears to be a paradox.
While 53 percent of those surveyed thought pressure was placed on Monegan to fire Wooten and 48 percent said Monegan was likely fired because of Wooten, only 34 percent thought an abuse of power occurred.
The numbers show that although many Alaskans feel the Palins put pressure on the Public Safety Department to fire Wooten, most feel there was no abuse of power in the process.
“They didn’t buy the report,” Moore said of the majority of Alaskans.
That could be because of what Moore calls Palin’s dedicated base of supporters in Alaska “who support her through almost whatever happens.”
He added the so-called “Palin Truth Squad,” comprised of former Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapleton and Ed O’ Callaghan, a former U.S. prosecutor in charge of terrorism cases, could have swayed people’s thinking. The Truth Squad held almost daily press conferences to discredit the Troopergate investigation, but has since gone quiet.
To Moore, the Truth Squad wasn’t a good idea.
“They did damage control,” Moore said. “They really ticked people off.”
He added, judging by the small effect the report had on Palin’s rating, Palin likely should have cooperated because it wouldn’t have made a difference in people’s reaction to the report.
“The efforts to suppress and road-block the investigation only made them look as if they were worried as to what the findings would say,” Moore said.
The results of Moore’s survey came out less than two weeks before the presidential elections. No matter Palin’s popularity rating in the state, Alaska is expected to vote Republican Nov. 4, and the state only has three electoral votes that count toward electing a president.
Palin and her husband, Todd, are expected to give depositions in a separate Troopergate investigation run by the state’s Personnel Board Friday.
Palin filed an ethics complaint against herself with the board after she said the Legislature’s investigation had become too partisan. The Personnel Board is the proper venue to handle an investigation like Troopergate, she said.
The board hired Anchorage attorney Timothy Petumenos, a Democrat, as its independent investigator.
There has been no official word on when Petumenos will finish and release his report.
For now, at least, Palin’s popularity seems to be holding steady.
“It’s certainly good news for Sarah,” Moore said. “There had to be concern there.”
Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.
Comments
36 comment(s)pop wrote on Oct 30, 2008 8:47 AM:
Valley Trash Alaskan Born wrote on Oct 29, 2008 1:03 PM:
Well the Branchflower report is actually one man’s "opinion" and nothing more. His wife was Monigans secretary, and he worked with Monigan - impartial? I think not. When you work "At Will" you can be re-assigned or removed with out reason. If you are not willing to make a correction in your department that is glaringly necessary, than maybe it is time for a reassignment. I consider Wooten a huge reason. "
Carol from Kona wrote on Oct 29, 2008 11:18 AM:
Most of us in the offshore one are simply amazed that you would continue to support Palin and Stevens,
As Senator Stevens said "it's an Alaskan thing". "
steve wrote on Oct 28, 2008 3:37 PM:
MAXKATT from NY wrote on Oct 27, 2008 7:17 AM:
laura of Wasilla wrote on Oct 26, 2008 10:18 PM:
Oops wrote on Oct 26, 2008 8:58 PM:
Your campaign consignment clothed governor just keeps it going and going, no wonder you're so angry. Someone give that woman a gift card to Kmart or something geez.
You might be speechless on Nov. 4 at the UNPOPULAR rating Palin receives here in Alaska, you need to disassociate yourself from thinking you know her, she doesn't care, you're not on her agenda. "
Doug wrote on Oct 26, 2008 4:25 AM:
Kara wrote on Oct 26, 2008 4:16 AM:
ed the electrician wrote on Oct 25, 2008 11:42 PM:
if this is the GOP's hope for the future they are in deep doo-doo.
ed the electrician "
Cheryl wrote on Oct 25, 2008 4:49 PM:
akindependent wrote on Oct 25, 2008 4:19 PM:
md wrote on Oct 25, 2008 2:00 PM:
Palin is viewed as incompetitant here. I think she'll lose this election and will never get another chance. "
For the People wrote on Oct 25, 2008 8:42 AM:
For Change wrote on Oct 25, 2008 8:37 AM:
Welcome Outsiders wrote on Oct 25, 2008 4:16 AM:
scott w wrote on Oct 25, 2008 2:49 AM:
Sam wrote on Oct 24, 2008 11:35 PM:
I could swear I seen all the media wiping the big crocodile tears from their eyes on Nov 5th.
You people that beleive it's over because of the media need to get your heads examined. "
Giddyup wrote on Oct 24, 2008 11:10 PM:
Ponostutu wrote on Oct 24, 2008 7:56 PM:
glomtt wrote on Oct 24, 2008 6:34 PM:
Why don't you just scoop Palin up and take her with you to Ohio, where she can spew her rhetoric and vicious undocumented lies to the farm animals. America has had enough of her and McCain's divisional, un christian like, racist lies. We have also heard enough of your rhetoric also. Educate yourself. This a new day, we need people to come together not be divided. "
Oops wrote on Oct 24, 2008 3:22 PM:
jp to more of same wrote on Oct 24, 2008 12:35 PM:
if she truly knew about it, then there would be an issue, but if she did not, the outcome would be completely different.
how does one prove knowledge of an act? the best defense is the 5th amendment, and the miranda right to silence "
MAXKATT from NY wrote on Oct 24, 2008 12:00 PM:
moreofsame wrote on Oct 24, 2008 10:34 AM:
blackdog, if you don't think it is okay to have troopers like that, you should be mad that Palin didn't expend her efforts to change the investigative process and punishment for all future offenses for ALL troopers. The personal vendetta would only have removed one trooper for past offenses, done nothing to prevent future abuse, and likely cost the state a big wrongful termination suit. At best, she lacks judgement. "
blackdog wrote on Oct 24, 2008 9:48 AM:
jp wrote on Oct 24, 2008 9:33 AM:
i don't understand this, if i committed a crime, would my wife be jailed instead of me? just because she did not stop me from doing it?
i'll stick to supporting my community first, and when we feel like we can help someone else, we'll wait till they ask for help.
but until then, we'll mind our own business. "
USAF SGT wrote on Oct 24, 2008 7:51 AM:
MAXKATT from NY wrote on Oct 24, 2008 7:35 AM:
RE our efforts "backfiring" -Polls continue to show McCain/Palin fading fast since Palin was picked (See PA in particular). NY Times endorsed Obama today. So too did former Bushie Scott McClellan. Both may not surprise, but the point is McCain is getting NO major endorsements. None. Don't blame liberal media for not reporting something either. Even Fox news has nothing. Nobody wants to hitch themselves to this campaign in free fall. Yer done baby. "
MAXKATT from NY wrote on Oct 24, 2008 7:28 AM:
Dont think so Ohio wrote on Oct 24, 2008 7:15 AM:
Brandi wrote on Oct 24, 2008 12:03 AM:
ANY WAY EVERYONE JUST NEEDS TO GET OVER IT. She did everything just fine it seems to be no one is going to be happy unless they can get her for something. All of you need to get a life and leave Sarah Palins alone!!! "
Brandi wrote on Oct 23, 2008 11:57 PM:
LAURA wrote on Oct 23, 2008 11:08 PM:
I DONT KNOW WHAT PLANET YOUR ON BUT WATCH THE NEWS, OBAMAS KICKING MCCAINS BUTT. "
Real Alaskan wrote on Oct 23, 2008 10:52 PM:
Ohio wrote on Oct 23, 2008 10:27 PM: