Pew Survey: Romney's Favorables Improve
Former MA Gov. Mitt Romney, who hasn't ruled out another bid for the Republican presidential nomination in '12, got some encouragement from a new poll conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press 6/10-14, in which his favorable ratings have shot up since he ended his '08 bid for the GOP nod.
Among self-described conservatives as well as moderate-to-liberal Republicans, Romney's favorable rating rose nine percentage points each since a Pew poll conducted last February. Conservative Republicans now give Romney a 61% favorable rating (18% have an unfavorable opinion) while 52% of moderate-to-liberal Republicans rate favorably (and 19% rate him unfavorably). Among all Republicans, Romney had a 57% favorable rating and an 18% unfavorable mark.
"Romney's rise is probably due in part to Republicans are being true to form and rallying behind the candidate who came in second," said GOP lobbyist Cesar Conda who was a policy adviser to Romney in 2008.
(Some may quibble with Conda and note that former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was the last man standing against Sen. John McCain of Arizona in the 2008 GOP contest, but Romney did capture more primaries and caucuses.)
"And as the economy continues to struggle, maybe Republicans are warming up to Romney's 'turnaround artist' attributes," added Conda referring to Romney's comfort with economic issues dating back to his days as a head of the investment firm Bain Capital.
"His profile has matured nicely, largely as the result of his willingness to focus on helping rebuild the party as well as focus on substantive issues," explained strategic communications consultant Kevin Madden, who was national press spokesman for Romney's 2008 campaign. "Also, the current matrix of issues and challenges facing the country are ones that he has an identifiable record of success on, namely the economy, health care, budget reform and the need for fiscal accountability."
But Romney isn't at the top of the GOP pile yet. The same poll showed that AK Gov. Sarah Palin had a stronger favorable rating among Republicans, 73%. But Palin remains a very polarizing figure among the electorate as a whole--45% of those surveyed by Pew have a favorable view of her and 44% have an unfavorable view. Romney has a lower 40% favorable rating among the entire electorate, but also a much smaller 28% unfavorable rating--down from 44% last February.
One reason for that drop is that Romney has made his most significant gains among self-identified independents: 44% now view him favorably compared to 25% who view him unfavorably. Last February those numbers were practically flipped when just 29% of independents viewed him favorably and 46% viewed him unfavorably.
"I was very encouraged by the independents' data," said Madden. "After all, Obama's real base is the big middle."
(National Journal's JIM BARNES)
Before Kevin Madden gets too excited, he should remind himself that Pew conveniently left out Mike Huckabee. Remember him? He's the guy who has been on the top for the last four polls.
Gimme a break!!
Even though I can't stand the guy, I have to admit that he's the most reasonable and normal one of the whole republican lot at this point in time. They have become the party of freaks.
Glad to see the fairminded middle have taken off their blinders and are seeing Romney for what he is, the most capable, innovative, successful leader of a generation.
Mike Huckabee? Are you kidding? The man who practically handed the nomination to John McCain because he had so much hatred for Mitt Romney?
It is good to see that those with intellectual honesty are seeing Mitt Romney for the intelligent, capable man he is. He has good moral values, he has actually run a business, and he loves his country...the opposite of Obama. The only worry I have is that our country will be in shambles by the time his term is over!
Mike Huckawhoo?