Poll: Sarah Palin Fades, While Harry Reid Is an Unknown

By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers

A GWU Battleground Poll, done by pollsters Celinda Lake and Ed Goeas, was released today, and it shows some trend lines that will make Republicans a bit happier. Namely, that voters are souring on President Obama and sound very eager to vote in the 2012 elections.

But it was the name recognition and view of five top politicians that caught our eye. Pollsters asked voters for their view—favorable, unfavorable, no opinion, or never heard of—of President Obama, Vice President Biden, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and ex-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Obama came in at 61 percent favorable, 36 percent unfavorable, and 3 percent no opinion. No surprise, since he continues to wow the public, at least personally.

Biden didn't do badly, with 48 percent favorable, 38 percent unfavorable, 11 percent no opinion, and 3 percent saying they hadn't heard of him.

Pity Reid, however. Just 15 percent view him favorably, 31 percent unfavorably, 16 percent had no opinion, and a huge 38 percent said they had never heard of him despite his role as one of Obama's biggest policy cheerleaders in Washington.

Pelosi: 32 percent favorable, 51 percent unfavorable, 10 percent no opinion, and 7 percent hadn't heard of her.

Palin again found her star fading in the poll, with 42 percent viewing her favorably and 47 percent unfavorably. Nine percent had no opinion, and just 2 percent hadn't heard of her.

See photos of Sarah Palin.

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