Alaska's new Republican governor, Sean Parnell, begins his tenure to fill out the term of Sarah Palin with higher approval ratings than his predecessor, according to a Hays Research Group poll conducted July 29-30.
Palin, the GOP vice presidential nominee in 2008, triggered positive ratings from 46.8 percent of those surveyed; a negative rating from 47.5 percent and, from 4.5 percent of the Alaskans polled, no opinion of Palin at all.
The poll's margin of error is 4.9 percent.
Parnell has stated he will seek a full term as governor in 2010 -- a race he'll begin with the advantage of incumbency.
Parnell faces primary competition from Republican state Rep. John Harris, who has filed to run in 2010, as well as additional candidates. On the Democratic side, former public sector official Bob Poe had been campaigning for the seat before Palin announced her resignation but Poe will likely be joined in the primary by former state Rep. Ethan Berkowitz who has indicated he is likely to run.
State Sen. Hollis French has filed for the seat and other Democrats are considering or have joined the fray.
The state of Alaska is home to many unaffiliated and third party supporters but the state has traditionally supported Republicans because many conservative positions -- such as gun owners' rights -- overlap with the GOP platform. Democrats point to Mark Begich's defeat of Republican Sen. Ted Stevens last November as evidence of their potential statewide strength.
CQ Politics rates the general election race Republican Favored
-- Rachel Kapochunas
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[Democrats point to Mark Begich's defeat of Republican Sen. Ted Stevens last November as evidence of their potential statewide strength.]
Ya, right. It took a conviction by a DC jury to allow the Dem to BARELY win with, what, 48% of the vote. A conviction that was later vacated by the way. Fahgetaboudit!
As for Palin, here's hoping she just fades away never to be heard from again. OMG, what an embarrassment!
Posted by: NObama
| July 31, 2009 6:52 PM
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