I originally ran across this in Glenn Greenwald's column, but I couldn't quite believe it so I had to look for myself.
And it's true.
Not only is Sarah "Pitbull" Palin beloved (i.e., viewed "Very Favorably") by 40 percent of the people Rasmussen polled; her combined favorable ratings add up to 58 percent -- one point higher than either Barack Obama's or John McCain's.
What gives?
Wednesday night, when we fired up the grill and got out the moosemeat to watch Palin's speech over dinner, I thought I was in for a treat. I'd seen the governor on the Craig Ferguson show, and sort of got a kick out of her. As a Northwoods fisherwoman myself, I admit an affection for those loony outdoorswomen -- they always remind me of the girls I had friend-crushes on at camp. I would have expected I might be one of those "favorable" pollees myself.
Instead, halfway through Palin's speech, I turned to DailyKos for solace. I couldn't stand it, and not just because she insulted pitbulls (thankfully, mine is deaf and couldn't hear that lipstick slight). She was shrieky, snippy, smirky, insipid and dull. I turned back only to see her trot her family onstage, complete with the gum-chewing boyfriend who said he didn't want any kids. (I'm sorry, but it's relevant. It just is.)
And so I was bowled over when the text messages from my women friends came in: "She had the juice," said one, a prominent journalist. "She knocked it out of the park," said another. None of these women would vote for Palin, mind you. But I have to assume that a fair number of the people Rasmussen talked to -- that 58 percent who view her so favorably -- would.
That might keep me from sleeping tonight. As Rasmussen says:
The Palin pick has also improved perceptions of John McCain. A week ago, just before he introduced his running mate, just 42% of Republicans had a Very Favorable opinion of their party’s nominee. That figure jumped to 54% by this Friday morning. Among unaffiliated voters, favorable opinions of McCain have increased by eleven percentage points in a week—from 54% before the Palin announcement to 65% today.
Greenwald keeps arguing that the Dems need to go on the attack, and he's right. No subject should be off-limits; no gloves kept primly on for Sarah Palin. She opened fire, and she gets it back. People may say they don't like negativity, but they respond to it. And this election is too precious to lose.