A new Pew poll notes the problems Republicans are having with their less-than-enrapturing field:
On the eve of the New Hampshire primary, Republican voters continue to express mixed views of the party's presidential field. Roughly half (51%) of Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters say the candidates are excellent or good, while 44% say they are only fair or poor.
The percentage expressing positive views of the GOP presidential field is largely unchanged from 48% in November and 49% in August. Republicans and GOP leaners expressed much more positive views of the presidential field at a comparable point four years ago: In January 2008, 68% of Republicans and Republican leaners said they had good candidates to choose from, as did 78% of Democrats and Democratic leaners.
2008 wasn't a banner year for Republicans, either. It was a "hold your nose for McCain" environment, enlivened by Sarah Palin instead of the snore-fest that a Joe Lieberman pick would have entailed.
Here's the comparison:
In 2008, both Democrats and Republicans grew increasingly satisfied with the quality of the candidates for their party’s nomination as the campaign progressed. By contrast, the continued lackluster ratings offered by Republicans this year track more closely with how Democrats viewed their options in early 2004.
That's the real comparison: John Kerry was felt to be most electable, but that wasn't enough to win.
There's other data in the poll, including which GOP faction supports which candidate, as well as Obama versus the mythical generic that doesn't exist:
As has been the case since the summer, voters are divided over whether they would like to see Barack Obama win reelection or would prefer to see a Republican win. Among all registered voters, 41% support Obama and the same percentage favors an unnamed Republican.
Independent voters also are divided (36% Obama vs. 36% Republican candidate). That is little changed from August when 38% favored Obama’s reelection and 36% wanted to see a Republican win.
Those numbers have been both better and worse for Obama and will be interesting to follow as we get closer to November.
Welcome to 2012, the presidential election year. The bottom line is that while we all expect a close election, Obama's numbers are steady, the GOP is no lock, and either side can still lose.