Palin Resignation Makes GOP Hearts Grow Fonder: Poll
Alaska guv's standing among Republicans boosted after she quits
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Two-thirds of Republicans hope Palin will be "a major national political figure" after she steps down from her state-held office at the end of the month.
Sarah Palin's stunning resignation from her post as governor of Alaska improved her standing among Republicans, a new nationwide survey finds.
Two-thirds of Republicans hope the former vice presidential candidate will be "a major national political figure" after she steps down at the end of the month, according to a new USA Today/Gallup Poll.
The majority of Democrats -- three-fourths -- hopes she stays off the national stage.
Most of those surveyed had already made up their minds before Palin's surprising resignation last week, a finding that highlighted Palin's polarizing national presence.
Seven in 10 said their view of Palin was not affected by her resignation, the poll found.
Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele echoed the sentiments of the majority of GOPers Tuesday when he said he was unsure what kind of future Palin had in politics but he hoped she came back into the fold.
"I've very excited about the opportunity to have Sarah Palin freed up now to engage across the country to help, you know, reorient the party and grow it," Steele said in an interview on Fox News' "Fox and Friends."
"She said she now wants to be able to contribute in a different way, and as RNC chairman, I absolutely welcome it. So Sarah, come on in. The water's nice."
Palin said yesterday if she committed career suicide by stepping down she would deal with the consequences.
"Politically speaking, if I die, I die," she said. "So be it."
The USA Today/Gallup poll taken on Monday was of 1,000 adults -- 321 Democrats, 323 independents and 316 Republicans -- has a margin of error of three.
Posted Saturday, Jul 18, 2009 - 5:28 PM EST
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