Wednesday, December 22, 2010

85% Say America in Decline - Seeking Strong, Competent Leader in 2012 - Clarus Poll

The Clarus Research Group has a year-end poll out, with some interesting results to ponder,as the 2012 Presidential campaign is set to emerge as a bigger story in 2011. The most unfortunate finding is the fact 85% of Americans believe America is in decline. The poll found the sentiment cut accross all political lines and respondents were looking for "strong, competent leadership, to get us back on track." According to CRG:

"The public mood is bigger than the sum of its parts," said Faucheux, president of Clarus Research Group. "Regardless of how voters feel about specific issues or personalities, there is a shared sense that the nation is in decline and needs strong, competent leadership to get it back on track. Large majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents agree with this sentiment."
That sentiment is also strongly reflected in what Republican respondents are looking for in a leader for 2012. Per the Clarus results, what GOP voters are seeking a presidential candidate who:
  • has management experience as a governor (65 percent) over someone with legislative experience in Congress (15 percent)––10 percent volunteered that a candidate should have both.
  • has experience in private business (53 percent) over someone with experience in government (28 percent)––11 percent volunteered that a candidate should have both.
  • is known for being intelligent and competent (49 percent) over someone who is known for clear and consistent philosophical principles (37 percent)––10 percent volunteered that a candidate should have both.
  • is a moderate, pragmatic conservative with a good chance to beat Obama (61 percent) over someone who is a staunch, outspoken conservative who has only a fair chance of beating Obama (29 percent).
With that wish list in mind, it's not surprising the roster of preferred GOP candidates is dominated by current or former Governors. While there is no clear frontrunner, based upon the criteria the respondents are looking for, Mitch Daniels and Mitt Romney appear to be the best positioned to capitize on these themes. Despite Romney's top spot and Daniels near bottom finish, both candidates most closely match the responents preferences, so either one has the potential to break away, in a wide open race.

Albeit, Daniels would have a more ardous task, considering his low name recognition, but his skill at retail politics could offset Romney's advantages at fund-raising and organization, as well a highly successful business career as a problem solver and turnaround specialist. Daniels is the highly popular Governor of Indiana, who resolved many of the states financial woe. He was previously the Director of OMD under Presdient George W. Bush and had a very successful career at Eli Lily  & Co, where he also rectified negative business conditions.

Mike Huckabee, who through his TV and Radio appearences, is not thought of as a polorizing figure, lacks the impressive private sector experince Romney and Daniels provide. He his best known for his Social Conservative positions and not for experience with problems solving.

Sarah Palin's profile and qualities seem to be favored by a smaller segment of the GOP. She has in 2010 carved out a niche as the most red-blooded conservative bar none, via her Twitter and Facebook updates. However, as President Obama continues to struggle to solve the nation's problems, being just a conservative clarion may not be what a nation, plauged by soaring deficits and stubbornly high unemployment rates, may be looking for.


The results of the Presdiential preference poll of Republicans is as follows:

REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION:
Mitt Romney
19%
Mike Huckabee
18
Sarah Palin
17
Newt Gingrich
10
Chris Christie
9
Marco Rubio
5
Ron Paul
4
Bobby Jindal
4
Tim Pawlenty
3
Haley Barbour
2
John Thune
2
Mitch Daniels
2
Undecided
5

Clarus also looked at potential three match-ups between President Obama, NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg and potential GOPers Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney. In both cases, Obama was the winner and Bloomberg took third, with Romney and Palin taking second. Noteworthy however was Romney kept Obama to a slim 3-pt lead, 39-36, while Obama trounced Palin by 11 points, 42-31. Palin's problems with Moderates and Independents led Clarus to observe:

"In a three-way race with Palin as the Republican nominee, the GOP loses major support to an independent alternative," said Faucheux. "Against Obama and Palin, Bloomberg gets 24 percent of Republicans, 10 percent of Democrats, and 22 percent of independents."

In a 2012 race which promises to be thisclose, it will be interesting to see how the GOP selects it's standard bearer and how they will approach winning over Americans who are currently feeling very pessimistic.

8 comments:

Right Wingnut said...

Romney is Even Collapsing in the Clarus Poll While Palin’s Support is Up Over 40% From July in What Had Previously Been an Unfavorable Pollster for Her

The Clarus poll has previously been a huge outlier among pollsters gauging the Republican primary contest. It had previously found Governor Palin to be trailing Newt Gingrich in July and flashed the hilarious headline “PALIN SUPPORT FOR GOP NOMINATION SINKS.” Clarus has also been especially friendly to Mitt Romney, finding him to be in a much stronger position than every other pollster. In the July poll that it released, Clarus comically found Romney leading the Governor by 14 points.

Today, Clarus finds her effectively in a tie with both Romney and Huckabee. Her support is up over 40% from the poll conducted in July while Romney’s support fell by over 25% in the same period.

[...]


More at the link.

Doug NYC GOP said...

Nice spinnage from C4P....the fact they include a whote host of ther people who aren't running also scrammbles thse results.

The point is not about Palin's popularity with in the GOP (although today's PPP Fla & NC polls are not good news for her)but how what she brings to the table is not what most people are looking for, even significant amounts of the GOP.

BOSMAN said...

Romney is within the MOE with Palin and Huckabee with conservative votes.

Where Romney leaves Huckabee and Palin in the dust is with moderates, independents, and the 45+ year olds. You know, the people who ACTUALLY vote!

phil said...

I agree with Bosman. Only a well rounded candidate will beat Obama.

That's why among ALL voters, Romney always wins.
Many non Romney fans are in denial of this.

Anonymous said...

Moderates are the ones who actually vote in primaries? Okaaaaaay.


OHIO JOE

Anonymous said...

OJ,

AS USUAL, you're missing the point.

The GENERAL is the contest with Obama. Those of us that WANT TO WIN, want to put THE BEST candidate forward taking into consideration ALL the facts.

zeke

Revolution 2012 said...

Sometimes I wonder if OJ is reading the same posts as the rest of us?

Anonymous said...

"Sometimes I wonder if OJ is reading the same posts as the rest of us?" I do not care what post you think I am reading, as much as I want to beat Mr. Obama, it is important to me who beat him. Obama lite, is of little use to the country, so yes, I care more about the primaries than I do the general.


OHIO JOE