Republicans shouldn’t mourn the loss of the first night (at least) of their convention. Sarah Palin’s warm reception by the American people and the relative success of preparations to contain the damage of Hurricane Gustav seem to have given the GOP far more bounce than it would’ve gotten from a “conventional” first night in St. Paul.
"This plan makes no sense. It's the height of political correctness," railed John Ziegler, a California alternate delegate, Sunday after he heard the news that John McCain was suspending the political part of the first night of the Republican National Convention.
Two of the most popular speakers on the first full night of the Republican National Convention are a Bush and a Democrat – First Lady Laura Bush, that is, and Senator Joseph Lieberman, according to recent Rasmussen Reports national telephone surveys.
Hot fun in the summertime—you bet! But was it the best summer ever? According to just 5% of adults, it was. But that’s not the feeling from the 50% of adults who rate this summer as either fair or poor.
After a long weekend of Democratic criticism of John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate, over half of voters (52%) still have at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the Alaska governor. Thirty-one percent (31%) view her very favorably.
The Rasmussen Employment Index, a monthly measure of U.S. worker confidence in the employment market, gained three points in August to 82.2.
Voters, by a 56% to 26% margin, say Barack Obama is a better potential president than the Democratic Party’s 2004 nominee, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey also found that, by a 48% to 28% margin, voters say John McCain is a better potential president than the Republican who has held the job for eight years, George W. Bush.
During August, the number of Americans who consider themselves to be Republicans increased two percentage points to 33.2% while the number of Democrats was little changed at 38.9%.
Hurricane Gustav appears likely now to miss New Orleans, but the vast majority of Americans expect the storm to drive up gas prices now that it’s in the Gulf of Mexico.
Less than a week ago most Americans didn’t have a clue who Sarah Palin is, but now 30% of them would rather meet her than Barack Obama or John McCain.
Most Americans (54%) now celebrate Labor Day as the unofficial end of summer. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 33% say they take the day to celebrate the contributions of workers in society. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.
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MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL -- Bingo. For weeks, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been the Republican whom conservatives barely dared to hope could become John McCain's pick as his running mate.
Hillary gave a great speech. Bill gave a great speech. Barack gave a really great speech. That's what everyone is saying, and who am I to disagree? Of course, I've never been to a convention, Republican or Democratic, where everybody didn't say on Thursday night that it was a really great speech. Truth is, I can barely remember most of them.
Barack Obama got the expected bounce from a successful Democratic National Convention, but the week was bookended by both candidates’ surprise choices for their running mates.
Sarah Palin has made a good first impression. Before being named as John McCain’s running mate, 67% of voters didn’t know enough about the Alaska governor to have an opinion. After her debut in Dayton and a rush of media coverage, a new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey finds that 53% now have a favorable opinion of Palin while just 26% offer a less flattering assessment.
As this is written, with a deadline looming, I have not heard Barack Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field and have not learned who is John McCain's choice for vice president.
Can he win in November? Yes, Barack Obama was the best Democrat in the field. Start with his charismatic yet cool demeanor.
More voters are convinced after four days of convention-watching that Senator Joseph Biden was the right pick as Barack Obama’s running mate, but nearly a quarter still aren’t sure.
Just days after Michelle Obama addressed the Democratic National Convention, a Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that her favorability ratings have reached their highest levels since tracking began and she is now viewed more favorably than Cindy McCain.
