A Message from Michael Steele: A chance to cut Obama's term in half

(via email).Last week's big Republican victories in New Jersey and Virginia proved what the Obama Administration's apologists in the liberal mainstream media have been avoiding telling you -- the bloom is off the Barack Obama rose.

As hard as the White House and leftist pundits try to spin Election Day's results, there's no arguing the big change in voter attitudes toward the Obama Agenda.

In 2008, Barack Obama carried Virginia by 6%, and the Democrat stronghold of New Jersey by 14%.

Last week? New Jersey's GOP candidate for governor Chris Christie bested incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine by 4 percentage points, and in Virginia, Republican Bob McDonnell defeated his Democrat opponent by 18 points -- that's a 24% turnaround!

Jacob, Barack Obama won election last year, aided by his claims of moderation and transparency, and the huge cover he received from the adoring liberal media. Many Americans gave the relatively unknown first term Illinois senator the benefit of the doubt, and are now coming to regret it.

Instead of centrist policies, they have seen an extreme far-left assault on private enterprise and personal liberties. From pork barrel "stimulus" to unprecedented government spending and debt, and auto company takeovers to the present attempt at a socialist seizure of health care.

In New Jersey and Virginia, the voters have realized their mistake -- and sent a clear message to the Obama Democrats. When polled in both states about their votes for the Republican candidate, 68% and 74% respectively agreed that they were sending a message to the Obama team that they were "unhappy with the direction they are taking Washington and the country."

But are the Democrats listening? Not a chance. Instead, despite losing in two states where Democrats had controlled the governor's mansion for years, Nancy Pelosi arrogantly declared "We won!" Then she and her leftist followers dismissed the clear will of the people and rammed their socialist health care takeover scheme through the House of Representatives on Saturday.

Our victories last week are a great start, but as long as the radical Obama-Pelosi liberals are determined to force their socialist agenda on the American people, our work isn't done.

You can help our Party spread the word about the Obama-Pelosi Democrats' disastrous, arrogant plans, and help us recruit the commonsense, conservative Republican candidates today who will defeat them in next year's crucial mid-term elections.

Please make a contribution of $25, $50, $100, $500 or $1,000 to the Republican National Committee today, to end the Democrats' Congressional majorities and cut Barack Obama's term in half.

Chris Matthews on Obama: “Is he just too darned intellectual?”

David Frum: Palin’s Secret: ‘Very Powerful Sexual Signals’

"We see that in the way men like her much more than women do."

CNN Poll: Blame for recession shifting from GOP to Democrats

(CNN) - Nearly two years into the recession, opinion about which political party is responsible for the severe economic downturn is shifting, according to a new national poll.

A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Friday morning indicates that 38 percent of the public blames Republicans for the country's current economic problems. That's down 15 points from May, when 53 percent blamed the GOP. According to the poll 27 percent now blame the Democrats for the recession, up 6 points from May. Twenty-seven percent now say both parties are responsible for the economic mess.

"The bad news for the Democrats is that the number of Americans who hold the GOP exclusively responsible for the recession has been steadily falling by about two to three points per month," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "At that rate, only a handful of voters will blame the economy on the Republicans by the time next year's midterm elections roll around."

Thirty-six percent of people questioned say that President Barack Obama's policies have improved economic conditions, with 28 percent feeling that the president's programs have made things worse, and 35 percent saying what he's done has had no effect on the economy.

PPP: Romney does best against Obama with key Independent voters

(PPP).Barack Obama's still leading all of his top potential opponents for 2012, but with his approval rating nationally below 50% for the first time his margins against a couple of them have dropped below what he won against John McCain last fall.

For the eighth month in a row Mike Huckabee comes the closest to Obama of the leading GOP hopefuls but for the first time he has company in Mitt Romney. Both of them trail the President by five points, Huckabee by a 49-44 margin and Romney by a 48-43 spread.

The key to Huckabee's strong performance is that he does the best of the Republican candidates we tested with the party base, taking 87% of the GOP vote in a head to head with Obama. There is some bad news for the former Arkansas Governor in the poll too though, as his favorability has moved slightly into negative territory by a 37/36 margin. This is the first time Huckabee has been in the red on that front.

Romney's strength in his best performance yet against Obama is with independents. While the other GOP candidates trail by 7-9 points with them Romney is at just a 44-42 deficit. His favorability numbers in the poll are less than impressive though, with 30% of voters holding a positive opinion of him to 39% negative. That has a lot to do with fewer than 50% of Republican voters saying they have favorable opinion of him.

Obama's approval Dips Below 50% In 5 Polls

Rasmussen Reports: 47 %
FOX News: 46 %
Gallup: 49 %
Quinnipiac: 48 %
PPP: 49 %

Palin does O'Reilly - on the campaign and the Media

Bernie Goldberg Review's O'Reilly Palin Interview- She came off Likeable!!!

PPP Poll: Majority of GOP voters (and almost a third Americans) think ACORN stole election for Obama

PPP's newest national survey finds that a 52% majority of GOP voters nationally think that ACORN stole the Presidential election for Barack Obama last year, with only 27% granting that he won it legitimately. Clearly the ACORN card really is an effective one to play with the voters who will decide whether Hoffman gets to be the Republican nominee in a possible repeat bid in 2010.

Belief in the ACORN conspiracy theory is even higher among GOP partisans than the birther one, which only 42% of Republicans expressed agreement with on our national survey in September.

Overall 62% of Americans think Obama legitimately won the election to only 26% who think ACORN stole it for him, as few Democrats or independents buy into that line of thinking.

Palin sells 300,000 books in first day; Favorable ratings climbing up

(the Daily Beast).Sarah Palin sold 300,000 copies of Going Rogue on its first day of sale, Duff McDonald has learned. One component of a media rollout that doubled as a a one-woman economic stimulus package.

A HarperCollins insider told The Daily Beast that the book sold a staggering 300,000 copies on the first day alone, which was Tuesday. “Sales are phenomenal, and we are convinced that the book will continue to sell phenomenally for some time to come,” says the insider. They’re not prevaricating: As of 2:30pm today, the book was #1 on Amazon, ahead of both Stephen King’s new novel, Under the Dome, and Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol. The latter sold 1 million copies on its first day, but that figure included the UK, and top fiction generally trumps non-fiction. Any way you carve it, Going Rogue looks to be a $12 million goldmine

(FOXnews).Despite being characterized by many as a divisive force in her party and the nation, Americans are much more likely to give Palin a positive rating (47 percent favorable) than another prominent female leader — Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (28 percent favorable). Moreover, about six in 10 Americans (61 percent) think Palin has been treated unfairly by the press, according to the latest Fox News poll.

President Obama recently stated that he "probably won't" read Sarah Palin's new book. But his possible opponent in the 2012 elections trails him in personal favorability by only seven points (54 percent to 47 percent). Among the critical segment of independent voters, they are virtually even (Obama at 50 percent; Palin at 49 percent).

The key to victory - Romney well received by young students

(LAtimes).A few minutes before Mitt Romney spoke to conservative donors at a dinner hosted by the Young America's Foundation conference in Santa Barbara this month, he made a surprise appearance before a roomful of student attendees who had been squeezed out of the dinner due to lack of space.

"Hey, everybody!" he said. "Ho! Ho!"

The 200 or so young conservatives cheered. "You are a good American!" one young man shouted.

For a few minutes, the former Massachusetts governor bantered with the crowd with the ease of a stand-up comedian. He fielded questions about the economy -- "It will get better" -- and the 2012 presidential election.

"Are you running?" someone asked.

Romney laughed. "I'm running up the stairs," he said.

Romney, who sought the Republican presidential nomination last year and lost to Arizona Sen. John McCain, is widely seen as a front runner in the race for the 2012 nomination. Although he hasn't announced his intentions, he spoke like a candidate at the conference, seeming eager to impress the deep-pocketed donors in attendance.

The Young America's Foundation aims to groom high school and college students to be future leaders by exposing them to the conservative philosophies that organizers say are missing from many classrooms. Last weekend's conference brought nearly 300 high school and college students to the Reagan Ranch Center, where the foundation is based, for a series of lectures.

A website tracking potential candidates for the 2012 presidential election reports that...

...Romney's political action fund raised $440,000 in October. The website, race42008.com said Romney's Free and Strong America PAC has raised more than $3 million so far this year.

Interestingly, the site also compared Romney's fundraising numbers with those of two of his likely opponents in the primary, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

As of July 1 of this year, Romney had raised $1,908,000, Palin, $733,000, and Huckabee, $304,000, the website reports.

During the 2008 campaign, some conservatives said they were hesitant to vote for Romney because he was perceived as being liberal on some social issues.

On Friday, he seemed determined to overcome that impression.

In his speech, given in a room filled with more than two dozen pictures of President Ronald Reagan, Romney gave a shout-out to the tea party protesters and spoke about his new book, "No Apologies: The Case for American Greatness." (It is slated to be released by St. Martin's Press in March.)

He also said the Republican Party needed to build support among young people, women and Latinos. "We need to make sure they know there are conservatives and that we are right," he said.

Fox News Poll: Approval of President Obama Hits New Low - 46%

(foxnews).President Obama's approval rating has hit a new low of 46 percent, according to a FOX News poll released Thursday. An equal number -- 46 percent -- disapprove of the job he's doing.

Breaking down the numbers by political party shows how sharply split American voters are over the president's job performance. While 85 percent of Democrats approve of their party leader, 80 percent of Republicans and 51 percent of independents disapprove.

Overall, a 57 percent majority says President Obama is providing the kind of leadership they expected, while 17 percent say he is a stronger leader than expected and 23 percent say he's a weaker leader. When this question was asked about President George W. Bush early in his first term, 68 percent said his leadership was what they expected, 14 percent said he was a stronger leader than expected and 13 percent a weaker leader (July 2001).

Despite the drop in Obama's approval rating, the president continues to outperform the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. More than twice as many Americans disapprove (63 percent) as approve (26 percent) of the job Congress is doing.

Moreover, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's favorable rating is still in the doldrums, with a 28 percent minority of Americans saying they have a positive view of her and 50 percent holding a negative view. While half of Democrats (50 percent) have a favorable opinion of Pelosi, majorities of Republicans (77 percent) and independents (58 percent) view her unfavorably.

For President Obama, 54 percent of voters have a favorable opinion and 42 percent unfavorable. When he took office in January, 76 percent had a favorable view and 15 percent unfavorable.

When asked about next year's Congressional elections, there's a split similar to the president's job rating. If the election were held today, 39 percent say they would vote for the Democratic candidate to help Obama pass his policies and 42 percent say they would back the Republican to provide a check on Obama's power. For 15 percent it is too soon to say.

Less then a Yr to go and Rubio is closing the gap dramatically in FL primary; Huckabee: Rubio could be President

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of the Florida Republican Senate primary finds conservative former state House Speaker Marco Rubio catching up on moderate Gov. Charlie Crist.

The numbers: Crist 47%, Rubio 37%. Way back in January, Crist was ahead by 57%-11%.

Crist became vulnerable to a conservative primary challenge when he endorsed the stimulus package, and even hugged President Obama. He has since denied that he endorsed it, despite all evidence to the contrary.

(GOP12).Mike Huckabee to WOKV's Rich Jones at a book signing in Orlando yesterday:

".... I think the guy could be President one day. I don't want to doom him, but I think he's got all the goods.

.... I expect him to end up getting the nomination to be Florida's next Senator, and one of America's future Presidents."

Palin take on Obama's foriegn policy - on Hannity

Is Obama giving US jews a cold shoulder? WH shirnks Chanuka party

(Politico).The White House's forthcoming state dinner with the Prime Minister of India is expected to be larger than those of President Barack Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush. But another upcoming White House event will be smaller than in years past: The White House's annual Hanukkah party.

The guest list is expected to be shrunk by more than half, according to the Jerusalem Post. "Though several Jewish leaders expressed understanding for the economic and other reasons behind the cut, they acknowledged that it would likely help feed feelings in some quarters of the American Jewish community that the White House is giving them the cold shoulder."

The move comes on the heels of Obama's cancellation of an appearance before the General Assembly of North American Jewish Federations last week.

The White House's decision is likely a response to tough economic times and a desire to keep the holiday festivities reasonable.

A White House official told the Post that Obama "looks forward to celebrating Hanukkah at the White House and having many members of the Jewish American community at that event."

(NYT).Former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani has decided not to run for governor of New York next year after months of mulling a candidacy, according to people who have been told of the decision.It remains unclear if the former mayor is considering any other political race in 2010.

His decision is a blow to many Republican leaders, who had viewed Mr. Giuliani as the strongest potential candidate in a year in which voter anger and anti-Albany sentiment appeared to be swelling.

It was not clear what prompted the decision, but the prospect of potentially facing Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, who is quietly planning his own run for governor on the Democratic ticket, may not have appealed to Mr. Giuliani, who suffered a bruising defeat in the 2008 Republican presidential primary. While many political analysts believe Mr. Giuliani would have comfortably beaten Gov. David A. Paterson, he would likely have faced an uphill battle against Mr. Cuomo, one of the most popular politicians in the state.

(nydailynews).Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani has decided not to run for governor next - but will run for U.S. Senate instead, sources told the Daily News.

"In the next 48 hours he will announce that he will not run for governor, but will run for the Senate," said a source familiar with the thing of the former mayor and failed presidential candidate.

The source said Giuliani will run against Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in 2010 to fill out the remaining two years of Hillary Clinton's term.

If elected, the source said, he would use that as a stepping stone to run for President in 2012 - and would not run for re-election to the Senate. A Giuliani spokeswoman downplayed the reports.

"Rudy has a history of making up his own mind and has no problem speaking it," she said. "When Mayor Giuliani makes a decision about serving in public office, he will inform New Yorkers on his own."

Romney Op-Ed on Afganistan - The cost of on-the-job training

(Mitt Romney-POLITICO 44).During the presidential campaign, many Americans thought that Barack Obama’s lack of leadership experience would not prevent him from being an effective president. His eloquence, his insistence that, yes, he could solve any problem and his image, so artfully crafted by his advertising team, led by David Axelrod, convinced many that hope could trump demonstrated ability. It has not. Nowhere is the evidence more apparent than in his mismanagement of the conflict in Afghanistan.

In March, not long after taking office, President Obama explained his convictions regarding the conflict. He charged that “the terrorists who planned and supported the Sept. 11 attacks are in Pakistan and Afghanistan.” Further, “if the Afghan government falls to the Taliban, that country will again be a base for terrorists who want to kill as many of our people as they possibly can.” And he concluded: “To succeed, we and our friends and allies must reverse the Taliban’s gains and promote a more capable and accountable Afghan government.” What followed this bold and definitive goal was the classic failing of people without real leadership experience: the inability to do what is necessary to achieve one’s objective.

The president refused to focus on what was most important. He took on so many tasks that he underinvested in the most critical ones. The restructuring of the entire health care system and his cap-and-trade proposal eclipsed the economy and the war. Investor Warren Buffett, the “sage of Omaha,” counseled him against such a foolhardy agenda, but Buffett’s wisdom was no match for the heady prospect of all-encompassing change.

So it was that in the first 100 days after his appointment in June of Gen. Stanley McChrystal as commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Obama met with the general only once. After the press took note of it, the president squeezed in a mere 25 minutes for McChrystal when he was in Copenhagen to pitch Chicago’s Olympics bid. In the annals of American history, it is certain that no wartime president has ever spent less time with his generals than Obama has.

A full year after being elected, Obama still does not have a strategy for Afghanistan. His apologists explain that rather than rush a decision, it is better to get it right. But at some point, deliberation, if it goes on too long, becomes indecision. It is fair to ask, What has he been doing for the past 12 months that took precedence over his responsibility for our soldiers?

The answer is that he made 30 or more campaign trips for the Democratic Party and its candidates, including five events for defeated New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine alone. He repeatedly traveled around the country to keynote campaign-style town hall meetings that were carefully choreographed by his communications advisers. He appears to want to do what he knows best: campaign, rather than engage in what he was elected to do — lead and govern.

While he was busy campaigning in the U.S., the president ignored the election in Afghanistan and took wholly inadequate measures to ensure a valid outcome, even as he must have known that a legitimate government was essential to our success. Because Obama left so critical a matter to chance, we are left with a fraudulently elected regime, which is accused of rampant corruption. Thus, the prospects for our success have been greatly diminished.

With the McChrystal report in his hands since August, the president has finally been spending more time in the situation room. Surely his deliberations have not been speeded by the presence of Axelrod, the president’s campaign adman. Polls, politics and perspectives on what the TV networks may think have no place at the national security table. Communications staff should be informed of security decisions after they are made, not invited to be a party to them.

During my career in business and government, and in running the Olympics, I made many instructive mistakes and learned the lessons that come with experience. Obama is making those mistakes in his first real leadership position, and because that position is president of the United States, the consequences of his mistakes are sobering. The lives of our soldiers, the war against violent jihadism and the future of millions of Afghans are in the balance.

Obama getting ready to be defeated and be a 1 term President....

Palin: Obama has no right to restrict Israel expand settlements

(ABCnews, Bibireport).In an interview with ABC News' Barbara Walters, Sarah Palin, the former GOP vice presidential candidate, gave her policy recommendations, weighing in on issues in the Middle East, U.S. strategy in Afghanistan and more.

Palin, whose book, "Going Rogue: An American Life," hit bookshelves today, took aim at the Obama administration's stance on Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories.

"I disagree with the Obama administration on that," Palin told Walters. "I believe that the Jewish settlements should be allowed to be expanded upon, because that population of Israel is, is going to grow. More and more Jewish people will be flocking to Israel in the days and weeks and months ahead. And I don't think that the Obama administration has any right to tell Israel that the Jewish settlements cannot expand."

SurveyUSA Poll: Americans believe Romney would be the best Republican President

Which of these Republicans would make a better president?

* Mitt Romney 25%
* Mike Huckabee 19%
* Sarah Palin 14%
* Newt Gingrich 11%

Among Conservatives
* Mitt Romney 27%
* Mike Huckabee 23%
* Sarah Palin 18%
* Newt Gingrich 12%

Among Republicans
* Mitt Romney 31%
* Mike Huckabee 26%
* Sarah Palin 13%
* Newt Gingrich 12%

Among Independents
* Mitt Romney 20%
* Newt Gingrich 19%
* Mike Huckabee 18%
* Sarah Palin 12%

Among Democrats
* Mitt Romney 29%
* Sarah Palin 15%
* Mike Huckabee 14%
* Newt Gingrich 7%

In Newsmax interview - Palin Slams Obama for Bowing, Breaking Promises

In an exclusive Newsmax interview, former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Tuesday sharply criticized President Obama's deep bow to the emperor of Japan, and charged Democrats "purposefully" are holding back details on their healthcare reform proposals from the American people to avoid an open debate.

On tour promoting her best-selling book, “Going Rogue: An American Life,” the former Alaska governor also told Newsmax she was so embarrassed by a Newsweek magazine cover depicting her in short running shorts that she sent an e-mail to her family saying "I almost feel like I have to apologize."

Palin cited the contrast between Obama's comportment in bowing to Japanese royalty and the leadership style of former President Ronald Reagan.

"There is where his steel spine strengthened our entire nation," she said of the Republican icon. "The leadership he provided, where he allowed us to believe in ourselves as a superpower — not in an abusive way as a superpower, but as a power and a light and a hope for the rest of the world.

“That allowed us to be a healthier, safer, and more generous nation to help other nations. So those things that Ronald Reagan did . . . he said on national security issues, he said you know: 'We win. They lose.' Leadership like that we need today. [It] allows a very clear path in front of us we'd be foolish not to follow."

In criticizing the bow, Palin underscored the distinction between Reagan's view of American exceptionalism and President Obama's efforts to cast America as but one member of the community of nations.

"That [bow] made me and many of us uncomfortable, and I don't think it was just an accidental breach of protocol, because we've seen it before with one of the Saudi leaders, too," Palin told Newsmax. "I think it goes along with that same mode of operation that was apologizing for who America is. In order to build relationships with other countries and strengthen our allies and allow more alliances across the globe, we don't need to apologize for who we are. In fact, I think we would be respected to an even greater degree if we exerted more of the diplomatic power that, again, Ronald Reagan did."

Palin, who was a lightning rod for criticism during the presidential campaign, warned that America is in "a dangerous place economically" because Congress is debating healthcare reforms that would affect up to one-sixth of the U.S. economy, without keeping the public informed about exactly what provisions are being proposed. And she doesn't think that void of information is accidental, either.

"There are so many questions right now that I'm like every other American," Palin told Newsmax, "just kind of scratching my head saying, 'When are we going to get the answers so that we can debate this very responsibly and very intelligently?'

"I think it's purposeful that some in Washington, D.C., don't want us to have all of the answers, so that the debate is more nebulous and puts more of the generalities out there. Even knowing what we do know about it though, I think it is a very dangerous place for Americans to be, to be told that the only solutions to the healthcare challenges in our country . . . is that government has to take it over."

Quinnipiac: Obama Approval Dips Below 50% For First Time

President Barack Obama's job approval rating is 48 - 42 percent, the first time he has slipped below the 50 percent threshold nationally, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Support for the war in Afghanistan and approval of President Obama's handling of the war also is down in the last month, and Republican support for the war is more than twice as strong as Democratic support.

American voters say 48 - 41 percent that fighting the war in Afghanistan is the right thing to do, down from 52 - 37 percent in an October 7 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. Voters disapprove 49 - 38 percent of the President's handling of the war there, down from 42 - 40 percent approval in October.

But voters say 65 - 29 percent, including 68 - 25 percent among military households, that eliminating the threat of terrorists operating from Afghanistan "is a worthwhile goal for American troops to fight and possibly die for," compared to 65 - 28 percent last month.

Voters say 47 - 42 percent that President Obama should send 40,000 more combat troops to Afghanistan as the military commanders on the ground have requested. Only 27 percent of Democrats want more troops, compared to 68 percent of Republicans. Similarly, 68 percent of Republicans, but only 31 percent of Democrats, think the United States is doing the right thing fighting in Afghanistan.

"Increasingly, the President finds himself with two different coalitions, one that backs him on domestic matters and a completely different one that backs him on Afghanistan. That could create a challenge to his considerable political skills," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

CBS poll: Obama's Approval Rating Slips to 53%

(CBS) .President Barack Obama is being greeted warmly in China, but back in the U.S. his overall approval rating has slipped to 53 percent, according to a new CBS News poll.

Approval for Mr. Obama's handling of the situation in Afghanistan has dropped as well as more Americans now disapprove than approve.

However, a majority of Americans still approve of the way Mr. Obama is handling his job as president, but this percentage is down three points. Fifty-three percent of Americans approve of how he's handling his job, down from 56 percent last month.

The president's approval rating has dropped seven points among independents. Forty-five percent of independents now approve of how the president is handling his job. Last month, a majority of 52 percent approved.

Assessments of how Mr. Obama is handling the war in Afghanistan have become more negative since early October. Thirty-eight percent now approve of how President Obama is handling the war - but even more, 43 percent, disapprove. Disapproval has risen nine points, from 34 percent last month.

Again, most of the change has occurred among independents. Last month, 44 percent of independents approved and 36 percent disapproved of the job Mr. Obama was doing on Afghanistan. Now, more independents disapprove than approve: 49 percent disapprove, and just 30 percent approve.

CBS poll: 1 in 4 Have Favorable View of Palin; 48% of Republicans don't want Palin to run in 2012

(CBS).She may be among the biggest names in politics at the moment, but former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is not exactly America's sweetheart.

Just 23 percent of those surveyed in a new CBS News poll have a favorable view of the former Alaska governor. That matches her favorable rating in July, when Palin announced she was resigning from her job as governor.

Thirty-eight percent, meanwhile, have an unfavorable view of Palin -- also roughly matching her July rating. Another 37 percent say they are undecided or haven't heard enough, despite the spotlight on Palin in recent days tied to the imminent publication of her memoir, "Going Rogue."

Unsurprisingly, Palin is far more popular with Republicans than Democrats. Fifty-two percent of Republicans have a favorable view of her, while 16 percent have an unfavorable view. By contrast, just four percent of Democrats view Palin favorably, while 57 percent say their opinion is not favorable.

Among independents, Palin has a net negative rating, with 21 percent viewing her favorably and 36 percent viewing her unfavorably.

VIEWS OF SARAH PALIN - BY POLITICAL PARTY
Rep Dem Ind
Favorable 52% 4% 21%
Not favorable 16% 57% 36%
Undecided/Haven't Heard Enough 32% 37% 40%

Most Americans do not want to see Palin run for president in 2012. Two in three say they don't want to see a Palin run, while 24 percent say they would like to see her jump into the race.

Republicans are divided: Forty-four percent want Palin to run, but even more -- 48 percent -- do not. Democrats, independents and even conservatives oppose a Palin run, while white evangelicals favor it by a slim margin, 48 percent to 42 percent.

WOULD YOU LIKE SARAH PALIN TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2012?
All Rep Dem Ind
Yes 24% 44% 9% 26%
No 66% 48% 83% 62%

Forty-three percent of Republicans think Palin would be an effective president, an improvement of ten points from the summer. But thirty-nine percent say she would not be.

Just 11 percent of Democrats and 29 percent of independents believe Palin could be an effective president. Overall, 26 percent of Americans say she could be effective in the job.

WOULD PALIN HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE AN EFFECTIVE PRESIDENT?
All Rep Dem Ind Cons
Yes 26% 43% 11% 29% 46%
No 62% 39% 84% 58% 43%

Bob Schieffer: Sarah Palin has no future in politics

“I think she’s going to sell a lot of books. I think she’ll be a great attraction as an amusement. She’s interesting, she’s a celebrity. But I can’t imagine that she has much future in politics, I really don’t.”

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Palin on Oprah: Economy Beat GOP Ticket

(Newsmax).One day before the official release of her best-selling memoir "Going Rogue: An American Life," Sarah Palin sat down on Monday with Oprah Winfrey to discuss her book, her family, and her campaign as John McCain's running mate.

In the wide-ranging interview, Palin also spoke about her wardrobe controversy, her teenage daughter's pregnancy, her much-maligned interview with Katie Couric, why the McCain-Palin ticket lost, and more. Some highlights:

# McCain advisers forced the Palin family to overhaul their wardrobe when they arrived in Minneapolis for the Republican National convention in September 2008.

"I thought this was like one of those relationships you have, when we're young, and somebody says, 'I just love you the way that you are; now let me change you,'" Palin said.

# The ultimate showdown with McCain staffers came on election night when she was told she could not deliver a concession speech before McCain spoke.

"I was disappointed that the explanation I was given [was] that . . . V.P. candidates never give a speech on election night. I knew that was false because I have seen it happen. In fact four years prior, of course, that had happened."

# Even if Palin had been allowed to be more herself during the campaign, she said, it is likely that the Republican presidential ticket would have lost.

"The reason that we lost: The economy changed under a Republican administration," Palin said. "People were sincerely looking for change. They were quite concerned about the road that America was on with its economy. They did not want more of the same. They did not want status quo. And I think, unfortunately, our ticket represented what was perceived as status quo."

# Despite plaudits from campaign advisers who said she'd done well in her September 2008 interview with CBS's Katie Couric, Palin knew better.

When Oprah said she wanted to talk about the Couric interview, Palin laughed and said: "Must we?"

Among several missteps in the interview, Palin asserted that Alaska's proximity to Russia enhanced her foreign policy credentials. Critics seized on the interview as evidence that she wasn't qualified to be president if something were to happen to McCain.

Palin told Oprah: "The campaign said, 'Right on. Good. You're showing your independence. This is what American needs to see. It was a good interview.' And of course I'm thinking, 'If you thought that was a good interview, I don't know what a bad interview is.' Because I knew it wasn't a good interview."

She also said that Couric, whom she referred to as "the perky one," annoyed her by "badgering" her during the interview.

# Palin still considers Levi Johnston, the former fiancé of her daughter Bristol and the father of Bristol's son, "part of the family."

Johnston has complained that he was treated as an outcast following Palin's unsuccessful run for vice president, and claimed that Palin resigned from her governor's post in July to make money.

Oprah asked whether Levi would be invited to Thanksgiving dinner.

Palin laughed again and said: "That's a great question. It's lovely to think that he would ever even consider such a thing. Because of course he is a part of the family and you want to bring him in the fold, kind of under your wing. And he needs that, Oprah. I think he needs to know that he is loved. And he has the most beautiful child.

"This can all work out for good, it really can. We don't have to keep going down this road of controversy and drama all the time. We're not really into the drama. We have other things to concentrate on and do."

She also said she will "continue to pray for Levi."

# When Palin got a surprise phone call from the McCain campaign asking whether she'd like to be on the Republican presidential ticket, she had no doubts that she was ready for the challenge.

"When I got the call, it was not such a shocking call to me . . . I felt quite confident in my abilities and my executive experience knowing that this is an executive administrative job. I was happy to get in there and contribute."

# But Palin said she was stunned that McCain aides knew her then-17-year-old daughter Bristol was pregnant, a fact that Palin had yet to disclose back in Alaska.

"I was surprised, too, that we didn't handle that issue, that challenge, better," she said. "If we were given that allowance to deal with the issue in a more productive way, we perhaps could have sent a better message: This is not to be glamorized, not to be emulated."

Palin said Bristol was "devastated" and in tears when she found that her pregnancy was on the news, and contended that the press exhibited a "double standard" by focusing on the Palin family and accepting Barack Obama's demand that his family was off-limits to the press.

# Palin brushed aside talk about a possible campaign for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012.

"I am dealing with so many issues that are important . . . and what I am finding, clearer and clearer every day, what I am seeing is that you don't need a title to make a difference."

When Oprah asked if Palin would tell her whether she intends to run in 2012, Palin got a laugh from the studio audience when she said, "No, I wouldn't."