The Des Moines Register has a taken a poll about Republicans who may run for president in 2012. Beyond the top three with “most favorable” impressions, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is unknown to 80 percent of the Iowa Republicans surveyed. (This despite former Governor Branstad’s tendency to cite Daniels in his stump speeches as he campaigns for a fifth term.) Neighboring U.S. Senator John Thune of South Dakota is “unknown” to 71 percent of those surveyed.
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has made a few trips to Iowa, and he’s not quite as unknown according to the survey. He was unknown to 53 percent of those surveyed.
Here’s the link to the DMR Poll story — you’ll see former Massachusetts Governor Romney, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (in that order) had high favorable ratings. Very few people surveyed — only three percent — had not formed an opinion about Palin. The survey was conducted June 1 through 3, mostly AFTER Palin endorsed Terry Branstad late on June 3 and angered Bob Vander Plaats supporters. “She’s dead to me now,” was one of the comments I heard last Saturday as I walked into the venue where Bob Vander Plaats was to have a rally.
About O.Kay Henderson
Kay is a founding member of the Radio Iowa network newsroom. In 1994, she became the network’s news director. She’s a featured reporter and commentator on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” and the 2002 recipient of the Shelley Award.
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