Poll: Americans Back Palin With Heart, Biden Head as Debate Approaches
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
October 2, 2008
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Tonight’s debate featuring pro-abortion vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden and pro-life candidate Sarah Palin is a classic case of Americans debating between their hearts and their heads. A new poll finds Americans say Biden knows the issues better but they find Palin more likeable.
A new Marist College survey shows a majority of Americans believe Governor Palin will win tonight’s debate, which could help her as expectations are lowered and a strong showing could surprise skeptics.
The poll also showed Americans say Biden has a better understanding of the issues than Palin by a 2-1 margin.
At the same time, 65 percent say Palin will come across as more appealing than Biden, with just 23 percent saying the Delaware senator will be more likeable.
The poll also showed that voters have a favorable impression of Palin by a 49-38 percentage point margin while they see Biden as favorable by a 45-34 percent margin.
Another poll released on Thursday, from ABC News and the Washington Post, finds Palin has a challenge ahead of her as 60 percent of Americans now say she doesn’t have enough experience to become president. That is up 15 percent from last month when 45 percent felt that way.
The poll also indicates one-third of Americans say they are less likely to support McCain because of the Palin pick — with independents coming in at a 2-1 clip against the governor.
The ABC News-Washington Post poll found voters, by a 19-point margin, expect Biden to win the debate.
Biden and Palin have strongly contrasting views on abortion.
As many as 80 percent of unborn children diagnosed with Down syndrome become victims of abortion, but Palin didn’t let her child become a statistic. Palin, who has deeply-felt pro-life views, gave birth to her fifth child and the baby was diagnosed with the condition.
Biden’s pro-abortion views mirror those of Obama — with him supporting unlimited abortions and wanting judges who will keep all abortions legal 35 more years. He received a pro-life voting record of 0 percent from the National Right to Life Committee for 2007-2008.
Before that, Biden compiled records of 0 percent, 16 percent, 0 percent, and 22 percent with the pro-life group in previous Congressional sessions. His support for a ban on partial-birth abortions represented one of the only times he voted with the pro-life side — with Biden voting repeatedly to force taxpayers to fund abortions at home and abroad.
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