Politics

Alaska Republicans don’t fall for George Zimmerman PPP poll troll

Jamie Weinstein Senior Writer
Font Size:

Public Policy Polling tried to troll Alaska Republicans in their recent survey of potential 2016 presidential contenders by including George Zimmerman as a possible candidate. But Alaskans didn’t bite.

Only 2 percent of respondents indicated they would support Zimmerman, who was recently acquitted in the killing of Trayvon Martin, which was lower than the poll’s 4.4 percent margin of error. The poll of 507 “usual Republican primary voters” in Alaska was released Friday.

“I would remind the PPP that George is registered as a Democrat and voted for Obama in 2008,” Robert Zimmerman, George’s brother and spokesman for the family, told The Daily Caller.  “I’m not sure what their intent was by including his name in their poll. I’d like to believe it’s a matter of simple curiosity but in 2016 George will be … ineligible to run for president because of his age. I see this poll as a mockery of the judgment of the people of Alaska.”

“I’m aware of the support George and his family continue to receive from conservative circles,” he continued. “In July, George had a much higher favorability rating among Republicans than President Obama. For the record, if George ever decided that public service were in his future, he would have my vote — not because he’s my brother, rather because he has earned it. His continued composure under pressure still inspires me.”

Zimmerman, who was born in 1983, would not be eligible to run for president in 2016 because he would be below the constitutionally mandated age of 35.

The polling organization did not return a request for comment from The Daily Caller, but gave a general comment to another news site. “He’s had high favorability ratings with Republican voters in some national polls so we were just curious how he would do,” Tom Jensen, PPP’s director, told TheBlaze by email.

PPP is considered a liberal polling outfit, but its polls were found to be the most accurate of the 2012 presidential election.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul was the most popular potential 2016 presidential contender among Alaskan Republicans, with 18 percent of respondents saying they would like to see him as the presidential nominee. Paul was followed by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, at 14 percent, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, at 13 percent, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, at 11 percent.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan both attracted 9 percent support, followed by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz with 8 percent and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum with 5 percent.

Twelve percent of respondents said they supported someone else or were unsure.

Follow Jamie on Twitter

 

 

Jamie Weinstein