A Bloomberg News poll released Thursday shows trouble for the potential presidential candidacy of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
A vast majority of respondents viewed Palin unfavorably. Sixty percent had an unfavorable view of Palin, compared with only 28 percent with a favorable one. President Obama had a personal favorability rating of 55 percent with 41 percent viewing him unfavorably.
Two other potential Republican candidates for the presidency, businessman Donald Trump and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, had low favorability ratings.
Trump was viewed favorably by 37 percent of respondents and unfavorably by 43 percent. Gingrich was viewed favorably by 28 percent and unfavorably by 40 percent.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Speaker of the House John Boehner had net favorable ratings.
The poll also measured Obama’s job approval rating at 51 percent, with 43 percent disapproval. When asked about Obama’s handling of various specific issues, his approval numbers were lower.
Fifty-two percent of respondents disapproved of Obama’s handling of the economy, 50 percent disapproved of his handling of health care, 56 percent disapproved of his handing of the budget deficit, and 51 percent disapproved of his handling of job creation.
Surprisingly, the only issue where more respondents approved of Obama’s performance than disapproved was his handling of the recent turmoil in the Middle East. Forty-nine percent approved, 43 percent disapproved.
The poll, conducted with 1,001 respondents, spanned March 4-7.