Alaskans prefer Biden to Palin

By CRIS BARRISH
The News Journal

Most agree Del. senator is better prepared to be president

Alaskans love the job their first-term governor, Sarah Palin, is doing. But when it comes to having the experience to be a good president or the ability to handle an international crisis, they give the nod to Delaware Sen. Joe Biden.

As far as solving the financial mess engulfing Wall Street, a slim majority of Alaskans believe Republican Palin would do a better job than Democrat Biden, but Delawareans overwhelmingly think their senator is better equipped to deal with money matters.

Those findings come from a poll of residents in both states about the first vice presidential candidates those states have had. The poll by the Public Mind center at New Jersey's Fairleigh Dickinson University was released Wednesday.

"Alaskans support Palin," said Peter Woolley, a political science professor who directed the poll. "But at the same time they are aware of her early political successes, they are aware of her brief political history."

Biden campaign spokesman David Wade said the poll shows that Biden's 36 years as a senator and experience in foreign affairs are resonating with voters.

"It'd be presumptuous as hell of us to try and tell Alaskans or any Americans who is best-suited to deal with our country's security challenges in a dangerous world," Wade said in a written statement. "But I can say with confidence that in Joe Biden, Barack Obama chose a running mate with a sterling record of good judgment and leadership on international affairs who has been in the forefront of foreign policy and military policy for decades."

Though more Alaskans believe Biden is better suited to run the White House, residents of the distant Northern land "have made Gov. Palin the most popular governor in America," Palin spokesman Ben Porritt said. "Governor has long been experience enough to prepare for the duties and responsibilities of the Oval Office. Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin have the experience, sound judgment and principled leadership needed to succeed in Iraq, combat the terrorist threat and strengthen our international partnerships."

The poll, which surveyed 601 likely voters in each state from Sept. 17 through Sunday, was "almost predictable" on many fronts, Woolley said, noting that both politicians are extremely popular and considered trustworthy in their home states. The poll, conducted in consultation with The News Journal, has a 4 percentage point margin of error.

Some results mirrored party affiliation. For example, Democrats in both states agree Biden would make a good vice president or president and that Palin would not. Likewise, Republicans in both states say Palin would be good in those offices, but Biden would not.

"Party differences tend to trump all the other differences that come out," Woolley said.

Woolley said the poll of voters in two of America's least populous states showed that the traditional strategy of choosing vice presidential candidates to deliver a state with lots of votes has been abandoned during this race for the White House.

"The new strategy is to choose someone whose background and views provide popular appeal to a segment of voters across the country," Woolley said.

On a lighter note, residents of both states thought the moose-hunting Palin would make a better guest on the television show "Saturday Night Live" than the loquacious Biden.

In addition, 61 percent of Alaskans would rather have Palin for dinner than Biden, but only 48 percent of Delawareans would want to break bread with Biden rather than his opponent.

But this election is about who will run America's government and command its military -- not who is more fun to watch on television or have as a guest.

And while heavily Republican Alaska favors the John McCain-Palin ticket, and majority Democratic Delaware backs Obama and Biden, pollsters found that people of the tiny mid-Atlantic state and the vast lands at the northwestern tip of the continent shared some of the same beliefs.

For example, more than half of the respondents in each state said they considered themselves "pro-choice" on the abortion issue.

A majority of residents of both states also disapprove of President Bush's job performance. In Delaware, 70 percent think lame-duck GOP President Bush is doing a lousy job. In Alaska, 58 percent disapprove of Bush's work.

Likewise, 81 percent of Delawareans think the nation is on the wrong track, compared with 73 percent of Alaskans.

Residents of both states also think Biden and Palin would do a better job at vice president than president.

They mostly differ, however, when it comes to Biden and Palin. Delawareans think Biden has a better understanding of the average voter's concerns, and is better at getting the job done. Alaskans think the opposite.

Alaskans are also more likely to have guns and be pro-gun ownership than Delawareans. Palin is an avid hunter and belongs to the National Rifle Association.

While much has been made of the fact that Palin is the first woman on a GOP presidential ticket, she is viewed in a favorable light by 62 percent of men and women both in Alaska. In Delaware, 41 percent of men have a favorable opinion of Palin, compared with 35 percent of women.

"There's no evidence to suggest that women are voting for Palin or giving her extra marks, or that men are penalizing her," Woolley said. "She is appealing to [women] based on personal issues, perhaps, with her competence or probably her party, but not on gender."

Biden's stature among Delawareans has appeared to improve since Obama chose him as his running mate.

Last year, when Biden was running for president, a Fairleigh Dickinson poll found that 41 percent thought he'd make a good president, and an equal percentage thought he would not. But in the new poll, 64 percent said he'd make a good president.