Walking poll shows mostly favorable view of Palin

It's an all-time low for Gov. Sarah Palin: A national poll done by the Washington Post shows Palin's approval rating dropped since she announced her plans to resign.

On Friday, Palin's last day in office, Channel 2 news hit the streets to gauge Alaska's perceptions about the governor.

Doyle Holmes runs TruValue Hardware in Willow. He voted for Palin. He even helped with her campaign, which is where his dog got his name.

"His registered name is Governor Palin,'" said Holmes.

But when news of Palin's resignation walked in, the barking dog had a bite.

"I wish she would have waited," Holmes said. "I think most people are really disappointed in it."

Most people have a colorful view of Palin as she steps down from office.

"In Alaska, people are going to remember her as a very popular governor who kind of walked away in the middle of her term," Ken Baitsholts said.

A new poll shows 40 percent of those polled viewed Palin in a positive light.

"She was a fresh approach," Paul Foutt said.

But 53 percent had a negative view of her.

"Her attitude -- there doesn't seem to be any conciliatory negotiation," said Rae Foutt. "It's just, What I want is what is good for the state, whether that's the case or not.'"

Political poll researcher Jean Craciun says it makes sense that Palin's numbers would drop because she's stepping down. But she says the results from the Washington Post poll have several interpretations.

"I think what you have to do, and what I do as a researcher, is look at them all, and I say where is it really about?" Craciun said. "I would say her overall ratings are more in the 60 to 70 percent percentile."

Those numbers are a compromise between several popular opinion polls on Palin.

Channel 2's non-scientific poll drew a different conclusion.

Overall, people had a favorable view of Palin.

"I'll sure miss her, because I love the way she acted," Felicity Motuga said. "Even though she has a lot of bad publicity, but who doesn't?"

Some folks said Palin showed her true colors when she stepped down. But for Holmes, Alaska isn't really loosing its governor.

"This is the real Governor Palin and he's not resigning," Holmes said, pointing at his dog.

Contact Ashton Goodell at agoodell@ktuu.com