OPINION

Republican Candidates Stir Little Enthusiasm

Townhall Staff
Townhall Staff  |  Jun 02, 2011
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Townhall.com.
The emerging Republican presidential field draws tepid ratings. Just a quarter of voters (25%) have an excellent or good impression of the possible GOP candidates, and a separate survey found that negative descriptions of the field far outnumber positive ones. Asked for a single word to describe the GOP field, the top response was "unimpressed," according to a June 1 Pew Research Center/Washington Post survey.

Of the party's best-known possible candidates, only Mitt Romney has broad potential appeal. Large majorities have heard of four possible Republican candidates -- Romney, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul. But most who have heard of Palin and Gingrich say there is no chance they would vote for them (63% each). About as many (60%) say there is no chance they would support Paul.