Palin’s Endorsement is Kiss of Death
Are Palin’s endorsements cursing her ‘cubs?’
by Joeff Davis
A “mama grizzly” endorsement is looking more like a kiss of death than a blessing lately. Palin-backed candidates across the country have been suffering a string of primary election losses. The former Alaska governor is only 2-for-7 when it comes to endorsements this month.
Karen Handel’s defeat in last Tuesday’s Georgia’s gubernatorial runoff race was arguably her biggest disappointment, coming just one day after Palin appeared at her campaign rally in Buckhead. It seems her political star power has only continued to fade since then, and her losing streak is expected to carry on into next week, this time in her own backyard. Victory for Palin’s endorsee in Alaska’s Senate primary is looking like a long shot.
According to a recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, a majority see a Palin endorsement as a clear negative. Fifty-two percent said they would respond in a negative manner if they knew Palin endorsed a candidate they were considering voting for.
Still, Palin’s overall endorsement record shows gaining her support isn’t always toxic: 16 wins and 10 losses so far. But this month’s rough patch appears to be a sign that people are getting tired of her meddling in primaries around the country.