Poll: Voters have doubts about Palin

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- A large majority of Americans, including half of Republicans, say former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin isn't qualified to be president, a poll indicates.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday revealed 71 percent of adults in the United States consider Palin to be not qualified for the White House despite her experience as governor and as the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate.

Republicans were nearly evenly split with 52 percent considering her to be qualified and 47 percent seeing hers as unqualified.

While 51 percent held an "unfavorable" view of Palin, two-thirds viewed her as "not a typical politician" and 56 percent believe she cares about other people.

CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said in a written statement that the impression she cares about people could help her down the line as the GOP presidential field shapes up.

"Sarah Palin has one advantage that many past Republican candidates have not shared -- Americans think she cares about people like them," said Holland. "But her biggest Achilles heel is the number who thinks she is not qualified to be president.

The telephone poll was conducted Oct. 16-18 and involved 1,038 adults. Sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.