Poll examines attitudes on Obama, Palin

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- About one-third of U.S. adults believe President Obama and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin are out of touch, a poll released Thursday said.

The survey by the Canadian pollster Angus Reid Public Opinion examined attitudes towards four polarizing figures. In addition to Obama and Palin, they questioned respondents about Jon Stewart, the liberal host of "The Daily Show," and Glen Beck, the conservative radio and television host and pundit.

While 52 percent of those surveyed said Obama is intelligent and 32 percent said he is strong, 33 percent described him as out of touch. More than one-third, 37 percent, called Palin foolish, 32 percent said she is out of touch and 31 percent called her arrogant.

More than 40 percent of Democrats used these negative phrases about Palin, while almost half of Republicans called her intelligent, down to earth, strong and honest. Democrats tended to see Obama as intelligent, strong, honest and compassionate, while Republicans used words like arrogant, inefficient and dishonest.

Democrats were most likely to call Stewart intelligent and Beck arrogant, positions reversed for Republicans. In both cases, large groups of people said they did not know enough about the man to select a description.

Angus Reid surveyed 1,000 members of its Springboard America panel on line on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2. The poll has a 3.1 percent margin of error.