(Week of 9/1/2012) Clint Eastwood’s speech before the Republican Convention last week was more memorable than any other supporting speech in the convention, according to the latest Economist/YouGov Poll. 93% of those who saw any part of the convention remembered Eastwood’s 12-minute address to an empty chair, more than those who remembered the addresses by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (79%), former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rica (84%), and freshman Florida Senator Marco Rubio (75%), all of whom gave prime time addresses, with Rubio speaking immediately after Eastwood.
But did the Eastwood address help or hurt? Eastwood came on stage to the theme music from one of his past films, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." A bare majority of viewers — but more than eight in ten Romney voters — called the speech "good." But most of those who didn’t like the speech went beyond just saying it was "bad." More than a third of viewers said it was just "ugly."
Romney’s speech played well to his supporters, and did better than not with all viewers: 90% of his voters and 54% of all viewers said his acceptance speech was either excellent or good.
Independents, who are being courted by both parties, generally liked Romney’s speech. 56% of those who watched said it was good or excellent.
About half the public — and nearly two in three registered voters — watched at least part of the convention, with viewership highest on Thursday, the night of both Romney’s and Eastwood’s speeches. And it wasn’t only Romney supporters who watched. 53% of those who say they will vote or are leaning towards voting for President Obama were watching, too.
Economist/YouGov poll archives can be found here
Photo source: Press Association
