What if Mitt was one of us? The fate of his candidacy is now in the hands of Republicans, plus the Independents who are eligible to participate in Republican primaries and caucuses, and those adults do not feel Romney empathizes with them. Across three measures of populist empathy, Romney’s scores are mediocre: Only an average of 44% of Republicans and 23% of Independents believe Romney cares about them, understands them and shares their values. By comparison, an average of 73% of Republicans and 33% of Independents believe Sarah Palin cares, understands and shares their values.
Even as the assessment moves from Romney’s heart to his head, Palin competes well with Romney. On whether each candidate understands complex issues, 60% of Republicans credit Romney with the necessary smarts, but 64% feel that way about Palin. Only among Independents, and only on the question of whether each understands complex issues, does Romney gain an advantage, as 49% of Independents believe Romney understands complex issues, and only 27% of Independents believe that about Palin.
Photo source: Press Association
