According to a Quinnipiac poll in which voters rated their feelings about politicians and other national figures, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is “the hottest politician on the thermometer.” (Of note: 55 percent of American voters said they don’t know enough about Christie to form an option.)
Former speaker Nancy Pelosi received the coolest rating from voters, while Majority Leader Harry Reid ranks next lowest, followed by former Alaska governor Sarah Palin.
I would place some people in the poll higher and others lower, but it strikes me that the person at the top and the people at the bottom are more or less where they belong. Beyond that, it should reassure conservatives that Governor Christie, much more than Ms. Palin, is the type of figure the public is looking for from its political class.
One can sense how much Palin has been diminished in the public’s esteem in recent months. Her endless Twittering, her lack of basic knowledge about public policy and inability to articulate a compelling case for conservatism, and her striking sense of grievances and resentments (some of which are understandable) have come at quite a cost.
Ms. Palin has also suffered in contrast to other Republicans, and most especially Republican governors, many of whom embody a maturity, a proper governing temperament, and a seriousness of purpose. Compared to what Christie, Mitch Daniels, Scott Walker, Bob McDonnell, Bobby Jindal, and other lawmakers are doing, Palin seems to be shrinking before our eyes.
