CBS: ‘Always Controversial’ Palin Losing Public Support

On Monday’s Early Show, co-host Julie Chen teased an upcoming story on Sarah Palin’s political future: "Also ahead, the always controversial Sarah Palin remains in the headlines this morning. We're going to tell you what she's now saying about her future plans as well as what she's planning to do right after she leaves office later this month."

Chen teased the story later, again labeling the Alaska Governor as controversial: "We're going to tell you where the controversial Alaska governor is headed once she leaves office." In the report that followed, correspondent Nancy Cordes cited new poll numbers: "According to a new CBS poll out this morning, Sarah Palin faces doubts, even from Republicans, about her ability to be an effective president. Less than 1 in 4 Americans think she has the ability. Among Republicans, only one-third say Palin could be effective."

Cordes went on to describe Palin’s future plans, including an upcoming speech in California: "Her appearance is almost certain to raise speculation about her political ambitions. But some say Palin hasn't done enough to change how people feel about her." After mentioning that Palin was offering to stump for Republican candidates, Cordes observed: "But a couple of Republicans running for governor this year have already appeared cool to the idea of having her in to support them."

After Cordes’s report, co-host Harry Smith remarked: "...sort of this cottage industry of confrontation between people who say she's it, she's the one, she's the answer, and others, Peggy Noonan in the Washington – in The Wall Street Journal over the weekend, saying no way." Chen wondered: "...it would be interesting to poll everyone in Alaska who voted for her to be governor and see what they think of her now and her decision to leave office there." Smith added: "Yeah, not so great."

Here is the full transcript of the segment:

7:00AM TEASE:

JULIE CHEN: Also ahead this morning, we're learning what Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has planned after she leaves office later this month. We're going to tell you what that is, and a new CBS poll answers the question, do Americans think she could be an effective president?

7:20AM TEASE:

HARRY SMITH: Up next, as she gets ready to leave office, what is Alaska Governor Sarah Palin planning to do next? We'll have the latest.

7:30AM TEASE:

CHEN: Also ahead, the always controversial Sarah Palin remains in the headlines this morning. We're going to tell you what she's now saying about her future plans as well as what she's planning to do right after she leaves office later this month.

7:36AM TEASE:

CHEN: Up next, Palin's plans. We're going to tell you where the controversial Alaska governor is headed once she leaves office.

7:40AM SEGMENT:

JULIE CHEN: New details this morning about Sarah Palin's plans after she steps down as Governor of Alaska later this month. She says she'll be back on the campaign trail, stumping for Republican candidates. CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes has the very latest. Good morning, Nancy.

NANCY CORDES: Good morning, Julie. Well, the former vice presidential nominee says she plans to write a book and jump back into national politics once she leaves office, but questions remain about whether Palin's plans include a 2012 presidential bid. According to a new CBS poll out this morning, Sarah Palin faces doubts, even from Republicans, about her ability to be an effective president. Less than 1 in 4 Americans think she has the ability. Among Republicans, only one-third say Palin could be effective. But former running mate John McCain says he's confident Palin will remain a major factor on the national political scene, even after she steps down as governor.

JOHN MCCAIN: She has all the right instincts, all the right principles. She was – she was a mayor. She's a governor. She understands the challenges that families face.

CORDES: Palin is already trying to broaden her national influence. As former governor, she'll speak next month at a private Republican gala in California, at the Ronald Reagan presidential library. Her appearance is almost certain to raise speculation about her political ambitions. But some say Palin hasn't done enough to change how people feel about her.

TODD HARRIS [REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST]: She hasn't done anything to make an impression, certainly positively, about any potential that she might have to be President of the United States.

CORDES: The Washington Times is reporting this morning that Palin says she’s hitting the road to stump for politicians and that she’d even support Democrats if they share some of her positions. But a couple of Republicans running for governor this year have already appeared cool to the idea of having her in to support them. Julie.

CHEN: And it’ll be Interesting to see if any Democrats want her support as well. Nancy Cordes, thank you. Harry.

HARRY SMITH: So interesting because over the – over this last week so many people within the Republican Party, there’s sort of this own – sort of this cottage industry of confrontation between people who say she's it, she's the one, she's the answer, and others, Peggy Noonan in the Washington – in The Wall Street Journal over the weekend, saying no way.

CHEN: You know what else, it would be interesting to poll everyone in Alaska who voted for her to be governor-

SMITH: Right.

CHEN: -and see what they think of her now and her decision to leave office there.

SMITH: Yeah, not so great. Alright.