KEY POINTS:
A Washington Post poll has found that US voters are having doubts about Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's experience and ability to lead.
The poll, conducted along with ABC News, will come as as a blow to the governor of Alaska as she prepares to engage in a debate with Democratic VP candidate Joe Biden later today.
The paper said that 60% of voters polled see Palin as lacking the experience to be an effective president, and a third are now less likely to vote for GOP presidential nominee John McCain because of his association with her.
Immediately after she was announced as McCain's running mate, Palin was rated as highly as McCain and his Democratic rival Barack Obama. However her support has slid dramatically since then.
The survey indicated that the biggest shift in public perception of Palin has come among independent voters. In what may be a tight race for the White House, it could be independent voters who could be instrumental in determining the winner.
Shortly after Palin's nomination as VP candidate, independents were evenly split in their opinion, but now those who have a negative view outnumber the positives by about 2 to 1. Nearly two-thirds of independent voters said Palin was not experienced enough to serve in the White House, the poll found.
Palin captured the imagination of the American public after McCain chose her as his running mate in August. Her positions on abortion and gun rights resonated deeply with some sections of the conservative voter base.
Her speech at the Republican national convention in September brought the house down, but serious concerns have arisen after television interviews in which she has sometimes found herself lost for words.
However, Democrats are not entirely comfortable with their VP candidate. Delaware senator Joe Biden has been called "uncontrollably verbose" and a "gaffe machine."
- NZ HERALD STAFF, AGENCIES
