Majority of GOP Now Birthers

The birthers are multiplying—and they could have a real impact on the Republican presidential primary. In a new survey, 51% of those who say they’ll vote in the primary also say they don’t believe President Obama was born in the United States, according to Public Policy Polling. Only 28% said they believed Obama’s natal bonafides; the other 21% weren’t sure.

How does this affect the primary? Well, tough as it is to believe, birthers love Sarah Palin. Among birthers, Palin has an 83% favorability rating, with only 12% viewing her unfavorably. Among non-birthers, that split is 47/40. Who do they like disproportionately? Mitt Romney. In a non-birther primary, Romney would win handily with 23% of the vote to Mike Huckabee’s 16%. But among birthers, Romney’s a distant fourth, behind Huckabee, Palin, and Newt Gingrich. Add the groups together, and Huckabee's in first with 20%, followed by Romney (17%) and Palin (15%).