Ed Balls is the Sarah Palin of Britain

That is to say, both have a a quite bizarre, almost morbidly loyal support base from within their own camps, whilst outside of them being seen as a dream come true for the opposition.

Washington (CNN) – For many Democrats in Washington, a Sarah Palin presidential run would be a dream come true.

As their thinking goes, Palin’s popularity among Republican base voters in early primary states would be enough to swamp the rest of the 2012 field and vault the conservative firebrand to the GOP nomination.

But in a general election, her standing among independent and swing voters, which began to crater in the closing weeks of the 2008 presidential race, might be too much to overcome.

New (admittedly early) polling data suggests that very scenario could play out if she decides to seek the White House.

According to a new Gallup survey, 76 percent of Republicans have a favorable opinion of Palin – the highest rating among any of the presumed presidential candidates. The former Alaska governor also maintains the strongest name recognition of any potential candidate, while only 20 percent of Republicans view her unfavorably.

(…)

Among all Americans, though, Palin’s numbers are upside down. More Americans view her in a negative light (47 percent) than a positive one (44 percent). What’s more, only nine percent of Americans haven’t formed an opinion of the former Alaska governor, making it difficult for her to correct that deficit.

I support Ed Balls not because he’s going to be a good leader (an oxymoron if ever there was one) but because he’s going to finally kill the Fabian beast that is Labour. I can only hope Palin does the same for the Republicans.

The really amazing thing is how both Balls and Palin supporters refuse to see that outside their little circle of supporters, they’re a God damn joke.

It’s a bit like being a UKIP voter, really.

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