The image is from CNN, online Nov. 20. Click to enlarge and read. It appears the poll did not get into "conservative" in the Goldwater sense, vs. "social conservative" as a tortured euphemism for theocratic. I think the down trend in GOP esteem is part of the Palin phenomenon, but it's a subjective individual's opinion. I would have liked more polling detail on whether the common popular view was that Palin-theomovement was a plus or minus for the GOP, particularly among independent voters rather than the crowd liking its own flavor Koolaid.