Poll: McCain 53, Hayworth 31

Bringing in Palin is significant for a candidate who has always had a troubled relationship with the Republican base. Polling last fall found that 61% of Arizona Republicans said McCain was out of touch with the party base…

Nationally, 75% of Republican voters say their congressional leaders are out of touch.

At the other extreme, 59% of Republican voters say Palin, McCain’s 2008 vice presidential running mate, shares the values of most GOP voters throughout the nation. Palin is critical of the internal workings of last year’s campaign effort in her new book but continues to praise McCain. While campaign staffers have fired back at Palin, McCain, too, has been complimentary about her.