Pelosi most polarizing speaker since Gingrich: GOP poll

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is the most polarizing person to hold that office since Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) ended his term as speaker, Republicans argued Thursday.

A new poll conducted by OnMessage Inc. for the Republican National Committee (RNC) showed Pelosi with high name recognition, and a net negative impression.

"I have seen one other speaker in my career with name ID that high, and it was Newt Gingrich," pollster Wes Anderson told reporters at a briefing on the poll's results this morning.

53 percent of Americans have an unfavorable opinion of the House speaker, while 42 percent maintain a favorable impression.

"Her image actually continues to deteriorate," Anderson explained. "Speaker Pelosi is seen as exceedingly out of step with regular voters."

The poll, conducted August 25-26, has a 2.82 percent margin of error.