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Anti-Congress Fever Shows No Sign of Abating

1 year ago
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Bruce Drake
Bruce Drake
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Congress has still not been able to shake the low regard in which it is held by large numbers of Americans as the elections get closer, and both parties are sharing the blame, according to several new polls.
Here are some of the findings in the latest surveys:
Approval Rating for Congress
- A CBS News survey conducted May 20-24 found 77 percent of Americans disapproving of the way Congress is doing its job compared to just 15 percent who approve, with 8 percent undecided.
- A Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll conducted May 18-19 put disapproval of Congress at 65 percent with 22 percent approving and 13 percent undecided. But in the Fox survey, that was an improvement over the previous three polls when disapproval had ranged from 68 percent to 80 percent.
Party Favorability
- A Quinnipiac University poll conducted May 19-24 found voters disapproving of the way congressional Democrats were doing their job by 57 percent to 34 percent with 9 percent undecided. The highest level of dissatisfaction with the Democrats had been in February when 63 percent disapproved. Sixty-two percent disapproved of the performance of congressional Republicans while 26 percent approved with 11 percent undecided. The lowest point for Republicans on Capitol Hill was last October when 64 percent disapproved.
U.S. Capitol- The CBS poll said 54 percent saw the Democrats unfavorably compared to 37 percent who viewed them favorably with 9 percent undecided -- the lowest point the party has hit in this survey. Republicans were seen unfavorably by 55 percent and favorably by 33 percent, with 17 percent undecided.
Anti-Incumbency
- Asked whether most members of Congress should be re-elected or someone new should be given a chance, 82 percent in the CBS poll opted for tossing out the incumbents. However, that result is tempered by the way Americans specifically view their own representative. Forty-seven percent approved of the job their own lawmaker was doing compared to 39 percent who disapproved, with 14 percent undecided.
- Forty-one percent in the Fox poll would be more inclined to vote for a new candidate compared to 20 percent who would back the incumbent, with 32 percent say their decision would depend on who the candidates were and 7 percent undecided.
Generic Congressional Ballot
- The Quinnipiac poll found a turnaround since its last survey when registered voters were asked whether they would support a Democrat or Republican for Congress. The Democrats in the new poll came out ahead 42 percent to 36 percent with 18 percent undecided, compared to a 44 percent to 39 percent GOP advantage in late March.
- The Fox poll had Democrats and Republicans tied at 41 percent each with 14 percent undecided. Republicans had led in Fox polls by margins of 2 to 4 points dating back to March.

- A Gallup poll conducted May 17-23 among registered voters had 47 percent preferring the Democrats compared to 46 percent for the Republicans.
Voter Interest
- Quinnipiac found that 89 percent of Republicans said the way things were going in the country today made it more likely that they would vote in November compared to 81 percent of Democrats and 77 percent of independents.
- Gallup put the percentage of voters enthusiastic about the election at 30 percent, matching the lowest level it has been in this poll since the start of the new election cycle. In April, 40 percent described themselves as enthusiastic. Thirty-nine percent of Republicans were enthusiastic compared to 25 percent of Democrats.
- Fox found that 61 percent of voters said they were extremely or very interested (with 30 percent "extremely" interested) and 39 percent somewhat or not at all interested in the November elections. Forty percent of Republicans were extremely interested compared to 27 percent of independents and 24 percent of Democrats. Unlike Gallup, though, the interest level represented a modest increase compared to the past few months especially for the Republicans where those extremely interested rose 6 points since Fox's May 4-5 poll.

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Filed Under: House, Democrats, Republicans, Polls, Poll Watch, 2010 Elections, Congress
Tagged: dailyguidance, midterm elections, MidtermElections
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ettu

Among those NOW jumping on the \"investigation\" bandwagon over the Sestak dustup, but must be voted out because their Johnny Come Lately integrity fools no-one, are: Schumer, Weiner, Durbin. Those who have committed crimes against the people, and must go, are Rangel, Dodd, Frank, Reid and Pelosi. These people were silent in the face of Black Panther intimidation of voters, never repudiated the SEIU mob action on the front steps of a banking executive, and some of them were complicit in the financial meltdown. Anyone who voted for the healthcare bill and the stimulus/bailouts, must go. These people have no integrity and care nothing for the welfare of our country and the citizens.

May 27 2010 at 10:32 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply

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