Bevin (R-KY) is the least liked governor and McConnell (R-KY) is the least liked senatorThe Economist ran a YouGov poll this week and, among other things, asked for favorables and unfavorables of the Democratic 2020 candidates: Here's the favorable ratings (+ in parentheses what percentage of people don't know who they are) for each candidate:
• Biden- 42% (16%)• Bernie- 41% (16%)• Elizabeth Warren- 39% (23%)• Kamala Harris- 36% (28%)• Cory Booker- 33% (33%)• McKinsey Pete- 32% (38%)• Beto- 30% (33%)• Julian Castro- 28% (41%)• Amy Klobuchar- 27% (43%)• Kirsten Gillibrand- 26% (40%)• Andrew Yang- 23% (50%)• Tulsi- 20% (51%)• Bill de Blasio- 19% (42%)• Jay Inslee- 19% (59%)• Tim Ryan- 19% (56%)• Frackenlooper- 19% (55%)• Michael Bennet- 18% (63%)• Tom Steyer- 17% (57%)• Delaney- 17% (60%)• Marianne Williamson- 15% (56%)• Howard Schultz- 14% (57%)• Steve Bullock- 14% (67%)• Mike Gravel- 13% (68%)• Seth Moulton- 13% (67%)• Joe Sestak- 12% (68%)• Wayne Messam- 10% (72%)
But who are these people being interviewed for these polls? Have you ever thought about that? The Economist just describes them as U.S. adult citizens-- Democrats, Republicans, Independents... They aren't likely voters although 70% says they are registered to vote. 62% live in their own home or one owned by their family and 36% live in a rental. 28% describe themselves as liberals, 27% as moderates and 32% as conservatives. 38% never got more education than high school, 32% got some college, 19% are college grads and 11% did some post graduate work. 65% said religion is important in their lives and 35% said it isn't.But is there more we can know about them? I think so. The 32nd question tells you an awful about who takes these kinds of polls-- and perhaps they are just like our fellow citizens. Draw your own conclusions:And now a look at how high DISAPPROVAL is for the country's leaders. The numbers in parentheses are, basically, "who the hell is that?":
• Señor Trumpanzee- 51% (5%)• Mitch McConnell- 49% (27%)• Nancy Pelosi- 48% (15%)• Mike Pence- 44% (16%)• Chuck Schumer- 44% (27%)• Kevin McCarthy- 32% (47%)• Democrats in Congress- 39%• Republicans in Congress- 32%
And one more-- the annual "which senators suck the worst" poll. Respondents are only asked about their own state's senators. And every year, the most hated senator in America-- by his own constituents-- is Mitch McConnell (R-KY). And this year is no different. 36% like him and a whopping 50% hope he gets hit by a truck in the next 5 seconds and is never heard from again. There aren't many senators who are underwater the way McConnell is (more of their constituents hating them than liking them. Here's the list:
• McConnell (R-KY)- minus 14%• Bob Menendez (D-NJ)- minus 8%• Susan Collins (R-ME)- minus 3%• Thom Tillis (R-NC)- minus 2%• Roy Blunt (R-MO)- minus 2%
Meanwhile, there are only 17 senators with an over 50% favorability:
• Bernie (I-VT)- +62%• Angus King (I-ME)- +62%• Pat Leahy (D-VT)- +61%• John Barrasso (R-WY)- +57%• John Hoeven (R-ND)- +57%• Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)- +56%• Mike Enzi (R-WY)- +54%• Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)- +54%• John Thune (R-SD)- +54%• Ed Markey (D-MA)- +53%• Mitt Romney (R-UT)- +53%• Mike Rounds (R-SD)- +53%• Chris Coons (D-DE)- +52%• Maggie Hassan (D-NH)- +52• Brian Schatz (D-HI)- +52%• Jack Reed (D-RI)- +51%
I'd say this is the most important take-away from the study, because Collins is going to have a really tough reelection battle next year, perhaps one she probably can't win. Democrats and Independents have both turned against her far more than in previous cycles:Last week PPP conducted a private (unreleased) poll to see how Colorado Democrats-- who have two native sons in the race-- are feeling about the presidential primary. It didn't go well for the native sons:
• Status Quo Joe- 22%• Bernie- 19%• Elizabeth Warren- 15%• Frackenlooper- 7%• Michael Bennet- 5%
And one unrelated chart that I've been saving on my desktop all week. This one shows which presidential candidates-- from both parties-- got the most individual donors from Iowans so far. Bernie isn't only crushing Status Quo Joe; he's crushing Trump as well:
