Voters consider NRA endorsement a negative

Much has been made in recent weeks about the NRA's political strength, but PPP's newest national poll finds more voters consider their endorsement to be a negative than a positive. 39% say they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who had the NRA's support to just 26% who say they'd be more likely to, with 32% saying it wouldn't influence them one way or the other. Among independents 41% consider an NRA endorsement to be a turn off to 27% who say it's a plus.

In general 53% of voters say they support stricter gun laws in the country to 39% who are opposed to them. Those numbers are basically identical to a 53/40 spread a month ago, suggesting that the desire for stronger legislation has not died down as Newtown gradually fades from voters' minds. On the specific issue of an assault weapons ban 51% of voters are supportive to 42% who are opposed. It has support from a solid majority of Democrats, as well as 26% of Republicans.

Other notes from our new national poll:

-Congressional Republicans have seen some improvement in their numbers over the last month. They still have only a 22% approval rating with 68% of voters disapproving of them, but that's an improvement from a 15/75 spread a month ago. Most of the improvement has come with GOP voters, whose anger over the fiscal cliff deal seems to have subsided a little bit.

Nevertheless the -46 approval spread for the Republicans is 32 points worse than the Democrats' -14. 39% of voters give them good marks to 53% who disapprove. The generic Congressional ballot is tied at 45 after Democrats led it 47/41 last month. That's also due to Republicans rallying back around their party- they say they'd support the GOP 89/6 if there was an election today, compared to 81/11 when we asked last month.

-In addition to being closely divided on Congress, Americans are also closely divided on President Obama. 49% approve of the job he's doing to 48% who disapprove. Voters narrowly support Chuck Hagel's confirmation as Secretary of Defense, 39/33.  As much attention as Hagel has received over the last few months, 28% of voters still don't care about his fate one way or the other.

-64% of voters nationally think illegal immigrants should be given a chance to apply for legal citizenship, compared to only 27% who think they should be deported back to their home countries. Over two thirds of white voters with an opinion on the matter (60/29) and a plurality of Republicans (44/41) support a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants in the country.

-We continue to find voters more reluctant to identify themselves as Republicans after the party's loss in November. Our final pre-election poll found Democrats with a 2 point party identification advantage at 39/37. Our three national surveys since the election have found it at 44/32, 43/34, and 42/33. Democratic identification is up an average of 4 points since the election and Republican identification is down by an average of 4 points.

Full results here

Comments

[obama drone strike]

What is the exact wording of the question, along with any other comments made, prior to asking about "banning assault rifles?" The reason I ask is there is a huge difference in the result for the gallup/usa today poll where Americans are opposed. Given the fact that even most of the Dems are now running away from trying to ban rifles, their own internal polling must be closer to what Gallup is showing than what PPP is showing.

Of course, Americans in polls were said to be for the AWB in 1994, but then the people who voted for it were voted out in droves. As always, it comes down to how questions are worded and what a difference that can make.

PS Why not conduct a poll seeing if Americans agree with the Obama admin's policy that any US citizen who is deemed to be a "terrorist" can be assassinated without charge or trial according to NBC News?

[TBetz]

"Obama drone strike": You can read the questions for yourself at the "Full results here" link above: http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_National_205.pdf

They look pretty straightforward to me.

I'd like to see PPP poll the drone question, as well; judging from conversations I've been having, the results would likely have both of us being disappointed in our fellow Americans. Most "liberals" don't even seem to mind even taking out foreign children as "collateral damage" if they think it means taking out "terrorists". No matter that the drone strikes make more enemies than they kill.

[Freedom_is_Maintained_By_Armed_Citizens]

The issue with this poll is that there is a higher number of people polled that are against the NRA to begin with instead of the more even numbers that would show more support otherwise.

Democrats usually are against the NRA, and the numbers here show that they are against guns as well. So this isn't a NRA dislike, it's a disapproval of gun ownership, something that is a right in this country and not a privilege.