Raleigh, N.C. – Majorities of voters in Minnesota have unfavorable opinions of Michele Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty, while Amy Klobucher and Al Franken look strong against potential opponents in their upcoming U.S. Senate races.
Voters hold an unfavorable opinion of Michele Bachmann by a 34-57 margin, including a 29-59 rating among Independents. 57% of Minnesota voters also say Bachmann should not run for reelection to the House of Representatives while just 37% think she should. 59% of Independents and even 20% of Republicans say Bachmanm should not run for reelection.
Tim Pawlenty also sports a net negative favorability rating at 39-50. A majority of voters (39-51) say they would not support Pawlenty for statewide office in the future.
Amy Klobuchar appears to be in strong shape for reelection in 2012. Klobuchar holds a 61-28 approval rating. At least 80% of voters had no opinion on any of Klobuchar’s announced challengers – Dan Severson, Joe Arwood or Anthony Hernandez. Klobuchar beats them all in head to head matchups by at least 20 points. Klobuchar also leads potential head-to-head matchup with Bachmann, 58-35, and Pawlenty 54-39.
Voters approve of Al Franken by a 49/39 margin. Franken leads Tim Pawlenty (49-43) and Bachmann (54-39) in hypothetical 2014 Senate matchups.
“Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann’s Presidential bids didn’t do much to help their image back home,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Both are unpopular and would have a hard time getting elected to statewide office in the future. Meanwhile Amy Klobuchar continues to be one of the most popular Senators in the country and should have little trouble winning reelection.”
PPP surveyed 1,236 Minnesota voters from January 21st – 22nd . The margin of error for the survey is +/-2.8%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews. PPP is a Democratic polling company, but polling expert Nate Silver of the New York Times found that its surveys in 2010 actually exhibited a slight bias toward Republican candidates.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Al
Franken’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .49%
Disapprove…………. .39%
Not sure …………….. .12%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Amy
Klobuchar’s job performance?
Approve …………….. .61%
Disapprove…………. .28%
Not sure …………….. .11%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Dan Severson?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 7%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 13%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 80%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Joe Arwood?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 3%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 11%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 86%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Anthony Hernandez?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 4%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 12%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 84%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Michele Bachmann?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 34%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 57%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 9%
Q7 Do you think Michele Bachmann should run for
re-election to the House, or not?
She should……………………………………………… 37%
She should not………………………………………… 57%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Tim Pawlenty?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 39%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 50%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q9 Would you support Tim Pawlenty for statewide
office in the future, or not?
Would support Pawlenty for statewide office .. 39%
Would not……………………………………………….. 51%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 10%
Q10 If the candidates for Senate this year were
Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican Dan
Severson, who would you vote for?
Amy Klobuchar ……………………………………….. 55%
Dan Severson …………………………………………. 32%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q11 If the candidates for Senate this year were
Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican Joe
Arwood, who would you vote for?
Amy Klobuchar ……………………………………….. 55%
Joe Arwood…………………………………………….. 30%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 15%
Q12 If the candidates for Senate this year were
Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican
Anthony Hernandez, who would you vote for?
Amy Klobuchar ……………………………………….. 55%
Anthony Hernandez …………………………………. 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 16%
Q13 If the candidates for Senate this year were
Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican
Michele Bachmann, who would you vote for?
Amy Klobuchar ……………………………………….. 58%
Michele Bachmann ………………………………….. 35%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%
Q14 If the candidates for Senate this year were
Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican Tim
Pawlenty, who would you vote for?
Amy Klobuchar ……………………………………….. 54%
Tim Pawlenty ………………………………………….. 39%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%
Q15 If the candidates for Senate in 2014 were
Democrat Al Franken and Republican Michele
Bachmann, who would you vote for?
Al Franken ……………………………………………… 54%
Michele Bachmann ………………………………….. 39%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 7%
Q16 If the candidates for Senate in 2014 were
Democrat Al Franken and Republican Tim
Pawlenty, who would you vote for?
Al Franken ……………………………………………… 49%
Tim Pawlenty ………………………………………….. 43%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 8%
Q17 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 42%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 51%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 6%
Q18 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 11%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 22%
Moderate………………………………………………… 29%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 22%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 16%
Q19 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 51%
Man……………………………………………………….. 49%
Q20 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 36%
Republican……………………………………………… 33%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 32%
Q21 If you are white, press 1. If other, press 2.
White …………………………………………………….. 92%
Other……………………………………………………… 8%
Q22 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1. If 30 to
45, press 2. If 46 to 65, press 3. If you are
older than 65, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 12%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 32%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 36%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
