Raleigh, N.C. – Democrats may not hold onto their almost four-year-long majority in the U.S. House in the next Congress, but if they do, a bare majority of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s fellow California residents would prefer someone else take over the gavel in a diminished Democratic caucus. 38% are fine with Pelosi, but 50% want another representative to chair.
In August, PPP polled similar questions for John Boehner in Ohio. While the overall desire for him to become Speaker among Buckeyes is less (28-44) than for Pelosi in her home state, that is largely a function of Democrats’ greater prevalence in the California electorate than Republicans’ in Ohio. Independents prefer someone else to each of them by margins of almost 2:1, 22-41 for Boehner and 29-56 for Pelosi. The most important figure, though, is that the two leaders have similar levels of support from their respective party bases, Pelosi at 62-22 and Boehner at 54-15.
Boehner is far less known in his native territory than is Pelosi in the Golden State, with a 27-31 favorability rating and 42% having no opinion. The current Speaker, meanwhile, engenders a considerably stronger reaction, at 38-48. Only 14% are not sure.
Unaffiliateds are only slightly down on Boehner personally, at 22-27, but they frown on Pelosi, 27-62. Interestingly, nonpartisans who are undecided on Boehner as a person are decidedly against him being Speaker, but for Pelosi, a small number of those with an unfavorable opinion actually prefer her to any alternative.
“Republicans everywhere are running against Nancy Pelosi and poll numbers like this show you why,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “She’s not even popular in her home state of California.”
PPP surveyed 630 likely California voters from September 14th to 16th. The margin of error is +/-3.9%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
Complete results are attached, and can be found at www.publicpolicypolling.com.
If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Nancy Pelosi?
Favorable ………….. 38%
Unfavorable……….. 48%
Not sure ……………. 14%
Q2 Do you want Nancy Pelosi to remain Speaker
of the House if Democrats retain control of
Congress, or would you prefer someone else?
Pelosi ……………….. 38%
Someone else ……. 50%
Not sure ……………. 12%
Q3 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 36%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 57%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 6%
Q4 If you are a liberal, press 1. If a moderate,
press 2. If a conservative, press 3.
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 27%
Moderate………………………………………………… 39%
Conservative…………………………………………… 34%
Q5 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%
Man……………………………………………………….. 48%
Q6 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 ……………………………………………….. 49%
Republican……………………………………………… 33%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 18%
Q7 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If Asian, press 4.
If other, press 5.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 20%
White …………………………………………………….. 62%
African-American …………………………………….. 8%
Asian……………………………………………………… 6%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%
Q8 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………………………………………………….. 11%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 39%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 23%
