Raleigh, N.C. –Dave Freudenthal has long been one of the most popular governors in the country. Despite being a Democrat in a state where almost two-thirds of voters are Republicans and where a full two-thirds disapprove of President Obama’s job performance, Freudenthal’s work over his two terms earns the approval of 71% of Wyoming’s voters. Yet if he were to challenge Senator John Barrasso next year, the state’s overwhelming partisan leanings and the possibility of another vote for the unpopular president’s agenda would make him a serious underdog for higher office.
Freudenthal’s tenure is universally popular, with 85% of Democrats, 66% of Republicans, and 69% of independents looking back fondly on the last eight years.
Yet as in many red states with popular Democratic chief executives, almost all of those Republicans and independents naturally abandon Freudenthal when they are given the choice of advancing him to federal office. Barrasso leads by 20 points—56-36. In almost any other state, Freudenthal has the support he would need for a small lead. He trails Barrasso with independents by only one point (42-43) and takes 80% of Democrats to the incumbent’s 73% of Republicans, also earning 18% GOP support and only losing 16% of Democrats. But 64% of the electorate claims to be Republicans, with only 23% Democrats and the balance independents.
Barrasso and colleague Mike Enzi are easily the most popular of the 72 senators PPP has measured in the last year. Barrasso has a 69-25 approval rating, and Enzi is not too shabby, at 63-24. Barrasso gets the nod from a third of Democrats and has a 57-33 margin with independents, along with a strong 84-10 in his own party.
“There’s no state in the country that loves its politicians like Wyoming,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “It has the most popular Governor and 2 most popular Senators we’ve ever polled on anywhere.”
Newly inaugurated Governor Matt Mead gets an early honeymoon toward matching Freudenthal’s good will, with 53% saying they have a favorable opinion of him and only 17% an unfavorable one.
PPP surveyed 1,039 Wyoming voters from January 4th to 5th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.0%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of President
Barack Obama’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 29%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 66%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%
Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of the work
Dave Freudenthal did during his 8 years as
Governor?
Approve …………………………………………………. 71%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 18%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Matt Mead?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 53%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 17%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 30%
Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Mike
Enzi’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 63%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 24%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 13%
Q5 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator John
Barrasso’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 69%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 25%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 6%
Q6 If the candidates for US Senate next year were
Republican John Barrasso and Democrat Dave
Freudenthal, who would you vote for?
John Barrasso…………………………………………. 56%
Dave Freudenthal ……………………………………. 36%
Undecided………………………………………………. 9%
Q7 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 9%
Moderate………………………………………………… 37%
Conservative…………………………………………… 54%
Q8 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 53%
Man……………………………………………………….. 47%
Q9 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 ……………………………………………….. 23%
Republican……………………………………………… 64%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 13%
Q10 If you are white, press 1. If other, press 2.
White …………………………………………………….. 94%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%
Q11 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………………………………………………….. 8%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 20%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 45%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 27%
