Raleigh, N.C. – A near majority of Kentucky voters disapprove of Mitch McConnell’s job performance and do not want him to continue as the Republican leader in the Senate next January. Voters are split on whether his leadership role is a good thing for the state. Democrats and moderates are even more against him than Republicans and conservatives are for him.
By a 48-34 margin, Kentucky voters are unhappy with the job McConnell is doing for them. Conservatives approve, 47-27, as do Republicans, 51-25, but 63% of both moderates and the 52%-majority Democrats disapprove.
McConnell’s overall job approval marks reflect feelings about his performance as leader as well as senator. For the most part, those who like how McConnell is doing in Washington want him to continue as the GOP’s leader in the next Congress, and those who do not do not. The answers for moderates and Democrats are almost exactly the same, but 56% of conservatives and 61% of Republicans wish him to continue at the head of their caucus. Men are split at 43%, but women are down, 34-54.
Barely more, 44%, think McConnell’s corralling of his party’s actions in the Senate is a positive for Kentucky than the 43% who say it is a negative, and opinions among the subgroups are polar opposites. 62% of conservatives and 68% of Republicans say they see the benefits of his title, but 57% of moderates and 58% of Democrats do not. There is a huge gender gap, with men breaking for McConnell, 50-35, and women against, 38-48.
“This is just more evidence that although Republicans are poised for a big year at the polls, voters are not any more happy with the Republicans in Congress than they are with the Democrats,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.
PPP surveyed 625 Kentucky voters from June 28th to 30th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-3.9%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
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 approve or disapprove of Senator Mitch
McConnell’s job performance? If you approve,
press 1. If you disapprove, press 2. If you’re
not sure, press 3.
Approve …………………………………………………. 34%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 48%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 19%
Q2 Would you like to see Mitch McConnell
continue in his role as Republican leader in the
next Congress? If yes, press 1. If no, press 2.
If you’re not sure, press 3.
Yes ……………………………………………………….. 38%
No …………………………………………………………. 49%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 13%
Q3 Do you think that Mitch McConnell’s leadership
role in Congress is a good thing for Kentucky?
If yes, press 1. If no, press 2. If you’re not
sure, press 3.
Yes ……………………………………………………….. 44%
No …………………………………………………………. 43%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 14%
Q4 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Jim
Bunning’s job performance? If you approve,
press 1. If you disapprove, press 2. If you’re
not sure, press 3.
Approve …………………………………………………. 27%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 44%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 29%
Q5 Who did you vote for President last year? If
John McCain, press 1. If Barack Obama, press
2. If someone else or you don’t remember,
press 3.
McCain…………………………………………………… 53%
Obama…………………………………………………… 38%
Someone Else/Don’t Remember………………… 9%
Q6 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative? If liberal, press 1. If
moderate, press 2. If conservative, press 3.
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 12% Moderate………………………………………………… 41%
Conservative…………………………………………… 47%
Q7 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 55%
Man……………………………………………………….. 45%
Q8 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If you are a
Republican, press 2. If you are an independent
or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 52%
Republican……………………………………………… 37%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 11%
Q9 If you are white, press one now. If you are
African-American, press two now. If other,
press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 89%
African-American …………………………………….. 8%
Other……………………………………………………… 3%
Q10 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1 now. If
you are 30 to 45, press 2. If you are 46 to 65,
press 3. If older, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 10%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 24%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 42%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 24%
