Raleigh, N.C. – The approval ratings of Missouri’s Senators have gone in opposite directions over the last four months as debate over the health care bill has heated up.
Kit Bond now has the support of 44% of Missouri voters to 35% who disapprove of him and 21% with no opinion. That’s up slightly from a 41/34 spread back in November. 68% of Republicans, 47% of independents, and 17% of Democrats give him good marks as he heads into retirement.
Claire McCaskill’s seen a downward trend in her numbers and now has a 38% approval rating while a 51% majority of voters in the state disapprove of her. There’s very little difference right now between how voters feel about the health care bill and how they feel about McCaskill. 85% of Republicans give her poor marks and only 3% say they like what she’s doing. She’s under water by a 54/33 margin with independents as well.
Jim Talent, who may seek a rematch with McCaskill after being defeated by her for reelection in 2006, is viewed favorably by 38% of the state’s voters while 32% see him unfavorably. In a reminder that voters forget politicians quickly 30% have no opinion about him.
There’s a high degree of ambivalence toward Jay Nixon’s performance as Governor but he continues to be the rare big state Governor with an approval rating in positive territory. 37% of voters like how he’s doing, 29% don’t, and 34% have no opinion.
Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, seen as a likely 2012 Nixon foe, is a blank slate to 59% of voters with 22% seeing him favorably and 18% unfavorably.
PPP surveyed 495 Missouri voters on March 27th and 28th. The survey’s margin of error is +/-4.4%. 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.
