Raleigh, N.C. – Bernie Sanders is one of the most popular senators in the country. Two-thirds of his constituents approve of his job performance as he heads toward his first re-election bid next year, and he gets at least 56% of the vote, regardless of his opponent.
Of his colleagues on which PPP has polled, the only ones who can claim to be more beloved are Hawaii’s Daniel Inouye and Wyoming’s John Barrasso, but they serve states with much more overwhelming partisan registration advantages. An independent who caucuses with the Democrats, Sanders’ unabashed democratic socialist views have nevertheless served him well with independent voters, 68% of whom like the work he has done for them. Democrats are unanimously behind him, 93-5, and even a quarter of the state’s more moderate Republicans give him good marks.
The only potential GOP foe who can approach Sanders’ personal popularity is former Governor Jim Douglas, who is seen positively by 56% and negatively by 29%. Most of the others are not well-known, and most seen only moderately well, compared to the incumbent. Former Lt. Gov. and 2010 gubernatorial nominee Brian Dubie gets 48-33 favorability marks, Lt. Gov. Phil Scott a 33-12 grade, Auditor Tom Salmon a 30-23, failed 2010 Lt. Gov. candidate Mark Snelling a 19-16, State Sen. Randy Brock a 16-16, and Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon the only one in negative territory, at 7-15.
Therefore, Sanders bests the field by a wide margin, topping Douglas, 56-38; Dubie, 60-34; Scott, 61-30; Salmon, 62-28; Brock, 65-28; Snelling, 62-25; and Lauzon, 63-24. He wins the huge independent vote by margins of 20 to 48 points, and earns more Republican votes than the GOP candidates do Democratic votes against everyone but Douglas, earning 6-17% of the GOP and losing only 3-7% of Democrats.
“Any thought that Bernie Sanders might be vulnerable for reelection can be put to rest,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.
PPP surveyed 1,233 Vermont voters from July 28th to 31st. 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
Bernie Sanders’ job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 67%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 28%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 5%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Randy Brock?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 16%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 16%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 68%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Jim Douglas?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 56%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 29%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 14%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Brian Dubie?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 48%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 33%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 19%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Thom Lauzon?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 7%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 15%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 77%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Tom Salmon?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 30%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 23%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 47%
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Phil Scott?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 33%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 12%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 55%
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Mark Snelling?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 19%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 16%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 65%
Q9 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Independent Bernie Sanders and Republican
Randy Brock, who would you vote for?
Bernie Sanders ……………………………………….. 65%
Randy Brock …………………………………………… 28%
Undecided………………………………………………. 7%
Q10 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Independent Bernie Sanders and Republican
Jim Douglas, who would you vote for?
Bernie Sanders ……………………………………….. 56%
Jim Douglas ……………………………………………. 38%
Undecided………………………………………………. 6%
Q11 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Independent Bernie Sanders and Republican
Brian Dubie, who would you vote for?
Bernie Sanders ……………………………………….. 60%
Brian Dubie…………………………………………….. 34%
Undecided………………………………………………. 6%
Q12 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Independent Bernie Sanders and Republican
Thom Lauzon, who would you vote for?
Bernie Sanders ……………………………………….. 63%
Thom Lauzon………………………………………….. 24%
Undecided………………………………………………. 13%
Q13 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Independent Bernie Sanders and Republican
Tom Salmon, who would you vote for?
Bernie Sanders ……………………………………….. 62%
Tom Salmon……………………………………………. 28%
Undecided………………………………………………. 10%
Q14 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Independent Bernie Sanders and Republican
Phil Scott, who would you vote for?
Bernie Sanders ……………………………………….. 61%
Phil Scott………………………………………………… 30%
Undecided………………………………………………. 9%
Q15 If the candidates for Senate next year were
Independent Bernie Sanders and Republican
Mark Snelling, who would you vote for?
Bernie Sanders ……………………………………….. 62%
Mark Snelling………………………………………….. 25%
Undecided………………………………………………. 13%
Q16 Who did you vote for President in 2008?
John McCain…………………………………………… 32%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 60%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 8%
Q17 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 15%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 25%
Moderate………………………………………………… 30%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 20%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 9%
Q18 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 52%
Man……………………………………………………….. 48%
Q19 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 ……………………………………………….. 37%
Republican……………………………………………… 24%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 40%
Q20 If you are white, press 1. If other, press 2.
White …………………………………………………….. 94%
Other……………………………………………………… 6%
Q21 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………………………………………………….. 10%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 28%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 42%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 20%
