SUMMARY OF RESULTS

Raleigh, N.C. – A monkey wrench on the GOP mandate narrative: Three weeks after voters swept Democrats out of power in the U.S. House, both parties’ congressmen are very unpopular with American voters. But Democrats remain better liked than Republicans now, as they were before this month’s elections, by 16 points on the margin, with a 36-56 approval rating to Republicans’ 25-61. At 24-61, Democrats do marginally better than Republicans’ 17-60 among independents, but the real difference is a 35-point chasm between the two party bases. Democrats approve of their representatives, 69-22, but Republicans of theirs by only a 50-38 edge.

A 53% majority of registered voters also think that those who came into power campaigning on Obamacare repeal should decline their federal health plan, and only a third think they should accept it. Many Democrats have been pushing Republicans to deny their benefits, but among all voters, the pressure is actually by far stronger with Republicans and independents than with Democrats.

Voters’ desire for change this year extends to the current minority leadership team that will ascend another rung come January. By more than 2:1 (55-27), Americans also would prefer that the GOP replace its leadership instead of elevating John Boehner and the others. Independents prefer a different group by a 57-20 margin, and even Republicans are split, just 43-40 in favor of the status quo. Americans are less certain about Boehner specifically becoming Speaker, splitting 38-37 against. But most of that is because of expected Democratic disapproval. Republicans support him over any other Republican, 61-17, and independents only narrowly fall against him, 40-38.

“Republicans should not forget that 2010 was not an endorsement of Republicanism but the third in a series of change elections amid a fickle, ever-shifting electorate, and Republicans are not so fond of their own leadership,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Americans also think anti-health care reform congressmen should be principled and refuse to accept the health plan Congressmen usually get for free.”

PPP surveyed 707 American voters from November 19th to 21st. The survey’s margin of error is +/-3.7%. 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.
Quesitons about the poll? Contact Tom Jensen at (919) 774-6312 

NATIONAL SURVEY RESULTS

Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of the job Democrats in Congress are doing?

Approve…………….. 36%
Not sure ……………. 8%
Disapprove ………… 56%

Q2 Do you approve or disapprove of the job Republicans in Congress are doing?

Approve…………….. 25%
Not sure ……………. 14%
Disapprove ………… 61%

Q3 Do you think Republicans should keep the leaders they’ve had in the US House of Representatives for the last two years or replace them?

Keep current leadership ………….27%
Replace them …….. 55%
Not sure …………….18%

Q4 Do you want John Boehner to become Speaker of the House or would you prefer that a different Republican was chosen?

Boehner ……………. 37%
Different Republican………….38%
Not sure ……………. 25%

Q5 Do you think the Democratic Party is too 
liberal, too conservative, or about right?

Too liberal………….. 48%
Too conservative … 11%
About right…………. 34%
Not sure ……………. 7%

Q6 Do you think the Republican Party is too liberal, too conservative, or about right?

Too liberal………….. 21%
Too conservative … 43%
About right…………. 31%
Not sure ……………. 5%

Q7 Do you think newly elected members of Congress who campaigned against the health care bill should accept or decline government provided health care now that they’re in office?

Accept ………………. 33%
Decline ……………… 53%
Not sure ……………. 15%

Q8 Who did you vote for President in 2008?

John McCain……………………………………………45%
Barack Obama…………………………………………50%
Someoneelse/Don’tremember…………………. 5%

Q9 Would you describe yourself as a liberal, moderate, or conservative?

Liberal ……………………………………………………. 17%
Moderate………………………………………………… 45%
Conservative …………………………………………… 39%

Q10 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.

Woman…………………………………………………..53%
Man………………………………………………………..47%

Q11 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 ……………………………………………….. 42%
Republican ……………………………………………… 35%
Independent/Other ………………………………… 23% 

Q12 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2. If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.

Hispanic ………………………………………………… 10%
White …………………………………………………….. 74%
African-American …………………………………. 12%
Other……………………………………………………… 4%

Q13 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………………………………………………….. 33%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 41%
Older than 65 ………………………………………….. 16%

Q14 If you live in the Northeast, press 1. If the South, press 2. If the Midwest, press 3. If the West, press 4.

Northeast ……………………………………………….. 27%
South ………………………………………………………. 27%
Midwest …………………………………………………. 32%
West………………………………………………………… 15%

Full results (including crossover tabs) and press release: PPP_Release_National_1123.pdf