Volume 8, Issue 7 • July/August 2012
A M
O N T H L Y
P
O L L
C
O M P I L A T I O N
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org
The Lowdown on Congress
In the next two pages we examine views about Congress and about Democrats and Republicans in the body. Congressremains deeply unpopular and high confidence in the institution falls below all 16 institutions Gallup examined recently.As the graph on page 2 shows, views of the parties in Congress were similar in 2010 and early 2011, but disapproval of theRepublicans there spiked in the summer of 2011.Washington’s two top Congress watchers, Charlie Cook and Stu Rothenberg, recently filed columns about their expec-tations for November. “One might have expected two years after Republicans picked up 63 House seats [in 2010]—thebiggest gain in a midterm election since 1938—Democrats would be on track to win back a boatload of those districtsthat the GOP didn’t have much business winning in the first place,” says Cook. But four months out, both Cook andRothenberg see modest Democratic gains. Presidents seeking reelection rarely have long coattails in the House. Republi-can control of the Senate at this stage appears to be a 50-50 proposition.
Q: Do you . . . ?
Source: Gallup, latest that of July 2012.
(continued on the next page)
Jan2009May2009Sep2009Jan2010May2010Sep2010Jan2011May2011Sep2011Jan2012May201216%78%0102030405060708090100Disapprove of the way Congress is handling its jobApproveJuly2012
Thus far in the 112th Congress, eight members of Congress have resigned. Twenty-five House members havechosen not to seek reelection. By comparison, at this point in 2010, there were forty open House seats.
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org
2
Q: I am going to read you a list of institutions in American society. Please tell me how much confidence you, yourself have in each one . . . ?
Source: Gallup, June 2012.
Q: Do you think the representative in Congress from your district has performed his or her job well enough to deservereelection, or do you think it is time to give a new person a chance?
Your member deserves reelection35%Time to give a new person a chance51
Note: Sample is registered voters.Source:
National Journal
’s Congressional Connection, July 2012.
Q: Regardless of how you feel about your representative, would you . . . ?
Would like to see most members reelected28%Would not61
Note: Sample is registered voters.Source:
National Journal
’s Congressional Connection, July 2012.
(continued from the previous page)
01020304050607080The militarySmall businessThe policeChurch/organized religionThe medical systemThe US Supreme CourtThe presidencyThe public schoolsCriminal justice systemNewspapersBanksTelevision newsOrganized laborBig businessHMOs
Congress
75%63%56%44%41%37%37%29%29%25%21%21%21%21%19%
13%
Great deal/Quite a lot of confidence
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org
3
The Parties in Congress
Q: Do you . . . ?
Source: Quinnipiac, latest that of July 2012.
29%62%24%68%Disapprove, Republicansin CongressDisapprove, Democratsin CongressApprove, Democratsin CongressApprove, Republicansin Congress01020304050607080Feb2009Jun2009Oct2009Feb2010Jun-010Oct2010Feb2011Jun2011Oct2011Feb2012Jun2012
Q: Thinking about your vote for Congress this fall,will the issue of . . . ?
Which party controlsCongress will be a factorin your vote for Congressthis fall
June 199845%July 200046June 200247June 200443June 200658June 200844June 201058
June 201249
Source: Pew Research Center,June 2012.
If the Congressional Election Were Held Today . . .Would vote for theRepublicanDemocratfor Congress
NBC/
WSJ
June 201244%45% (Registered voters)Democracy Corps (D)June 20124645 (Likely voters)BloombergJune 20124148(Likely voters)PewJune 20124347 (Registered voters)Ipsos/ReutersJune 20124447 (Registered voters)QuinnipiacJuly 20124043(Registered voters)
Note: The NBC/
Wall Street Journal
question asks about preference for the outcome of this year’scongressional elections. All other pollsters here ask people how they are going to vote.
Breaking News: Congress is unpopular! Plus, fresh poll findings about Election 2012, health care, and more
AEI Political Report, July 2012:
• Paid staff and blood relatives: Only 17 percent approve of the job Congress is doing, and just 13 percent have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in… (More)
• Paid staff and blood relatives: Only 17 percent approve of the job Congress is doing, and just 13 percent have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in… (More)
3.1K
Reads
1
Readcasts
3.2K
Embed Views
Recommended
More From This User
Notes
Load more
