In Targeted Republican Districts, Voters Turn on Congress and Their Own Members

It's long been a truism of polling that voters hate Congress, but like their own Congressperson. Well, in targeted Republican-held Congressional districts, that's no longer true. Yesterday PPP released a flurry of surveys commissioned by House Majority PAC, and in nearly every district, the Republican members were very nearly as unpopular as "Republicans in Congress" as a group.

In the eight districts surveyed, "Republicans in Congress" received net disapproval ratings, and in all but two districts, over half disapprove of the majority party. Similarly, six of the eight Republican members tested have net negative approval ratings. And three (Joe Walsh in IL-8, Dan Benishek in MI-1, and Robert Gibbs in OH-7) have approval ratings perilously close to their party as a whole. None of the eight look strong.

The table below shows the approval numbers made public by PPP. (UPDATE: PPP is a Democratic-leaning firm, and House Majority PAC is a Democratic group. No disapproval for King was released.)

Congressional approval is at historic lows, driven largely by Republicans in the House. As a result, in top Democratic pickup opportunities Republican members suffer.

 

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Comments

[Robert Fanney]

12:19 PM on 01/30/2012

Um. Republicans... Where are the jobs?? You know, the jobs you ran on in 08? Yeah, those jobs. The ones you haven't put up one bill for. Yep. Them. Where are they?

[katyland]

12:14 PM on 02/10/2012

Um, where are the jobs created by the dems,?

Could it be that those jobs of late may be comming from, companies that are hopeful that 2012 will see a friedly adminstration voted in, instead of the anti buisness one we have now.
After all 2 years of all dems, provided alot of debt, and no jobs. now closer we get to voting day jobs are growing and to think this congress wants a buisness friendly goverment ,
All things can have 2 sides.

[Vicki Greem]

10:44 AM on 02/11/2012

Really? Do you really believe that? Do you follow Hannity on Fox news too?

[peter777]

09:49 PM on 01/29/2012

We should eliminate political parties, and have open elections with primaries. Madison said: "The public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties . . ." In his Farewell Address, George Washington also warned against the creation of political parties. He called them "baneful," very harmful, for the nation. Indeed, they have proven to be a very bad idea and bad for the American people.

[Giggie]

07:56 PM on 01/29/2012

Do the GOP in congress pay attention to this....their tactics are not supported by the public....the extreme members in the party, are leading them over the cliff.....thank Norquist.

[mirrorwrlds]

06:14 PM on 01/29/2012

The question is when will the Koch brothers stop backing the Tea Party with money if it looks like the tide is turning on the GOP/ Tea Party support? Like all good businessmen they will throw in the towel on this venture and will turn to another one.

[Civil Action]

07:24 PM on 01/28/2012

The think the best approach for Dems push voter turnout, is take a page from Mr Rove and put two intiatives on every state ballot. 1) Deny "personhood" to all corporations and 2) Prohibit all corporations from funding political parties or candidates.

While both are symbolic, as much as many anti-abortion or anti-gay measures were, and later overturned in court, these initiatives will push the middle/independent (sane) voter to the polls.
Start the signature process now! I can't wait to see, Mr Romney, "Corporations are People" run against this issue.

[demisfine]

01:32 PM on 01/27/2012

Mitch McConnell is their Pied Piper.
They are following him to their own demise.

[columbusbuck]

04:51 AM on 01/28/2012

Since these are Representatives, it's reasonable to assume you meant John Boehner was their 'pied piper'.

[fltz24]

12:05 AM on 01/30/2012

Boehners reputation in southern Ohio is not so great.

[caveman06]

12:23 PM on 01/27/2012

Hmmmm, when Pelosi was Chair of the house was the popularity of the House so much higher? Actually not. Which is probably why the DemocRATS lost the house in 2010.

[Matt Chernesky]

05:05 PM on 01/27/2012

No need to worry, she'll be the Speaker again soon.

[Olivio]

06:26 PM on 01/28/2012

I really can't wait to clean up Congress from those republiCons, then start working hard to restore fairness, to resolutely push the country forward and rebuild it for future generations.

[WeThePeople99percent]

11:10 AM on 01/27/2012

Thank God. People are beginning to wake up. Democrats if some republican voters are beginning to understand what's really happening we have to work on making fun of their intelligence. I'm as guilty as any other Independant/Democrat at doing it even more so than most. Only the downright FAAAAR Right racist ones deserve any of that. I was a Republican who finally started letting facts out weigh pig headedness and was VERY P*ssed off when I could see clearer. We have to stay vigilent about it.

[Olivio]

06:42 PM on 01/28/2012

Congratulations to you, you found the truth. I've never been able to understand why do poor and middle class republicans are voting against their own interests as well as a better future for their children. I don't understand why they vote for politicians who favor policies that keep widening the income gap between the very few wealthy and the vanishing middle class and the poor, leaving no hope to the latter categories, as it becomes harder to acquire a good education, that it will ever get better.

[jansterone]

04:30 AM on 02/01/2012

I have been saying that for years.....I don't know how the average person can't see what is going on and who rebulicans are really wanting to help....Duh......how about themselves!

[GranE]

11:29 AM on 02/01/2012

One has to be intelligent to see that higher education is out of reach for many Americans. People can be intelligent without a college degree, but many who vote don't even have the rudimentary education to read or understand a referendum on a ballot. They punch the R button because they are too lazy to read or try to understand, then bellyache later because they see the consequences of their vote. Case in point is Texas where education is on the bottom rung in America. The rural vote keeps putting Perry in office while they lose their school funding and have to pay higher property taxes. They are swirling the drain constantly and their counties are Republican but they blame Washington.

[glendadover]

02:09 PM on 01/29/2012

I'm a Independent and we also have to keep educated as to the politicians stances. I read links on everything I can find to make sure that I check the facts and not believe everything I hear or read.
So glad that other people are now seeing the light to what is going on in the US.