OK...so I made it to TWO days in a row with this update. And it is a darned good thing, too. What better way to bring on the weekend than some numerical and analytical treats from the goodie bag??
NC-PRES--Obama Job Approval 51%, Disapproval 41%
PPP polls here monthly, and their numbers here have been unbelievably consistent since the inaugural. All of Obama's job approval numbers have been between 51-54% in this state which he won 50-49 in November. That does not change with May's incarnation of the PPP poll.
Also, worth a glance, Tom Jensen at PPP on why he does not think that the announcement by Roy Cooper that he is demurring from a Senate bid necessarily means that Richard Burr is in the clear.
MN-SEN--70% Say Coleman Should Concede If MN Supreme Court Rules For Franken
Interesting stat from this week's SurveyUSA poll out of Minnesota. If the Minnesota Supreme Court, as most expect, denies the claims of former Senator Norm Coleman, over two thirds of Minnesota voters think that he should call it a day. Not surprisingly, 58% of Minnesota Republicans think he should fight on regardless. Speaking of SUSA and Minnesota...
MN-GOV--57% Say Pawlenty Should NOT Seek A Third Term
Only 41% of Minnesotans want Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty to run for a third term. Even 21% of Republicans are eager for someone else to take the stage. Given that Pawlenty is believed to harbor presidential ambitions, he is going to have a very difficult decision to make in the coming months. Losing a governor's race is not usually a springboard to higher office. Seeing how he barely cheated political demise in 2006, he might be loath to try his luck again.
NY-SEN--Rep. Steve Israel Declines A Bid For the Senate
Ben Smith at Politico brings news that Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), the 5th term Long Island congresman who had been mentioned as a likely primary opponent to appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. It also points out that Israel agreed to step back from a challenge at the request of President Obama. You gotta wonder if Carolyn McCarthy and Carolyn Maloney are due for a phone call, as well.
That, or a few numbers in Illinois might be on the call sheet.
ISSUES--Majority of Americans Pro-Life, Says Gallup
Here is an interesting little data point out of a survey conducted this week by Gallup: for the first time, more people claim to be "pro-life" (51%) than claim to be "pro-choice". Gallup has been asking this question since 1995, and this is the first time "pro-life" has been the plurality position, let alone the majority one. Gallup, perhaps not shockingly, given their status as a traditional media outlet, blames it on Obama:
It is possible that, through his abortion policies, Obama has pushed the public's understanding of what it means to be "pro-choice" slightly to the left, politically. While Democrats may support that, as they generally support everything Obama is doing as president, it may be driving others in the opposite direction.
For what it is worth, CNN polled on this same question last month, and found Pro-Choice identifiers leading Pro-Life identifiers by a narrow 49-45 margin. Quinnipiac polled as well (wording the question slightly differently) and found 52% supporting a legal right to an abortion, and 41% in opposition.
For more on public opinion on the abortion issue, check out this nice compendium at Polling Report.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY--Rasmussen Poll: Who Is In Charge Here??!!??
Finally, Rasmussen asked voters who is in charge of the Republican Party, and 37% of Republicans said...well...no one.
This actually represents an improvement for the boys and girls in red. A few months ago, Rasmussen asked the same question, and 2/3 of Republican voters could not identify a leader.
Among those willing to give a name to THEIR leader, McCain led with 15%, followed closely by Michael Steele, who about 1 in 8 GOP voters see as their leader. Not so much on the job security for that guy.
6% of Republican voters were honest enough to identify Rush Limbaugh as their leader.