Public Policy Polling (PPP) release some extensive polling results for Arizona yesterday, and the results are a mix of good news, bad news, and plain old ugly news. David Nir mention some of the results in his DK Elections Morning Digest for today, but I wanted to present a more in depth look at the polling, mixed with a bit of humor.
Complete PPP report on their recent polling for Arizona can be found here.
First the good: Arizona is not happy with how Governor Jan Brewer attemptes to manipulate redistricting in Arizona. Only 31% of voters support Brewer removing Colleen Mathis as chair of the Redistricting Commission, 43% oppose her removal. While Republican approve of the actions by Brewer and Republicans in the state senate by 54/16%, Democrats are even more unified in their displeasure with her action, 13/72%. And Independents side with us as well, disapproving by a 19/41%. Voters don't necessarily approve of the draft Congressional maps proposed by the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC). Most voters don't know enough about them - 42% have no opinion on the maps, with 33% disapproving and only 25% approving. A large majority just saw what Brewer and the Republican state Senate did for what it was - a highly partisan power grab.
And while (unfortunately) SB1070 still maintains widespread support (57-35% approval), Arizona voters are happy to see it's chief architect gone - 47% of voters are happy with the the recall Of former Senate President Russell Pearce with 28% disapproving and 25% have no opinion. So, our good guy of the diary - Randy Parraz of Citizens for a Better Arizona, which got many times the signatures necessary to make Arizona's first recall election of a state legislator.
Now some bad (although not necessarily bad news): Turns out our very own John McCain is the most unpopular US Senator in the 87 Senators PPP has polled. Only 50% of Republicans support McCain while 38% disapprove of him. PP Notes that while other Senators (they mention Snowe & Collins of Maine) have even lower support from Republicans, they make up for that with support from Independents & Democrats. But the two-thirds of Arizonans who aren't Republicans overwhelmingly don't like McCain, with Independents disapproving 66/23 and Democrats 68/24. I think that says lot about the ability of the Arizona Democratic Party to field competitive candidates for US Senate races. I think that's going to change for 2012, but then AzDem.org didn't do the heavy recruiting for Richard Carmona.
Has "America's Toughest Sheriff finally worn out his welcome? Joe Arpaio holds a narrow approval rating of 47/45%. But that's that's down from 49/42 when PPP polled in May of this year, and down even more from 53/38 when they polled in April 2010. If he isn't indicted and arrested by then, here's hoping Randy Parraz and Citizens for a Better Arizona work their magic on Arpaio in 2012!!!!
And the ugly: I'll just quote PPP -
Arizona voters continue to support last year's sweeping immigration legislation, Senate Bill 1070, by a 57/35 margin. Republicans are pretty unanimous in their continued favor for the bill and independents (62/31) and even 30% of Democrats are happy with it as well.
And Governor Jan Brewer has sunk to a net disapproval rating of -7 points with a 42/49% approval/disapproval. Republicans still like her with 69% approval, but again the two-thirds of Arizonans who aren't Republicans don't like her, with 77% of Democrats disapproving and 51% Of Independents disapproving. But sadly, despite Brewer's sliding poll numbers Arizonans have no stomach for recalling her yet. Only 32% support her recall while 58% oppose a recall election. Right now a recall is strictly partisan with strong majorities of Democrats supporting a recall and an even stronger majority of Republicans opposing recall. For now the Independents side with the GOP, opposing a recall 59-25%. We need to work on those Indies, but then Jan keeps doing all the work for us as she continues here crusade against the IRC.
And so , the ugly -
And I think it's borderline sexist for a male to pick on a female politician for their personal appearance. If it's not sexist it's certainly bad taste. So I call Jan Brewer 'ugly' for her ugly politics, for signing SB1070 because her advisers told her while it may be illegal it is hugely popular. And for her war against the IRC with the bull headed attitude that because Republicans now control every statewide office, 2/3rds+ of the legislature, and all but 2 Congressional seats that entitles them hold that many office for the next ten years. Not.
But Jan, you are a poster child for the damaging effects of smoking cigarettes, excessive alcohol consumption, and too much sun.