In General, Americans Are Not Fond Of The Political Class-- Especially Not Mitch McConnell

Bevin (R-KY) is the least liked governor and McConnell (R-KY) is the least liked senator

The Economist ran a YouGov poll this week and, among other things, asked for favorables and unfavorables of the Democratic 2020 candidates: Here's the favorable ratings (+ in parentheses what percentage of people don't know who they are) for each candidate:

• Biden- 42% (16%)
• Bernie- 41% (16%)
• Elizabeth Warren- 39% (23%)
• Kamala Harris- 36% (28%)
• Cory Booker- 33% (33%)
• McKinsey Pete- 32% (38%)
• Beto- 30% (33%)
• Julian Castro- 28% (41%)
• Amy Klobuchar- 27% (43%)
• Kirsten Gillibrand- 26% (40%)
• Andrew Yang- 23% (50%)
• Tulsi- 20% (51%)
• Bill de Blasio- 19% (42%)
• Jay Inslee- 19% (59%)
• Tim Ryan- 19% (56%)
• Frackenlooper- 19% (55%)
• Michael Bennet- 18% (63%)
• Tom Steyer- 17% (57%)
• Delaney- 17% (60%)
• Marianne Williamson- 15% (56%)
• Howard Schultz- 14% (57%)
• Steve Bullock- 14% (67%)
• Mike Gravel- 13% (68%)
• Seth Moulton- 13% (67%)
• Joe Sestak- 12% (68%)
• Wayne Messam- 10% (72%)

But who are these people being interviewed for these polls? Have you ever thought about that? The Economist just describes them as U.S. adult citizens-- Democrats, Republicans, Independents... They aren't likely voters although 70% says they are registered to vote. 62% live in their own home or one owned by their family and 36% live in a rental. 28% describe themselves as liberals, 27% as moderates and 32% as conservatives. 38% never got more education than high school, 32% got some college, 19% are college grads and 11% did some post graduate work. 65% said religion is important in their lives and 35% said it isn't.

But is there more we can know about them? I think so. The 32nd question tells you an awful about who takes these kinds of polls-- and perhaps they are just like our fellow citizens. Draw your own conclusions:

And now a look at how high DISAPPROVAL is for the country's leaders. The numbers in parentheses are, basically, "who the hell is that?":

• Señor Trumpanzee- 51% (5%)
• Mitch McConnell- 49% (27%)
• Nancy Pelosi- 48% (15%)
• Mike Pence- 44% (16%)
• Chuck Schumer- 44% (27%)
• Kevin McCarthy- 32% (47%)
• Democrats in Congress- 39%
• Republicans in Congress- 32%

And one more-- the annual "which senators suck the worst" poll. Respondents are only asked about their own state's senators. And every year, the most hated senator in America-- by his own constituents-- is Mitch McConnell (R-KY). And this year is no different. 36% like him and a whopping 50% hope he gets hit by a truck in the next 5 seconds and is never heard from again. There aren't many senators who are underwater the way McConnell is (more of their constituents hating them than liking them. Here's the list:

• McConnell (R-KY)- minus 14%
• Bob Menendez (D-NJ)- minus 8%
• Susan Collins (R-ME)- minus 3%
• Thom Tillis (R-NC)- minus 2%
• Roy Blunt (R-MO)- minus 2%

Meanwhile, there are only 17 senators with an over 50% favorability:

• Bernie (I-VT)- +62%
• Angus King (I-ME)- +62%
• Pat Leahy (D-VT)- +61%
• John Barrasso (R-WY)- +57%
• John Hoeven (R-ND)- +57%
• Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)- +56%
• Mike Enzi (R-WY)- +54%
• Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)- +54%
• John Thune (R-SD)- +54%
• Ed Markey (D-MA)- +53%
• Mitt Romney (R-UT)- +53%
• Mike Rounds (R-SD)- +53%
• Chris Coons (D-DE)- +52%
• Maggie Hassan (D-NH)- +52
• Brian Schatz (D-HI)- +52%
• Jack Reed (D-RI)- +51%

I'd say this is the most important take-away from the study, because Collins is going to have a really tough reelection battle next year, perhaps one she probably can't win. Democrats and Independents have both turned against her far more than in previous cycles:

Last week PPP conducted a private (unreleased) poll to see how Colorado Democrats-- who have two native sons in the race-- are feeling about the presidential primary. It didn't go well for the native sons:

• Status Quo Joe- 22%
• Bernie- 19%
• Elizabeth Warren- 15%
• Frackenlooper- 7%
• Michael Bennet- 5%

And one unrelated chart that I've been saving on my desktop all week. This one shows which presidential candidates-- from both parties-- got the most individual donors from Iowans so far. Bernie isn't only crushing Status Quo Joe; he's crushing Trump as well: