McCaskill (D) and Bond (r) approval - August '09 - SurveyUSA

by: Michael Bersin

Wed Sep 02, 2009 at 14:24:02 PM CDT

The poll was sponsored by KCTV in Kansas City.

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Claire McCaskill is doing as United States Senator?

All
52% - approve
43% - disapprove
5% - not sure

Democrats [41% of sample]
77% - approve
17% - disapprove
6% - not sure

republicans [30% of sample]
31% - approve
67% - disapprove
2% - not sure

Independents [23% of sample]
38% - approve
62% - disapprove
1% - not sure

Compared to July Claire McCaskill's overall approval numbers have improved.

Senator McCaskill's approval numbers among Democrats and republicans have improved when compared to July. The August disapproval numbers among "Independents" have increased, with the approval number in this group holding steady.

Claire McCaskill's approval numbers among self identified liberals has improved.

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Claire McCaskill is doing as United States Senator?

Ideology

Conservative [38% of sample]
32% - approve
65% - disapprove
2% - not sure

Moderate [36% of sample]
64% - approve
30% - disapprove
6% - not sure

Liberal [15% of sample]
69% - approve
29% - disapprove
2% - not sure

The August numbers for Kit Bond:

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Kit Bond is doing as United States Senator?

All
51% - approve
39% - disapprove
10% - not sure

Democrats [41% of sample]
38% - approve
50% - disapprove
12% - not sure

republicans [30% of sample]
71% - approve
23% - disapprove
6% - not sure

Independents [23% of sample]
49% - approve
46% - disapprove
5% - not sure

Well, well, well. It's a rarity when Senator "sit on the fence and bring home the bacon" Bond (r) has a lower approval number (barely) than Claire McCaskill. There's been some slippage in the numbers for Bond among republicans and Democrats.

Kit Bond has more fence sitters. The decline in the "not sure" (the undecidieds) in Claire McCaskill's approval numbers may be an indication of polarization. It is possible, as she has been subjected to public verbal assault by irrational teabaggers at her town halls, that the Democratic base is tending to reflexively defend her. And some republicans and especially "Independents" are going the other way (yes, some republicans are going into the approval column, too). Time will tell.