On August 31st SurveyUSA released a 600 sample poll of adults taken in Missouri from August 26th through the 27th showing the approval numbers for Senators Claire McCaskill (D) and Kit Bond (r). The margin of error is 4.1%.
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 sureDemocrats [41% of sample]
77% – approve
17% – disapprove
6% – not surerepublicans [30% of sample]
31% – approve
67% – disapprove
2% – not sureIndependents [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 sureModerate [36% of sample]
64% – approve
30% – disapprove
6% – not sureLiberal [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 sureDemocrats [41% of sample]
38% – approve
50% – disapprove
12% – not surerepublicans [30% of sample]
71% – approve
23% – disapprove
6% – not sureIndependents [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.
heself at her contentious town halls. But in the end, it has to come down to how she votes.