LUNCHTIME POLITICS: Favorability Ratings – The Economy – Trump on the Issues – Connecticut

Your Daily Polling Update for Wednesday, August 29, 2018

TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 44%
Same as yesterday

RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on five polls, ranging from 41% (Gallup) to 47% (Rasmussen). Without these two extremes, it would still be 44%…. President Trump’s disapproval rating averages 53% today, which is 9 points higher than his approval rating.

ELECTIONS: 2018
Among voters in each state 

SENATE
CONNECTICUT: Sen. Chris Murphy (D) over Matthew Corey (R): +17 (54-37)

RON’S COMMENT: Incumbent Murphy continues to hold a wide lead. Handicappers rate the Senate race solid or safe Democratic.

GOVERNOR
CONNECTICUT: Ned Lamont (D) over Bob Stefanowski (R): +9 (49-40)

RON’S COMMENT: We’ve seen three recent polls and the average of them is Lamont +8.7.  Handicappers rate the race toss-up or lean Democratic.

FAVORABILITY RATINGS
Among voters nationwide 

% = Favorable/Unfavorable

• U.S. Military: 84%/10%
• FBI: 61%/28%
• U.S. Supreme Court: 60%/25%
• NATO: 51%/24%
• Joe Biden: 51%/35%
• Facebook: 49%/43%
• Bernie Sanders: 49%/40%
• Melania Trump: 48%/33%
• Mike Pence: 42%/41%
• Donald Trump: 40%/54%
• Mark Zuckerberg: 37%/45%
• European Union: 37%/28%
• Hillary Clinton: 36%/55%
• Robert Mueller: 35%/35%
• Paul Ryan: 32%/48%
• Elizabeth Warren: 32%/39%
• John Kelly: 29%/28%
• Nancy Pelosi: 27%/50%
• Chuck Schumer: 26%/39%
• Mitch McConnell: 22%/46%
• Jeff Sessions: 21%/48%
• Rod Rosenstein: 20%/27%
• Sheryl Sandberg: 14%/20%
• Michael Cohen: 12%/55%
• Russia: 10%/73%
• Vladimir Putin: 9%/75%

RON’S COMMENT: The most popular organization tested is the U.S. military, 84/10. The most popular person is Biden, 51/35. The least popular is Putin, 9/75. Mueller has settled in at the center of the see-saw, with the same percentage both liking and disliking him. Note that Facebook is more popular (49/43) than Zuckerberg (37/45). Also, Hillary Clinton’s rating is worse than Donald Trump’s––Clinton 36/55, Trump 40/54.

THE ECONOMY 
Among voters statewide

“How strong do you think the U.S. economy is today?” 

Very strong: 20%
Somewhat strong: 51%
Somewhat weak: 25%
Very weak: 4%

“Would you say that your personal financial situation is improving or getting worse?” 

Improving: 38%
Getting worse: 22%
No change: 35%

RON’S COMMENT: This shows that seven out of ten Americans think the economy is strong, although 57% think their personal finances are either staying the same or getting worse. Looked at another way, 60% say their personal finances are either staying the same or improving.

TRUMP ON THE ISSUES
Among adults nationwide

“Do you approve or disapprove of the job President Trump is doing on …” 

% = Approve/Disapprove

• Stimulating jobs: 55%/45%
• The economy: 55%/45%
• Fighting terrorism: 55%/45%
• Immigration: 46%/54%
• Foreign affairs: 44%/56%
• Administering the government: 42%/58%

RON’S COMMENT: The economy, jobs and terrorism are Trump’s best issues––each garnering majority approval. Administering the government is his worst issue.

SOURCES
Presidential job rating average based on recent nationwide polls.
FAVORABILITY RATINGS, THE ECONOMY, TRUMP ON THE ISSUES: Harvard-Harris, Aug. 22-23
CONNECTICUT: Gravis, Aug. 24-27

L = Libertarian candidate
G = Green Party candidate
O = Other candidate(s)
D poll = conducted by or for organizations generally associated with Democrats.
R poll = conducted by or for organizations generally associated with Republicans.

Follow here to get the latest updates on the Lunchtime Politics.