ELECTIONS, POLITICS, & GOVERNMENT
Cracks are showing in the coalition of the GOP, according to polling numbers
Feb 1, 2023, 8:00 PM
SALT LAKE CITY — A majority of Americans and many Republicans view the GOP as a party with cracks in the coalition, that’s according to new polling data from Schoen Cooperman Research.
Carly Cooperman, CEO of Schoen Cooperman Research, joined Inside Sources with Boyd Matheson on Wednesday to discuss the latest polling data.
Matheson said, “So you talked in your piece today and looking at the numbers that the cracks in the GOP are growing into gaping holes. So give us some baseline numbers there in terms of what you are seeing. What are you sensing more broadly from the American people? But for Republicans specifically.”
Cooperman says polling conducted by her company in the last few weeks shows that there is an uphill battle for both Republicans and Democrats.
“You know, there was a great deal of skepticism that we saw among voters nationally toward the new Republican leadership,” she said. “Yet, we also saw that (President) Biden had negative ratings.”
Cracks in the GOP
Cooperman says her organization looked deeper into their findings into the new Republican House leadership to see what was going on underneath.
“And what was really interesting,” she said. “Is that the Republicans themselves, voters who self-identify as Republicans also share the skepticism toward the House Republicans and the new leadership that has taken place.”
According to her findings, Cooperman says the U.S. House is now more focused on pursuing an investigation of President Biden rather than pass legislation.
“But we also found that four in 10 Republican voters think that their own party is focused more on investigating (President) Biden and the Democrats.”
Additionally, Cooperman says, according to her findings, that only one in five Republican voters believe that Rep. Kevin McCarthy will be effective as Speaker of the House. Furthermore, she says 46% plurality of Republican voters think that McCarthy conceded too much to be elected House Speaker.
An agenda or investigate the Democrats?
Matheson wonders if the Republicans have an agenda. Or if this is going to be a lot of investigations against the Democrats and that agenda.
“What’s the sense under the numbers there?” he asked.
“So, we see that large groups of voters overall and Republicans are concerned that’s it’s just gonna be a focus on investigations,” Cooperman said.
Cooperman does say that Republicans want to address issues such as the immigration and the economy.
“And for what it’s worth, voters trust Republicans to take on those issues more so than Democrats,” she said. “But the problem is they’re looking to see Republicans actually take charge on the issues. And there’s doubt that it’s going to be that.”
Matheson asked, “What else are you seeing? What else are you watching?”
Cooperman says when they asked if McCarthy should have been elected House Speaker, the results were split. According to her findings, 40% of Republicans were in support of McCarthy. Roughly 37% of Republicans said it should of have been someone else, or they weren’t sure.
“And so seeing this kind of breakout and split within the Republican party itself,” she said. “I think is telling of some uncertainty about feelings towards what’s going on right now.”
Inside Sources with Boyd Matheson can be heard weekdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app.
