Most Leaders in D.C. Have Many More Critics than Admirers - Especially Congress

September 30, 2009 5:00 AM EDT

Clinton most popular Cabinet member

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A new Harris Poll highlights the low opinions many people have of most of our political leaders in Washington. Criticisms of the Congress are particularly strong, with the Republicans in Congress having even worse numbers than the Democrats. Perhaps the best finding for some political leaders who were rated is that very large numbers of people are not familiar enough with them to rate them at all.

These are some of the results of The Harris Poll(R) of 2,334 adults surveyed online between September 8 and 15, 2009 by Harris Interactive(R).

The main findings are:

    --  While two-thirds or more of all adults are familiar with Secretary of
        State Hilary Clinton (82%), Vice President Joe Biden (70%), House
        Speaker Nancy Pelosi (69%) and the Congressional Democrats (69%), and
        Republicans (65%), most adults are not familiar enough with Federal Bank
        Chairman Ben Bernanke (52%), Defense Secretary Bob Gates (55%), or
        Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner (58%) to have any opinion of them.
    --  Of all those rated, Hilary Clinton gets the best ratings, 48% positive
        and 34% negative.
    --  The two other leaders who receive more positive than negative ratings
        (but with most adults unfamiliar with them) are Robert Gates (28%
        positive, 18% negative) and Ben Bernanke (25% positive, 23% negative).
    --  Those who receive more negative than positive ratings are Joe Biden (by
        41% to 30%), Nancy Pelosi (by 49% to 20%), and Tim Geithner (by 26% to
        16%).
    --  Nancy Pelosi's high negatives reflect the widespread unpopularity of the
        Congress generally. A huge 81% to 19% give Congress negative ratings and
        large numbers give both parties in Congress poor marks - the Democrats
        by 51% to 18%, and the Republicans by an even worse 54% to 11%.

So what?

These low ratings surely reflect the public's sour opinions of Washington generally at this time. Obviously, they are not good news for the president or the Democratic leaders. The only comfort they can draw from these numbers is that the public is even more critical of the Republicans than of the Democrats in D.C. This suggests that the easiest way for the administration to defend its proposals - for health care, economic policy, climate change or energy policy - may be to ask, "Which do you prefer: our proposals or those of the Republican members of Congress?"

The Harris Poll(R) #108

By Humphrey Taylor, Chairman, The Harris Poll

Methodology

This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States September 8 and 15, 2009, among 2, 334 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online. Full data tables and methodology are available at www.harrisinteractive.com.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is a global leader in custom market research. With a long and rich history in multimodal research, powered by our science and technology, we assist clients in achieving business results. Harris Interactive serves clients globally through our North American, European and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

(C)2009 Harris Interactive, Inc. All rights reserved.

    Source: Harris Interactive

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