1. N o v e m b e r 8 , 2 0 1 7
Public Opinion Landscape
2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Slides correspond to the issues faced by President Trump between May – October 2017
Slide Number
Trump Approval Ratings (January – October 2017) 3
Charlottesville, VA (May 2017) 5
Paris Climate Accord (June 2017) 7
North Korea (September 2017) 9
Health Care: ACA, AHCA, “Skinny Repeal” (September 2017) 12
Hurricane Response (September – October 2017) 14
Gun Control: Las Vegas Shooting (October 2017) 17
A Look Ahead: The 2018 Midterms 20
6. 6
Nearly two-thirds of Americans think President Trump’s
handling of this crisis is inadequate
Source: NPR/PBS News Hour/Marist Poll, August 17, 2017
Do you feel President Trump’s Response to the Violence in Charlottesville has
been strong enough, or not strong enough?
27%
52%
21%
Strong Enough
Not Strong
Enough
Unsure
77% of African
Americans say
Trump’s response
is inadequate
31% of Whites
say Trump’s
response is
adequate
Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 2017
8. 8
Americans largely oppose the U.S. withdrawing from
international Paris Climate Agreement
Source: AP-NORC, June 8-11, 2017
Nearly 200 countries recently signed an international agreement in Paris
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Do you support, oppose, or neither
support nor oppose the US withdrawing from the agreement?
29%
46%
23%
Approve Disapprove Don't know
How much of an impact will withdrawing form the agreement will have on
the national economy in the long run?
18%
52%
27%
Help
Hurt
No Impact
How concerned are you that the U.S. withdrawing from this agreement
will hurt global efforts to fight climate change?:
32%
25%
43%
Not very/not concerend at all
Moderately concerned
Extremely/very concerned
Source: AP-NORC, June 8-11, 2017
Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 2017
10. 10
North Korea’s Development of Nuclear Weapons: most
believe situation can be contained
Republicans more likely to opt for military action than Democrats.
Source: CBS, September 21-24, 2017
Total
Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 2017
24%
67%
7%
Requires military action Can be contained
Is not a threat
48%
46%
3%
Democrats Republicans
33%
59%
5%
11. 11
Majority of Americans disapprove of President Trump’s
handling of North Korea, largely along party lines
Source: CBS, September 21-24, 2017
Do you approve or disapprove Trump’s handling of North Korea?
Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 2017
What concerns you more with North Korea: That the U.S. would…?
Approval – darker shade
Disapproval – lighter shade
17%
53%
83%
79%
39%
12%
GOP
Total
DEM
Source: CBS, September 21-24, 2017
53%
36%
Act too quicly and start a war Not act quicly enough and get attcked
12. Health Care: The Affordable Care Act
12 Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 2017
13. Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 2017
Affordable Care Act Approval
13
43% 43%
48% 49%
46%
48% 49%
51% 50%
52%
46%
51%
45% 46%
42%
44%
46%
41% 42% 41%
44%
39%
44%
40%
Favorable Unfavorable
2016
Election
(Nov. 8,
2016)
Trump
Inauguratio
n
(Jan. 20,
2017)
AHCA
(Mar. 6 –
Apr. 26,
2017)
CBO
released
(Jun. 26,
2017)
BCRA
(Jun.
22-27,
2017)
BCRA v. 2,
Partial
repeal,
Skinny
repeal
(Jul. 13-25,
2017)
Graham-
Cassidy
(Sept. 13-
26, 2017)
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, October 13, 2017
As you may know, a health care reform bill was signed into law in 2010. Given what you know about the health reform law, do you have a generally
favorable or unfavorable opinion of it?
15. 32% 23% 19% 11% 14%
Strongly approve Somewhat approve
Not sure Somewhat disapprove
Strongly disapprove
32% 24% 20% 11% 13%
Strongly approve Somewhat approve
Not sure Somewhat disapprove
Strongly disapprove
Trump Administration Handling of Hurricanes: Harvey and
Irma
Do you approve or disapprove of the way
President Trump has handled Hurricane Harvey?
Do you approve or disapprove of the way
President Trump has handled Hurricane Irma?
Source: HuffPost, September 26-27, 2017
15 Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 2017
16. 29% 16% 24% 21% 24%
Strongly approve Somewhat approve Not sure
Somewhat disapprove Strongly disapprove
Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Trump has handled Hurricane Maria?
Trump Administration Handling of Hurricanes: Maria
Sources: HuffPost, September 26-27, 2017; CNN, October 12-15, 2017
16 Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 2017
Approval of the federal
government’s response to
recent hurricanes dropped 20
points following Hurricane
Maria. On September 20, 64%
approved; on October 15, only
44% approved.
17. Gun Control: Las Vegas Shooting
Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 201717
18. 61%
34%
5%
More strict Kept as they are now Less strict
Source: Gallup, October 5-11, 2017
48%
39%
13%
Fewer mass shootings Not make a difference More mass shootings
After Las Vegas Shooting, most believe gun laws should
be more strict
Nearly half believe gun control would result in fewer mass shootings.
18 Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 2017
Do you think guns laws should be…?
If it was harder for people to legally obtain guns in
the United States, do you think there would be…?
19. 65%
65%
67%
67%
71%
74%
75%
14%
17%
15%
16%
16%
13%
13%
8%
7%
8%
6%
7%
6%
5%
7%
7%
6%
5%
4%
4%
4%
6%
4%
4%
5%
2%
2%
3%
Banning the use of bump fire stocks, which is a gun accessory that allows for a
shooter to fire hundreds of rounds per minute
Preventing sales of all firearms to people who have been convicted of violent
misdemeanors
Barring gun purchases by people on the federal no-fly or watch lists
Making private gun sales and sales at gun shows subject to background checks
Expanding screening and treatment for the mentally ill
Preventing sales of all firearms to people who have been reported as dangerous
to law enforcement by a mental health provider
Requiring background checks on all gun sales
Strongly support Somewhat support Don't know/no opinion Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose
19 Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 2017
Ma jo ritie s s u p p o rt c e rta in me a s u re s to re s tric t g u n p o lic y
Requiring background checks on all gun sales, preventing gun purchases by mentally ill top list.
Source: Morning Consult, October 5-9, 2017
Here is a list of policies surrounding gun ownership in the United State. Do you support or oppose each of the following?
*responses with less than 60% “strongly approve” not shown
20. 20
A Look Ahead: The 2018 Midterms
Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 2017
21. 21
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Republicans Democrats
241 194
All 435 seats being contested.
Democrats need to win a net of
24 seats from the Republicans
to gain control of the House.
House:
Senate:
Republicans Democrats
52 48*
34 seats being contested.
Democrats need to win a net of 3
seats from the Republicans to
gain control of the Senate.
* 46 Democrats + 2 Independents
Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 2017
22. 22
SENATE: 2018 map favors Republicans
Democrats: 48* Republicans: 52
*Two independents caucus
with Democrats
K
Y
G
A
N
C
Dems in states Trump won:
1. Florida (Nelson)
2. Indiana (Donnelly)
3. Michigan (Stabenow)
4. Missouri (McCaskill)
5. Montana (Tester)
6. North Dakota (Heitkamp)
7. Ohio (Brown)
8. Pennsylvania (Casey)
9. West Virginia (Manchin)
10. Wisconsin (Baldwin)
Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 2017
States Democrats plan
to target in 2018: :
1. Nevada (Heller)
2. Arizona (Flake)
3. Tennessee (Corker)
4. Texas (Cruz)
23. SENATE: Retirements and primary challenges may help
Democrats in Midterms
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-
Arizona) announced
he would not seek
reelection to the
Senate in 2018 on
October 24, 2017.
Sen. Bob Corker (R-
Tennessee) announced
he would not seek
reelection to the Senate
in 2018 on September
26, 2017.
Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 201723
President Trump’s former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, is planning
Republican Primary challenges to every sitting U.S. Senator, except Sen.
Ted Cruz (TX). (September 10, 2017)
24. HOUSE: Public Opinion gives Democrats a slight edge on
2018 General Ballot
52% 10% 38%
Controlled by Democrats No opinion Controlled by Republicans
House Retirements: 20 Republican and 10 Democratic Members of
Congress have announced that they are retiring from their seats in 2018.
Sources: Washington Post, October 20, 2017
24 Public Opinion Landscape
November 8, 2017
Would you rather see the next Congress controlled by the Democrats, to act as a check on
Trump, or controlled by the Republicans, to support Trump’s agenda?
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