TRUMP JOB APPROVAL: AVERAGE 44%

Down 2 from yesterday

RON’S COMMENT: Today’s average is based on three polls, ranging from 40% (Morning Consult) to 48% (Rasmussen). The third poll has it at 45%…. President Trump’s disapproval rating averages 53% today (+1 from yesterday), which is 9 points higher than his approval rating.

NATIONAL: DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION

Among Democratic voters nationwide

Joe Biden: 25% (same as last week)
Elizabeth Warren: 18% (+2)
Bernie Sanders: 13% (+1)
Kamala Harris: 9% (-2)
Pete Buttigieg: 7% (+1)
Beto O’Rourke: 2%
Cory Booker: 2% (-1)
Julian Castro: 2% (+2)
Tulsi Gabbard: 2% (+1)
Andrew Yang: 2% (+2)
Candidates with 1% or less not listed

RON’S COMMENT: Quite a few small fluctuations this week in The Economist/YouGov poll. While Biden holds steady, Warren is up 2 and Harris is down 2.

LOUISIANA: GOVERNOR 2019

Among voters statewide

Open primary
Gov. John Bel Edwards (D): 44%
Ralph Abraham (R): 35%
Eddie Rispone (R): 6%
Gary Landrieu (I): 4%
Undecided: 11%

RON’S COMMENT: Though incumbent Edwards is a Democrat in a red state that Donald Trump carried by 20 points in 2016, there are a number of factors that now favor him. First, 62% of voters surveyed in this poll believe Louisiana is moving in the right direction. Second, Edwards has a positive personal rating––57% favorable, 31% unfavorable. Even 41% of Republicans rate him favorably. Third, his Republican rivals still “have a lot of work to do.”  Abraham, a GOP Congressman, is rated 31% favorable/20% unfavorable statewide. Rispone, a wealthy businessman and self-funder, is rated 12% favorable/24% unfavorable. It should be mentioned that the poll question included brief descriptions of the candidates, including their party and occupation. The open primary is Oct. 12. The survey was taken for a conservative website.

DEMOCRATIC PROPOSALS TESTED

Among voters nationwide

Proposals OPPOSED by majorities of all voters:

Medicare for all, that is a national health insurance program for all Americans that replaces private health insurance 
Good idea: 40%
Bad idea: 55%

Abolishing the death penalty 
Good idea: 36%
Bad idea: 58%

A national health insurance program available for immigrants who are in the US illegally 
Good idea: 32%
Bad idea: 62%

Decriminalizing illegal border crossings 
Good idea: 27%
Bad idea: 67%

Providing reparations for slavery 
Good idea: 26%
Bad idea: 63%

A Universal Basic Income of $1,000 per month for each American 18 or older
Good idea: 26%
Bad idea: 66%

RON’S COMMENT: Majorities of voters nationwide OPPOSE the proposals listed above that have been made by some Democratic presidential candidates. When you look at only Democrats, you find that:

• 42% of Democrats support and 49% oppose UBI
• 45% of Democrats support and 47% oppose decriminalizing illegal border crossings
• 46% of Democrats support and 40% oppose reparations
• 55% of Democrats support and 38% oppose abolishing the death penalty
• 60% of Democrats support and 32% oppose making national health insurance available for illegals
• 76% of Democrats support and 19% oppose free public college tuition
• 84% of Democrats support and 14% oppose a $15 minimum wage
• 86% of Democrats support and 8% oppose a Green New Deal
• 88% of Democrats support and 9% oppose a wealth tax

Proposals SUPPORTED by majorities of all voters:

Background checks for gun purchases at gun shows or other private sales 
Good idea: 88%
Bad idea: 10%

Medicare for all that want it, that is allow all Americans to choose between a national health insurance program or their own private health insurance 
Good idea: 69%
Bad idea: 26%

Government regulation of prescription drug prices 
Good idea: 67%
Bad idea: 28%

A Green New Deal to address climate change by investing government money in green jobs and energy efficient infrastructure
Good idea: 60%
Bad idea: 34%

A Wealth Tax, that is a higher tax rate on income above one million dollars 
Good idea: 61%
Bad idea: 34%

A pathway to citizenship for immigrants who are in the US illegally 
Good idea: 63%
Bad idea: 32%

A national minimum wage of 15 dollars an hour 
Good idea: 55%
Bad idea: 42%

Have U.S. rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement
Good idea: 52%
Bad idea: 32%

Free college tuition at public colleges or universities 
Good idea: 51%
Bad idea: 45%

A ban on the sale of semi-automatic assault guns such as the AK-47 or the AR-15 
Good idea: 51%
Bad idea: 45%

RON’S COMMENT: Majorities of voters nationwide SUPPORT the proposals listed above that have been made by some Democratic presidential candidates.

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES: RIGHT OR WRONG DIRECTION?

Among voters nationwide

Overall, do you think the ideas being offered by the Democratic candidates running for president would generally move the country in: 

Right direction: 43%
Wrong direction: 48%
Unsure: 9%

RON’S COMMENT: According to this NPR/PBS NewsHour poll, most voters believe the Democratic candidates running for president would generally move the country in the wrong direction––10% of Democrats, 91% of Republicans and 48% of independents agree.

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