DIRECTION OF COUNTRY

Among voters nationwide

% = Right Direction / Wrong Track
Reuters: 34%/53%
The Economist: 40%/53%
Politico: 43%/57%
Monmouth: 38%/57%
Average: 38.8%/55%

RON’S COMMENT: The average of these four polls show “right direction” to be nearly 39%. Over the past year, “right direction” has gone up 4.5 points and “wrong track” has gone down 4 points. Improved “right direction” numbers are good news for incumbents.

GENERIC CONGRESSIONAL VOTE

Among voters nationwide

% = Vote for Democrats / Vote for Republicans
Politico: 45%/41%
The Economist: 48%/40%

RON’S COMMENT: Two recent polls show Democrats leading the generic Congressional ballot by margins ranging from 4 to 8 points…. In The Economist poll, independent voters break for Republican candidates 38-33. Only 1% of Democratic voters would vote for a Republican for Congress and only 4% of Republican voters would vote for a Democrat for Congress.

TRUMP ISSUE APPROVAL

Among voters nationwide

“Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling…” 

% = Approve/Disapprove
The economy: 52%/42%
Veterans: 50%/42%
Terrorism: 48%/45%
Immigration: 48%/50%
Taxes: 45%/49%
Foreign policy: 44%/51%
Civil rights: 43%/48%
Gun control: 43%/50%
Education: 42%/48%
Healthcare: 42%/52%
Women’s rights: 41%/49%
Abortion: 40%/47%
Social Security: 40%/51%
Medicare: 40%/51%
The environment: 40%/54%
The budget deficit: 36%/56%
Gay rights: 34%/48%

RON’S COMMENT: Trump is net positive on three issues: The economy +10, veterans +8 and terrorism +3. He’s net negative on everything else, although he’s fairly close on immigration…. On the economy, his approval rating is 40% among those with household income below $50k, 53% among those with household income between $50-100k and 55% among those with household income above $100k…. On civil rights, his approval rating is 43% among whites and 17% among blacks…. On women’s rights, his approval rating is 42% among men and 34% among women…. On Social Security, his approval rating is 46% among people 65 and older…. On healthcare, his approval rating is 10% among Democrats, 35% among independents and 79% among Republicans.