RATINGS: HANDLING CORONAVIRUS

Among adults nationwide

% = Good Job/Bad Job
Your state’s governor: 73%/17%
Federal health agencies: 65%/23%
President Trump: 51%/45%
The media’s reporting: 45%/44%
Congress: 43%/37%
The American public: 39%/45%

RON’S COMMENT: Voters give state governors the highest rating, followed by federal health agencies. Trump’s rating breaks 50%, and is net positive. The lowest rating is for the American public, which is the only one that’s net negative…. Big partisan divides: 89% of Republicans, 48% of independents and 19% of Democrats say Trump is doing a good job handling coronavirus…. 87% of Republicans, 50% of independents and 50% of Democrats say federal health agencies are doing a good job…. 31% of Republicans, 34% of independents and 69% of Democrats say the news media is doing a good job.

CORONAVIRUS FALLOUT

Among adults nationwide

What is the biggest concern facing your family right now? 

COVID-19/Coronavirus: 57%
Job security: 7%
Everyday bills: 6%
The economy: 5%
Healthcare costs: 5%
Family illness/health: 3%

RON’S COMMENT: As you can see, the coronavirus has overtaken every other issue in terms of importance, pushing everything else down into the single digits. That’s no surprise given the impact on just about every aspect of our daily lives…. More Democrats say the virus is the top problem than Republicans or independents (62% vs. 57%, 53%).

Thinking about you personally, has the coronavirus outbreak had a major impact, minor impact, or no real impact on your own daily life? 

Major impact: 53%
Minor impact: 32%
No impact: 15%

RON’S COMMENT: 61% of Democrats, 40% of Republicans, 57% of independents, 53% of men, 54 of women, 61% of people 18-34 years old, 45% of people over 55 years old, 47% of whites without college degrees, 62% of whites with college degrees, 52% of all whites and 55% of nonwhites say the outbreak has had a major impact on their daily lives. Age cohorts are most surprising.

How concerned are you about someone in your family becoming seriously ill from the coronavirus outbreak – very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not at all concerned? 

Very concerned: 38%
Somewhat concerned: 32%
Not too/not at all concerned: 30%

RON’S COMMENT: Interesting that only 38% say they’re “very concerned” about becoming seriously ill…. Many more Democrats say they’re “very concerned” than Republicans or independents (58% vs. 24%, 31%).

How confident are you that the country will be able to limit the impact of the outbreak over the next few weeks – very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not at all confident? 

Very confident: 25%
Somewhat confident: 37%
Not too/not at all confident: 36%

RON’S COMMENT: Only one-fourth of Americans are “very confident” the country will be able to limit the impact of the outbreak over the next few weeks. Fewer Democrats say they’re “very confident” than Republicans or independents (13% vs. 43%, 22%).

Have you personally done any of the following or had any of the following happen because of the coronavirus outbreak? 

% = Yes, have done this

• Have not gone out to stores and businesses as often as you usually do: 66%
• Spent more time watching TV and movies: 57%
• Lost income due to a decrease in work hours or less business: 35%
• Spent more time shopping online: 22%
• Started to work from home for the first time: 20%
• Started getting your groceries delivered: 12%
• Had problems finding child care: 7%

TUESDAY TRIVIA

Which former Democratic presidential nominee’s daughter became America’s first woman ambassador? Hint: She was appointed by FDR.

(see answer below)

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SOURCES

Presidential job rating average based on recent nationwide polls.
Presidential job rating average based on recent nationwide polls.
RATINGS: HANDLING CORONAVIRUS, CORONAVIRUS FALLOUT: Monmouth Univ., March 18-22

TRIVIA ANSWER

William Jennings Bryan. He was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1896, 1900 and 1908. His daughter, Ruth Bryan Owen––a pioneer in the film industry and a member of the U.S. House from Florida––was the first woman ambassador representing the U.S. She was appointed by President Franklin Roosevelt as ambassador to Denmark and Iceland. She died in 1954.