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PELOSI'S "FAVORABLES" ARE ON THE RISE

These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."

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Congressional Favorability Ratings
Democrats Spark Increase In Favorables For Pelosi
 
Thursday, April 15, 2010
 
Following Congress' passage of the health care bill, voters view House Speaker Nancy Pelosi more favorably than they have in months. Voter opinions of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader John Boehner are up slightly, too, after all three scored record unfavorable ratings the month before.
 
A new Rasmussen Reports nationwide telephone survey finds that Pelosi is now viewed favorably by 43% of U.S. voters, up 14 points from last month when just 29% felt this way about the Democrat from California. This figure includes 21% who have a very favorable opinion of Pelosi, up 10 points from last month and the highest level measured since regular tracking on this question began in early February 2009.
 
Pelosi remains the most unpopular congressional leader, however, as she has been for months. Fifty-two percent (52%) of voters have an unfavorable view of her, although that's down 12 points from last month and the lowest level measured since early February of last year. The new finding includes 40% with a very unfavorable view of her. Last month, Pelosi reached her highest unfavorable rating since August 2009. Just six percent (6%) of voters have no opinion of her.
 

Pelosi's spike in support is mainly due to an increase in enthusiasm among voters in her own party. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of Democrats now have a favorable opinion of her, up from 57% last month. These findings are consistent with the bounce President Obama has received among Democratic voters in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll since signing the health care bill into law.

Reid is now viewed at least somewhat favorably by 29% of voters, up five points from the previous survey. This includes 10% with a very favorable opinion of the Nevada Democrat. A majority (52%) continue to have an unfavorable opinion of Reid, but that's down 10 points from this time last year. That number includes 40% with a very unfavorable opinion. Twenty percent (20%) have no opinion of the majority leader.

Support for Reid among Democrats is up seven points from the previous survey.

Reid, one of the Democrats who led charge for the health care plan, is facing trouble in his home state of Nevada where opposition to the plan remains high. He trails three top Republicans, two of whom top the 50% level of support, in his bid for reelection this November.

Three weeks after Congress passed the health care plan, support for repeal of the measure has risen four points to 58% . That includes 50% of U.S. voters who strongly favor repeal. Also, 53% now say they trust Republicans on the issue of health care .

These findings perhaps help to explain the slight rise in support for Boehner, the Republican leader in the House, although the GOP leaders in both houses of Congress continue to be far less known to the public than their Democratic counterparts.

Twenty-seven percent (27%) now have a favorable view of the Ohio congressman, including eight percent (8%) with a very favorable view. The number of voters who view Boehner very favorably is at its highest level measured since February 2009. Thirty-seven percent (37%) have an unfavorable opinion of Boehner, with 17% who have a very unfavorable view. But 36% don't know enough about him to offer any kind of opinion.

Twenty-nine percent (29%) have a favorable opinion of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, down slightly from last month, while 36% view the Kentucky senator unfavorably. This includes nine percent (9%) with a very favorable view and 19% who view him very unfavorably. Thirty-five percent (35%) are not sure how they feel about the Senate minority leader.

For the second straight week, Republican candidates hold a nine-point lead over Democrats in the latest edition of the Generic Congressional Ballot.

Overall, voters continue to give Congress some of its lowest marks ever .

Rasmussen Reports has recently surveyed Senate races in Alabama , Arizona , Arkansas , California , Colorado , Connecticut , Delaware , Florida , Georgia , Hawaii , Idaho, Illinois , Indiana , Iowa, Kansas , Kentucky , Louisiana , Maryland , Missouri , Nevada , New Hampshire , New York, North Carolina , North Dakota, Ohio , Oklahoma , Oregon , Pennsylvania , Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin .

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