F&M Poll: Trump Motivating Force in Upcoming Mid-Term Elections
The 27th consecutive year of polling in Pennsylvania
Below are the highlights of the September 2018, Franklin & Marshall College Poll. Complete results can be found at http://www.fandm.edu/fandmpoll
Six in ten (60%) of the state’s registered voters are “very interested” in the 2018 mid-term elections; more Democrats (64%) than Republicans (58%) or independents (49%) say they are “very interested.”
Half (50%) of the state’s registered voters in Pennsylvania believe Governor Tom Wolf is doing an “excellent” or “good” job as governor, which is which is similar to his ratings in prior surveys.
Two in five (42%) registered voters believe Senator Bob Casey is doing an “excellent” or “good” job as the state’s U.S. Senator, which is similar to his ratings in recent surveys.
About two in five (37%) registered voters in Pennsylvania believes President Donald Trump is doing an “excellent” or “good” job as president, which is similar to his ratings in the August survey.
More registered voters prefer the Democratic candidate for U.S. House (51%) than the Republican candidate for the U.S. House (36%). Among likely voters, more favor a Democrat (49%) than a Republican (38%) for the U.S. House.
President Trump continues to be an essential motivating force in the upcoming mid-term elections. Three in four (74%) of those who plan to vote for a Democratic congressional candidate are casting their ballot mainly as a vote against President Trump and Republicans in Congress; while four in five (80%) of those who plan to vote for a Republican candidate are casting their ballot mainly as a vote to support President Trump and the Republicans in Congress.
Governor Wolf (52%) currently leads his Republican challenger Scott Wagner (30%) among likely voters, with (17%) remaining undecided.
Senator Casey (50%) currently holds a lead over his Republican challenger, Representative Lou Barletta (33%), among likely voters, (15%) remaining undecided.
This survey reflects interviews with 545 Pennsylvania registered voters, including 256 Democrats, 213 Republicans and 76 Independentsconducted by the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College from September 17-23, 2018. The sample error for this survey is+/- 6.1 percentage points. A complete methodological statement can be found in the full report.
The Franklin & Marshall College Poll is produced in conjunction with the Philadelphia Daily News, WGAL-TV (South Central PA), Pittsburgh Tribune Review, WTAE-TV (Pittsburgh), WPVI-TV6/ABC (Philadelphia), Times-Shamrock Newspapers, Harrisburg Patriot-News/PennLive, LNP media group, and the Reading Eagle. It may be used in whole or in part, provided any use is attributed to the college.
