Kelly Ayotte's Approval Rating Plunges After Vote Against Gun Background Checks

[Cali_Democrat]

Source: Huffington Post

WASHINGTON -- A new poll has New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte down a total of 15 points from her previous approval rating in a survey that followed her vote against requiring background checks for firearms purchases.

Ayotte's plunge underscores the changing politics around gun control and gun safety. In years past, lawmakers worried that a vote for gun control would bring the anger of the National Rifle Association. In the new reality, votes against gun control also carry a political risk, as the Ayotte (R) poll indicates.

A full three-quarters of New Hampshire voters support such background checks, along with 56 percent of Republicans, according to Public Policy Polling. A WMUR Granite State Poll taken in January and February found that more than 9 in 10 state residents supported implementing background checks at gun shows.

It's not entirely clear yet how opposition to background checks will play out at the polls, but there are signs Ayotte’s vote may have taken a toll.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/24/kelly-ayottes-approval_n_3147834.html

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Excellent news. Looks like voting against common sense gun laws will have serious consequences, especially in swing states like NH.

[tblue]

1. When does she run again?

I hope it's soon.

[elleng]

7. Sorry, not soon; only first elected to serve in 2011.

[SunSeeker]

2. I'd like to see how Heitkamp's no vote has affected her. I know I'll never send her another penny.

Ayotte's was more to be expected. She is a Republican after all. But Heidi Heitkamp? She had 6 years before being up for reelection. Inexcusable.

[Iliyah]

3. Those gosh darn polls

are meaningless because its the liberal BS!

I don't know when she runs again but she is a true blue teabagger.

[El Progreso]

4. The article falsely says that Ayotte is "down a total of 15 points from her previous approval rating

Her approval is down 2%, not 15%.

15% is the total of adding the decrease in approval and the increase in disapproval. This could also be called "net approval".

[Common Sense Party]

34. I guess people want to believe what they want to believe.

The actual poll doesn't show her approval "plunging," but maybe people don't want to look at the actual poll.

http://www.unh.edu/survey-center/news/pdf/gsp2013_spring_legapproval042413.pdf

[SunSeeker]

37. The "actual poll" is the PPP poll taken April 19-21, not that old poll you cite.

The poll you are citing was taken April 4-9, before Ayotte's April 17, 2013 vote against background check. Maybe it's you who doesn't want to look at the actual poll.

[Common Sense Party]

39. Where's the new poll? It's not on their website.

[SunSeeker]

41. It is on PPP's site. Here's the link.

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_NH_042313.pdf

[Progressive dog]

40. Funny how polls change isn't it nt

I gueess they do.

[SunSeeker]

42. There are no false statements in that article. And check your math.

The article does not mislead. It clearly states her approval rating went from 48% to 44%; that is 4 points, not 2 as you state. That, combined with the even more damaging fact that her disapproval rating went from 35% to 46% (11 points) is how they came up with a total loss of 15 points (4 +11=15).

[elleng]

5. Good, but she's only JUST begun serving.

One of those stupid decisions by new class of senators, who won't run again for quite a while.

[RayStar]

6. Kelly & Heidi

I hope they both be defeated in their next elections. Didn't Heidi just barely make this past election?

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. Heidi won an open seat in North Dakota

It was really quite an upset and her opponent was a teabag Republican. Her having won might mean the difference between Democrats being able to hold onto the Senate in 2014 or losing the majority. I think it makes more sense to work on changing her mind for future votes than to work on getting her defeated. It would definitely be a Republican pickup if Heidi goes down, and it wouldn't be a Scott Brown or Sue Collins type Republican who would replace her.

[avebury]

11. I find it hard to be concerned about whether or not the

Democrats can hold a majority in the Senate. It seems like they can't any kind of bill passed without 60 votes anymore. Whatever happened to 51 votes?

Harry Reid should be driven out of the Senate for not obtaining filibuster reform. The Democrats need someone in charge who can whip their members into line.

[awoke_in_2003]

14. Harry had the chance...

to change filibuster rules. He decided he would rather have two more years of blaming republicans for his ineptitude instead.

[russspeakeasy]

15. +500000000000000000000

[lancer78]

23. Harry and DiFi both should go

Remember, DiFi was one of the dems against filibuster reform.

[RayStar]

30. Thanks

Your reply was very thought provoking. I guess I would rather she stay than to see any new or old style repub get the set.

[EC]

8. I thought at the time that she goofed.

and she didn't have to. One of her mentors (john mccain) voted for it, so she would have had cover.

[Mopar151]

9. Her approval rating has never been much above "junk" in NH

Her Dem. opponent (Paul Hodes) ran a low effort campaign, and was not well liked here. Rove & the boys threw a lot of money and push behind her, and she had managed her career as AG for maximum political effect, to the detriment of the state.
The gun vote was not a sea change - more like the last friggin' straw, +2.

[SCVDem]

12. What a token!

Seeing her next to Graham or any of the Rethug leadership is disgusting.

She is a tool.

What a puppet!

[PatSeg]

19. She is their little token female, a prop for their pressers

[frylock]

13. but but but teh constichuensssssessss!!11

I don't get it. the resident gun fuckers assured us those nay votes were what the constituency wanted. what gives?

[City Lights]

16. This is great news!

I so hope this trend continues! :fingerscrossed:

[GraniteDem]

17. If you want gun control, New Hampshire......

vote U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (the only senator in New England to vote against the Toomey-Manchin bill) out of office!

[Cha]

18. She underestimated the intelligence of the

New Hampshire Voter. Sorry, that vapid tool got elected in the first place.

[peace frog]

20. Welcome to your political reality

Hope your stay is brief and angst-filled. TTFN, numbnuts.

[bossy22]

21. I think they are reading too much into this

Gun control isn't a major issue on 98% of american's list. OF those who actually vote the issue, pro-gun vs pro control is probably 10:1.

[SkyDaddy7]

22. "Serious Consequences"??

No one has lost an election over it yet.

I sure hope they do but I I have my serious doubts.

[BootinUp]

24. I would be thrilled to death to see this one gone

Such a fake posing corrupt little *bleep*!

[Brimley]

25. She's gonna have to be very wiley to get out of this mess!

[Benton D Struckcheon]

26. GE Capital Cuts Off Lending to Gun Retailers

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/business/ge-capital-cuts-off-lending-for-gun-shop-purchases.html?_r=0

Largely symbolic move, but still, every little bit counts.

[NewJeffCT]

31. especially when it's a company as conservative as GE

that does it.

Of course, Republics think GE is a radically liberal corporation because MSNBC started their liberal evening news programming with Keith Olbermann when GE owned NBC. And, cutting off gun shops will just reinforce their thinking.

[Bjorn Against]

27. Well there goes another Gungeon talking point

We were told all about how support for gun control would cost Democrats, but instead opposition to gun control is costing Republicans.

[NickB79]

28. Now try to get them to the voting booths

As many studies have said, support for gun control is "broad but shallow". The outright anger that drives gun nuts to the polls to as single-issue voters is largely absent in the average person who supports more gun control legislation.

[NewJeffCT]

32. agreed on that

I know a guy that is fairly liberal on most positions, but always votes Republicans based on one issue - guns/gun control. He loves his guns and believes the NRA hype that Democrats are going to grab his guns.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

44. Millions of Democrats own firearms, including many on this board.

When a Gallup poll was taken, here was the response:


http://www.gallup.com/poll/20098/gun-ownership-use-america.aspx

[greatlaurel]

29. Good!

I hope her poll numbers keep dropping. That woman makes me grind my teeth when she speaks. How she got elected in New Hampshire is very troubling. She cannot put together two sentences that are coherent. What a complete waste of space.

edited for typo correction.

[Common Sense Party]

33. "Shaheen and Ayotte Remain Popular" according to the Granite State Poll

http://www.unh.edu/survey-center/news/pdf/gsp2013_spring_legapproval042413.pdf

????

[SunSeeker]

36. The poll you cite was taken April 4-9, BEFORE her April 17 vote against background checks.

Which could explain why she was holding steady in that one.

[Common Sense Party]

38. Gotcha. Yep, I just noticed that. nt

[calimary]

35. Gee, I'm so surprised. NOT!!! This little girl is in WAAAAAAAAY over her head.

You have to do more than just tag along with the likes of lindsey graham and john mccain and make sure you get in the photograph. I mean, why aren't you out there strewing rose petals along their path like some flower girl at their wedding, kelly? That cathy mcmorris rodgers creature in the House does the same thing. They trot her out like some trained pet and she stands there framing john boner and the rest of those rogues. It's like - "oh quick, where's the girl? Be sure to get the girl in the photo. Where are ya, honey? C'mon up here - we need you in the shot... (gotta be sure to throw that ol' women's vote group a bone)."

[drkedjr]

43. The ultimate photo op

I can't think of one thing Ayotte has done (especially for NH) but her ability to be in every picture of a Republican photo op is absolutely amazing.