Poll: Voters less likely to support opponent of background checks

A new PPP poll shows continued broad support for universal background checks

Published June 14, 2013 7:49PM (EDT)

A new poll from the Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling finds that 71 percent of voters still support universal background checks, including 57 percent of Republicans. In addition, 51 percent overall say that they are less likely to vote for a lawmaker who opposed the Senate's unsuccessful background check measure, while only 14 percent say they are more likely to vote for an official who voted against it.

This is consistent with a number of PPP polls that have shown approval ratings for individual senators tanking in the wake of their "no" vote in April. One poll showed 52 percent saying they were less likely to support Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., because of his vote. Similar polls showed the same results for Sens. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Dean Heller, R-Nev. Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., saw a 15-point dip in her approval rating since her vote.

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Penn., on the other hand, got a boost in his approval rating after co-sponsoring the measure with Democrat Joe Manchin.


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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Background Checks Kelly Ayotte Mark Begich Polling Ppp