Less than Half of Voters Support Kagan Confirmation, Trouble Signs Seen in Past Stands
Published on
June 24, 2010
Overview
A plurality of likely voters in the November elections supports Elena Kagan’s confirmation, by a 46 to 28 percent margin with 26 percent undecided, according to Resurgent Republic's analysis. But her past positions on military recruitment while at Harvard and the District of Columbia’s handgun ban could harm that support, with undecided voters overwhelmingly saying they would be less likely to support a senator who voted to confirm Kagan on both issues.
Resurgent Republic’s most recent national survey of 1000 likely voters was conducted June 20 – 23, 2010.
Kagan Support
A plurality of voters supports Kagan’s confirmation to the Supreme Court, while 1 in 4 voters remain undecided. Independents support Kagan’s confirmation by a 40 to 27 percent margin.
President Obama has nominated Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court. Do you support or oppose the Senate confirming her to the Supreme Court?
Military Recruitment
Half the voters would be less likely to support a senator who votes to confirm Kagan in light of her stand on military recruitment while at Harvard, including Independents by a two-to-one margin, 50 to 25 percent. In light of this position, voters who are undecided regarding her confirmation would be less likely to support a senator who votes to confirm Kagan by nearly three-to-one (43 to 15 percent).
As Dean of Harvard Law School, Elena Kagan denied the military full access to recruit students to join the armed services because of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding gays in the military. Does her decision make you more likely or less likely to support a senator who votes to confirm her to the Supreme Court?
2nd Amendment
Voters would be less likely to support a senator who votes to confirm Kagan in light of her position on the DC handgun ban by a 49 to 28 percent margin, including 49 to 24 percent among Independents. In light of this position, voters who are undecided regarding her confirmation would be less likely to support a senator who votes to confirm Kagan by nearly three-to-one (45 to 14 percent).
As a law clerk to a Supreme Court justice, Elena Kagan said she was not sympathetic to claims that the District of Columbia's handgun ban violated a resident's constitutional rights. Does her position on that issue make you more likely or less likely to support a senator who votes to confirm her to the Supreme Court?
Political Climate
Nearly two-thirds of the electorate say the country is off on the wrong track. Voters say the country is on the wrong track by a 64 to 27 percent margin, including a 69 to 24 percent margin among absolutely certain voters and a 72 to 18 percent margin among Independents (a widening from 65 to 25 percent among Independents in April).
Barack Obama has a net favorable rating overall (49 to 45 percent) helped by an 89 to 8 percent rating among Democrats. But Independents give him a 45 to 47 percent rating and Republicans give him a 9 to 85 percent rating. Similarly, the President’s split job approval (49 to 48 percent) masks a 44 to 51 percent rating among Independents (10 to 87 percent among Republicans and 88 to 9 percent among Democrats).
