'Anger on their minds': NBC News poll finds sky-high interest and polarization ahead of midterms
Some 80% of Democrats and Republicans believe the political opposition poses a threat that, if not stopped, will destroy America as we know it.
A voter fills out their ballot at Bedford High School during the New Hampshire Primary on Sept. 13, 2022 in Bedford, N.H.
Less than three weeks before Election Day, voter interest has now reached an all-time high for a midterm election, with a majority of registered voters saying that this election is “more important” to them than past midterms.
What’s more, some 80% of Democrats and Republicans believe the political opposition poses a threat that, if not stopped, will destroy America as we know it.
And two-thirds of reliable Democratic and Republican voters say they’d still support their party’s political candidate, even if that person had a moral failing that wasn’t consistent with their own values.
These are some of the major findings of a brand-new national
NBC News poll, which also shows a competitive contest for November and offers positive signs for both major political parties.
For Democrats, President Joe Biden’s approval rating remains steady at 45%; congressional preference continues to be relatively even (with 47% of registered voters preferring Democrats to control Congress, versus 46% who want Republicans in charge); and “threats to democracy” is voters’ No. 1 issue for the third-straight NBC News poll.
For Republicans, the positive signs are that Biden’s approval with independents and swing-state voters is in the 30s and low 40s; that the GOP once again holds the enthusiasm advantage; and that Republicans lead in congressional preference among the smaller set of likely voters, 48% to 47%, though that’s well within the survey’s margin of error.
Yet beyond the horserace numbers and the high interest in the upcoming election, what stands out in the NBC News poll is the bipartisan anger from Democratic and Republican voters when they were asked which one message they’d like to send with their vote.
“Tell Biden to resign,” said a Republican male respondent from Missouri.
“Save this country,” answered a Republican female from New York state.
“Democracy is in jeopardy,” replied a Democratic male from Massachusetts.
“Don’t mess with reproductive rights,” said a Democratic female from California
“We know that many voters will be casting ballots with anger on their minds,” said Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates, who conducted this survey with Republican Bill McInturff and his team at Public Opinion Strategies.
“We just don’t know who which side will be angrier,” Horwitt added.
According to the poll, 47% of registered voters say they prefer Democrats to control Congress, while 46% want a Republican-controlled Congress — essentially unchanged from last month, when the two parties were tied at 46% each.
Democrats enjoy some of their biggest advantages among Black voters (who prefer Democratic control of Congress by a 74%-13% margin), those ages 18-34 (60%-30%), Latinos (57%-30%) and women (50%-43%).
Republicans have the edge with white voters (55%-40%), white voters without college degrees (61%-33%), and men (49%-43%).
And the parties are tied among independents, 40% to 40%.
Among the voters the NBC News poll identifies as being “likely voters” — those either with high interest in voting or who have a high modeled turnout score — 48% prefer a Republican-controlled Congress, versus 47% who want a Democratic-controlled Congress.
It’s the first time this cycle the poll has measured likely voters.
An 'eye-popper' in election interest
The poll also finds 70% of all registered voters expressing high interest in the upcoming election — either a “9” or “10” on a 10-point scale — which is the highest percentage ever in the survey for a midterm election at this same point in time.
“It’s an eye-popper” when you have a higher number now on this question than in 2018, which set a turnout record for a midterm election, said McInturff, the GOP pollster.
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'Anger on their minds': NBC News poll finds sky-high interest and polarization ahead of midterms
