The new survey of Maine by Public Policy Polling (D) finds that Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe is overwhelmingly popular with the state’s Democrats, in the wake of her vote for the Senate Finance Committee’s health care bill — and not too well liked among Republicans.
A whopping 70% of Maine Democrats approve of Snowe’s job performance, with only 17% disapproving. Republicans, by contrast, are tied at 45%-45%. Independents approve of Snowe by 51%-33%, yielding an overall top-line approval of 56%-31%.
“With less than half of Republicans approving of Olympia Snowe now it’s going to be interesting to see if she’s challenged from the right come 2012,” said PPP president Dean Debnam, in the polling memo. “Is she going to be pushed into a corner the way Arlen Specter was where her only prospect for political survival is a party switch? It’s certainly something political observers across the country will be watching.”
PPP also asked about approval of Snowe on health care specifically, with a top-lien of 48%-35%. Democrats were at 64%-20%, Republicans disapproved of her at 33%-52%, and independents were 44%-37%.
Respondents were also asked whether Snowe should switch to the Democrats, with only 32% in favor and 49% against it. Opinion was spread fairly evenly across all three party groups: Democrats 33%-47%, Republicans 32%-53%, and independents 29%-47%.
