Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) has an interesting take on a recent poll by Democratic Public Policy Polling that showed his approval rating imploding after his recent vote against expanded backround checks for gun purchases: It’s probably right.
“Nothing like waking up to a poll saying you’re the nation’s least popular senator,” Flake wrote on his Facebook page late Monday night. “Given the public’s dim view of Congress in general, that probably puts me somewhere just below pond scum.”
The poll by PPP concluded Flake is one of the least popular senators in America less than six months after his election, with only 32 percent approval and 51 percent disapproval among Arizona respondents. 52 percent said they were less likely to vote for him as a result of his vote against the Manchin-Toomey amendment, which enjoyed 70 percent backing in the same poll.
Flake, who is taking heat in the press for telling a constituent he supported background checks before voting against the measure, acknowledged that gun legislation was the likely cause of his apparently dismal polls numbers.
“Now, notwithstanding the polling firm’s leftist bent, I would assume that my poll numbers have indeed taken a southerly turn since my vote against the Manchin-Toomey background check proposal,” he said. “It was a popular amendment, and I voted against it.”
Tom Jensen, director of PPP, told TPM on Tuesday that he’s “glad” Flake has accepted his sliding poll numbers.
Flake’s full statement below:
Nothing like waking up to a poll saying you’re the nation’s least popular senator. Given the public’s dim view of Congress in general, that probably puts me somewhere just below pond scum.
Now, notwithstanding the polling firm’s leftist bent, I would assume that my poll numbers have indeed taken a southerly turn since my vote against the Manchin-Toomey background check proposal. It was a popular amendment, and I voted against it.
This afternoon I came across this piece written by The Arizona Republic’s Joanna Allhands. It captures the complexity of the issue better than anything I’ve read.
Or maybe I just liked the title…
This post has been updated.
