Support for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has rebounded among Republican voters since the release of tapes revealing his criticism of former President Donald Trump in the days following the Capitol riot.
McCarthy’s approval numbers returned to their pre-tape numbers, according to a new poll from Morning Consult. In a poll of 2,000 GOP voters taken between Friday and Monday, 40% had a favorable view of the congressman, while 28% had an unfavorable view.
In the tapes, which were reported on April 21 in a New York Times report on the new book This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future, McCarthy told GOP colleagues he was tempted to tell Trump, “I think this will pass, and it would be my recommendation you should resign,” on Jan. 10, 2021. However, the California congressman, who initially denied the comments, said he never ended up conveying that message to the president.
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The tapes were released by MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, who had obtained a copy, on April 26.
A Morning Consult poll taken directly after the release of the New York Times article reported a 9% drop in McCarthy’s approval rating. McCarthy had a 31% approval rating and 29% unfavorable from April 22 to April 25.
House Republicans attempted to brush off criticism of the Republican leader and his subsequent denial by giving the congressman a standing ovation following a meeting of the House GOP, during which McCarthy called on the party to unify ahead of the midterm elections.
“There’s no problem. He’s going be the next speaker,” Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX) said following McCarthy’s speech.
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In order to win back the House majority in November, Republicans need to flip five seats, a goal the GOP is predicted to achieve. If the party wins back the majority, McCarthy is in line to become the speaker of the House.
