Americans are not happy with any of their potential 2016 presidential choices, especially Republican Jeb Bush and Democrat Joe Biden who majorities “would not consider,” according to the latest George Washington University Battleground Poll out Monday.
And just as bad, according to the 1,000 registered voters polled by Republican Ed Goeas of the Tarrance Group and Democrat Celinda Lake of Lake Research Partners, was the finding that Americans are pessimistic about the future of the nation.
Jeb Bush. AP Photo
“Strong majorities say the country is on the wrong track and that the next generation will not be better off economically than the current generation,” said an analysis of the poll provided to Secrets in advance of its 9 a.m. release.
Overall, the always-anticipated poll found voters unexcited about the current crop of Democratic and Republican candidates, especially based on favorable/unfavorable ratings. “Hillary Clinton has the highest favorable and unfavorable ratings at 48/49. The only other person to make it into the forties was Jeb Bush with a 48 percent unfavorable rating (and a 35 percent favorable rating),” said the analysis.
Worse for Bush: Some 60 percent “would not consider” him. From the analysis: “Many of the candidates are already on these voters ‘would not consider’ list, with Bush closed to the most people (60 percent ‘would not consider’) and Joe Biden in second (59 percent ‘would not consider’). Hillary Clinton has the largest ‘would consider’ total at 47% with Marco Rubio coming in second at 42 percent.”
Vice President Joe Biden. AP Photo
Voters also appear ready for change in Washington with 57 percent ready to vote for a candidate who “will be the most effective at getting things done in Washington” instead of one “whose views most closely match (their) own.”
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
