Efforts to force the Washington Redskins to change their name suffered a new setback in a poll that shows even Democrats don’t favor a name change, and by a wide margin.
In a survey of Virginia voters, key since the state is wooing Skins owner Daniel Snyder as he considers where to build a new stadium, Public Policy Polling found that just 21 percent want a name change. Some 66 percent are opposed.
PPP added, “Republicans are against it 85/3, independents are 69/19, and even Democrats are 51/35.”
The football team has been slowly pushing back at the pressure to change the name. President Obama and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid have backed a change claiming the names is offensive to native Americans.
But the team has won support for the Redskins name from native American groups.
What’s more, Virginia is the home to the Redskins summer camp and headquarters.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
