The presidential campaign has already taking a toll on voters’ perceptions of both parties, but the Republican brand is hurting more, according to a new poll.
Forty-two percent of voters said that the primary race made them feel more negative toward the GOP whereas only 19 percent said the race made them feel more favorable, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. In contrast, 54 percent of voters say that the 2016 contest between Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley has not changed their views of the Democratic Party. Yet 28 percent view the Democrats more negatively and 17 percent view them more positively.
The poll, which was taken from January 9-13 when Trump held a 13-point lead over Sen. Ted Cruz, showed that registered Republican voters are split about how the 2016 race has affected the party. Thirty-three percent of voters believe the often-chaotic 2016 primary improved their view of the party, whereas 23 percent now have a worse view of the GOP.
Among Democrats, voters are more pleased with their candidates. Thirty-eight percent believe their party has improved during the race and only 7 percent believe it has not.
As candidates head in to the final weeks of the pre-primary season, voters will cast their first votes for each party on February 1 during the Iowa caucuses.
