Public Opinion Strategies released our National Omnibus survey numbers.  As several POS blog posts have noted, Neil Gorsuch’s nomination is viewed favorably by voters nationally; a trend that has increased since February.  In the March omnibus survey, 39{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} of respondents supported Gorsuch’s nomination to the Supreme Court, a 5{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} increase since the February NBC/Wall Street Journal survey.  However, those opposing Gorsuch’s nomination has also increased to 28{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222}, a 6{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} increase since February.  As noted in a previous POS blog, SCOTUS nominee’s opposition ticks upward as a result of nomination hearings and additional news coverage.

Looking further into the data, and as Kyle Clark noted in his earlier blog, party is a driving source of polarization.  Among Republicans, 75{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} support the nomination, while 2{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} oppose it.  Among Democrats, 11{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} support the nomination, while 53{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} oppose it.  This is a trend that continues to play out when looking at the 2016 ballot.  Fully 75{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} of Trump voters support the nomination, while just 1{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} oppose.  Not surprisingly, Clinton voters are nearly the opposite – 10{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} support/56{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} oppose the nomination.

When looking at where Gorsuch has gained support since the February NBC/Wall Street Journal survey, his largest group of movers has been with Republicans at +17{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222}, followed by people in rural communities at +15{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222}, and men at +13{09f965da52dc6ab4c1643a77bd40d1f729d807040cd8db540234bb981a782222} .  The growth in support comes after his lengthy confirmation hearings that were covered extensively in the national news.