House Speaker John Boehner was already in trouble with conservative House Republicans for his deals with President Obama and Democrats during the lame duck session.
Now, after weeks of pounding by tea party Republicans and conservative spokesmen in the media, a new poll released Friday shows he’s in a world of trouble with Republican voters, too.
The poll found 60 percent of Republican voters “definitely” or “probably” preferred someone new to take over the speaker’s post when the 114th Congress organizes next week, compared to only 26 percent who “definitely” or probably favored the Ohio Republican retaining the post.
Possibly most damning, the poll found a solid majority — 64 percent — of Republicans polled think Boehner has been “ineffective” in opposing President Obama’s agenda and only about half of them trust the speaker to “fight for interests that are most important to Republicans.”
Even fewer, 44 percent, think Boehner has the best interests of the American people at heart, “rather than special interests.”
Conservative House Republicans were particularly unhappy with Boehner over his tactics during negotiations over the continuing resolution/omnibus budget deal in December, when he relied on Democrats to get the majority votes needed the “cromnibus.”
But the poll released Friday is particularly stinging, possibly showing the effects of incessant criticism of Boehner by popular conservative voices like radio talk show hosts Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin, who accuse the speaker of squandering the midterm Republican victory and its takeover of the Senate.
Fox News’ Sean Hannity has also publicly criticized the speaker, and put forward South Carolina Republican Trey Gowdy as a possible replacement. (Gowdy, while popular among conservatives nationwide, has said he isn’t interested in the leadership post.)
The poll was conducted by EMC Research and Pat Caddell a Democrat who has worked for Democrat campaigns going back to 1972.
He has recently been blisteringly critical of the leadership of both parties, though, most notably calling Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid a “disgrace to democracy” in the aftermath of the November elections.
While the poll didn’t identify a possible candidate to replace Boehner in Tuesday’s organizing election, the poll released Friday did kick up a lot of attention among discontented Republicans.
Wow – 64% believe Boehner has been “INEFFECTIVE” as speaker. Real #s, not just hyperbole. Poll: http://t.co/0YC8w43ud4 via @jimgeraghty
— Joseph Koss (@josephkoss) January 2, 2015
How can Boehner continue 2 lead the opposition 2 Obama when he lost the confidence of his own party? https://t.co/lBbjPByKfP #FireBoehner
— Daniel Horowitz (@RMConservative) January 2, 2015
@jimgeraghty @AnthonyAbides The only thing Boehner has been effective at is getting a weekly spray tan.
— Michael Frisbie (@PastorFrisbie) January 2, 2015
@jimgeraghty @HollyRFisher Call me a 64%er.
— Wayne Petersen (@vonrikkor) January 2, 2015
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