Unimpressed With Heckling, But How Will They Vote?

September 11, 2009 4:32 PM | | Comments (0)

In the first hours after his "You Lie" outburst, voters in the South Carolina district of Rep. Joe Wilson weren't happy with him, according to a poll by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling conducted Sept. 10 and 11.

A strong majority - 62 percent -- said they disapproved of Wilson's outburst during the president's speech to a joint session of Congress.

The survey group, comprised of 747 people who voted in the 2004, 2006 and 2008 elections, was divided on whether the episode would make them less likely to vote to re-elect Wilson in 2010. Forty-nine percent said they're now less likely to vote for him while 35 percent said they now are more likely to back Wilson.

For 16 percent of the voters surveyed, Wilson's behavior at the joint session of Congress made no difference.

Head to head, the poll concluded that Wilson is in a dead heat with Democratic challenger Rob Miller. The survey put Miller ahead, 44 percent to 43 percent, or within the 3.6 percent margin of error.

Last year, Wilson defeated Miller 54 percent to 46 percent.

Overall, 41 percent said they approved of Wilson's job performance, while 47 percent disapproved

Based on that snapshot, Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling, concluded that Wilson has been transformed "from a safe incumbent into one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the country for 2010."

CQ Politics rates the race Leans Republican.

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Categories: House, Public Policy Polling

Tags: Miller, SouthCarolina, Wilson

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