A new poll finds that President Donald Trump’s approval rating has narrowed in Tennessee, despite him easily carrying the state’s 11 Electoral College votes back in November.
Middle Tennessee State University's newest poll revealed that only 51 percent approve of his performance so far, with 32 percent disapproving and 17 percent undecided.
MTSU polled 600 registered voters from February 12-16, with a margin of error of 4 percentage points. They were asked, “Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as president?”
When the poll was conducted back in 2009, shortly after Barack Obama took office, 53 percent of Tennesseans approved of the president’s performance, while 27 percent disapproved and 20 percent were undecided.
Those were Obama’s highest approval ratings in Tennessee during his presidency.
“New presidents often enjoy a so-called honeymoon shortly after winning their first election, when unifying inaugural addresses and a public that hopes for the best contribute to even greater support and job approval than their winning vote totals,” said Jason Reineke, Ph.D., associate director of the poll. “But that doesn’t appear to be the case for Trump.”
Those surveyed were also asked when they decided on their candidate:
- 52 percent decided before the party conventions
- 31 percent decided between the beginning of the conventions and the end of the debates
- 14 percent decided after the debates
- 3 percent didn’t know or didn’t answer
Trump ended up winning the state with 61 percent of the vote.
