Until 8 p.m. includes Twin Cities area

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Americans are split, 49 percent-46 percent, on whether they approve of Democrats' impeachment inquiry into President Trump and independents, at this point, are not on board, a 

But the pollsters warn that the new developments could change public opinion quickly, especially with 7 in 10 saying they are paying attention to the news.

"Democrats in the House have work to do to convince people of the usefulness of their case," said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, which conducted the survey of 864 Americans. The poll was conducted Wednesday night with live phone interviewers. That was one day after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the impeachment inquiry, but before a whistleblower complaint about the president's call with the Ukranian leader was released to the public. 

Miringoff added that while "independents still need to be convinced," the next few days are going to be crucial for both Democrats and Republicans, who will be making their cases about the validity of the inquiry. 

"It's very important," Miringoff said, "because this is sort of like we are in the middle of a potential storm here."

Americans are also split on whether the impeachment inquiry is a serious matter (50 percent) or just politics (48 percent) and whether it's worth going through with if the Senate doesn't convict and Trump gets to stay in office. By a 49 percent-47 percent margin, they say it's not worth it.

Importantly for Democrats, half of independents disapprove (50 percent) of the impeachment inquiry and don't think it's worth it if the Senate doesn't convict (52 percent). People who live in the suburbs, who Democrats relied on for support in the 2018 midterms to take back the House, are largely split on each of those questions. 

On the impeachment inquiry, 48 percent of those living in the suburbs approve, while 49 percent disapprove. And on whether it's worth it, they divide evenly, 49 percent-49 percent.

Familiar fissures also emerge by party, gender, education and place. Democrats; women, especially college-educated women; and people who live in big cities are in favor of the impeachment inquiry. Republicans, people who live in rural area and men largely are not. 

Overall, 71 percent say they have been paying very close or fairly close attention to the news about the House impeachment inquiry into President Trump. More Republicans (80 percent) said they've at least followed the news on this fairly closely than Democrats (70 percent) or independents (64 percent).

But overwhelmingly, people want to hear more with three-quarters of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, saying the whistleblower should testify before Congress. 

A majority also thinks there needs to be investigation into the Ukraine call and the president asking about the Bidens with 54 percent of voters calling it a very serious matter.

This is going to be a long fight between the two parties, waging a messaging war to try to win over persuadable voters. And right now, independents are saying they don't approve of the job Trump is doing (44 percent), but they disapprove of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi more (31 percent).

What's more, the president's base is more behind him than Pelosi's is behind her — 90 percent of Republicans approve of Trump's job, as opposed to 74 percent of Democrats saying the same about Pelosi. 

Trump's overall approval rating is about where it's been – 44 percent, but Pelosi comes off worse at 39 percent. 

Viewed worst of all of the leaders in Washington, however, is Mitch McConnell. Just a 32 percent approve of the job he's doing, including just 56 percent of Republicans. 

So it's pretty clear whose party the GOP is.

Methodology: The poll of 864 Americans was conducted with live telephone callers the night of Wednesday, Sept. 25. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 5 percent.

Politics and Government News

Trump impeachment

Domenico Montanaro

Author

Independents at this point say they are not on board with the impeachment inquiry, but with more revelations coming out, the pollsters warn, that could change.

Poll: Americans split on House impeachment inquiry

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox