Survey finds trouble for Kavanaugh
Level of opposition to court pick unparalleled
WASHINGTON – More Americans oppose than support the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, a new USA TODAY/Ipsos Public Affairs Poll found, an unprecedented level of disapproval for a nominee to the nation’s high court.
Amid allegations of sexual assault against Kavanaugh, those surveyed say by 40 percent to 31 percent that the Senate shouldn’t vote to approve his nomination, the first time a plurality of Americans have opposed a Supreme Court nominee since polling on the issue began. Nonetheless, they also are inclined to believe he will, in the end, be confirmed: Just 11 percent predict he won’t; 45 percent say he will.
The findings underscore the serious political stakes – and the potential for blowback in the midterm elections little more than six weeks away.
Christine Blasey Ford has accused Kavanaugh of attempted rape when they were high school students in suburban Maryland. Kavanaugh “categorically and unequivocally” denies the assault.
Beyond a fierce partisan divide, the survey found a definite gender gap: Women by double digits believe Ford’s accusations, 35 to 21 percent. Men by 9 percentage points believe Kavanaugh’s denials, 37 to 28 percent.
Those views are reflected in the question over whether he should be confirmed. Women oppose him by 20 points, 43 to 23 percent; men support him by four points, 40 to 36 percent.
The online poll of about 1,008 adults, which has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.5 points, was taken Wednesday and Thursday.
Cliff Young, president of Ipsos, says that “our new poll shows that more than gender, party is the main driver of people’s point of view about this fight, another sign of our highly tribal times.”
Just 9 percent of Democrats support Kavanaugh’s confirmation, compared with 70 percent of Republicans.