The More Americans Get To Know Sotomayor The Less They Like Her
Though most pundits are predicting Judge Sonia Sotomayor will ultimately be confirmed, polling suggests her testimony last week has hurt her more than it has helped her.
As the hearings were taking place, Rasmussen reported the following:
“The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, conducted on the two nights following the Supreme Court decision, finds that 37% now believe Sotomayor should be confirmed while 39% disagree.
Two weeks ago, the numbers were much brighter for the nominee. Back then, 42% favored confirmation, and 34% were opposed”
President Obama’s approval ratings have also fallen during this time, but it is unclear how much of that is attributable to the economy or his push for national health care, versus the Sotomayor nomination.
Efforts by groups like the North Dakota Judicial Confirmation Network have been important, not just for this nomination, but to lay the groundwork for future nominations. Local interaction is key, I think, especially in instances like judicial appointments where a lot of Americans aren’t really familiar with the process or the people being nominated.
