Poll after poll has showed the public opinion of the GOP dropped as a result of their shutting down the government. But this Washington Post / ABC News Poll is the first one taken completely after the shutdown had ended (with some GOP support). It was conducted between October 17th and 21st of a nationwide sample 1,002 adults (with a 3.5 point margin of error).But the fact that a few Republicans voted with Democrats to re-open the government doesn't seem to have help the GOP. Like the others, this survey shows the GOP has seriously damaged itself by shutting down the government. Only 17% of the public approved of the shutdown (meaning even some Republicans didn't like it), while 81% disapproved.
Now only 32% of the public has a favorable opinion of Republicans -- 14 points lower than the favorable opinion of Democrats, and 18 points lower than the favorable opinion of the president. That low favorability also shows up when poll respondents were asked who they would vote for if the election for House representatives was held now. The number saying they would vote for the GOP is 11 points lower than the number who would vote Democratic.
And it turns out that shutting down the government is not the only reason for the dropping popularity of the GOP. The public also doesn't like the Republican refusal to raise taxes on the rich to help reduce the budget deficit. About 59% of the public thinks raising taxes should be a part of a budget deficit reduction package along with budget cuts, and only 37% think taxes should not be included.
The GOP didn't just damage themselves with a shutdown, they continue to damage themselves with their insistence on protecting the rich and trying to balance the budget on the backs of the poor, children, the unemployed, and the elderly. And if they shut down the government again in January (which some of them are already threatening to do), it could be the final nail in their 2014 electoral coffin.
