After three primaries, numerous debates and more than a year of campaigning, not one Democratic or Republican presidential candidate earned a net “favorable” score among registered voters across various faith groups in a recent Barna Group poll.
The best net scores – subtracting candidates’ very unfavorable ratings from their very favorable ratings – were earned by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (minus 9) among Republicans and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (minus 7) among Democrats. The worst score went to businessman Donald Trump (minus 32).
A shade more than eight months out from the presidential election, the poll shows the dissatisfaction the electorate has with candidates in both parties. Unfortunately, with the field likely set, it’s a dissatisfaction that is bound to carry over to the general election.
Thus, in the fall, Americans may elect – Republican or Democrat – one of the least popular candidates ever to come out of party nominating conventions.
The Barna poll reveals Rubio did best among evangelicals (plus 27) and Catholics (plus 3), while Sanders did best among religious skeptics (plus 20) and voters of others faiths (plus 10). Trump’s worst rating came from religious skeptics (minus 49) and his best from Catholics (minus 19).