FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 8th, 2013
INTERVIEWS: Tom Jensen 919-744-6312
IF YOU HAVE BASIC METHODOLOGICAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL
information@publicpolicypolling.com, OR CONSULT THE FINAL PARAGRAPH
OF THE PRESS RELEASE
Congress Less Popular than Cockroaches, Traffic Jams
Raleigh, N.C. – Facing low approval ratings after a historically unproductive 112th
session and a series of last-minute showdowns over fiscal matters, Congress is now less
popular than root canals, NFL replacement referees, head lice, the rock band Nickelback,
colonoscopies, carnies, traffic jams, cockroaches, Donald Trump, France, Genghis Khan,
used-car salesmen and Brussel sprouts.
When asked if they have a higher opinion of either Congress or a series of unpleasant or
disliked things, voters said they had a higher opinion of root canals (32 for Congress and
56 for the dental procedure), NFL replacement refs (29-56), head lice (19-67), the rock
band Nickelback (32-39), colonoscopies (31-58), Washington DC political pundits (34-
37), carnies (31-39), traffic jams (34-56), cockroaches (43-45), Donald Trump (42-44),
France (37-46), Genghis Khan (37-41), used-car salesmen (32-57), and Brussels sprouts
(23-69) than Congress.
Congress did manage to beat out telemarketers (45-35), John Edwards (45-29), the
Kardashians (49-36), lobbyists (48-30), North Korea (61-26), the ebola virus (53-25),
Lindsay Lohan (45-41), Fidel Castro (54-32), playground bullies (43-38), meth labs (60-
21), communism (57-23), and gonorrhea (53-28).
Congress’s overall favorability rating stands at just 9% favorable and 85% unfavorable.
Women (13-81) view Congress slightly more favorably than men (6-89), as do
Democrats (13-82) than Republicans (9-87), perhaps reflecting Democrats’ higher level
of satisfaction with the recent fiscal cliff deal. Among ideological groups voters who
describe themselves as “very liberal” have a higher than single-digit approval rating, with
36% holding a favorable view and 56% unfavorable.
“We all know Congress is unpopular,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy
Polling. “But the fact that voters like it even less than cockroaches, lice, and Genghis
Khan really shows how far its esteem has fallen with the American public over the last
few weeks.”
PPP surveyed 830 American voters from January 3rd to 6th. The margin of error is +/-3.4
percentage points. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political
organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_Natl_010813_.pdf
INTERVIEWS: Tom Jensen 919-744-6312
IF YOU HAVE BASIC METHODOLOGICAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL
information@publicpolicypolling.com, OR CONSULT THE FINAL PARAGRAPH
OF THE PRESS RELEASE
Congress Less Popular than Cockroaches, Traffic Jams
Raleigh, N.C. – Facing low approval ratings after a historically unproductive 112th
session and a series of last-minute showdowns over fiscal matters, Congress is now less
popular than root canals, NFL replacement referees, head lice, the rock band Nickelback,
colonoscopies, carnies, traffic jams, cockroaches, Donald Trump, France, Genghis Khan,
used-car salesmen and Brussel sprouts.
When asked if they have a higher opinion of either Congress or a series of unpleasant or
disliked things, voters said they had a higher opinion of root canals (32 for Congress and
56 for the dental procedure), NFL replacement refs (29-56), head lice (19-67), the rock
band Nickelback (32-39), colonoscopies (31-58), Washington DC political pundits (34-
37), carnies (31-39), traffic jams (34-56), cockroaches (43-45), Donald Trump (42-44),
France (37-46), Genghis Khan (37-41), used-car salesmen (32-57), and Brussels sprouts
(23-69) than Congress.
Congress did manage to beat out telemarketers (45-35), John Edwards (45-29), the
Kardashians (49-36), lobbyists (48-30), North Korea (61-26), the ebola virus (53-25),
Lindsay Lohan (45-41), Fidel Castro (54-32), playground bullies (43-38), meth labs (60-
21), communism (57-23), and gonorrhea (53-28).
Congress’s overall favorability rating stands at just 9% favorable and 85% unfavorable.
Women (13-81) view Congress slightly more favorably than men (6-89), as do
Democrats (13-82) than Republicans (9-87), perhaps reflecting Democrats’ higher level
of satisfaction with the recent fiscal cliff deal. Among ideological groups voters who
describe themselves as “very liberal” have a higher than single-digit approval rating, with
36% holding a favorable view and 56% unfavorable.
“We all know Congress is unpopular,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy
Polling. “But the fact that voters like it even less than cockroaches, lice, and Genghis
Khan really shows how far its esteem has fallen with the American public over the last
few weeks.”
PPP surveyed 830 American voters from January 3rd to 6th. The margin of error is +/-3.4
percentage points. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political
organization. PPP surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_Natl_010813_.pdf
