The impeachment inquiry has dominated the news for weeks. So how are key voters responding? A New York Times Upshot/Sienna College survey focused on six states that will likely decide the 2020 election – Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Arizona – and found that even though voters support the inquiry, most still oppose impeachment and the removal of the president from office.
Half the voters (50%) in these swing states support the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, but a majority (53%) are also opposed to impeaching and removing him from office. As the Times notes, these six swing states were four points more favorable toward Mr. Trump in 2016 compared to the rest of the country, which was reflected in 2018 election results as well, and these numbers show they are on a similar path for 2020.
Ninety-four percent of swing state voters who supported Mr. Trump in 2016 oppose impeachment and removal. Democrats (83%) and those who supported Hillary Clinton in 2016 (85%), however, strongly support impeachment and removal, though not at the same intensity as Mr. Trump’s defenders. Part of that drop-off could be due to how closely Democrats in these states are tuning in. The poll found support for impeachment among Mr. Trump’s opponents correlated with how closely they are following the news, ranging from 94% among those following closely and falling to 51% among those not following closely at all.
As the formal inquiry starts, more Democrats and Republicans will tune in and pay attention. That may only serve to embolden those who support Mr. Trump in the states that sent him to the White House.
