You know the Republicans have really stepped in it when even folks in Utah
(where President Obama garnered just under 25 percent of the vote in 2012) begin to turn against you.
According to a new Deseret News/KSL poll, 56 percent of Utahns disagreed it was worth shutting down the government over Obamacare and just 37 percent agreed. The poll also showed that almost half of those surveyed disapprove of the tea party's influence on the shutdown, and more than one-third disapprove of Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who won his 2010 race with 62 percent of the vote.
Of course, this being ruby-red Utah, 21 percent of voters blame Obama for the shutdown. What's interesting is that nearly as many--20 percent--blame Republicans. Only 6 percent blamed Congressional Democrats, while 41 percent placed the blame on both parties equally.
These polling results out of a rock-solid red state are probably not what Congressional GOP leaders had in mind when they embarked on this folly. The write-up on the KSL web site includes some choice quotes that should send shivers down GOPers' spines:
Utahns are conservative but pragmatic. Utahns expect effectiveness and efficiency and results out of their government, not ideological tantrums."
Kirk Jowers, head of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics
There is no question that Mike Lee got some name identification from what he's doing. He needs to watch his negatives because he could be vulnerable if he seeks re-election...I believe the tea party is not as strong in Utah as many political consultants felt.
Pollster Dan Jones
When you come right down to it, the people of Utah are about common sense. This Mike Lee kind of extremism, shutting down the government because I don't get my way, just doesn't play in Utah.
State Democratic Party Chairman Jim Dabakis
Dabakis goes on to note that while Lee's favorables are plunging, the state's only nationally elected Democrat, Rep. Jim Matheson, enjoys favorables of 57-29.
Lee, the co-author of the current shut-down crisis, claims to be utterly unconcerned with how his antics are playing back home. telling the news station the only numbers he cares about are the percentages of residents "feeling the negative effects" of Obamacare.
I am here in Washington working to pass bills that will fund the government and protect our citizens from harmful policy. I am going to continue to fight for Utahns and let others worry about polls.
Keep fighting and not worrying about polls, Mike. You're #winning!