Americans Still Closely Divided on Kavanaugh Confirmation.

Byline: Jeffrey M. Jones

Synopsis: More Americans now have opinions about whether the Senate should confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, but preferences remain divided overall.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- During a week in which Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh defended himself before the Senate against sexual assault allegations, a growing percentage of Americans now have an opinion about whether he should be confirmed. Currently, 46% of Americans are in favor of the Senate confirming Kavanaugh and 45% are opposed, with 9% having no opinion. Three prior polls conducted between July and mid-September showed close divisions of opinion, but with more than twice as many as now having no opinion.

As the Kavanaugh drama has unfolded in recent weeks, public opinion has consistently been divided, with no more than a four-percentage-point margin in favor of his confirmation and a three-point margin against it measured in four separate surveys.

The latest results are based on Gallup polling the week of Sept. 24-30. On Sept. 27, Kavanaugh and his accuser, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, testified before the Senate. A comparison of the polling conducted in the three days prior to their testimony and the four days afterward showed no apparent change in the gap in favor of, and against, confirmation. The major impact of the testimony appeared to be a sharp drop in the percentage not having an opinion on the matter, observed in the days after the hearings, accompanied by roughly equal increases in support and opposition.

One major reason why opinions about Kavanaugh's confirmation have been relatively stable is that Republicans and Democrats have held diametrically opposed views on the matter. Whereas 84% of Republicans want Kavanaugh confirmed, 78% of Democrats want the Senate to reject his nomination. Independents are about equally divided, with 43% in favor and 46% opposed to the Senate confirming Kavanaugh.

Republicans' and Democrats' opinions have become increasingly polarized in the latest survey. Democrats' net support for Kavanaugh's confirmation is now at -65 points (13% in favor and 78% opposed), down from -53 points (14% in favor and 67% opposed) in July.

Likewise, Republicans' net support for Kavanaugh has grown to 73 points (84% in favor and 11% opposed), from 67 points (76% to 9%) in July. Independents have been divided throughout the process, although in the last two surveys slightly more have been opposed than in favor.

The current...

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