This is a strong ad for Missouri populist Lucas Kunce. It will let Missouri voters know who he is. It isn't aimed towards Democratic primary voters; it's aimed at Missouri. Although there is a subtle helping hand for Kunce's most desired opponent, scandal-clad sociopath Eric Greitens. After all, it is just standard conservative politicians Hartzler and Schmitt who are standing in the way of a Greitens nomination. But mostly, the ad is meant to drive up Kunce's name recognition and to show voters he is strongly on their side-- which he is.
In general, "politicians" is a very unpopular job category among Americans. Year after year, decade after decade, Gallup reports that politicians as a group are rated very low. Generally only "car salesmen" and "lobbyists" rated lower than politicians as occupations. Popularity is a funny thing in politics. Who becomes popular and with what groups and why? A new poll from YouGov ranks the popularity of 286 American politicians, from the most popular (Obama at 57%) to the least popular, John Kyl at 9%. And then it ranks those same politicians among various demographics. If you're as much of a nerd as I am and enjoy this kind of thing, you're going to have a blast.
I want to look at this from just one perspective today-- millennials, people born between 1981 and 1996. They represent the future-- the near future-- of American politics. Who do they like? Who do they hate? For one thing, they don't like politicians much at all. Only 9 rate at least 40% positive!
And as far as hating? Wow... millennials hate 'em all! Let's look at some important names in politics:
Pat Toomey- 12%
Rob Portman- 14% (just endorsed Jane Timken last week)
Joe Manchin- 14% (hard to believe it could be this high)
Mitch McConnell- 18% (and everyone thought he was the most hated)
Scott Walker- 18%
Lisa Murkowski- 18% (just endorsed Jame Timken today)
Joni Ernst- 18% (just endorsed Jame Timken today)
Jared Kushner- 19%
Mark Warner- 20%
Joe Lieberman- 20%
Dick Cheney- 20%
Steny Hoyer- 21% (House majority leader)
Chris Christie- 21% (wants to run for president)
Robert Menendez- 21% (He's trying to get his son, Robert Jr, a House seat)
Rahm Emanuel- 21% (Biden's worst appointment so far)
Terry McAuliffe- 21% (Democrats should think more deeply about who they nominate for electoral positions)
Newt Gingrich- 21%
Louie Gohmert- 21% (currently polling in last place in the Texas AG race)
Charles Koch- 21% (David Koch is at 24%; which of them is still alive?)
Darrell Issa- 22% (maybe he'll be boosted by his CPAC speech this week; maybe not)
Charlie Crist- 23% (people finding out he's a Blue Dog in time for his gubernatorial run?)
Andrew Cuomo- 23% (a base for a reentry into politics?)
Sarah Palin- 23% (Typhoid Mary of the Upper East Side)
Gabby Giffords- 23% (oops)
Hakeem Jeffries- 24% (the Dems' worst idea for a new Speaker)
Claire McCaskill- 24% (every time she goes on MSNBC, the network loses ratings points)
Susan Collins- 24% (every time she goes on CNN, the network loses ratings points)
Dianne Feinstein- 24% (zombies, still popular among millennials)
Joe Manchin- 25% (the kids hate him, but not as much as everyone else does)
Debbie Wasserman Schultz- 26% (how the hell does anyone even remember her?)
Tom Cotton- 26% (GOP presidential timber)
Nikki Haley- 26% (see above)
Kevin McCarthy- 27% (Speaker in waiting?)
Lindsey Graham- 27% (What happens when he's outed?)
Rand Paul- 27% (as hated as Kevin McCarthy and Lindsey Graham)
Mitt Romney- 28%
Gavin Newsom- 30%
Andrew Yang- 30%
Señor Trumpanzee himself- 31%
Mike Pence and Mayo Pete- 32% (lol)
Ted Cruz- 34% (less hated than Trump)
Nancy Pelosi- 35% (less hated than Trump)
Bill Clinton- 38% (less hated than Trump)
Ilhan Omar- 38% (less hated than Trump)
Marco Rubio- 38% (less hated than Trump)
Al Gore- 38% (less hated than Trump)
Maxine Waters- 39% (much less hated than Trump)
