Human Events-Gravis Poll: Ohio Voters Call for Challenge Against Speaker John Boehner

According to a new poll conducted by Gravis Marketing for Human Events, Speaker of the House John Boehner, isn’t exactly in great shape with Ohio voters, particularly Republicans. Half of the respondents reported they would welcome a challenger to John Boehner in the 2014 congressional race. Respondents were registered Republican voters living in Boehner’s district.

Doug Kaplan, CEO at Gravis Marketing, a non-partisan research firm, reports the survey reached about twice as many voters than are normally polled in a single district, giving the poll results a margin of error of just 2%.

Key findings include:

• Almost two in three (65%) want the Speaker to take steps to defund Obamacare even though it could lead to a government shutdown.
• The same number want Boehner to call for a special inquiry into the September 11, 2012 attack in Benghazi.
• Some 45% reported Boehner was not effective in advancing conservative issues, while 22% disagreed.
• On issues of taxing and spending 48% reported the Speaker is not doing enough to rein in the economy.

The poll covered a range of topics designed to reveal voter sentiment on topics ranging from Illegal immigration – a leftist group known as “Undocumented Ohio” won state approval in August for taxpayers to subsidize illegal immigrants’ college costs – to opinions on providing military support to the Syrian rebels. On that topic 54% opposed U.S. involvement, while 29% were undecided and 17% were in favor.

The results are a sad confirmation that Speaker Boehner, who was once considered the most popular leader from either party in Congress, is now seen with such disappointment. Overall, the response suggest just that – disappointment – whether over Obamacare or Benghazi. Immigration reform and support for intervention in Syria, too, are clearly not in line with the Speaker’s constituencies’ views.

Sign the petition by the Senate Conservative Fund, spearheaded by Sens. Cruz R-TX and Lee R-UT, to defund Obamacare by clicking here. Below is a list of several of the questions, with more than 1,120 Ohio voters responding to the poll conducted by Human Events – Gravis Marketing  on September 4^th.

Do you support military action in Syria?

Overall, respondents largely not in favor of military action in Syria, with 54% opposed, 29% unsure, and 17% in support.

Should Speaker John Boehner work to defund Obamacare, even if it means a government shutdown?

Respondents were generally in favor of defunding Obamacare, receiving about 65% of total responses, followed by 19% saying no, and 16% unsure.

Should Speaker John Boehner call up a special committee to investigate Benghazi?

Overall, survey participants were overwhelmingly in favor of investigating Benghazi, with 65% saying yes, 18% saying no, and 17% unsure.

Would you welcome a primary opponent to face Speaker John Boehner in the Republican primary? 

Survey respondents were a bit more split on whether Speaker Boehner should face a challenger in the Republican primary, although not by much, with 50% indicating yes, 28% saying no, and 21% unsure.

Is Speaker Boehner doing enough to lower federal taxes and spending? 

A majority of respondents were displeased with the effort to lower federal taxes and spending, with 48% indicating not enough was being done; about 30% were unsure, and 22% thought Speaker Boehner was doing enough to lower the costs of the federal government.

Should Speaker John Boehner continue to support amnesty for illegal aliens? 

Respondents were largely opposed to amnesty for illegal aliens, with 74% opposed, 10% in favor, and 16% unsure.

Should Speaker John Boehner accept campaign contributions from groups in favor of amnesty for illegal aliens? 

Akin to the amnesty question, about 71% thought Speaker Boehner should not take campaign contributions from illegal aliens, while 19% were unsure, and 10% said yes.

Is Speaker John A. Boehner more concerned with his constituents or making the President happy? 

On whether Speaker Boehner has greater concern for pleasing the President versus his constituents, 35% indicated yes, while 25% said no, and 40% were unsure.

Does Speaker John Boehner understand the problems of ordinary people in western Ohio?   

Survey participants were less certain about Speaker Boehner’s understanding of ordinary people, with 41% indicating they through he did not understand the concerns of ordinary people, 37% saying yes, and 22% unsure.

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