A poll commissioned by Fiscal Alliance found that “economic anxiety” is shaping how Bay State voters feel about the president, policy issues, and what candidate they prefer for governor.
“The real driver of this survey, the thing that makes everything about it make a lot of sense is when you look at the way people feel about … the economic anxiety issues — the jobs and economy, taxes and inflation,” said Jim Eltringham of Advantage Inc., who conducted the survey.
“That slate of issues really deals with people worrying about themselves, their family, and the financial future of those around them,” he added.
The poll, which surveyed 750 likely general election voters from June 1-5, included questions on President Biden’s job performance, how voters feel on a range of policy issues, why residents are choosing to leave the state, and what candidate they plan to support for governor.
Paul Craney, spokesperson for the Fiscal Alliance Foundation, said the results showed decreasing support for the president, particularly around his handling of inflation. Biden’s approval rating for how he was dealing with inflation dropped from 48% in March, with a 48% disapproval, to 39% approval and 53% disapproval in June.
How voters feel about his job performance also dropped over that time frame — from 54% support and 44% against in March to 49% support and 46% against this month, Craney said.
Craney said the majority, or 68%, of Democrats, Republicans and unenrolled voters support suspending the gas tax, which has failed to pass in the legislature.
The majority of voters polled, or 69%, were against a graduated income surtax amendment — the so-called millionaire’s tax that would create a new surtax on income in excess of $1 million — which the legislature voted to place on the ballot a year ago.
One in four voters polled said they are considering or planning to leave Massachusetts, with higher taxes and cost of living cited as the top two reasons, according to Eltringham.
Attorney General Maura Healey, a Democrat, garnered the most support among gubernatorial candidates, at 26%, but saw a decrease from 31% in March. Republican Geoff Diehl also saw a drop, as 60% of polled voters remain undecided, Craney said.
“The national mood to what I call economic anxiety seems to be now starting to spill out into the governor’s race,” Craney said.
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