Pelosi falls to new low in latest Gallup poll

A new Gallup poll out Wednesday has House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) favorability below 30 percent, which is a new low for the Speaker. 

The numbers come as Republican House challengers, and many Democrats facing tough races this fall, aim their fire at Pelosi ahead of next month’s midterm elections.

Gallup tracks Pelosi’s ratings since January of 2007, when she first assumed the post. At that time her favorables were positive, with 44 percent viewing her favorably and just 22 percent unfavorably.

Even 27 percent of Republicans viewed Pelosi favorably in 2007. That number now stands at just 8 percent. 

Her ratings have also seen a precipitous drop among independents. Earlier this year, 32 percent of independents had a favorable opinion of the Speaker, but that number has dropped to just 21 percent.

New numbers out Wednesday from The Hill 2010 Midterm Election Poll underscore the trouble for Pelosi and the Democratic majority. In 10 reelection races involving sophomore Democrats polled this past week, Republican challengers are ahead in six and tied in two more. 

Of the 32 battleground districts polled so far by The Hill this fall, Democrats are leading in only three, with four races tied. Republicans are ahead in 25. Thirty of those 32 seats are currently held by Democrats. 

Despite Pelosi’s plummet, Gallup notes that she’s still more popular than former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was at his lowest point, in the spring of 1997. Just 24 percent of Americans had a favorable view of Gingrich then, with 62 percent viewing him unfavorably. 

The Gallup numbers also show that the man in line to be the next Speaker of the House, should Republicans win back the majority in November, doesn’t have great numbers either. 

While 42 percent told Gallup they either haven’t heard of House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) or don’t have an opinion on him, of those who do, just 27 percent view him favorably. Another 31 percent hold an unfavorable view of Boehner.