Support for impeachment slips 4 points from October: poll

Support for President Trump’s impeachment slipped 4 percentage points since mid-October, according to a poll released Wednesday. 

The Morning Consult survey found that 47 percent of respondents now back impeachment. In mid-October, a record-high majority — 51 percent — supported it. 

{mosads}Those opposed to impeachment held steady at 43 percent, where it has stood since House Democrats launched an impeachment inquiry over the president’s dealings with Ukraine in September. 

Responses on how House Democrats have managed the inquiry are also virtually unchanged in the new survey, with more than 4 in 5 Democrats backing their representatives in the House and a similar number of Republicans disagreeing with the House Democrats’ methods.

This new poll was conducted from Nov. 1 to 3, after the House approved the rules for the impeachment proceedings. No Republican lawmaker supported the rule vote.

Respondents who reported hearing “a lot” about the House’s vote to formalize the impeachment proceedings were more likely to support the probe and support how House Democrats have managed it. Forty-eight percent of Democrats, 42 percent of Republicans and 35 percent of independents said they have heard “a lot” about the vote.

The overall drop in impeachment support comes at a time when lawmakers on both sides are trying to gauge public opinion. Polls last month indicated increased support among independents and Democrats for the inquiry, while Republicans stood their ground in defending the president.

The Morning Consult poll surveyed 1,983 registered voters and had a margin of error of 2 percentage points.