As Democrats grow frustrated with U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), new polling shows he is gaining popularity among Republicans.
The new Quinnipiac University poll, released Oct. 1, showed 46% of Pennsylvania voters approved of how Fetterman was handling his job as senator while 38% disapproved. Another 16% did not offer an opinion, according to the poll.
However, the poll found that more Republicans than Democrats approve of how Fetterman was handling his job. This comes as Fetterman has frequently criticized his own party and bucked Democratic leadership in key votes, including voting for the GOP-led spending bill earlier this week.
Even President Donald Trump has praised him in several instances for splitting with his party, saying Fetterman is the “most sensible Democrat.”
The new poll found that 62% of Republicans approved of Fetterman’s job performance while 21% disapproved. In contrast, 54% of Democrats disapproved of Fetterman while 33% approved.
Independents are evenly split, with 43 percent approving and 43 percent disapproving.
“One-time Democratic darling John Fetterman flips the approval script as Republicans embrace him and Democrats give him low marks nearly two years after GOP voters wouldn’t give him the time of day,” Quinnipiac polling analyst Tim Malloy said in a statement.
The Quinnipiac University poll was conducted from Sept. 25-29 among 1,579 registered voters in Pennsylvania. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points.
Despite positive feedback from the GOP in the latest poll, Fetterman has maintained he will not leave the Democratic Party.
Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” host Maria Bartiromo asked Fetterman last month whether he would consider changing parties, arguing there are “real extremists” who have “tried to hijack the Democrat Party” over policies and rhetoric.
“No, I’m not going to switch,” Fetterman said. “I’m just going to be an independent voice in the Democratic Party. I’m not going to be afraid of people.”
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