Politicians Are Disliked As A Category-- Can Lucas Kunce Change That?

This is a strong ad for Missouri populist Lucas Kunce. It will let Missouri voters know who he is. It isn't aimed towards Democratic primary voters; it's aimed at Missouri. Although there is a subtle helping hand for Kunce's most desired opponent, scandal-clad sociopath Eric Greitens. After all, it is just standard conservative politicians Hartzler and Schmitt who are standing in the way of a Greitens nomination. But mostly, the ad is meant to drive up Kunce's name recognition and to show voters he is strongly on their side-- which he is.

In general, "politicians" is a very unpopular job category among Americans. Year after year, decade after decade, Gallup reports that politicians as a group are rated very low. Generally only "car salesmen" and "lobbyists" rated lower than politicians as occupations. Popularity is a funny thing in politics. Who becomes popular and with what groups and why? A new poll from YouGov ranks the popularity of 286 American politicians, from the most popular (Obama at 57%) to the least popular, John Kyl at 9%. And then it ranks those same politicians among various demographics. If you're as much of a nerd as I am and enjoy this kind of thing, you're going to have a blast.

Did Fox help make AOC the 4th most popular political leader in America among millennials? Probably not; few people under 60 watch Fox

I want to look at this from just one perspective today-- millennials, people born between 1981 and 1996. They represent the future-- the near future-- of American politics. Who do they like? Who do they hate? For one thing, they don't like politicians much at all. Only 9 rate at least 40% positive!

• Obama- 61%

• Bernie- 52%

• Jimmy Carter- 52%

• Arnold Schwarzenegger- 47%

• AOC- 47%

• Kamala- 44%

• Elizabeth Warren- 41%

• Hillary- 40%

• Biden- 40%

And as far as hating? Wow... millennials hate 'em all! Let's look at some important names in politics:

Ohio Senate candidate Jane Timken was just endorsed by a pack of very unpopular politicians, although not Trump yet

• Pat Toomey- 12%

• Rob Portman- 14% (just endorsed Jane Timken last week)

• Joe Manchin- 14% (hard to believe it could be this high)

• Mitch McConnell- 18% (and everyone thought he was the most hated)

• Scott Walker- 18%

• Lisa Murkowski- 18% (just endorsed Jame Timken today)

• Joni Ernst- 18% (just endorsed Jame Timken today)

• Jared Kushner- 19%

• Mark Warner- 20%

• Joe Lieberman- 20%

• Dick Cheney- 20%

• Steny Hoyer- 21% (House majority leader)

• Chris Christie- 21% (wants to run for president)

• Robert Menendez- 21% (He's trying to get his son, Robert Jr, a House seat)

• Rahm Emanuel- 21% (Biden's worst appointment so far)

• Terry McAuliffe- 21% (Democrats should think more deeply about who they nominate for electoral positions)

• Newt Gingrich- 21%

• Louie Gohmert- 21% (currently polling in last place in the Texas AG race)

• Charles Koch- 21% (David Koch is at 24%; which of them is still alive?)

• Darrell Issa- 22% (maybe he'll be boosted by his CPAC speech this week; maybe not)

• Charlie Crist- 23% (people finding out he's a Blue Dog in time for his gubernatorial run?)

• Andrew Cuomo- 23% (a base for a reentry into politics?)

• Sarah Palin- 23% (Typhoid Mary of the Upper East Side)

• Gabby Giffords- 23% (oops)

• Hakeem Jeffries- 24% (the Dems' worst idea for a new Speaker)

• Claire McCaskill- 24% (every time she goes on MSNBC, the network loses ratings points)

• Susan Collins- 24% (every time she goes on CNN, the network loses ratings points)

• Dianne Feinstein- 24% (zombies, still popular among millennials)

• Little Chuckie Schmucky- 24%

• Joe Manchin- 25% (the kids hate him, but not as much as everyone else does)

• Debbie Wasserman Schultz- 26% (how the hell does anyone even remember her?)

• Tom Cotton- 26% (GOP presidential timber)

• Nikki Haley- 26% (see above)

• Kevin McCarthy- 27% (Speaker in waiting?)

• Lindsey Graham- 27% (What happens when he's outed?)

• Rand Paul- 27% (as hated as Kevin McCarthy and Lindsey Graham)

• Mitt Romney- 28%

• Gavin Newsom- 30%

• Andrew Yang- 30%

• Señor Trumpanzee himself- 31%

• Mike Pence and Mayo Pete- 32% (lol)

• Ted Cruz- 34% (less hated than Trump)

• Nancy Pelosi- 35% (less hated than Trump)

• Bill Clinton- 38% (less hated than Trump)

• Ilhan Omar- 38% (less hated than Trump)

• Marco Rubio- 38% (less hated than Trump)

• Al Gore- 38% (less hated than Trump)

• Maxine Waters- 39% (much less hated than Trump)

"The Final Frontier" by Nancy Ohanian