What’s up with Sen. Sam Brownback?
Better question: What’s down with the senator?
We know one thing that’s down: His poll numbers.
SurveyUSA’s latest has him at 41 percent approving of the job he’s doing as a U.S. senator … and 47 percent disapproving.
That’s the first time SurveyUSA has had him upside down since November 2007. And it’s only the second time since May 2005.
Of course, the timing is not good. Brownback is the heavy favorite to win the governorship of Kansas in November. But first, he has to defeat Democratic state Sen. Tom Holland. Democrats have been banging on Brownback for a few months now.
Is it having an effect?
Or is this a fluke poll?
Brownback strategist David Kensinger subscribes to the latter theory.
“These data are inconsistent with everything we’ve seen publicly and privately going back a year,” he said.
The same poll had Brownback rated two months ago as the most popular politician in Kansas.
Democrats had their own view:
“Voters are beginning to identify Sam Brownback as part of the problem in Washington, and this is costing him support from independents and moderate Republicans,” said Tyler Longpine, Communications Director for the Kansas Democratic Party.
Kansas’ other senator, fellow Republican Pat Roberts, stands at 51 percent approve, 38 percent disapprove.
But he’s not running for governor.