A survey released by Public Policy Polling on Thursday shows that Sen. Amy Klobuchar maintains a formidable lead going into the 2012 election cycle. She maintains a high favorability rating and would best any announced candidates and rumored candidates by large margins, including Minnesota’s presidential duo Rep. Michele Bachmann and former Gov. Tim Pawlenty. She’s also increased her lead since the last PPP poll in December.

Klobuchar leads Pawlenty in a hypothetical matchup by 13 points, 54 percent to 41 percent. Against Bachmann, Klobuchar leads 57 to 37 percent. Neither Bachmann nor Pawlenty has expressed an interest in Klobuchar’s seat.

Among candidates who have expressed an interest, Klobuchar would win handily if the election were held today. Against former attorney general candidate Chris Barden, Klobuchar would win 57 to 30 percent and against radio host and State Sen. Dave Thompson, Klobuchar would win 55 to 28 percent.

Dan Severson, the only announced candidate to challenge Klobuchar, would lose by the largest margin, 28 points (56 to 28 percent).

“The fact that Klobuchar earns 54-57% of the vote regardless of her opponent suggests her floor is probably not much lower than that,” PPP said in a release accompanying the poll. “Amy Klobuchar looks like a shoo-in at this point,” added Dean Debnam, president of Public Policy Polling.

The poll also measured Pawlenty’s and Bachmann’s favorables. Fifty-three percent of Minnesotans viewed Pawlenty unfavorably and 40 percent favorably. Bachmann’s numbers were even worse with 33 percent having a favorable impression of the congresswoman, while 59 percent viewed her unfavorably.

A poll released by Public Policy Polling on Wednesday shows that Minnesotans are dead even on amending the Minnesota Constitution to ban same-sex mariage. PPP asked voters the same question that will be on the ballot in 2012, and 47 percent of respondents said they opposed the amendment. Forty-six percent said they approved, while 7 percent were unsure. The poll also found that a solid majority of Minnesotans support rights for same-sex couples.

In addition to support for the amendment, PPP also asked voters whether gay marriage should be legal in Minnesota. Minnesotans where split on the question, with 46 percent saying same-sex couples should be allowed to legally marry and 45 percent saying they should not.

When voters were given a series of options regarding the legal status of same-sex couples, the numbers changed a bit. Thirty-eight percent said gay couples should be allowed to marry, another 34 percent said that such couples should be allowed to form civil unions, and only 26 percent said that gay couples should have no relationship rights at all. Seventy-two percent of Minnesotans support either gay marriage or civil unions for same-sex couple.

The margin of error for the poll is 2.9 percent. The poll was conducted late last week.

“Minnesota voters are evenly split on gay marriage right now,” Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling, said in a press release accompanying the poll. “What’s interesting though is how fast public opinion is moving on this issue. It’s entirely conceivable that in another 17 months the state will have a clear majority supportive of same sex marriage. That’s the direction things are going in.”

Previous polls have been all over the map on the anti-gay marriage amendment.

In January, the Minnesota Family Council and the National Organization for Marriage — two groups that lobbied for the amendment and have formed a committee to push for its passage — commissioned a poll by Lawrence Research, whose owner assisted with the campaign to ban gay marriage in California. It found that 57 percent of respondents would vote for the amendment compared to 41 percent who would vote against it. In contrast, a Star Tribune poll two weeks ago found that 55 percent oppose the amendment while 39 percent favor it.

And last week, a SurveyUSA/KSTP poll found that a slim majority, 51 percent, would vote for the anti-gay marriage amendment compared to 40 percent who would vote against it.

Don’t mess with Medicare and Social Security: That’s the message that progressive groups are gleaning from a new poll of swing state voters. Commissioned by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), Democracy for America, MoveOn.org and Credo Action, the survey’s results show overwhelming opposition to cuts in both areas. In fact, in Minnesota, 72 percent of respondents were opposed to Social Security cuts, while a majority of Minnesotans polled said they were less likely to back Sen. Amy Klobuchar next election if she votes to reduce Social Security benefits.

The Minnesota poll, conducted by Public Policy Polling, questioned 1,000 likely Minnesota voters on May 2 and 3. Results sent to the Minnesota Independent by the groups show that 55 percent of those surveyed said they’d be less likely to vote for Klobuchar if she voted to cut benefits or raise the retirement age. Sixteen percent were more likely, while 29 percent said it made no difference.

When asked about what a vote by Klobuchar to cut Medicare or Medicaid benefits would mean come November, the percent of voters less likely to support her jumped to 57 percent. Seventeen percent said they’d be more likely to back her, while 26 percent said it didn’t matter. The poll’s margin of error is 4.4 percent.

Yesterday, the same coalition of groups released results that showed overwhelming opposition to balancing the budget through Social Security cuts. Conducted in states where incumbent Democratic senators are up for re-election next year, the survey asked:

In order to reduce the national debt, would you support or oppose cutting spending on Social Security, which is the retirement program for the elderly?

Ohio: 16% support, 80% oppose
Missouri: 17% support, 76% oppose
Montana: 20% support, 76% oppose
Minnesota: 23% support, 72% oppose

The findings show that supporting Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan’s plan to change Medicare may come with considerable electoral risk, the poll’s commissioners say.

“Any Democratic incumbent who votes to reduce Social Security benefits or cut Medicare will be walking the plank,” says PCCC co-founder Adam Green. “Democrats need to take programs like Social Security and Medicare firmly off the table and fight hard to pass popular investments in jobs and popular tax increases on oil companies, Wall Street, and the rich.”

Update: Republicans have used the poll to pounce on Klobuchar. In a statement emailed to the Minnesota Independent Tuesday afternoon, National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Jahan Wilcox called the poll “an ominous sign” for Klobuchar.

“[W]hen Klobuchar supported ‘ObamaCare’ it not only raised taxes on medical device companies like Medtronic and 3M, but it also cut Medicare by over $500 billion,” Wilcox said. “Since Klobuchar is the only candidate who has voted to cut Medicare for Minnesota seniors we expect this will be a key issue in next year’s Senate election.”

The GOP has its work cut out in defeating Klobuchar next November. A survey by Public Policy Polling released in December found her to be the most popular senator facing reelection, with what Politico’s David Catanese called a “sparkling 59 percent approval rating.” Klobuchar’s disapproval rate was 29 percent, a 30-point spread.

Further, she has a campaign war chest of over $2.5 million, and her only challenger so far is the GOP’s Dan Severson. Severson shared his views — including his belief that the separation of church and state “does not exist” — when he ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state last fall. Some of his views were discussed when he was a guest on the radio show of Bradlee Dean, the anti-gay pastor who sparked outrage when he gave the opening prayer in the Minnesota House on Friday.

Public Policy Polling released a nationwide poll of potential candidates for the 2012 Republican nomination against President Obama on Thursday. Rep. Michele Bachmann would lose in such a matchup by 18 points, but is competitive with friend — and potential rival — Sarah Palin, whose number have dipped since November 2010.

Bachmann garnered 33 percent against Obama’s 51 percent, putting her at the bottom of the pack of five candidates polled by PPP. Seventeen percent were undecided. Obama beat Mitt Romney at 48 to 43 percent, Mike Huckabee with 49 to 44 percent, Newt Gingrich by 51 to 39 percent and Palin with 55 to 38 percent.

Bachmann’s 18-point deficit is similar to Palin’s 17-percent lag. Palin’s numbers have dropped significantly since PPP last polled in November 2010 when Palin was within 9 points of Obama.

Bachmann had a net unfavorable rating with 22 percent viewing her as favorable and 31 percent viewing her unfavorably. Forty-eight percent had no opinion of her.

The polls authors said that Obama had some of his best polling in recent months.

“Barack Obama’s in his strongest position for reelection in our polling since 2009,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “Democrats have really rallied around him since the party’s defeat in November and he continues to benefit from a pretty weak field of potential opponents.”

In a new Washington Post/ABC poll, Obama has a 54 percent approval rating. Gallup and CNN polls also show him with a 53 percent approval rating.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the most popular U.S. senator, according to surveys by Public Policy Polling. The pollster looked at the approval ratings of 59 senators over the past several months and found Klobuchar with a net favorable rating of 30 percent, well above the second most favorable, Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts, who scored 24 percent.

Klobuchar, who is up for re-election in 2012, had an approval rating of 59 percent compared to 29 percent of Minnesota voters who said they disapproved of her. Sen. Al Franken, a year and a half after being seated following a contentious recount with his predecessor Norm Coleman, garnered just a 3 percent favorable rating with 45 percent approving of his performance as senator and 42 percent disapproving.

Nationwide, Democrats and New England moderate Republicans senators shared the top ten spots. Following Klobuchar (+30) and Brown (+24), were Sens. Republican Judd Gregg of New Hampshire (+23), Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine (+22), Democrat Barbara Mikulski of Maryland (+22), Democrat Mark Warner of Virginia (+22), Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York (+22), Republican Susan Collins of Maine (+17), Democrat Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico (+16) and Republican John Cornyn of Texas (+15).

Public Policy Polling released results of a survey on Monday showing that Republicans overwhelmingly support Rep. Michele Bachmann to take on Sen. Amy Klobuchar in 2012. Of eight theoretical Klobuchar opponents, Bachmann got the top spot with 36 percent of Republicans. Bachmann’s support came mainly from conservative GOPers. A poll by PPP last week showed Klobuchar would beat Bachmann by 54 to 39 percent.

Bachmann led the pack of eight theoretical Republican candidates at 36 percent with Gov. Tim Pawlenty getting 20 percent followed by Norm Colemen at 14 percent. Rounding out the pack was Rep.-elect Chip Cravaack at 7 percent, Tom Emmer at 6 percent, Rep. John Kline at 5 percent, state Rep. Laura Brod at 4 percent and Erik Paulsen at 2 percent.

The vast majority of the those sampled identified as conservative — 74 percent — with only 25 percent identifying as moderate and 1 percent as liberal. 42 percent of conservatives picked Bachmann. The next highest pick was Pawlenty with 19 percent. Moderates liked Pawlenty, however, at 26 percent.

The poll’s takeaway message: Minnesota Republicans are conservative and they like Bachmann a lot. But, PPP also says that Bachmann would have a harder time beating Klobuchar than other Republicans. Last week’s poll showed Klobuchar beating Pawlenty 53 to 43 percent, Coleman 54 to 40 percent, and Paulsen 52 to 34 percent. But, Klobuchar beats Bachmann by a larger margin, 56 to 39 percent.

Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling, said, “In the Senate race, Amy Klobuchar should be praying that the GOP rallies behind Michele Bachmann.”

A new poll released Thursday by Public Policy Polling suggests that Vikings owner Ziggy Wilf would have a tough time getting public money for a new stadium. A majority of Minnesotans oppose a taxpayer-funded stadium for the team. Opponents of such funding come from across the political spectrum with a majority of DFLers, moderates and Republicans saying they disapprove of such a plan. When asked whether they’d support a stadium paid for with public gambling revenues, however, a plurality said that would be acceptable.

During a particularly rough season for the team and with the lease on the Metrodome expiring, rumors continue to swirl that Vikings owner Wilf will move the team to Los Angeles if he doesn’t get a sweet government deal for a new facility.

In the PPP survey, only 28 percent said they supported that happening with public funds; 61 percent say they oppose taxpayer money going to a Vikings stadium. Sixty-one percent of Democrats, 62 percent of Republicans and 59 percent of independents opposed public financing.

The survey also asked, “If the choice was between the Vikings moving to California or Minnesota taxpayers building a new stadium for them, which would you prefer?”

Just under half — 49 percent — said they’d rather the Vikings leave than pay for a stadium with public money. Only 35 percent said the government should provide funds to keep the team in Minnesota.

But nearly two-theirds of voters — 63 percent — approve of using expanded gambling to pay for a new stadium, while 24 percent oppose the idea. Again, a similar number of Democratic, Republican and independent voters agreed.

Here’s the full survey with crosstabs:

PPP_Release_MN_1209

If the 2012 election were held last weekend, President Obama would’ve easily won Minnesota, according to a Public Policy Polling survey released Wednesday. The poll of 949 Minnesotans was conducted Dec. 4 and 5 and found that Mitt Romney was the only potential Republican challenger that could keep Obama below 50 percent. Romney also beat out Gov. Tim Pawlenty in his own state for the best showing against Obama.

“Minnesota went only narrowly Democratic in 2000 and 2004 before Obama broke the state open in 2008,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling in a statement. “It looks like 2012 is more likely to be a repeat of 2008 than a return to the competitiveness of earlier in the decade.”

The poll found that Obama had a net positive approval rating although he is under 50 percent: 49 percent of those surveyed approve of Obama while 46 percent disapprove. Pawlenty had a high disapproval rating from Minnesotans with 53 percent disapproving of his job performance and only 43 percent approving.

In matchups, Obama led Romney 47 to 42 percent, Pawlenty 51 to 43 percent, Mike Huckabee 50 to 40 percent, Newt Gingrich 51 to 38 and Sarah Palin 54 to 36.

Here’s the full release and crosstabs from PPP:

PPP_Release_MN_12081023-1

Sen. Amy Klobuchar is extremely popular with Minnesotans, according to a Public Policy Polling survey released on Tuesday. Klobuchar bests hypothetical Senate contenders such as Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Sen. Norm Coleman, Reps. Michele Bachmann and Erik Paulsen, as well as Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. She also has a high favorability rating.

According to the poll, Klobuchar has an approval rating of 59 percent, with 29 percent of respondents rating her performance as unfavorable.

In hypothetical matchups, she beats Pawlenty 53 to 43 percent, Coleman 54 to 40 percent, Paulsen 52 to 34 percent, and Emmer 56 to 38 percent.

She beat Bachmann by a large margin, 56 to 39 percent. The poll found Bachmann’s unfavorable to be very high, with 51 percent viewing her unfavorably and only 37 percent viewing her favorably.