Susan Collins displaces Mitch McConnell as most unpopular senator; here are five others who made it to the list
Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), one of the most moderate Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill, has been ranked as the Senate's most unpopular member in a recent tracking poll, unseating Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) from the top.
A quarterly Morning Consult tracking poll found out that Collins' net approval ratings dropped 10 points in her state since the end of September. The numbers are reflective of the criticism she has received from her Republican colleagues for raising objections over the way McConnell had planned to conduct the Senate impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.
McConnell, in a controversial statement, had suggested he would be partial to Trump in the trial by saying he would run things through with the White House.
The poll, on Thursday evening, reported in a preview of its survey that Collins, who is up for reelection this year, now has a 52 percent disapproval rating. Her approval ratings stood at 42 percent. While McConnell held the position of the second least popular senator, registering a disapproval rating of 50 percent and an approval rating of 37 percent among the voters in his state of Kentucky.
On number three in the most unpopular list is Senator Joni Ernst (R- IA), the Republican senator has a disapproval rating of 42 percent and an approval rating of 37 percent from her state voters. Followed by Ernst is Senator Lisa Murkowski (R - AK), the Republican senator has received an equal of 41 percent of approval and disapproval rating from her Alaskan voters. At fifth place in the unpopular senator list is Democratic Senator Bob Menendez ( -NJ). New Jersey voters have given Menendez a 40 percent disapproval rating and an approval rating of 35 percent.
Amidst growing criticism from the Republican party, Collins has adamantly maintained her neutrality. The senator had also issued a statement on Thursday afternoon, saying that her position on calling witnesses in the trial has been mischaracterized.
"For this trial, as was done in 1999, both sides should have the opportunity to state their case and the Senators should have the opportunity to pose questions. Then, the Senate should have an up-or-down vote on whether to subpoena witnesses and documents,” she said, according to the Hill.
The senator added that "it is likely that I would support a motion to call witnesses." Her statement ran contrary to McConnell's desire of not calling any witnesses for the trial and wrapping the process swiftly.