50% of Americans have 'unfavorable' opinion of AOC, 75% want free market economy in US over socialism: Poll
A Heartland Institute/Rasmussen poll surveyed 1,000 participants between December 7 and 8 and found that nearly 50% of them had an 'unfavorable' opinion of Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The survey also found that a vast majority of those surveyed preferred a free-market economic system over a socialist economic system. The percentage of voters who have a 'favorable' opinion of AOC happens to be thirty-seven percent, in addition to the 18 percent who have a 'very favorable' view of her. 15 percent of the participants said that they are not sure what side of the spectrum Ocasio-Cortez falls on. When participants were asked about the kind of market they would prefer, 75 percent answered 'free-market economic system' while only 15 percent said that they would prefer 'socialism'. A research to this survey concluded that a majority of the people believe that the United States should reject socialism and instead adopt 'free-market economic principles'.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, one of the researchers and editors on this project was quoted as saying, "Despite the increased calls for socialism by many on the far left, the vast majority of likely voters believe that the United States should embrace a free-market economy. Only a sliver of likely voters think that the United States should abandon the free-market capitalistic policies that are responsible for making the United States the wealthiest nation in world history." He further added, "Despite the countless calls for more socialism among elites in media and Hollywood, Americans aren't interested in adopting the same socialist policies that have led to mass poverty wherever they have been tried."
While Ocasio-Cortez might be one of the stars on the left, she has ruffled the feathers of many moderate Democrats previously. This will definitely affect her just as it did last week when Ocasio-Cortez lost a seat on the prestigious House Energy and Commerce Committee. Her colleagues had overwhelmingly supported New York Democratic Rep Kathleen Rice for the same seat. The two representatives were forced to fight for the last seat on the committee, which oversees big policy areas like climate change and healthcare.
This came after Ocasio-Cortez got into a public feud with Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Manchin said of Ocasio-Cortez, "She’s more active on Twitter than anything else." To this, she had shot back, "I find it amusing when politicians try to diminish the seriousness of our policy work, movement organizing and grassroots fundraising to 'she just tweets', as though 'serious' politics is only done by begging corporate CEOs for money through wax-sealed envelopes delivered by raven."
Moderate Democrats had then taken on Ocasio-Cortez prior to the vote after she called for 'new leadership' in her party and the public feud with Manchin. According to a report in Politico, during a private meeting of the Steering and Policy Committee, Democrats called out Ocasio-Cortez for supporting progressive primary challengers over House incumbents and members also secretly voted 46 to 13 in favor of Rice.