“Political Mega-Donor” Loeffler Still Struggling With Georgia Voters in New AJC Poll

Nearly one month into her bought-and-paid-for appointment, Loeffler still “playing catch-up with voters” and underwater with independents

ATLANTA — A new AJC poll reveals that “political mega-donor” Senator Kelly Loeffler continues to struggle to define herself with Georgia voters and is instead stuck “playing catch-up” as she faces increased “scrutiny” after a messy roll-out and a growing “minefield” of ethical conflicts of interest.

According to the poll, less than a quarter of Georgia voters hold a favorable view of Loeffler — and once again her numbers are underwater with independent voters, only 16% of whom view her favorably. Even among Georgia Republicans, Loeffler’s standing barely improves, with less than a third saying they have a favorable view of the mega-donor Senator, even as Loeffler’s potential conservative challenger scores far better with the GOP base.

This latest poll matches with previously released polling numbers that show that less than a third of independents supported Governor Brian Kemp’s decision to choose a GOP mega-donor for the Senate. And a recent PPP poll of Georgia Republicans also shows Loeffler losing in a head-to-head match-up with a potential conservative challenger who still hasn’t ruled out a run. 

“Given that Kelly Loeffler has spent her first weeks in office trying harder to appease Senate Republicans and the president than win support from Georgia voters, these latest poor polling numbers should come as no surprise,” said Alex Floyd, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Georgia. “If Kelly Loeffler wants to improve her weak standing with Georgia voters, then she should start answering questions about her ‘minefield’ of ethical conflicts and the toxic GOP agenda she’s pledged herself to ‘100%.’” 

AJC: AJC Poll: Georgia’s new senator is playing catch-up with voters

• New U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler is hardly known to most of the Georgia voters who will decide her electoral fate in November. 

• One of her top potential Republican rivals, meanwhile, has a solid head start.

• An Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll released this week found that only about a quarter of registered voters have a favorable impression of Loeffler, a former financial executive who was appointed to the office by Gov. Brian Kemp in December.

• Loeffler has promised to spend at least $20 million of her own cash to finance her November bid to fill out the final two years of retired U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson’s term, and she’s already launched her first round of ads to drive up her name recognition.

• It’s one sign she’s trying to insulate herself from a challenge from U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, the Gainesville lawmaker who has repeatedly threatened to run against her.

• Collins had a far higher profile with Republicans, possibly due to his ubiquitous presence on cable TV shows defending Trump from impeachment charges.

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