In the first public poll since embattled Rep. Rod Blum made headlines for failing to disclose his shady internet company that buries FDA warnings – Blum is paying the price for his massive ethics scandal among Iowa voters. Iowans also disapprove of Blum’s support of the unpopular GOP tax scam and his refusal to hold public town halls in the district. The DCCC also released an internal polling memo today highlighting that Blum is down in the polls in a head-to-head challenge with Democrat Abby Finkenauer.
“Millionaire Rod Blum promised to ‘drain the swamp,’ but his ethics scandal makes a mockery of his number one campaign pledge – and Iowa voters clearly agree,” said DCCC Spokeswoman Rachel Irwin. “Rod Blum has been down in multiple polls because of his ethics scandal, his vote for the deeply unpopular GOP Tax Scam, and his refusal to hold public town halls. Given the massive backlash Rod Blum is facing, he’ll be looking for a new gig next November.”
Poll: Trump, Blum disapproval ratings tied in Iowa 1st District | The Gazette
By James Lynch
April 3, 2018
CEDAR RAPIDS — About three weeks ago, Rep. Rod Blum complained that media coverage of him was nearly as biased and negative as coverage of the president.
Media reports make it seem like “I’m the worst person on the face of the planet,” he told Linn County Republicans.
A new poll of 619 Iowa 1st District voters finds the northeast Iowa Republican and President Donald Trump have more in common than bad press.
Asked whether they approve of the jobs the president and Blum are doing, 54 percent of the 1st District voters told Public Policy Polling they disapprove. The president’s 41 percent approval rating was slightly higher than Blum’s 34 percent approval in the poll conducted March 27-28 for Progress Iowa, a progressive advocacy organization. The poll has a margin of error of 4 percent.
The poll also found that 53 percent margin voters in the 20-county district that includes Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls-Waterloo, Dubuque and Marshalltown, oppose the tax plan championed by Trump, Blum and congressional Republicans. Less than one-third, 31 percent, supported the tax cuts.
Voters told PPP they want to see tax returns from Trump and Blum, want their congressman to hold a town hall-style meeting, which he hasn’t done since May 2017, and want to know more about his relationship with Tin Moon, a reputation protection firm.
“This poll shows that Congressman Blum needs to stop running away from his constituents, hold a public town hall meeting, and release his tax returns so Iowans will know the full story behind his Tin Moon scandal,” said Matt Sinovic of Progress Iowa, which commissioned the poll. “Blum padded his own pocketbook at the expense of the middle class by voting for the Republican tax plan, and has yet to disclose the full extent to which he has used his position in power to profit from his internet company.”
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To see more results, visit www.ProgressIowa.org.