51% See Occupy Wall Street Protesters As Public Nuisance

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/january_2012/51_see_occupy_wall_street_protesters_as_public_nuisance

Thursday, January 05, 2012

Enough is enough as far as most voters are concerned when it comes to the Occupy Wall Street protesters.  In fact, 51% of Likely U.S. Voters now view the protesters as a public nuisance. Only 39% see them as a valid protest movement representing the frustrations of most Americans.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey also finds that just 24% think the Occupy Wall Street protesters who first began their protests in early October have gotten their message across to the American people. Fifty-three percent (53%) say they have not gotten their message across, and another 24% are not sure.  (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Thirty-six percent (36%) of voters still share at least a somewhat favorable opinion of the protesters while 58% regard the protesters unfavorably. Those figures include just 14% with a Very Favorable view and 34% who have a Very Unfavorable opinion of the movement. This represents a slightly more negative view of the protesters compared to November and marks a noticeable change from early October when 33% viewed them favorably and 27% unfavorably with the rest undecided.

Democrats continue to view the national protest movement more favorably than do Republicans and voters not affiliated with either of the parties, but even most voters in President Obama’s party don’t think the Occupy protesters have gotten their message across. Sixty percent (60%) of Democrats view the protesters as a valid protest movement, while 76% of GOP voters regard them as a public nuisance. Unaffiliated voters lean toward the view that they’re a public nuisance but by a much narrower 45% to 41% margin.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls).  Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.