Morningside Poll: Who’s the real winner?

Yesterday, Morningside University released the results of its 2020 Iowa Political Survey.

The biggest winner of this poll may be Governor Kim Reynolds. The poll had her approval rating at 57%. Surveys like this are vital as she actively works to sell her legislative agenda to lawmakers and the voters — specifically, the Invest in Iowa Act.

The Invest in Iowa act was a centerpiece of her recent Condition of the State Address. It would raise the sale tax but cut income and property taxes, provide mental health care funding, and improve water quality and conservation projects.

The legislators up for reelection will likely pay attention to the governor’s relative popularity as they decide whether they will support her agenda.

Another winner could be the President. After months of Democratic presidential campaigns dumping millions of dollars into tv ads trashing him, Trump is only upside down by 2% with all surveyed, 6% with likely voters. That’s surprising. Especially if you account for the hundreds of Democratic candidate town halls and other grassroots events. The poll has Trump’s job approval rating at 47% approve, 49% disapprove. Additionally, 55% believe that he should not be impeached.

Morningside University showed Senator Joni Ernst with a 51%-40% approval rating and Senator Chuck Grassley at 54%-38%. Morningside surveyed 864 Iowans from January 17 – January 23, and it has a margin of error of 3.3pts.

There is a lot more in the full poll; you can find it here.

Laura Belin; Reporter? Activist? Lobbyist?

If you work or even dabble in Iowa politics, you are undoubtedly familiar with Bleeding Heartland on either side. For those of you who do not know, a little background may be in order. The site is a widely read Liberal blog run by Laura Belin. The site promotes Democrats and their policies, attacks Republicans, and is a platform for other liberal activists to support their views.

Here is an email provided to Iowa Field Report showing her approach:

You would be forgiven if you thought this was a strange email. What’s going on here? A questionable approach.

Here is another example:

We? Sink? Persuade? The topic aside, this is pretty strange behavior for a reporter, but to be clear, not for Belin. Is it appropriate for reporters that claim to cover the legislature to lobby its members too? Reporter? Activist? Lobbyist? Apparently, all of the above.