PPP has found 90 percent support for only two things in 12 years: Lincoln and Jesus. | REUTERS Gun checks outpoll Mother Teresa

Universal background checks on gun purchases are more popular than Mother Teresa.

It’s been repeated ad nauseum by President Barack Obama, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and other backers of expanded checks that 90 percent of the American people support universal background checks. Despite that support, the Senate vote 54-46 to defeat a bill to expand background checks crafted by Manchin and Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) on Wednesday.


“How often do 90 percent of Americans agree on anything?” Obama asked during a White House event last month with victims of gun violence.

( CARTOONS: Matt Wuerker on gun control)

The answer, according to the nation’s pollsters: not very often. Not even on Mother Teresa.

Public Policy Polling, a Democratic firm, has found 90 percent support for only two things during its 12 years of existence, according to pollster Tom Jensen: Abraham Lincoln and Jesus Christ. Lincoln was viewed favorably by 91 percent of Americans in a November 2011 poll, and Jesus by 90 percent. Mother Teresa only warranted 83 percent support.

The Pew Research Center, an older firm, has only found one policy area where 90 percent of Americans agreed. Back in 1992, nine-in-ten people believed in the general statement that there “needs to be stricter laws and regulations to protect the environment.” The center has also found 90 percent agreement on three other statements on the importance of voting, admiring the rich and keeping the country active in world affairs.

President George W. Bush’s approval rating hit 90 percent in the days immediately following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, according to Gallup. Gallup also has consistently found the percentage of Americans who believe in God to top 90 percent.

Gallup also measured 93 percent support for one government action: the U.S. military operation that killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

It’s worth noting support for background checks differs from pollster to pollster, but is consistently at least in the high 80 percent range. An ABC/Washington Post poll from the beginning of the month found support at 91 percent.