Indiana poll: Pence's ratings drop after 'religious freedom' law

The “religious freedom” law signed by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has taken a toll on the potential presidential candidate’s image in his home state, according to a poll released Thursday that shows most Hoosiers think the law was not necessary.

The poll, conducted by the Republican firm Bellwether Research for Howey Politics Indiana, an in-state newsletter, pegs Pence’s approval rating at 45 percent — while just as many, 46 percent, disapprove. Pence’s approval rating is down from 62 percent in February.


The survey of 607 registered voters was conducted April 12-14, less than a month after Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a law hailed as a reaffirmation of the First Amendment by supporters but derided as bigoted against gays and lesbians by critics. The poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

By a 2 to 1 margin, voters said the bill — which was identified in the phone script only by its proper name — was not needed.

A subsequent question shows voters are more divided on the substance of the legislation: 42 percent of voters think businesses should be allowed to refuse to provide wedding services to same-sex couples for religious reasons, while 44 percent think they should be required to provide those services.

But Pence, who has said he’s considering running for president, now faces trouble at home. His favorability rating, like his approval mark, is upside-down: 35 percent of voters have a favorable opinion of him, compared to 38 percent who view him unfavorably. And he’s now locked in single-digit races with three potential Democratic gubernatorial opponents: Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz, former Rep. Baron Hill and John Gregg, the man Pence defeated by 3 points to win the governorship in 2012.

Ritz — who runs closest to Pence in the survey, trailing 42 percent to 39 percent — has been a frequent Pence target. The governor has been trying to strip her of her power as school superintendent; the two have clashed over Ritz’s calls for less student testing.

The poll also suggests that potential candidates to replace retiring Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) have challenges in boosting their name recognition. Only 8 percent of voters had an opinion of the only announced candidate, Eric Holcomb, Coats’ former chief of staff. More than 80 percent of respondents said they had no opinion about or had never heard of each of several members of the state’s congressional delegation considering the race — GOP Reps. Todd Rokita, Marlin Stutzman and Todd Young.