Despite a crush of criticism from the Democratic party, its presidential candidates and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's lavish spending on anti-gun groups, the National Rifle Association is enjoying near record high approval ratings and its best-ever "very favorable" in a new Gallup poll.

The poll said that the NRA has experienced a three-year popularity jump and now has a 58 percent favorability rating in the United States. It has been higher only once in the last 26 years, 60 percent in 2005.



"Even after shootings nationwide, Americans overall still have a favorable opinion of the NRA, as they typically have, suggesting that the public may not be specifically blaming the organization for the crimes of those who commit mass shootings," said Gallup.

The poll analysis explained, "in a Gallup poll from Oct. 7-11, a solid majority of Americans (58%) say they have an overall favorable impression of the NRA. This includes the highest recording of 'very favorable' opinions (26%) since Gallup began asking this question in 1989."

More importantly, the poll shows that the NRA has been on a 20-year popularity ride despite efforts to shut it down by anti-gun advocates, a string of headline-grabbing shootings and Bloomberg's deep-pocketed attacks, most recently unveiled in Virginia where a group he backs is spending $1.5 million to attack Republicans running for the state legislature.



The last time the NRA's popularity was underwater was during the 1995-1996 period when former President Bill Clinton was pushing gun control.

The poll also showed that the support for the NRA, which spends more time and money on gun education efforts than lobbying, isn't just among gun owners and conservatives.



Gallup said that 49 percent of non-gun owners have a favorable opinion of the NRA, while 42 percent don't. And 56 percent of "moderates" have a favorable view of the organization.

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com.