President Trump’s standing among farmers rose during the same week that House Democrats opened an impeachment inquiry and a White House document showed Trump asked Ukraine to dig up dirt against a political rival. Some 76 percent of respondents said they approved of the way Trump was handling his job, an increase of 5 points since August.
Fifty-five percent of farmers said they strongly approved of Trump’s performance, said Farm Journal on Monday.
“The Pulse poll shows an overall support for President Trump is growing among farmers and ranchers,” said the publication. Some 1,138 people took part in the poll, conducted on Friday. Purdue economist Jim Mintert said progress in trade talks with China has bolstered support for Trump in farm country.
Farmers voted for Trump in landslide numbers in 2016 and have remained strong supporters. Even when support dips, as it did in an August sampling by Farm Journal, it still is stratospheric.
In the latest sampling, 55 percent of farmers said they strongly approved of Trump and 21 percent said they somewhat approved, compared to 21 percent who somewhat or strongly disapproved, with 3 percent undecided. In August, Trump drew a 71 percent approval rating, with 43 percent strongly approving and 28 percent somewhat approving; 28 percent disapproved. In July, Trump’s approval rating in a Pulse poll was 79 percent.