Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Far More Popular With Democrats Than Joe Manchin: Poll

BY JACOB JARVIS ON 3/4/21 NEWSWEEK

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is far more popular with Democrats than Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), according to polling conducted while the pair stand at odds on several issues.

Ocasio-Cortez and Manchin have previously criticized each other on several points and have taken contradicting stances on a number of issues of late.

Manchin has pushed targeting stimulus check payments further, with the White House having agreed with Senate Democrats to a move to tighten eligibility requirements. This is a point Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives have been against.
He has also questioned raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, suggesting $11 an hour instead. Ocasio-Cortez has strongly supported the $15 figure.
The $15 minimum wage push has been hurdled by the Senate parliamentarian's ruling that it should not be passed through budget reconciliation. Ocasio-Cortez has suggested this be overruled, a potential move Manchin has opposed and a course of action the White House has indicated will not be taken.
The White House has indicated President Joe Biden wants the minimum wage to increase to this point and will pursue it through other means.

With Ocasio-Cortez and Manchin's stances having clashed of late, polling has indicated that, of the two, Democrats have a more favorable opinion of Ocasio-Cortez.

In The Economist/YouGov polling carried out February 27 to March 2, 1,500 respondents were asked if they had a favorable or unfavorable opinion of each.

For Ocasio-Cortez, 23 percent were very favorable and 17 percent somewhat favorable. Among Democrats asked, 47 percent said very favorable and 28 percent somewhat.

For Manchin, overall 3 percent said very favorable and 18 percent somewhat. Among the Democrats asked, 4 percent said very favorable and 18 percent somewhat favorable.

More Democrats had an unfavorable view of Manchin also, with 12 percent very unfavorable and 25 percent somewhat. For Ocasio-Cortez, this was 3 percent very unfavorable and 8 percent somewhat.



Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) looks out towards a crowd during a food distribution event on October 27, 2020 in New York City. Polling has shown most Democrats have a favorable opinion of her.MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO/GETTY IMAGES