[V]ermonters are among the happiest constituents in the country, according to recent polling by Morning Consult.
After conducting a 50-state survey, the online polling firm found that U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has the highest approval rating in the country — 75 percent — from his constituents. Snagging second place is U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who notched a 70 percent approval rating from Vermonters surveyed.
Sanders’ popularity has dropped 12 points since a September survey from the same organization. He has taken heat in the media in recent weeks for neglecting Vermont reporters and constituents since becoming a national figure with his 2016 presidential run.
Sanders made a public swing through the state recently, holding a number of community town halls from Hardwick to Bennington. He also announced he will speak at graduation at St. Johnsbury Academy in June and spent Tuesday touring around the state, including receiving an award at the Statehouse for his work on higher education.
A Sanders spokesman did not return requests seeking the senator’s full schedule during the two-week Easter recess. But Sanders is scheduled to begin a nationwide tour Monday with Tom Perez, the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Morning Consult also found that Republican Gov. Phil Scott is the fourth-highest-rated chief executive in all 50 states. The poll gave Scott a 68 percent rating among Vermonters.
Experts have questioned the methodology of polls conducted online. Nicholas Laughlin, the digital director at Morning Consult, said 282 Vermont residents were polled between January and March, with a margin of error of 5.8 percentage points.