Blunt by the numbers

The most recent poll from Survey USA has Governor Blunt's August approval rating up 2 points from 38% in July. After a year-long stint in the mid-30's, the Governor has drifted up and begun to hover around 40% in the recent polls.

It may not appear to be a significant shift, but the details are interesting. Blunt picked up support among groups who have expressed some reservations with him lately, Pro-Life voters (50 to 57%), and regular church-goers (45 to 49%).

Regionally he picked up support in central Missouri (39 to 46%), and even Kansas City (35 to 40%); though he lost some in the Ozarks (51 to 46%).

That said, all these polls have a fairly wide margin of error, 5%, 6%, even 9% for regional numbers. Yet the jump in favorability among a few key groups in August stands out.

The August survey was taken between the 11th and the 13th, not long after Blunt began running television and radio spots. It was before he publicly reiterated his support for stem cells, however. The August primary could be a factor, rising tide and all that. Blunt also chose a new chief of staff and stood firm on the voter ID bill around this time.

I am sure those wiser than I will jump in.