Pollsters say the outcomes of next Tuesday’s Congressional elections are difficult to predict, but new research indicates there’s little doubt about where restaurateurs’ sympathies lie: 63% believe a regain of Capitol Hill by Republicans would be better for their businesses, according to Alignable.com.
A canvass by the small-business support site also revealed that interest rates are a top concern among restaurants and other small ventures, and that most view the performance of current office holders as abysmal.
Restaurants’ preference for Republicans is a hair above the 62% of all small businesses that told the small business support site they’d prefer GOP control of the Senate and House of Representatives. Yet only 35% of the nearly 5,000 respondents indicated they’re Republicans.
Pundits have gone back and forth about the likelihood of Republicans reclaiming both chambers of Congress. In midterm elections like Tuesday’s, the party not in control of the White House tends to do better in Congressional races.
With Democrats and Republicans both currently controlling 50 Senate seats, a takeback of that chamber by the GOP was initially seen as a strong likelihood. But more recent polls have shown some seesawing in several key Senate races, such as the contest between incumbent Mark Kelly and challenger Blake Masters in Arizona.
Democrats hold an actual though slim majority in the House. Polls have not pointed to either party gaining a runaway majority, and projections of which will control the chamber have flipped back and forth.
Rising interest rates are a key concern of small-business voters, Alignable found. About 54% of respondents indicated they were “very concerned” about the rising costs of borrowing capital, and a majority believe their businesses have already been hurt by the current level of fees.
The respondents showed little love for current officeholders. Asked if elected officials have done a great job for small businesses, 55% of the operators said no.
Similarly, their approval rating of current congressmen and senators were just 11% and 10%, respectively.
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