Poll: More than half of Pa. voters support Trump impeachment inquiry | Thursday Morning Coffee

Good Thursday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

With the U.S. House set to vote this Thursday on a Democrat-authored resolution laying out the next steps in an ongoing impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump, voters in a key 2020 battleground state say they support that investigation.

Fifty-seven percent of registered voters in a new Franklin & Marshall College poll say they support the inquiry, which the White House and its allies on Capitol Hill have tried to dismiss as a “sham,” according to CBS News. Trump has frequently referred to the ongoing investigation, spurred by a controversial phone call with the president of Ukraine, as a “witch hunt.”

Among those who support an inquiry, 36 percent said the main reason they did was because they believe Trump broke the law or acted with corrupt intent. Among opponents, more than a quarter (28 percent) said Trump was the victim of partisan politics or the target of a witch hunt, the poll found.

Pennsylvania Republicans responding to the poll are onside with the White House. Barely two in 10 Republicans (21 percent) support an inquiry, while just 18 percent of self-identified conservatives support it. Eighty-five percent of all Democrats and 97 percent of self-identified liberals support the probe.

Trump-loyal Republicans crashed a secure House hearing and abandoned all sense | John L. Micek

More problematic for the White House is the strong support among independents (61 percent) and self-identified moderates (67 percent). Many of those voters crossed over to Trump in 2016,  helping him become the first Republican in three decades to carry the Keystone State.

Irrespective of how they feel about an inquiry, 71 percent of respondents said it’s inappropriate for a sitting president to ask a foreign leader for dirt on a political opponent, the poll found.

That support for the inquiry is reflective of deeper issues for Trump, who’s been a frequent visitor to Pennsylvania over the last few weeks. Just a third of respondents (35 percent) said he’s doing a “good” or “excellent” job as he gets ready to close out the third year of his administration.

Thirty-seven percent of respondents said Trump has done a good enough job to deserve re-election, while nearly six in 10 (59 percent) say it’s time for a change — though that figure likely can, and will, change when a Democratic nominee emerges.

Reflecting the national topography, Trump loyalists remain firmly in the White House’s camp, with 74 percent saying they plan to vote for the president no matter who runs against him. The same holds true for Trump’s opponents, with 85 percent saying they plan to vote against him.

The survey of 482 registered voters was conducted from Oct. 21 to Oct 27. The sample includes 226 Democrats, 188 Republicans, and 68 independents, for a total margin of error of 6.1 percent.

Our Stuff.
It’s all F&M Poll all the time this morning. We have full coverage.
Sarah Anne Hughes takes a look at public support for a red flag law that would keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them — and finds it strong. And it will probably not shock you to find that there’s public support for legal weed, too.

Elizabeth Hardison finds ex-Veep Joe Biden out in front of the Democratic primary pack. You might have heard he has ties to Scranton or something.

Meanwhile …
A state court judge has blocked Pennsylvania elections officials from tallying Nov. 5 votes on Marsy’s Law, Hardison reports. And a state Senate committee has approved a bill making it easier for people with criminal records to get a job, she also reports.

A bill allowing hunting in Pennsylvania on three Sundays a year is closer to reaching Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk, Caruso writes.

Joined by faith leaders, House and Senate Dems rolled out an anti-hate crimes bill on Wednesday.

In a largely symbolic vote, Dems in the U.S. Senate, including U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, fell short on an effort to unravel a Trump White House policy weakening Obamacare, our Washington Bureau Chief Robin Bravender reports.

From our partners at the Philadelphia Tribune, Philly City Council wants gun ordinances. But Republicans in Harrisburg are going to have the final say.

On our Commentary Page, Opinion regular Mark O’Keefe isn’t too thrilled about a state House vote exempting volunteer fire companies, which receive taxpayer dollars, from the Pa. open records law.

Y en la Estrella-Capital, Como un debate sobre sentencias obligatorias para crímenes con armas de fuego podrían hundir los ahorros recogidos de una reforma a la ley de justicia criminal, por Elizabeth Hardison. Y Hardison escriba tambien: Circunstancias raras tienen la apelación de la escuela particular subvencionada atrapada en el limbo en Harrisburg, con contribuyentes asumiendo el costo.

Elsewhere.
Philly cops are searching more cars for weed — but critics say they’re finding less of it, the Inquirer reports.
Pittsburgh City Paper has your 2019 Voters Guide to local races.
The Morning Call looks at the new segregation in Lehigh Valley schools – how your zip code determines the quality of your education.
The Pa. House spent $1m of your money in its court fight to preserve its opening prayer tradition, PennLive reports.

Here’s your #CarlislePA Instagram of the Day:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzx9pYgg9F4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

With school debt growing, Pa. has ‘silently’ reversed its lunch shaming ban, WHYY-FM reports.
Penn State is investigating a new sexual abuse accusation against Jerry Sandusky, WPSU-FM reports.
Rural and safety net hospitals are bracing for a cut in public support, Stateline.org reports.
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, D-Fla., is calling for an ethics investigation of Intel Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Roll Call reports.

WolfWatch.
Gov. Tom Wolf holds an 11 a.m. newser in the reception room, where he’ll sign the voting reform bill into law.

What Goes On (Nakedly Political Edition).
5:30 p.m.: Reception for Sen. Pat Browne
5:30 p.m.: Reception for Sen. Pat Stefano
Ride the circuit, and give at the max, and you’re out a mere $6,000 today.

Heavy Rotation.
Here’s an absolute classic from long ago. It’s Paul Young, with an extended cut of his version of ‘Love of the Common People.’

Thursday’s Gratuitous Hockey Link.
New Jersey lost to Tampa 7-6 in O/T on Wednesday night. The ‘Bolts came from behind for the win.

And now you’re up to date.