Poll: Bitter primary is bad news for GOP

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- A new poll shows that voters' views of the Republican party are souring as the primary season becomes more contentious.

The NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released last week showed that 42 percent of registered voters polled said the primary race made them feel less favorable about the Republican party. Only 19 percent said the primary race has improved their view of the party. Thirty-eight percent of those polled were not swayed either way.

Among those who said they were likely to vote in the Republican primary, however, the numbers were less dire. Thirty-three percent said the primary inspired them to see the GOP in a more favorable light. Still, 23 percent are turned off, and 43 percent said their views were unchanged.

Respondents were near evenly split when it came to which party they would like to see take the White House this fall.

Forty-six percent of those polled said they would like to see a Democrat take the presidency, while 43 percent would like to see a Republican.

The survey was conducted from Jan. 9 - 13 and polled 800 registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.46 percentage points.