Anti-Common Core Stance Could Spell Trouble for Candidates
Some Republican political candidates have vehemently opposed a set of national education standards. But, according to a new report, that position on the Common Core could backfire come election time.
Hear the audio version of this story.
Georgia is one of 44 states that adopted the Common Core. State lawmakers, mostly Republicans, fought this year over whether to keep it. Legislation aimed at opting out failed. But some Republican candidates for state superintendent have said they still oppose the Common Core.
Republican pollster John McLaughlin says that posture may not serve them well in the November election.
“If you’re running for office, and you’re in a competitive General Election, where you need these moderates, you need these swing voters, the anti-Common Core rhetoric could become a problem,” he said in a conference call with reporters.
McLaughlin’s firm released a national report on public opinion toward the Common Core. He said the main reason some Republican candidates have fought the Common Core has nothing to do with the standards themselves.
“There’s a knee-jerk reaction to President Obama among Republicans,” he said.
The Obama administration didn’t develop the standards, but the president supports them. Nonetheless, the report shows most voters want to see a schools change, and they see the Common Core as a way to do that.
9(MDAxODM0MDY4MDEyMTY4NDA3MzI3YjkzMw004))
Top Stories
