Randy Krehbiel
Tulsa World

Responses to recent Oklahoma Poll questions concerning first-year 1st District Congressman Jim Bridenstine were probably not surprising.

Tulsa conservatives like Bridenstine.

Tulsa liberals, and to a certain extent moderates, do not.

Overall, 44 percent of those surveyed Nov. 1-5 by SoonerPoll said they approve of the job Bridenstine has done during his first 10 months in office.

Thirty-three percent disapproved, and 23 percent were neutral or had no response.

The survey included only voters in the city of Tulsa, which tends to be somewhat less conservative than the First District as a whole.

“I think highly of him,” said poll respondent Richard Freeman. “He started off good and he’s just going to improve as time goes along.”

“I have a low impression of him,” said Ruthie Ball. “I don’t like his views.”

Ball said Bridenstine is trying to do “things that make it more difficult for poor people.”

During his short time in Washington, Bridenstine has attracted attention for not being afraid to challenge party leadership. He was among a group of Republicans that forced a showdown on food assistance spending and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

The latter resulted in a 16-day partial shutdown of the federal government and a potential financial crisis.

Bridenstine and others blamed Democrats for refusing to back down, but national polls indicate public displeasure is mostly directed to Republicans.

The Oklahoma Poll produced similar results. Fifty-four percent of those surveyed, including one-third of Republicans, disapproved of Bridenstine’s vote against the final compromise bill that lifted the partial shutdown.

“I don’t think he handled it very well at all,” said David New. “It was kind of like, ‘to hell with the country, I want what I want.’ I feel like he represents a very, very small portion of the Republican party.”

But those who described themselves as “very conservative” hold Bridenstine in high regard. Nearly two-thirds of them approved of his vote on the temporary budget extension, known as a continuing resolution. More than 70 percent approved of his job performance overall.

Just 10 percent disapprove.

“I’m all for him,” said Tim Belford. “He represents a lot of my views I like him to get after stuff, stir things up up there.”

“He stands up for what’s right,” said David Embry. “When the emperor has no clothes, somebody’s got to tell him. I like the fact he’s against Obamacare. I like the fact he does what he thinks he needs to do to get the debt under control.”

People who described themselves as somewhat conservative were only slightly less supportive. Sixty percent approved of his overall job performance and 49 percent approved of his vote on the continuing resolution.

Bridenstine has argued it is President Obama and the Democratic leadership that has been unwilling to engage in meaningful negotiations.

Moderates and liberals don’t seem to be buying the argument.

Among those identifying as very or somewhat liberal, Bridenstine’s approval rating is below 20 percent, and more than half strongly disapprove.

New said he believes Bridenstine represents a “close-minded” segment of voters.

“I just feel like this is a time when we should work together,” New said. “You have to have some kind of dialogue, even if it’s your worst enemy.”