Record low in GOP see candidate who would be good president

In mid-August, a bare majority of Republicans and Republican leaners (53%) said there was a candidate running for president who would make a good president. This is down seven percentage points from the pre-convention period in mid-July and is the lowest Republican reading so far in 2016. By contrast, 63% of Democrats and Democratic leaners said there is such a candidate in the presidential field, down just slightly from where it stood in July, although also the lowest percentage for Democrats this year.

Republicans enjoyed an atypically large presidential field during the primary season, albeit one that dwindled as the months went by, while the Democratic field had been whittled down to just two candidates by February. But Republicans have been either as likely as or less likely than Democrats to say they believe there is a candidate who would make a good president each month since February.