A new PPP/SEIU poll shows voters are still split on Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick’s (R-Bucks) performance and that they favor immigration reform.

The survey was commissioned by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to pressure House Republicans on immigration. It also included some interesting questions about Fitzpatrick’s standing in his district.

Fitzpatrick’s job approval rating stood at 40%, while 36% disapproved and 25% were unsure.

According to the survey, Fitzpatrick would beat a generic Democratic opponent if the election were held today by a slim 46%-43% margin. While this number is far from impressive for an incumbent, a PPP poll conducted last month showed Fitzpatrick trailing a generic Dem.

47% of respondents said the recent government shutdown made them less likely to support Fitzpatrick, while 39% said more likely.

PPP, which is a Democratic pollster, surveyed 703 voters in Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district via interactive voice response. Among the respondents, 44% said they were Republicans, 38% identified as Democrats, while 18% declared themselves Independents.

As with any poll conducted by an interest group, the results should be taken with a grain of salt.

For example, the poll found that 77% of voters in the 8th district support an immigration reform bill like the one passed by the Senate last summer.

But the poll question on that issue overloaded positive descriptors of the bill while avoiding the loaded term “amnesty” that is used by its opponents and would likely decrease support for the measure.

Overall, the SEIU conducted polls in eight GOP-held swing districts across the country. The intention of the surveys was to show these members of Congress that voting for immigration reform is in their electoral interests.

“It’s clear from these polls that Republicans were damaged by the government shutdown and that voters want their representatives to work on fixing the problems facing America, in this case immigration reform,” said SEIU Executive Vice President Rocio Saenz. “It’s time for the Republican leadership to listen to the American public and schedule a vote on immigration reform.”