Chicago Tribune 9/12 9:27PM
The percentage of Illinois voters who call themselves Democrats is at its
highest pre-election level in more than a decade, posing a problem for
Republicans trying to win the governor's mansion and key congressional
seats, a Tribune/WGN-TV poll shows.
The poll found 43 percent of voters identified themselves as Democrats
while little more than a quarter of the voters identified themselves as
Republicans. The 17 percentage point difference ranks among the most
polarized partisan spreads in more than 16 years of Tribune surveys taken
prior to an election day.
The results of the poll echo surveys taken nationally that show an increase
in voters lining up in the Democratic column, a factor attributed to
disatisfaction with the Republican White House and GOP-led Congress
on issues ranging from the war in Iraq to economic uncertainties.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-060912poll,1,3507775.story?coll=chi-news-hedObviously Bush's recent media offensive has had a considerable influence
everywhere.