Gallup: Democrats Have Advantage On Party Ratings, Affiliation, and Issues

[Mark E. Smith]

Poll finds parties rated about evenly on terrorism

PRINCETON , NJ -- The favorable environment for the Democratic Party heading into this
fall's midterm elections is underscored by the results from several questions included in
Gallup's annual Governance poll. Americans continue to hold a net positive view of the
Democratic Party while their view of the Republican Party is on balance negative. The
Republicans' former perceptual advantage on the terrorism issues has dwindled compared
to last year at this time, while Democrats have gained in the perception that they are
better than the Republicans at keeping the country prosperous. Democrats have also made
significant gains in national party identification since the beginning of 2005.

Overall Party Images

The Sept. 7-10 poll updated Gallup's trend question on whether Americans have a favorable
or unfavorable view of the two major political parties. Fifty-four percent of Americans view
the Democratic Party favorably, while 40% view it unfavorably. Americans have been more
positive than negative toward the Democratic Party throughout the year, and before that
extending back to Feb. 2005. The current 54% favorable rating is also the best for the
Democrats since August 2004.

In contrast, Americans continue to hold a net-negative view of the Republican Party - 42%
say they have a favorable opinion and 53% a negative one. Americans have been more
negative than positive in their evaluations of the Republican Party for the past year. Last
September, the public was evenly divided between positive and negative views of the party.
The current 42% favorable rating is an improvement from the 36% rating in April, which is
one of the lowest Gallup ever measured for the GOP.

http://www.galluppoll.com/content/?ci=24499

[hedda_foil]

1. Wow! 44 - 42 on terrorism!

The terrorism issue has been a Republican strength since it emerged as a national concern five years ago, but the poll now finds Americans rating the parties about equally on the issue; 44% say the Republican Party would do a better job and 42% say the Democratic Party. Prior to this year, Republicans had averaged a 15-point advantage over Democrats on this issue.



In June, a USA Today/Gallup poll asked Americans whether the Republicans in Congress or Democrats in Congress would better handle each of several issues, including terrorism. In that poll that used a different question wording, Republicans had a 46% to 35% advantage on the terrorism issue. It is not clear if the difference between the June poll results and the current results indicate that the Republican advantage has eroded in the last few months, or if the differences are due to the way the questions were worded.

This is from Sept. 7-10

[ProgressiveEconomist]

4. Wonder what it will be next time, including reaction to *'s 9/11 speech

Anybody who heard or heard about that speech knows that Dubya in effect politicized a national funeral to try to sell his phoney "war" in Iraq.

The new MoveOn ad campaign won't let voters forget about that disgraceful performance. Bush undermined the "terror war" advantage Republicans had the last two elections so much he needs an "October surprise" to get it back...maybe "finding" binLaden?

Together with other Democratic ads on the minimum wage, stem cell research, lack of health care coverage, and other populist issues, we may have a chance this time.

[BrotherBuzz]

13. Methinks those numbers will improve if Bush* keeps opening his pie hole

[civildisoBDence]

2. Even with all their money and resources

the Republicans can't buy off EVERY pollster.

Newsprism

[longship]

3. Tip O'Neill's principle is inoperative this election.

This election, like no other election in recent memory, is a referendum on federal power, policy, and Constitutional excesses. That's the game that the Repukes are playing, and that's the Democrat's best offense. We have to remind the voters every minute of every day between now and November 6 that ChimpCo is an utter failure and that their rubberstamping Congress is neck deep in complicity for the failures.

We have to federalize every single race this time. Even ol' Tip O'Neill would have seen this.

[dwp6577]

5. I think the fix is in...

I hate to say this, but I think we (progressives) are being duped by the right:

- The polls placate us
- We feel warm and fuzzy about our chances to regain a house
- We get a bit complacent

meanwhile:

- Rove is working behind the scenes to get boots on the ground and rally the christo-fascist nuts and towelhead-hating, fairy-hating rednecks
- Election fraud will cover the rest of the spread

Are we F'd?

I can't erase this feeling of dread :(

[gratuitous]

6. I can't argue with that . . .

Mostly because the first thing I thought when I read the headline on the original post was, "And all this dominance by Democrats will be spun as a plus for the GOP . . . how?"

All I can offer is that we should work at least as hard as we think Rove and his minions are working.

[AX10]

7. The fact that the GOP has been deflated on the Terror/Security issue...

is one of the main reasons why they have fallen behind in the polls.

As Longship said:

"This election, like no other election in recent memory, is a referendum on federal power, policy, and Constitutional excesses. That's the game that the Repukes are playing, and that's the Democrat's best offense. We have to remind the voters every minute of every day between now and November 6 that ChimpCo is an utter failure and that their rubberstamping Congress is neck deep in complicity for the failures.

We have to federalize every single race this time. Even ol' Tip O'Neill would have seen this."

But we CANNOT take this for granted. We have to work like we are 10 points behind. Rove is stil out there are there is a surplus of mediawhores who are willing to spew GOP talking points.

[DallasNE]

8. Polls Show A Very Confused Public

The Democrats need to counter that with a focused and consistent message. They need to frame the debate and right now they are going about it all wrong. You want proof?

<http://www.rasmussenreports.com/Bush_Job_Approval.htm>

What they need is a rapid response team to strike down such themes as "either you rubber stamp Bush or you are with the terrorists". That would free up the candidates to shape the debate on their own terms, focused and consistently. Right now by responding directly to the ridiculous Republican claims they come across as nothing but whiners. Right now Tony Snow is catching all of the spears for the Republicans. The Democrats need somebody in a similar role.

[bigdarryl]

9. All this was before the 9/11 anniversary

Show me these numbers between 9-11-06 to 9-17-06

[illinoisprogressive]

10. Dems have always been percieved as strong domestically

We need to be concidered strong internationally. In that respect we can pound on our strength in foreign policy. As for terrorism? If the Dems pounce on the fact that shrub has decided that bin laden is NOT a priority and does NOT fit in with thier plans right now. How do you fight terror when you won't go after the face of terror? The dems need to exploit this.

[newyawker99]

15. Hi illinoisprogressive!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[FighttheFuture]

11. Cool!! That means their loss can be an even bigger mystery this time!!

[AndrewJacksonFaction]

12. Kick.

Cause this is a feel good article.

[noonwitch]

14. That's all nice and fine, but the GOP has a big advantage-Diebold.

Even if dems earn more votes than reps, will those votes be counted?

[dsharp88]

16. Exactly

We're still behind on voting machine manufacturers.

[Danascot]

17. Hey, that's me!

I got a call from a pollster last week and I'm fairly certain it was for this Gallup poll. It was quite lengthy and wide ranging. If so, I'm happy to have kicked this poll to the left by 1 out of 1000.

[Spiffarino]

18. Great numbers, especially about the terrorism issue

Dems should have led all along on this. You can't make war on a tactic, only on those who perpetrate one. Bill Clinton - and every other president before this boob - realized it and acted accordingly. Only the Chimp Brigade was stupid enough to start a war on a noun.

Now please get out there, start kicking some ass and send the bastards to jail.