TIME: New poll finds Dem Congress favored by 11 points, but...

[DeepModem Mom]

Web Exclusive| Nation
A New Poll: the Democrats by 9 Points
TIME's survey shows unhappiness with the GOP in Congress, but can the Democrats translate that into a power shift?

Posted Friday, Mar. 24, 2006
TIME's latest poll finds American voters heading into November's election dissatisfied with the Republican-dominated status quo, but not necessarily convinced that the answer lies in voting Democratic. The poll, conducted March 22-23, finds Americans unhappy with the performance of the Republican-controlled Congress — 39% approve, versus 49% who disapprove — and gives Democrats a 9-point lead when voters are asked to state which party's candidate they would choose for a House of Representatives seat (50% answered Democrat, 41% chose Republican). Voters favor Democratic control of Congress by 49% compared with 38% for Republican control.

But voter unhappiness over the Republican-controlled Congress and White House has not yet translated into a groundswell of support for the Democrats. Right now, the approval rating for Congressional Democrats is no higher (39%) than that of Republicans, and 56% of voters don't believe the Democrats offer a clear set of alternative policies. Nor will President Bush's dismal 39% approval rating necessarily drag down his party: almost half of voters (44%) were indifferent to whether their preferred Congressional candidate supports or opposes Bush.

Although the Democrats have a 14-point edge on the issue of dealing with corruption, one in three voters — including almost half of independents — says neither party has much to crow about on this issue. And one strong sign that a political earthquake is unlikely in November: almost two out of three respondents (63%) approved of the job their own congressional representative is doing.

At this stage, then, the Democrats' 9-point advantage in party preference may not be a reliable indicator of a shift in control of the House of Representatives. Democrats almost always trump Republicans on the generic party preference question in pre-election polling, but the voting day outcomes are often shaped by turnout. Indeed, the equivalent question in a spring 1994 Gallup survey gave the Democrats a 6-point lead — and that was the year of the Republican Revolution, in which Newt Gingrich's troops, armed with their Contract with America, gained control of both chambers of Congress....

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1176860,00.html?cnn=yes

[Dr.Phool]

1. Oh I'm sure that somehow

We'll find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.:sarcasm:

[catmother]

2. i have an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach about us

winning. i think we still have lots of hard work ahead of us.:hide:

[espera17]

3. hopeful

I too think we need to start putting forth policy iniatives to voters to change the image of the Democrats as the 'party with no platform'. For election analysis though, check out http://electionpredictions.blogspot.com .

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Thanks, espera17 -- and welcome to DU!

[AndyTiedye]

6. They Are Setting The Stage For Another Republican "Comeback"

courtesy of

because you know they'd vote you out if they could

[OzarkDem]

7. FWIW, at least our powder is dry

Seriously we need to start catapulting our message out there. Our leaders need to stop whining and get the job done. Sometimes I think they focus too much on their individual careers and not enough on the party as a whole.

[gizmo1979]

4. dems need to get together

make a plan,AND STICK TO IT!Thick and thin stay together beat the drum.Keep it simple stupid.

[catmother]

8. i've just been thinking how hard it is to unseat a senator. it seems

unless they've had some scandal or are totally incompetent they remain in office. here is arizona, we've got McCain who's probably gonna run for pres and jon kyl who's being opposed by democrat jim pedersen. i'm kinda nervous, cheney was in tucson the other night at a $500 a plate fundraiser for kyl and i didn't like the reaction of the people. of course, they were repubs and tucson tends to be more democratic, but i'm nervous about phoenix -- still too many repubs here.

as far as my representative, herb paine is trying to unseat shadegg. don't know how good his chances are. i'm pretty sure that janet napolitano (gov) will be reelected, but the repubs seem to have more money and are able to raise more.

someone please make me feel better. i just have this sinking feeling.
:scared:

[DeepModem Mom]

10. That's why I really object when Dem Senators "retire" -

like Graham of Florida, and Corzine of NJ. The Republicans seem to stay there until they die, even if it means staff takes over for them. It's risky to give up a Dem Senate seat.

[catmother]

11. or their wives. well at least in the case of representatives.

remember mary bono took over after sonny died. she had no experience. and there was another one, don't remember who took her late husband's seat.

corzine became governor.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. The Democrats will have a better chance if they stop listening to the DLC

It's time to hit Bush hard on all fronts. It's time to step on toes. It's time to be bold, not wimpy.

I am so tired of watching the Democrats, by mistaking civility for wisdom, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Bush is not just another conservative President with whom we have disagreements about tax policy. Bush is a threat to American democratic institutions. He and the nonsense called the unified executive theory are the issues. Even if he were really President, he would not be above the law. He has no right to lie to start a war of aggression, to disregard international conventions on torture or to wiretap American citizens without a warrant. Those are impeachable offenses.