Gallup: In Shift, More Americans Now Call Themselves Democrats

[AGENDA21]

NEW YORK In a (perhaps) historic shift, more Americans now consider themselves Democrats than Republicans, the Gallup organization revealed today.

Republicans had gained the upper hand in recent years, but 33% of Americans, in the latest Gallup poll, now call themselves Democrats, with those favoring the GOP one point behind. But Gallup says this widens a bit more "once the leanings of Independents are taken into account."

Independents now make up 34% of the population. When asked if they lean in a certain direction, their answers pushed the Democrat numbers to 49% with Republicans at 42%. One year ago, the parties were dead even at 46% each.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002273782

[CrazyForKucinich]

1. 34 Ind. 33 Dem. 32 Rep...and yet we have 2 political parties?

*slams head against wall*

[Fla Dem]

7. Rounding up the 34% indy voters under one tent is like

trying to herd cats. Not a bad thing but,they are just too one issue oriented to form a coalition.

:shrug:

[TahitiNut]

9. I'm an independent. I'm about as far from being "one issue oriented" ...

... as one could find. :shrug:

Is there a sale on broad brushes somewhere? :silly:

[napi21]

2. Let's hope reality is finally sinking in to the American public!

Greed & arrogance does become obvious rather quickly!

[AGENDA21]

6. Lets hope so.

[darkmaestro019]

3. Let's hope that when the Republicans steal--uh, win, the next election

that someone remembers this who is capable of simple math.

[fasttense]

4. Ain't that the truth darkmaestro019. n/t

[dusty64]

5. The nonaffiliated

are finally seeing the writing on the wall. Even though this group makes up the largest it is strange that the percentage of indys is falling.

[TahitiNut]

8. The 'gold standard' for partisan affiliation ...

... is the University of Michigan's 'American National Election Studies.' As of 2004, they found that 33% regarded themselves as Democrats, 28% as Republicans, and 39% as Independents. When 'leaning' independents are included in the partisan ranks, it was 50% Democrats, 40% Republicans, and 10% Independents.

http://www.electionstudies.org/nesguide/toptable/tab2a_1.htm

I've graphed this through 2002 ...