WP,pg1: Anger at Bush May Hurt GOP At Polls: Turnout Could Favor Democrats

[DeepModem Mom]

Anger at Bush May Hurt GOP At Polls
Turnout Could Favor Democrats
By Charles Babington
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 17, 2006; Page A01

Intense and widespread opposition to President Bush is likely to be a sharp spur driving voters to the polls in this fall's midterm elections, according to strategists in both parties, a phenomenon that could give Democrats a turnout advantage over Republicans for the first time in recent years.

Polls have reflected voter discontent with Bush for many months, but as the election nears, operatives are paying special attention to one subset of the numbers. It is the wide disparity between the number of people who are passionate in their dislike of Bush vs. those who support him with equal fervor.

Lately, there have been a lot more of the former -- and even Republicans acknowledge that could spell trouble in closely contested congressional races.

"Angry voters turn out and vote their anger," said Glen Bolger, a pollster for several Republican congressional candidates. "Democrats will have an easier time of getting out their vote because of their intense disapproval of the president. That means we Republicans are going to have to bring our 'A' turnout game in November."

The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll showed 47 percent of voters "strongly" disapprove of Bush's job performance, vs. 20 percent who said they "strongly approve."...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/16/AR2006041600648.html

[Erika]

1. You mean we don't like W turning the U.S. into a 3rd world

country? Low wages for the workers, the poor ignored, while the profits go to the rich?

[Arugula Latte]

2. "Intense and widespread opposition"

Now that is music to my ears.

[demosincebirth]

3. I hope so, but the repugs will certainly come out with their usual

"hot button" issues...like flag burning and gay marriages. This year it could be Immigration, also.

[radfringe]

4. what I've been telling people

as long as the republicans control congress it will be "biddness as usual"

the rubberstamps will continue stamping, they will continue to raise the deficits, gas prices will continue to go up, dirty money will continue to write legislation, and bush will not be held accountable for anything

What we have seen and experienced since bush* was planted in the white house will continue and probably get worse as long as the rubberstamping-republicans control congress

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the focus for GOPers running is to keep the issues "local" - we need to make all "local" issues national. Road goes both ways - local issues influence national issues, and national issues impact local ones.