More Americans paying attention to congressional elections than usual

[a kennedy]

WASHINGTON — Americans are paying unusually close attention to the congressional elections in November, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds. They are more inclined to deliver significant gains to Democrats than in any year since Republicans won control of the House and Senate in 1994.

Those surveyed are more concerned about national issues than local ones — a situation that favors Democrats hoping to tap discontent over the Iraq war and gasoline prices — and prefer Democrats over Republicans on handling every major issue except terrorism.

.....The poll of 1,000 adults Friday through Sunday has an error margin of +/-3 percentage points.

Among the findings:

• Americans are interested in the election at levels not usually seen in non-presidential years. More than a third have thought "quite a lot" about the congressional elections. Seven of 10 say they are very motivated to get out and vote this year.

• Democrats are particularly engaged: 56% say they are "more enthusiastic about voting than usual," the highest level recorded since the question was first asked in 1994. Among Republicans, 43% say they are more enthusiastic than usual.

• Americans are increasingly likely to identify themselves as Democrats. Including those who "lean" to one party or the other, 55% call themselves Democrats; 38%, Republicans. That's the biggest edge for Democrats since 1998. By 54%-38%, the registered voters surveyed say they'd vote for a Democratic congressional candidate over a Republican one if the election were held today.

• That said, voters aren't particularly enamored of Democratic officeholders. Congressional Democrats have an approval rating of just 38%, 1 percentage point above Bush and 5 points above congressional Republicans.

• Democrats are preferred by double digits to Republicans on four of the five top-ranked issues: Iraq, government corruption, the economy and health care. Republicans are preferred by 11 percentage points on handling terrorism.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-06-27-poll-politics_x.htm

[BOSSHOG]

1. Terrible news for republicans

The last thing they need is an informed electorate.

[katty]

16. true! LOL!!

[Harry Monroe]

19. So true

“The democratic theory is that if you accumulate enough ignorance at the polls, you produce intelligence.”
Vance, Philo

The way to win is to go on the offensive against your opponent early, distort positions to whatever degree you can get away with, play upon people's fears and prejudices--and never let up.”
Drew, Elizabeth

“I'll be glad to reply to or dodge your questions, depending on what I think will help our election most”
Bush, President George W

[paparush]

2. Be prepared for more and more distractions..

- Homegrown Terrorist (who, it turns out, couldn't afford to buy doughnuts)

[E-Z-B]

5. Exactly.

Rove has a way of getting Americans to forget about the real issues.

[bdamomma]

8. you notice the terror alerts have been among the

missing, rove probably bring them back to stir up things again.

[The Wizard]

10. If the numbers get low enough

Rove might strap on an explosive belt and detonate himself in a crowded Democratic stronghold.

[Harry Monroe]

20. And the downside of that would be??

[leesa]

3. They STILL seem to have the public fooled about terrorism...how to change

that misperception. Their ideas for fighting terrorism...blowing people to bits... has massively increased terrorism. Why is it so hard to get the message out that Republican's approach to "fighting" terrorism is a disaster for our country?

[unpossibles]

9. I wish I knew

I have no idea how a party which has not only been in charge during two attacks (9/11, Anthrax) and who's policies are creating vast numbers of new terrorists can be seen as being "tough on terrorism"

If only we had a media which actually told people the truth about Bush and how he has ignored every threat warning he had regarding 9/11, Katrina, etc. If only people understood that the Iraq war has made us more vulnerable.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

11. Chest thumping nationalism is why Bubba likes blowing people up

It makes the rednecks feel good.

The 30 percenters can't see the Arab reaction and the creation of more terrorists.

[unpossibles]

13. good point

it's like he turned "Hey Y'all! Lookit this!" into Policy....

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

17. Like a kid blowing up firecrackers under a tin can to make it fly

Really macho, dumb stuff.

RW types love it.

[Hippo_Tron]

21. I wouldn't read too much into those numbers

More people trust the GOP more to handle terrorism yet they don't intend to vote Republican. Either that means that they aren't very worried about terrorism or they just say Republicans under the logic that there hasn't been an attack since 9/11. Also, lets wait until we start hammering them on not having risk based homeland security funding.

[bigtree]

4. good news

good opportunity

[Beware the Beast Man]

6. This is good.

:thumbsup:

It's easier to start with the House than to vote people out of the Senate. I'm glad folks are catching on.

[bdamomma]

7. it's about time.

people are slowing waking up, just makes me shake my head, now we have to get rid of e voting to make our votes count.

[JohnnyRingo]

12. I think this is a side effect of Buxh's divisive policy

He ran as a "uniter, not a divider".
He immediately worked to disinclude democrats from our government at every level.
The divide and conquer tactics of this admin has left the underdog party on the ropes and bleeding like a hero in a bad Rocky movie.

And just like a bad underdog movie, the crowd is rallying around the battered team, cheering them to their feet to take down the bullying foe and bring home a victory.

It's George Buxh's fault that politix isn't boring anymore, and he and Rove will be known for eventually making the Democratic party more powerful than ever by inspiring grass level support.

Remember...There are countless more Democrats in this country than there are Republicans, they just don't go to the booth on election day.
I see that changing.

Mission Accomplished, Jackass.

[Alcibiades]

14. We need a strategy

To capitalize on this Republican weakness. In 1994, the Republicans achieved a watershed by channeling funds from national groups to local activists. we can do the same thing, but on the cheap.

The problem is that many Democrats live in safe Democratic districts. Many who are potential activists don't go out and get out the vote because they know their Democratic congresscritter is safe. We can use this to our advantage this year. This year, if you are in a safe district, get together with other activists in your area and figure out if any Republican congressmen in neighboring districts are vulnerable. Use whatever lists of volunteers you have from the last presidential election to get a group of volunteers together to drive from your town to a town in the district of the neighboring Republican congressman to knock on doors and talk to voters. Consult with the Democratic party organization there to scope out the best prospects and to avoid any duplication of effort.

Empirical research shows that a good old fashioned get-out-the-vote door-knocking campaign can increase turnout by up to 10%. If Democrats in safe districts focus our efforts on those districts where Republicans are most vulnerable, we could make a big difference this fall.

[Totally Committed]

15. This...

is excellent news. Now, the Democrats need to get their message out there, if they can decide on one, that is.

TC

[jwirr]

18. Deep down we all love this country we live in. And even the

dumbest know that if the election is stolen then we are losing our country. Only religious zealots and corporate thieves stand to gain from fraud.

[dkblogger]

22. Lou Dobbs / e-vote machines are hackable ! 97% of viewers agree.

Doesn't anyone at DU read Brad Blog or watch Dobbs ? He took a poll of 14,000 people asking if they trust e voting machines. 97% said no. (or do they think their vote counts on them ?) He's been raving and giving facts on how vulnerable they are. The msm won't cover the issue, when they do touch on it they call major foul ups "glitches" or blame it on the poll workers. I keep waiting for the various sites to discuss this and they don't. Who cares how many Dems go to vote if the votes are flipped ? Send money to get whomever elected ? Burn it, either way it goes up in smoke ! The Busby Ca. election... the poll workers took the machines home with them , some for over a week. That is illegal in itself. All the bloggers best start checking into this. If something isen't done before Nov. Reps will win? again ! God help us, cause they won't !

[newyawker99]

23. Hi dkblogger!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: