Selected Trend on Party Affiliation: 2004-2011 (Gallup)

[ProSense]

First, here is Matt Stoller:

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Obama has ruined the Democratic Party. The 2010 wipeout was an electoral catastrophe so bad you'd have to go back to 1894 to find comparable losses. From 2008 to 2010, according to Gallup, the fastest growing demographic party label was former Democrat. Obama took over the party in 2008 with 36 percent of Americans considering themselves Democrats. Within just two years, that number had dropped to 31 percent, which tied a 22-year low.

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Well, Stoller would love to have people believe that President Obama ruined the Democratic Party, but that is not what Gallup's numbers show.

Gallup: Selected Trend on Party Affiliation: 2004-2011

Democrats

2011 Aug 11-14: 26
2011 Aug 4-7: 34
2011 Jul 12-15: 30

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2008 Nov 7-9: 33
2008 Oct 23-26: 34
2008 Oct 10-12: 35


Democrats (including "leaners")

2011 Aug 11-14: 40
2011 Aug 4-7: 50
2011 Jul 12-15: 47

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2008 Nov 7-9: 51
2008 Oct 23-26: 48
2008 Oct 10-12: 52


PPP: Democrats Have a Growing Enthusiasm Problem

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Only 48% of Democrats on our most recent national survey said they were 'very excited' about voting in 2012. On the survey before that the figure was 49%. Those last two polls are the only times all year the 'very excited' number has dipped below 50%.

In 13 polls before August the average level of Democrats 'very excited' about voting next year had averaged 57%. It had been as high as 65% and only twice had the number even dipped below 55%.

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Summary: Democrats/leaners have remained constant throughout this year, and only slightly off the 2008 levels. Between June 2008 and October 2008, Democratic affiliation averaged about 34. Including leaners, the average was about 49. For the period from August 4 - 7 (2011), Democratic affiliation was 34 and 50, including leaners.

It wasn't until August, after the debt ceiling debate, that there was a noticeable dip. The same goes for the drop in enthusiasm. For most of the year, that number was fairly high.

[tblue]

1. Yaaay! nt