Republican Enthusiasm For Midterm Election Drops Sharply

[babylonsister]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/06/republican-voter-enthusia_n_565793.html


Republican Voter Enthusiasm Advantage Halved In Past Month: Gallup



Republican registered voters' enthusiasm about voting in midterm elections this fall has dropped precipitously during the past month, cutting their enthusiasm advantage over Democrats almost in half, according to new Gallup polling data.

As Gallup's Jeffrey Jones notes, registered voter party preferences remain in a statistical dead heat, so voter enthusiasm is a key measurement of likely election results -- and Republicans historically have higher turnout. But the GOP's current 10-point enthusiasm advantage is at its lowest ebb since Gallup began polling "2010 election attitudes" in March.

A month ago, shortly after the passage of health care reform and not long before taxes were due, some 54 percent of registered Republican voters told Gallup they were "very enthusiastic" about voting. Now that number is back down to 43 percent, about the same as it was before health reform passed.

[Captain Hilts]

1. They're going to have their hats handed to them. They've lost the last two and will not

make the gains in the next one they're anticipating.

[lunatica]

2. I hope they stay home in droves

I hope they shine in their absence at the voting booths.

[zeemike]

5. More importantly I hope the young turn out in droves.

And fear that they will be distracted and just skip it.

[tabbycat31]

10. that's something we have to work on

I've made it my pet project this year. I'm 30 but look 20 (according to a friend) so I can relate to young voters pretty well.

[customerserviceguy]

3. There's a reason for this, that I've long suggested

The Tea Partiers are motivated not primarily by racism, as many here believe, but by economic fear. They were upset by the Wall Street and bank bailouts, and they simply added the stimulus bill to their list of worries.

Now, the Rethugs have been blocking meaningful financial reform, and they feel dispirited. They really don't like the big banks any more than we do.

If they were motivated by primarily racism, why would their mood be flagging in the last month? Nothing's happened on the racial front to change any minds in that time.

[CrispyQ]

11. GOP party leaders, implying that people on unemployment are slackers

& then voting against extending those benefits, doesn't help. Maybe some unemployed repubs are waking up & realizing that their party has nothing but disdain for them. ???

I agree with you on the racism part - although it's not a popular take on DU. While there are certainly a number of repubs who are racist, I think the majority are simply mean-spirited, bullying types who are acting like brats because they aren't getting their way. They are pissed because their party isn't in charge^*. If our president were a white male, their outrage would be only slightly less than what it is, because their real outrage comes from the fact that the prez is a dem.


^*Some of us on the left question if our party is in charge, with all their bi-partisan capitulation bullshit.

[AndyA]

4. Nice hat. Probably used cheap Walmart private brand tea bags.

No, she does not "get it." As Keith Olbermann says about Sarah Palin, "the woman is an idiot."

[KharmaTrain]

6. The Fun Has Just Begun...

I'm seeing a bunch of fractures starting to develop. There's Crist/Rubio and McCain/J Doofus Heyworthless in AZ and now Fiorina and DeVore in California. The teabaggers and "true conservatives" have pulled the GOOP so far to the right that they're pushing the moderates...the middle 20% that decides elections out. Or, their "purity" will make it impossible for them to vote for a McCain (who let that kenyan win...) or a Fionrina. Those in other states are gonna have to walk tightropes not to piss off the teabaggers yet not appear to be totally unhinged. I'm watching Kirk here in Illinois try that kabuki dance with limited success but he's still getting hit from his right as much as he is from the Democrats. I can see many taking a pass on this election...both parties.

We're starting to see fatigue set in as the teabaggers 15 minutes has passed and their self important fizzles into their own infighting and self importance. The non-stop amping up of the rhetoric has alienated the moderates and is starting to energize Democrats who are constantly being told to expect an electoral wipe out. I hope they keep this meme up...seems to be waking up a sleeping giant.

[tanyev]

7. All that lady needs are some sugar cubes stuck to that hat, a stack of cups, and a thunderstorm.

Presto! She's a walking tea stand.

[Skidmore]

8. I'll be more impressed with this when I see people left of

Attila the Hun making a corresponding show of enthusiasm for the midterms with the intent of not assisting RW reactionaries into office.

[WhiteTara]

9. Tweety called Pince a "very possible"

next Speaker. I almost threw up. That just can NOT happen!