Dems falling from favor, but GOP can’t find a way to benefit
A new Gallup/CNN poll released yesterday had good news for both Democrats and Republicans, depending on what you’re looking for.
For example, respondents were asked:
“Do you think the country would be better off if the Republicans controlled Congress, or if the Democrats controlled Congress?”
Thirty-four percent wanted GOP control, while 44 percent sided with the Democrats. Advantage, Democrats.
Ah, but then there’s the trend line. Back in April, in response to the same question, the split was 34 percent GOP, 49 percent Democrat. In January, it was 31 percent GOP, 56 percent Democratic. Interestingly, while support for the Democrats has declined quite a bit since January, the GOP numbers haven’t moved much at all. The Democrats are losing their luster, but the GOP isn’t exactly Joe Popular.
The same dynamic is apparent in the party favorability numbers.
Respondents were asked whether they had a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the Democratic Party. More than half — 52 percent — responded favorably, while only 39 percent said they had an unfavorable opinion. Score one for the Ds, right?
Well, there’s that trend line again. In February, the fav/unfav split for Democrats was 58/36; back in November, right after the election, it was 62-31. That’s a significant falloff over the last nine months for the party in control of both Congress and the White House.
But again, the Republicans are unable to reap the benefits. The GOP’s current fav/unfav split is 41/50 (again, compared to the Dems’ 52/39). And that split has changed only marginally over time.
REPUBLICAN PARTY
Favorable/Unfavorable
August 41% 50%
April 39% 55%
February 39% 54%
Dec 41% 52%
Nov 38% 54%
Also, Gallup’s latest numbers show Barack Obama stabilizing his own approval numbers, perhaps a consequence of some encouraging if perhaps premature economic news. Gallup puts his approval/disapproval at 56/38, compared to 52 percent a week ago.
On this map, Gallup depicts Obama’s average approval rating state by state over the last six months. Again, this is not a snapshot of approval today; it is an average of the approval rating since January.
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189 comments Add your comment
USinUK
August 11th, 2009
8:08 am
Hi Jay! Happy Tuesday!!
and nicely done on the poll data.
I Report/ I Am The Mob (-: You Whine )-:
August 11th, 2009
8:09 am
This is your government run by democrats-
On June 18, HUD’s Inspector General issued a scathing report on the FHA’s lax insurance practices. It found that the FHA’s default rate has grown to 7%, which is about double the level considered safe and sound for lenders, and that 13% of these loans are delinquent by more than 30 days. The FHA’s reserve fund was found to have fallen in half, to 3% from 6.4% in 2007—meaning it now has a 33 to 1 leverage ratio, which is into Bear Stearns territory. The IG says the FHA may need a “Congressional appropriation intervention to make up the shortfall.”-WSJ
Another gigantic sucking sound from the government in the making.
Barney Fweak’s baby, ew, thanks alot.
Any questions?
TnGelding
August 11th, 2009
8:11 am
When you take on contentious issues you can expect your popularity to fall, especially when the fruits of your labor are misrepresented. The August recess is coming at a good time. It’s our civic duty to make our voices heard.
stands for decibels
August 11th, 2009
8:12 am
1699? As in, we’re gonna like it’s?
stands for decibels
August 11th, 2009
8:13 am
ugh.
1699? As in, we’re gonna party like it’s…?
stands for decibels
August 11th, 2009
8:14 am
Whiner, is the actual subject of the post too unpleasant for you to contemplate? That why you’re leading with your usual distractionary copy/pastes?
TnGelding
August 11th, 2009
8:15 am
I Report/ I Am The Mob (-: You Whine )-:
August 11th, 2009
8:09 am
Shouldn’t that be Republicans and Democrats? Like this just happened since Dems took over the executive branch. Be sure and study the CNBC report I posted closely. Very interesting and well prepared.
Mrs. Godzilla
August 11th, 2009
8:16 am
I suspect as the ridiculousness of the “deathers” increases so will
the Presidents numbers.
Death Panels……sounds like a Luntz-ism.
mike
August 11th, 2009
8:25 am
This is actually nothing but good news for Republicans. At this rate, the two parties will be held in the same low regard by election time in 2010 and the party that was dismissed by silly people on the left as “irrelevant” will be on equal footing with the Dems in the first half of Obama’s administration.
The notion that this is not good news for the GOP is as absurd as the notion that the GOP is dead.
Bud Wiser
August 11th, 2009
8:25 am
The reason the Repugs cannot take advantage of sliding Democrat unfavorable numbers is quite simple. They have no clue.
They have no plan.
They’ve been in a simpering, shrinking violet mode since last November, acting like a bunch of beaten down dogs (no apologies to Micheal Vick), which, in fact, they have become.
Ever work on a farm, and kill a few chickens by grabbing their heads, giving it a quick turn and jerk simultaneously, ripping it from the carcass, then watch the headless chicken run furiously for a few seconds or more, then drop to the ground?
The Repugs are currently in the chicken mode.
The Democrats are wasting this opportunity handed to them on a silver platter by the Repugs of entrenching themselves in power for decades to come, wasting it by this insane spending and giving away of taxpayer dollars at unfathomable levels, without accountability, and the taxpayers are beginning to notice.
I despise the left because of their smug, self given, but misplaced, air of superiority, springing no doubt from a deep sense of insecurity. It springs, no doubt, from that core of leadership that emerges from the Ivy League schools. A sense of leadership entitlement, if you will.
But looking at it dispassionately, I shake my head at their absolute greed, self assuredness, and stupidity, watching them pi$$ away this opportunity to grab almost (as politics go) permanent control in numbers.
Someone at DNC needs to tell Obowo, Pelosi, Reid, etc., to take several deep breaths, step back, and slow down. As fast as they came to power with the numbers they currently have, they are going to lose a huge portion of that in just 18 months from now, if they continue at this frenetic pace.
The Repugs? They need to return to conservative core values, instead of this Rodney King attitude (…”why can’t we all just get along?”) Wanting to bend, compromise, just get along, has put them where they are right now – in the cellar.
And in the cellar they shall remain unless they just ..’get back, get back, get back to where you just belong…’. A little party leadership could go a long way. On both sides.
Jackie
August 11th, 2009
8:26 am
President Obama has taken on the hard issues and given us the information needed to make informed decisions. It is a leadership quality that helps informed citizens make mature and rational choices.
ByteMe
August 11th, 2009
8:27 am
What the underlying polls are telling us is that the bloom is off the rose with our girlfriend (the Dems), but we still remember how unhappy we were with our ex-wife (the Repubs).
Thankfully, we didn’t have too many kids with the ex-wife.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
August 11th, 2009
8:27 am
Well, looks like the Republicans will out-poll the librul Democrats around 2029. All we got to do is say No and wait it out and hope this Obama don’t flush the whole country down the toilet. Maybe Sarah’s son Trig or whatever his name is will be ready to run for President by then. Course, we all know he ain’t exactly a Norman Einstein, but nobody said you had to be extra bright to be a good President. For example, My President spent most of his years partying and drinking and running businesses into the ground and butchering the English language and he made a great President.
In other news, I see this guy shot a teenage driver ahead of him twice in the legs for not pulling up close enough to the stop sign. The guy then turned the gun on hisself and kilt hisself. He done everything right. First, he taught that kid a good lesson. Next, he took Personal Responsibility by not clogging up the courts with the case. And most important, he had a Liscence to Carry and showed he was law-abiding. We’re all better off for this happening.
Anyways, I’m hoping this day ain’t as bad as yesterday. You bunch of drunks just about guzzled every drop of beer at places on my route and I lugged cases till my back was about to give out. Have a good day everybody.
mike
August 11th, 2009
8:28 am
TnGelding –
“When you take on contentious issues you can expect your popularity to fall, especially when the fruits of your labor are misrepresented.”
Was this true of the GOP when they were in power? Or is this just a rationalization that only applies to Democrats?
USinUK
August 11th, 2009
8:28 am
Mrs. G –
“Death Panels……sounds like a Luntz-ism”
the funny thing is … what do these numpties think insurance companies have??? in addition to scads of actuaries, they also have medical ethicists that make decisions on what should be covered and what shouldn’t …
side note … my favorite actuary joke:
what’s the difference between an actuary and an accountant???
actuaries are WAY more outgoing … they’ll look at YOUR shoes when they talk to you …
TnGelding
August 11th, 2009
8:30 am
mike
August 11th, 2009
8:28 am
It works both ways, but the current distortions are absurd.
USinUK
August 11th, 2009
8:30 am
mike –
“Was this true of the GOP when they were in power?”
sure it is … and I think Terry Schaivo perfectly illustrates the point. the GOP took on a “contentious” issue, alright, but they were WAYYYY on the wrong side of it, and so suffered the consequences.
mike
August 11th, 2009
8:31 am
Redneck Convert –
Thanks for your bigotry. Do you do blackface imitations too? Are you a multi-purpose bigot?
Finn McCool
August 11th, 2009
8:32 am
Good morning!
Do we begin the euthanasia today or do we start taking away the guns today?
Mrs. Godzilla
August 11th, 2009
8:32 am
USinUK
In my experience, actuaries are always those guys who wear their trousers pulled up way to high……
mike
August 11th, 2009
8:33 am
TnGelding –
“It works both ways, but the current distortions are absurd.”
Those of us on the other side of the aisle felt the same way over the past eight years. It’s just a matter of perspective.
USinUK
August 11th, 2009
8:34 am
Finny –
today is gay marriage day …
Turd Ferguson
August 11th, 2009
8:34 am
Thats ok…as the Dems continue to dig their grave the GOP will gain.
Now…its just a matter of time…
; )
mike
August 11th, 2009
8:34 am
Finn –
“Do we begin the euthanasia today or do we start taking away the guns today?”
Well if we managed to avoid a fascist theocracy when the GOP was in power, we can probably avoid those issues too.
Mrs. Godzilla
August 11th, 2009
8:34 am
Finn
Why not multitask?
Have the old folks euthanize themselves with their own guns?
Ga Values
August 11th, 2009
8:34 am
Democrats–Big Spending, Big Government Liberals owned by lobbyist
Republicans–Big Spending, Big Government Liberals owned by lobbyist
Please tell me what is the difference between the 2.
USinUK
August 11th, 2009
8:36 am
Mrs G -
“In my experience, actuaries are always those guys who wear their trousers pulled up way to high……”
haha … nah – the actuaries I know are all pretty great people – only 1 of them had high pants syndrome … (and, yes, it was an actuary who told me that joke)
Ga Values
August 11th, 2009
8:37 am
Redneck Convert (R–and proud of it)
August 11th, 2009
8:27 am
Please leave a few extra cases of Miller at the Pink Pony, we are heading down there for lunch today.
USinUK
August 11th, 2009
8:38 am
“Thats ok…as the Dems continue to dig their grave the GOP will gain.
Now…its just a matter of time…”
baaahahahaha … coming from the team that’s cheering “Palin/Mary Cheney 2012″ that’s funny …
Finn McCool
August 11th, 2009
8:38 am
You Republicans do realize that when those folks you’ve cuckolded so far catch on to your lies about euthanasia, death panels, &etc, you are just going to lose more voters? People don’t like to learn they’ve been had.
Your only hope is to start being honest with your party members and right-leaning independents right down to the simplest minded folk. You can’t lead by using this kind of deception.
I Report/ I Am The Mob (-: You Whine )-:
August 11th, 2009
8:43 am
Whiner, is the actual subject of the post too unpleasant for you to contemplate? That why you’re leading with your usual distractionary copy/pastes?
Gallup?
Generic Congressional Vote
RCP Average
Democrats43.3 Republicans42.5 Democrats +0.8
Why would I sweat bookman’s cherry picking?
Swami Dave
August 11th, 2009
8:44 am
Not surprisingly, as PrezBO’s approval numbers fall, America’s economic indicators improve. The more effectively the political philosophy of theft and confiscation are opposed, the better off for America and its future.
Also not surprisingly, in one of the “reddest” of states, Georgia, a Democratic townhall meeting that was the target of much angst and fear yesterday turns out to be “civil” affair. Even in the face of fact that the entire event was a propoganda fest by supporters of the Taxocratic Healthcare Deform legislation, opponents participated in a calm and civil fashion.
We will see if this weekend’s rally by opponents of the legislation gets as respectful and civil treatment.
-SD
TnGelding
August 11th, 2009
8:44 am
test
Gandalf, the Wise
August 11th, 2009
8:46 am
One
Big
A$$
Mistake
America
Just sayin’! Damn Skippy, Barry is SCARY, and married to FUGLY!
Never trust a man who marries a FUGLY woman 
TnGelding
August 11th, 2009
8:47 am
mike
August 11th, 2009
8:33 am
Be sure and go to the CNBC report link I provided.
Gandalf, the Wise
August 11th, 2009
8:48 am
TnG
test successful
Gandalf, the Wise
August 11th, 2009
8:49 am
No way I would go to CNBC it’s full of disinformation and lies!
Northern Songs, Ltd.
August 11th, 2009
8:50 am
mike: first, i’m appalled – appalled i tell ya – that you would choose to use a Fab Four lyric to buttress your right side of the aisle argument.
but really, don’t you have it a little backward? i thought the gop was supposed to the “big tent” party. instead, you (and i mean the generic you) throw out there such bastions of tolerance and respect as limbaugh and coulter. then you back that up with the whole “i got mine (and i want more – cut my taxes), the rest of you can just f*** off” atitude. it’s just stunning in it’s coldness. apparently it’s ok that 47 million ( or 40M, or 15M, or one) people have no access to reasonably priced health care. it’s ok your insurance co. can cut you off at any time, just because. it’s ok that insurance bureaucrats decide who gets treated and who doesn’t. it’s ok to lie about the government coming “to get granny”, or your guns, or your precious tak radio, and on and on. that’s why the gop can’t, and won’t, make any headway.
Gandalf, the Wise
August 11th, 2009
8:50 am
Mrs. G, I consider you old folk! Practice what you preach, please!
USinUK
August 11th, 2009
8:50 am
SD –
“Not surprisingly, as PrezBO’s approval numbers fall, America’s economic indicators improve”
you’ve got that backwards … as economic indicators improve, Obama’s improve as well …
stands for decibels
August 11th, 2009
8:51 am
baaahahahaha … coming from the team that’s cheering “Palin/Mary Cheney 2012″ that’s funny …
Reminds me–something so funny from downstairs, from someone calling itself “Palin2012″, it needed to be pasted up here:
All you Obamacare supporters are forgetting one simple fact: Hawking would not be allowed healthcare to keep him alive under Obama’s system! Case in point: Hitler introduced the same thing in the 30s. Yes, hitler, the same person who EUTHANIZED MILLIONS OF HANDICAPPED PEOPLE!
USinUK
August 11th, 2009
8:51 am
GtG –
you know the sad thing, you had both me and Gale in here defending you the other day …
… if you continue like this, you’re going to make me regret that decision.
either learn how to play nice in the sandbox or go find another playground. you’ve grown tiresome.
USinUK
August 11th, 2009
8:53 am
dB –
re: your 8:51 … I’m sure that braintrust gathered that from the same Liberty U “lawyer” website, so you KNOW it’s accurate!!!
Gandalf, the Wise
August 11th, 2009
8:54 am
Coutler and Rush merely point out the stupidity,hypocrisy and evil of the liberal mind. Can’t blame ‘em for trying to stamp out stupidity, hypocrisy or evil can you? Dumb @$$ Liberal, and by Dumb @$$ liberal, I mena you Northern Songbird!
One
Big
A$$
Mistake
America
TnGelding
August 11th, 2009
8:54 am
Gandalf, the Wise
August 11th, 2009
8:49 am
Well this CNBC lie is well worth studying if you want to understand what really happened during the Bush administration that led to the economic crisis of 2007-2009.
Master of Ceremonies
August 11th, 2009
8:54 am
Nice article TN. Very revealing how Bush and Company were able to keep things under control and deal with not only the 9/11 itself but its followup the Financial 9/11 fallout.
Yes mistakes were made, however, these couldnt have been anticipated due to uncharted territory. All in all I would say the govt handled it as best they could. Now if we can just prevent Obobo from intentionally treating us to his version of a 9/11 fiasco we may be ok.
Finn McCool
August 11th, 2009
8:55 am
The “death panels” are already here
Sorry, Sarah Palin — rationing of care? Private companies are already doing it, with sometimes fatal results
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/08/11/denial_of_care/
Gandalf, the Wise
August 11th, 2009
8:55 am
One
Big
A$$
Mistake
America
Hey EXPAT? Why are you speakin’ for Gale?
mike
August 11th, 2009
8:57 am
USinUK –
“baaahahahaha … coming from the team that’s cheering “Palin/Mary Cheney 2012″ that’s funny ”
Actually, polls show quite the contrary. Palin’s viabilty as a candidate for President has dwindled and few are talking about Mary Cheney at all.
It would be great if the left continues to believe that the most extreme voices in the party represent the mainstream. The more that you do so, the less blindsided you will be. The hardcore partisans on the right followed your same script and look where it got them.
Brad Steel
August 11th, 2009
8:57 am
Gandalf, you so funny n’ clever.