Posted on 05/22/2009 7:22:18 PM PDT by jyro
Poll Shows Surge Under Obama in Voters Calling Themselves 'Independent' Conservatives are holding their own, while the ranks of independents have skyrocketed since November's presidential election, the latest Pew Research Center poll shows. The poll of 3,013 adults from March 31 to April 21 found that there had been "no consistent movement away from conservatism, nor a shift toward liberalism" since the election. Republican losses are slowing, the poll found, while Democrats have begun losing ground too. And independent and unaffiliated voters are approaching record highs. The implications for the president, Congress and the political parties in the next election could be profound. Among the results: Thirty-nine percent of adults now call themselves independent in Pew's poll of party identification and values. When it comes to all things Washington, independents are "more skittish than they were two years ago about expanding the social safety net and are reluctant backers of greater government involvement in the private sector," the poll said. People identifying themselves as Democrats have slipped from 39 percent in December to 33 percent now. People identifying themselves as Republicans have fallen from 26 percent to 22 percent, their lowest level in 25 years, according to Pew. However, among Republicans, 66 percent call themselves conservative, up from 60 percent in 2,000. Overall, independent voters lean Democratic. That is typical for the Pew poll, though it also shows conservatism is rising among unaffiliated voters: 33 percent say they are conservative, up from 28 percent in 2007 and 26 percent in 2005. "On an annual basis, the only previous year when independent identification has been this high was in 1992 when Ross Perot ran a popular independent candidacy," the Pew center said in releasing the results of the poll, which it has conducted since 1987.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I’ve been saying this is what the polls have been saying for a while. The Democrats haven’t been gaining. Less and less conservatives are identifying themselves as Republicans.
We're also getting close to SOME conservative (maybe not one really on the national radar yet) becoming the lightning rod for this reaction.
My dad used to say that in 1946, you couldn’t find anyone who identified himself as a NAZI in Germany.
But a few years earlier they were all crying Heil Hitler.
Also it shows that the number of Republicans identifying themselves as conservative even among those who call themselves Republicans is a clear majority.
Look at who is now the de facto Republican/conservative leadership:
Newt, Rush, Cheney, and perhaps a couple others.
Not a single sitting Senator or Congressman is even notable.
That’s absolutely pathetic.
I really am totally disgusted with the GOP.
As for Zer0 trajectory, he’s exceeded Jimmy Carter’s anti-Americanism after only four months in office.
I’m right there next to ya man, the last election was terrible, more than anything we need unity and leadership.
I still believe there are some that are democrats, but not socialists and not anti-American. Eventually some of the “blue dog” voters will wake up.......I hope.....but the GOP has to give them a real alternative message.
“the last election was terrible”
Because we ran an idiot and RINO.
I did not even bother to cast an absentee ballot.
Before anyone jumps on me for not voting, I was not at all concerned that Obozo could win my state of Tennessee.
Tennessee did not even vote for Goreon the home boy.
LS the question is who wants to be the lightening rod.
I won’t say that. Mike Pence, Jim Demint, Jeff Sessions, Richard Shelby, etc. I can name a lot of individuals in the party who are conservative leaders. They aren’t national leaders though. They really aren’t galvanizing individuals so it leaves the job to Newt, Rush, Cheney, governors like Palin, Sandford, and Perry to name a few. I’m disgusted with those like Romney who want to reinvent the party and move beyond Reagan and that quaint thing we call the constitution.
“Ive been saying this is what the polls have been saying for a while. The Democrats havent been gaining. Less and less conservatives are identifying themselves as Republicans.”
This sets the stage for Hillary to run, and win, as the candidate of the Women’s Party!! Go Hillary, GO!!
yep... just wait till Tuesday , when the Calif Supreme Court concludes that Prop 8 (marriage is only between an man and a woman ) decides that Prop 8 is null and void.. again..
we are reaching the breaking point, or more accurately the turning point..
and another 4 billion today to GM...
The original title of the article is “Poll Shows Surge Under Obama in Voters Calling Themselves ‘Independent’.” There are also paragraphs there...
Someone always is willing to be that lightning rod, for the reverse of the Spider-Man quip is true, “with great opprobrium comes great power.” I am (possibly) sensing in our local gatherings that we may be seeing at the House level a new 1994-type uprising in which average people (heck, such as myself), go and serve for a short time. Musicians, doctors, sports people, truck drivers. We’ll see.
(BTW, did you know in 1994, there were 5 doctors who ran, 2 of whom won?)
Nor do I think we'll get that far UNTIL the first polygamous marriages and marriages to one's dog, then finally, marriage to children occur.
Better doctors than lawyers... :-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.