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Political Climate for 2010 Not as Favorable to Democrats
Gallup ^ | November 4, 2009 | Jeffrey M. Jones

Posted on 11/04/2009 9:02:21 PM PST by Milhous

PRINCETON, NJ -- The 2010 election cycle begins in a political climate that is shaping up to be not as favorable to the Democratic Party as the 2006 and 2008 elections were. Having capitalized on broad public discontent with the course of the nation in general and the Republican Party in particular to win control of the White House and both houses of Congress, the party faces the 2010 midterm elections trying to preserve its recent gains.

Gallup's generic congressional ballot provides a summary measure of current voting intentions for Congress. This currently suggests the 2010 midterm elections could be highly competitive, and possibly a strong Republican year if usual turnout patterns prevail.

Gallup regularly tracks several measures that give an indication of the political climate and can provide insight into the reasons for Americans' current congressional voting intentions. Although Democrats retain a significant advantage in party affiliation, that advantage has dwindled over the course of this year. Also, there are ominous signs for the majority party in terms of near-record-low congressional job approval and continuing low national satisfaction ratings.

Presidential Job Approval. It is well-documented that the president's party is usually vulnerable to losing congressional seats in midterm elections, though there have been exceptions such as in the 1998 and 2002 elections. Unpopular presidents tend to suffer greater losses, and popular presidents are able to minimize these or even help achieve gains. George W. Bush experienced both outcomes, with Republican gains in 2002 when he was popular and heavy Republican losses in 2006 when he was not.

Presidential Job Approval and U.S. House Seat Changes, Midterm Elections, 1946-2006

(Excerpt) Read more at gallup.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2009polls; 2010; 2010midterms; bhojobapproval; election; elections; gopcomeback; midterm; teapartyrebellion

1 posted on 11/04/2009 9:02:22 PM PST by Milhous
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To: Milhous

We need about a 40 seat switch to regain control of the house. It’s certainly possible and backed up historically to an extent.

The message we need to put out is that Obama’s unprecedented astronomical deficits have not returned us to an economy that even resembles 2006 right before Democrats took Congress. It’s not just about Obama, it’s about Pelosi. That’s what we need to sell.


2 posted on 11/04/2009 9:11:06 PM PST by lmr (God punishes Conservatives by making them argue with fools.)
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To: Milhous

amazing that Bill Clinton ever had a 66% approval rating. Makes you wonder about the country.


3 posted on 11/04/2009 9:11:48 PM PST by jeltz25
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To: Milhous
I will not go down that “California Road to Prosperity" nor will I allow politics the “Chicago Way”.
4 posted on 11/04/2009 9:21:08 PM PST by steveab (When was the last time someone tried to sell you a CO2 induced climate control system for your home?)
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To: lmr

Call it The Obama Recession -— and make it stick.


5 posted on 11/04/2009 9:30:53 PM PST by DontTreadOnMe2009 (So stop treading on me already!)
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To: jeltz25

“amazing that Bill Clinton ever had a 66% approval rating. Makes you wonder about the country.”

It was only after he had a Republican/conservative congress and he went along for the ride to prosperity...


6 posted on 11/04/2009 9:40:30 PM PST by Wpin ("Stop the government...I want to get off")
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To: jeltz25

It was the economy. Wall Street, high tech and service jobs were in full demand as this sector of the economy took over manufacturing. If people have jobs, their attention is no longer on the politicians and they are less likely to oppose programs to help the poor. Obama and the Dems do not seem to understand that Americans who barely are paying their bills and holding onto their jobs are not willing to pay higher taxes to pay for his neighbor who cannot afford health insurance. It is basic human nature to take care if ones family first before sharing with others. This principle also applies to Americans who believe in an American empire (foreign aid and overseas military adventurism). Americans want an American First domestic and foreign policy. US taxpayers money is needed to create and secure jobs for Americans and if necessary take care of domestic problems before we spend it on foreignors.


7 posted on 11/04/2009 9:43:12 PM PST by Fee (Peace, prosperity, jobs and common sense)
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To: Milhous
2010

AMERICA'S ELECTION


8 posted on 11/04/2009 9:44:38 PM PST by Baynative (With Obama, America is celebrating it's acceptance of mediocrity.)
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To: Milhous

GEE! YA THINK?


9 posted on 11/04/2009 9:58:32 PM PST by imahawk (Life is tough.It's tougher when you're stupid.)
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To: Milhous

It promises to be a BLOODBATH!!

BUT — if all we get for GOP candidates are just more of the same RINOS we’ve suffered with for decades, what have we gained??

I’d urge EVERYONE who can to become involved in the local GOP orginazations to head off the sort of idiocy just seen in the NY 23rd race. We MUST have principled and sincerely conservative candidates and the only way to assure that is to be involved in the process at the grassroots. The alternative is to leave the candidate selection process to the same muckity mucks who have been calling the shots for too long.

Please DO NOT misunderstand my reasons for producing these two videos. If folks want to gather together to let “them” know that “we,” like Howard Beal in “Network” are “…mad as hell and not going to take it any more…,” it’s STILL – for the time being anyway – a relatively free country so we can do that.

All I’m saying here is that, especially in tough economic times, there are more EFFICIENT and EFFECTIVE ways to expend our FINITE RESOURCES.

It’s not as much fun as sweating on the Mall but there IS a better – and less costly — way to scare hell out of “them” — and you won’t even have to leave home.

ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL, PART 1: (UNDER 8 MINUTES)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk1bGBY3BcE

ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL, PART 2: (UNDER 8 MINUTES)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ylFTOObbF0


10 posted on 11/04/2009 10:09:38 PM PST by Dick Bachert (THE 2010 ELECTIONS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT IN OUR LIFETIMES! BE THERE!!!)
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To: Milhous

The MSM, and too many other people, still see it as a battle between “D” v.s. “R”, instead of the much more accurate political battle between “Conservatism” v.s. “Non-Conservatism”!


11 posted on 11/04/2009 10:32:50 PM PST by johnthebaptistmoore (If leftist legislation that's already in place really can't be ended by non-leftists, then what?)
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To: DontTreadOnMe2009

We call it the Obama Depression. Drives my mom crazy.


12 posted on 11/04/2009 11:13:34 PM PST by Marie2 (The second mouse gets the cheese.)
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To: Marie2
We call it the Obama Depression. Drives my mom crazy.

Everyone needs to call it THE OBAMA DEPRESSION.

Great for a bumper sticker "End the Obama Depression"

13 posted on 11/04/2009 11:42:20 PM PST by Irish Eyes
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To: jeltz25
amazing that Bill Clinton ever had a 66% approval rating. Makes you wonder about the country.

Only because the economy was in an (artificial) up-cycle and he did nothing more controversial than bicycle helmets.

14 posted on 11/04/2009 11:46:46 PM PST by hsalaw
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To: Dick Bachert

“...become involved...”

The magic words, Dick. When I was “involved” in local politics, conservatives would be AWOL at the council and county meetings. But a smattering of leftist kooks always managed to show up. And these few Marxists were able to cower the rubber-knee council members and get their way on some lunatic ordinance. Then the next day conservatives would be muttering “How the hell did that pass?”

Duh!


15 posted on 11/05/2009 5:46:02 AM PST by sergeantdave (obuma is the anti-Lincoln, trying to re-establish slavery)
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To: Dick Bachert; johnthebaptistmoore; sergeantdave
When an acquaintance of mine successfully ran for a seat on the local hospital board the powers that be scrutinized her as though she were running for POTUS. For good reason. It turned out that the incumbent board turned a blind eye while the chairman embezzled.

My acquaintance is done with politics now. Her hide's just not thick enough.

My own political evolution from conservatism to libertarianism still surprises me. "Give me liberty or give me death!"

The table in this story grabbed my attention. Adding a column "seats held before midterm" for might offer additional insight.
16 posted on 11/05/2009 7:09:49 AM PST by Milhous (Confusion to our enemies.)
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