Democrat Pollster Penn: Generic ballot numbers for GOP and Democrats are even

The Knoxville News-Sentinel/ AP ^ | July 29, 2002 | WILL LESTER

[GraniteStateConservative]

Pollster Mark Penn told DLC members that Democrats and Republicans are running roughly even in the race for Congress because the Democratic Party is fighting old stereotypes and needs to win over some key demographic groups.

Despite growing economic anxiety, Democrats haven't been able to capitalize, said Penn, who pointed to public suspicion that Democrats want to raise taxes.

Democrats should be aware that more voters now own stock, more are well educated, and many couples both have jobs and greater wealth, he said.

It's critical that the party aim for upscale suburban voters, and Hispanics moving up the career ladder, Penn said. And he said that any strategy that focuses on seniors who supported Franklin Roosevelt is out of date. Public suspicion that Republicans want to cut resources for Social Security and Medicare has dropped since the mid 1990s.

The economy and jobs are at the top of the issues people are concerned about, Penn said, adding that Democrats have work to do to convince the public that they are the best party to get the economy growing.

[eureka!]

Generic poll ping...

[Galtoid]

Tough road ahead for the socialists. They will ignore this guy's advice. Class warfare is all they have. Hillary got into the senate by virtue of class warfare, and she's not about to abandon that tack now.
I believe their BushBashFest the other day is largely reflective of the knowledge that this administration will attack Iraq before November. This is the REAL reason they're going around like chickens with their heads cut off. They know they've got to grab the political spotlight now while they can. Too bad their shenanigans will be completely overshadowed by the Iraq Invasion. Ha!

[CollegeRepublican]

Public suspicion that Republicans want to cut resources for Social Security and Medicare has dropped since the mid 1990s.

Sounds like we will be seeing more of these ads that say, "The Republicans want to steal your Grandmothers drug money and leave her for dead in the gutter" before November.

[Coop]

Any generic numbers showing a tie are good by me. I believe it was the Harris poll a few days ago showing likely voters favoring the GOP 48-40%. I found that surprising given the rough times with the corporate scandals/stock market.

[finnman69]

The more the RATS push raising taxes, their numbers will go south. As long as people feel nay pain from the stock market or the economy, the LAST thing they want to hear is taxes being raised. The RATS want taxes raised because they can't spend any money without raising taxes to pay for it. The smartest thing W did was raise taxes first. It cut the RATS of at their knees and therefore it is CRUCIAL he fights them off on this issue.

[eureka!]

[Re the Pubbies faring okay]'I found that surprising given the rough times with the corporate scandals/stock market.'

Me too--until one reflects on the polls that more blame Clinton than W for the state of the market/scandals. As to Congress, the sheeple care very little. Thus, methinks that these generics are the result of W (as a pubbie) proposing action instead of the 'Rats mantra of attack and blame. Encouraging nonetheless. Gotta get some work done--see ya around...

[Wphile]

More good polling news. If the GOP is even at this point and they and we come out with a good campaign and all guns running after Labor Day, we have a really good shot in November!

[TontoKowalski]

...said Penn, who pointed to public suspicion that Democrats want to raise taxes.

We have good reason to be suspicious. If the Dems say that our economy is going south because of the tax cuts, then it is logical to assume that their remedy would be to raise taxes.

The Republicans need to stress this in their campaign advertising..."Senator Harkin, you voted against the President's tax cut. Now working Iowans want to know why you want us to pay more taxes, especially during these troubling times."

[Wphile]

Absolutely. The Dems blame everything on the tax cut but refuse to offer any alternatives. We have to push them in the corner and make them say, "our solution is to raise taxes." That's not going to go well with the sheeple.

[Ancesthntr]

...because the Democratic Party is fighting old stereotypes...

Like, for instance, that they want to raise our taxes, take our guns, teach sex to second graders, leave our defenses weak, etc.

...and needs to win over some key demographic groups.

Like, for instance, people whose brains function properly. They've already locked up the congenitally stupid demographic.

Democrats should be aware that more voters now own stock, more are well educated, and many couples both have jobs and greater wealth, he said.

Greater wealth might not apply anymore, not after the Enron, Worldcom and Global Crossing fiascos, all of which have Democrapic fingerprints all over them. Democraps should also be aware that more voters (upwards of 80 million) now own guns, a fact that has eluded them for quite some time.

And he said that any strategy that focuses on seniors who supported Franklin Roosevelt is out of date.

Not if they can increase the voting from the cemetaries. Democraps seem to be very good at that.

[Miss Marple]

I believe you meant to say that the smartest thing he did was CUT taxes first.

And you are right...it was quite smart!

[mtngrl@vrwc]

Despite growing economic anxiety, Democrats haven't been able to capitalize, said Penn, who pointed to public suspicion that Democrats want to raise taxes.

Suspicion????? 'Rats always want to raise our taxes! It's the main thing they stand for...tax and spend!