OpinionTrending Commentary

Dems Gain the Voter ID Edge, Again

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The pendulum in the war between liberals and conservatives continues to swing with Democrats regaining the voter ID edge in the aftermath of the 2012 election.  According to Mike Flynn of Breitbart, he wrote today that this shouldn’t be a surprise.

new survey by Gallup shows Democrats regaining their edge in party identification over the GOP. In 2012, 47% of Americans identified as Democrat or lean-Democrat. 42% identified as GOP or lean-GOP. In 2011, the two parties were even, with each claiming 45% of Americans. In 2008, however, Democrats held a 12-point edge in voter identification.

The results shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, given the Democrat victories in November. The edge, however, came from Independents leaning more toward the Democrats than the GOP. In 2011, more Independents leaned toward the GOP. 18% of Americans identified as Independent, lean-GOP against 14% who were Independent, lean-Dem. In 2012, those numbers flipped, with 16% of Independents leaning Dem and 14% leaning GOP.

These numbers can change.  Public opinion is shiftable sand; therefore, there are no permanent victories in politics.  However, another interesting find relates to the Tea Party.  While some thought the movement was dead last summer, those rumors were dispelled with the primary – and general election – wins of  Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).  However, now only 8% of likely voters identify themselves as Tea Partiers.

Paul Bedard wrote in The Washington Examiner on January 7 that:

 Some 30 percent have a favorable view of the Tea Party, down from 51 perent in 2009.

56 percent said it has become less influential.

From Rasmussen:

Views of the Tea Party movement are at their lowest point ever, with voters for the first time evenly divided when asked to match the views of the average Tea Party member against those of the average member of Congress. Only eight percent (8%) now say they are members of the Tea Party, down from a high of 24% in April 2010 just after passage of the national health care law.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that only 30% of Likely U.S. Voters now have a favorable opinion of the Tea Party. Half (49%) of voters have an unfavorable view of the movement. Twenty-one percent (21%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

In April 2009 when the Tea Party protests against President Obama’s spending policies first erupted, 51% of Americans held a favorable opinion of the movement. However, just 35% felt that way by last July.

Only 34% of voters now believe the Tea Party movement is good for the country, down from 49% in April 2011. Slightly more (40%) think the Tea Party is bad for the country, while 17% say neither.

A majority (56%) of voters agrees that the Tea Party movement has become less influential over the past year. Just 21% feel it has become more influential, although even more (23%) are not sure.

So, will the next discussion, on a long list of subjects, amongst conservatives be concerned with the Tea Party, and their influence within the party? Are they responsible for the country’s shift back to left?  Stay tuned.

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Matt Vespa

I'm a staunch Republican and a politics junkie who was recently the Executive Director for the Dauphin County Republican Committee in Harrisburg. Before that, I interned with the Republican Party of Pennsylvania in the summer of 2011 and Mary Pat Christie, First Lady of NJ, within the Office of the Governor of NJ in 2010. I was responsible for updating his personal contact list. My first political internship was with Tom Kean Jr's. U.S. Senate campaign in 2006.

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One Comment

  1. An ‘undefinded mission’ is a failed mission. One only with ‘specific’ purpose can be successful. Generalities are like pipe dreams & go up in smoke. This is true, not only as individuals, but Nations…

    WHAT EXACTLY do YOU want? SPECIFICALLY WHAT do you mean by “take our governmnt back? These are common statements we (inc. me) use regularly. If we can’t decide on WHAT, How do we plan to reach the goals?

    The Tea Part(ies) have many good, smart & willing individuals that are capable of leading the conservaties. Unfortunately, ‘they’ are as fractured by egos as the GOP. When UNITED, this is an undeniable force to be reckoned with. Unless those still associated with the Tea Party can convince your local leader to meet with others from across the Country & DEFINE THE MISSION, We will keep fading from revalence. Many who (were) members & others cannot give definition of the tea party…therefore, cannot have an opinion for or against the Tea Party.

    All groups/organizations are comprised of individuals. Individually, we must first decide & define what it is we want & then act to persuade others. All successful missions start with ideas followed by planning. As a united ‘team’ we can achive wonders.

    Want your I.D. back…then roll up you sleeves & go to work…2010 proved we know how!!

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