by Mark Silva
Everyone's always looking for a level playing field.
It appears that the two major political parties have finally found one - with the public image of the Democratic and Republican parties pretty much on a par now.
And that's also below par, for both.
The share of Americans holding a favorable view of the Democratic Party has fallen to 41 percent, the Gallup Poll reports -- the lowest point in the 18 years that Gallup has been taking this temperature.
The favorable view of the Republican Party has risen to 42 percent, certainly no high, but significantly better than the GOP stood last year.
The Senate Republican office is quick to note what happened during the past year, when the Democratic Party's image slumped and the Republican Party's image rose: Healthcare reform was debated, passed and signed into law by President Barack Obama -- whose own job approval is below 50 again in the Gallup Poll: 49 percent in the average of the last three days' daily tracking surveys.
A few other things have happened out there, too. Most notably, unemployment has risen and taken a nagging hold at close to 10 percent, with more than 15 million Americans out of work - not a favorable political environment in which to be asking voters about the party in control of both the White House and Congress.
Gallup also found in recent surveys that just 49 percent of Americans say they want to reelect their own member of Congress - so there's another measure of a level playing field, for Republicans and Democrats alike. A lot of the anti-incumbent fervor that has surfaced in town halls and on the talk shows may be cutting both ways this year.
. Witness Arizona, where Sen. John McCain fears for his own party's nomination for reelection, and Florida, where a once-popular Republican governor, Charlie Crist, has stirred questions about perhaps running as an independent for the Senate because of a stiff intra-party challenge.
Gallup had last measured the images of the two parties late last summer. At that stage, the Democratic Party held an 11-point advantage over the GOP in favorable ratings.
What does this mean for the midterm elections?
Well, in 2006, prior to "the thumpin''' that the Democrats gave the Republicans in reclaimingg the House, the favorable rating of the Democratic Party surpassed that of the Republicans by 52 to 37 percent.
Now, the 41 percent favorable rating forf the Democratic Party stands five points lower than the party's previous low hit twice in 2005.
The Republican Party's image had reached its all-time low of 31 percent in December 1998, Gallup notes, just after the House voted to impeach President Bill Clinton. The GOP's image today represents a stronger footing than the 34 percent levels measured in 2008 and '09.
The latest findings come from a survey of 1,033 adults conducted March 26-28, with a possible margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points.
Comments
Maybe if Dems would act more like Dems and less like Replicans, the public would be able to tell the difference.
Posted by: ornery | April 8, 2010 6:44 PM
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Posted by: HHH | April 8, 2010 7:17 PM
If Republicans were going to make all of these massive gains this fall like they claim they are, they'd be up on the Dems by at least 10% by now.
I've news for ya Repugs, you're still going to be where you belong after this coming November - the minority.
Posted by: HHH | April 8, 2010 7:25 PM
The Guy Who Stole All Our Money Now Wants to Steal Our Paycheck, Too
Ben Bernanke has funneled trillions of dollars worth of bailouts, guarantees and sweetheart deals to U.S. (and foreign) banks.
This money was pickpocketed from you and me, directly (through government spending) and indirectly (increasing debt costs, future inflation, etc).
Bernanke is now calling for tax increases and raising the possibility of reductions in entitlements such as Medicare and Social Security.
http://tinyurl.com/ydybtp7
Posted by: tim | April 8, 2010 8:50 PM
Speaking of the democratic base - it just might be increasing.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Nearly-half-of-US-households-apf-1105567323.html?x=0&.v=1
Freeloaders rejoice!
Posted by: Terry | April 8, 2010 9:32 PM
Selling out your countrymen is catching on big time in the swamp. From here on is censored...
Isn't free speech great?
Welcome to the third world media America, where government controlled media tells you what you need to know.
Don't watch Fox news, Don't watch Fox news, Don't watch Fox news, Don't watch Fox news, Don't watch Fox news, Don't watch Fox news, Glen Beck Bad, Glen Beck Bad,Glen Beck Bad,Glen Beck Bad,Glen Beck Bad,
Stupid is as stupid does. That's you liberal numbskulls.
Posted by: Free to Watch Liberals Meltdown | April 9, 2010 5:14 AM
In 2000 the Democrats had more than a 10% lead, and lost seats in the House and Senate.
In 2004, the Democrats had a 10% lead, and lost seats in the House and Senate.
In 2006, the Democrats had a much smaller lead, and took control of the House and Senate.
What does this mean?
It means that polls do not necessarily represent VOTERS.
It also means only that polls are for suckers, and only fools take them seriously this far out from an election.
Posted by: Dan C | April 9, 2010 8:10 AM
Isn't it great to be spoon-fed by Corporate media, the forcing of their agenda down our throats, paid for by our hard-earned premiums gouged, or by their gas-gouging, or by our "unproven" pharmaceuticals dispensed. or how about those $500 a-seat-sky-boxes, being subsidized by we, the taxpayers, so Corporate America can further devise schemes to strip us of the little money we still have. Then, we have that paragon of capitalism, Toyota, peddling killer products, hiding deaths, American's deaths, or anywhere else in the world, so they can further their market share and their bottom line. What is their response, when the spotlight hits them, give away more killer vehicles at rock-bottom prices. America will not mind, if we distract them from our criminal behavior, their reasoning is, we are giving them these killer vehicles at bargain-baesment prices !! We have business to attend to, we have products to move, forget the funerals !! Yeah, Corporate America is such a excellent example of the capitalist culture, just as the mine-owners are proving to be, at the moment !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | April 9, 2010 9:00 AM
Seeing how more people today are independent it is not surprising to see the two major political parties tied in popularity. Polls like this coming up to a new election that has turned into something of importance mean little. The races have turned to the local level and in most cases the conservative is beating the liberal candidates with double-digit leads. And as more information comes out about the true cost of the healthcare spending bill that was passed by the Liberals it would seem that they really do not have anything they can point at and say look what I did. Because if they campaign on the passage of that tax-and-spend bill they will surely lose that is as long as you're not a candidate from San Francisco.
Posted by: Crooks_In_DC | April 9, 2010 9:32 AM