Exclusive Poll: Fans of Congressional Gridlock Cheer the Election's Outcome

Nov. 23, 2010 -- As many Republicans favor political gridlock as oppose it, complicating the lives of leaders of the victorious party in this month's congressional elections.

While the phrase customarily is taken as a negative, this ABC News/Yahoo! News poll finds that Republican registered voters in fact divide evenly, 42-43 percent, on whether gridlock is a bad thing because it prevents good legislation from being passed -- or a good thing, because it blocks bad laws.

The split underscores many Republicans' skepticism of active government. But it may make it difficult for GOP leaders to push their own legislative agenda. And it raises questions about the durability of the party's appeal to independent registered voters, who favored Republicans by a record margin Nov. 2, but who see gridlock as a negative by a 2-1 margin, 57-28 percent.

Democratic registered voters even more broadly see gridlock as a negative, and among all registered voters combined it's viewed negatively by 56-31 percent, again nearly 2-1.

Whatever they think of it, most believe it's coming: This poll, produced for ABC and Yahoo! News by Langer Research Associates, finds that 81 percent of Americans overall think gridlock is "likely" to occur in the next Congress. Just over than a third say it's "very likely."

Click Here for PDF With Tables and Questionnaire

JOY -- Beyond Republicans, the November election has brought particular joy to gridlock fans. Among Americans who see gridlock as a good thing, 55 percent think the results of the election will move the country in the right direction. Among critics of gridlock, that dives to 22 percent.

The election outcome -- with major gains for the GOP in the House -- gets more positive than negative marks overall, albeit with a healthy degree of skepticism. Thirty-four percent of adults (especially Republicans, as well as gridlock fans) think the results will move the country in the right direction. Twenty-one percent think it will head the nation the wrong way.