Gallup Finds Fewer Americans Identify Themselves As Democrats
EmailABC News' Amy Walter reports: A Gallup analysis of interviews of more than 350,000 Americans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia finds that fewer people defined themselves as Democrats in 2010 than did in 2008.
In fact, notes Gallup “every state and the District of Columbia had fewer residents identifying as Democrats, or identifying as independents but leaning Democratic, in 2010 than in 2008.” States carried by Barack Obama in 2008, including New Hampshire, Maine, Wisconsin, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, and Nevada, saw some of the most significant shifts away from Democratic identification. Back in 2008, for example, Democrats had an 18-point lead in party affiliation in Wisconsin. By the end of 2010, however, that lead had shrunk to 2.6 percent.
In 2008 there were only seven states (Alabama, Kansas, Nebraska, Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah) where the number of people who identified themselves as Republicans outnumbered those who identified themselves as Democrats. By the end of 2010 that had tripled to twenty-two states.
But, as Gallup notes, “the Democratic losses have not led to major gains in Republican affiliation.” In other words, even as they are no longer identifying themselves as Democrats, Americans aren’t flocking in droves toward Republicans either. Still, party identification doesn’t always translate into votes. For example, in West Virginia, self-identified Democrats outnumber self-identified Republicans by 47.6 to 37.9 percent. A Democratic presidential candidate hasn’t won West Virginia since 1996.
Ultimately, it means that the Electoral College map looks much more dynamic today than it did at the end of 2008 or even 2009.
These results are based on Gallup Daily tracking. Instead of reporting the number of Americans who identify as independents, Gallup asks those respondents whether they “leaned” more toward Democrats or Republicans. The reason for this, notes Gallup, is that it “allows for a better comparison of party strength across states, given that the percentage of independents varies widely — from a low of 28% in Kentucky in 2010 to a high of 58% in Rhode Island. Many of the states with higher proportions of independents are dominated electorally by one party, so leaned party identification gives a better sense of the true political orientation of each state.”
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Give it a few months and take another poll…with the path of destruction to the poor and middle class set forth by the GOP and the Tea Party, I’d say the tide will turn like a tsunami.
Posted by: catsrboss | February 21, 2011, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm
Obama has pulled a miracle…for Republicans!
One can only imagine what Obama can do for Republicans with two more years left for his radical leftist policies!
Posted by: Bob | February 21, 2011, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm
Isn’t it just beyond belief that despite the Dems having had control of Congress for 4 years, and with Obama as President and the Dems with a two-year long near-supermajority in Congress, that some are blaming the brand-new Republican majority in the House and the Tea Party for our economic woes? Some are clearly in denial – the Dems got voted out of the House last November in a near-record landslide BECAUSE few voters believe that the Dems liberal policies have had any positive impacts whatsoever.
Posted by: abc411 | February 21, 2011, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
Got to love how some Dems still hold on to the lost dream. I still remember them saying they could and would not lose the house in 2010. Yet they did and by a historical vote with the largest turn over in 70 years. The majority of people just do not buy into uncontrolled spending and bail outs like we have had with this President and the first two years of Dem controlled congress.
Posted by: Marty | February 21, 2011, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm
This is great news and not suprising. HEHAW, HEHAW, HEHAW.
Posted by: billy bob | February 21, 2011, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
To define yourself as a Democrat today, means you have to be willing to be led around on a leash, and told what to do.
Does any American really want to allow that?
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | February 21, 2011, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
Wait until 2012. Unless a democrat party is established, the real democrats will continue to switch to Republican. The landslide has continued to this day.
Thanks Obama for showing us the true nature of your party (marxist/communist/progressive). Move if you don’t like freedom.
Posted by: MotherRedDog | February 21, 2011, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me! As the Who sang, “I won’t be fooled again!”
Posted by: Voice_Reason | February 21, 2011, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
Go ahead, shut the government down. Then we’ll take another poll.
Posted by: secondlook | February 21, 2011, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
Nah, not shut the government down, just BUST the unions!
To finally get rid of crooked politics getting funded by people who are forced to pay for it in the form of dues.
Sounds like Wisconsin is in fact going to bust the union stranglehold they have there. Good on Wisconsin!
Posted by: Dale | February 21, 2011, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
Seems more and more people are becoming disgusted with what the liberals have become, the way they legislate, the way they preside over the country.
Question is, what is the straw that broke the camels back? Passing so we know what’s in it? The size of the hole 0bama dug us into? The un-Constitutional 0bamacare? The back room passing of it? Acorn? PP? Their desire to abolish the 2nd Amendment? Their slanted media? Their rhetoric? Janet Napolitano calling retired vets ‘terrorists’? Quite a list, and I’m sure it could go on and on.
Here’s a hint to any future democrats who run for office, think small. As in small government. We the people don’t need nor want a nanny state. And unions are a relic.
Posted by: Kate | February 21, 2011, 6:01 pm 6:01 pm
I believe your wrong on this. I know a bunch people that used to be Wealthy Republicans with a new car every two years and hired lawn care along with going out to eat and investing in the stock market on a regular basis.
They are far from stupid people.
They are now hoping to find something different than the Republican party to represent them and they are looking at the Democrats in a very serious way.
You are among those that follow the blind and misinformed who get there news from people that have lost touch with what people need and want.
You should look at our history… actually read it. The republican party is not American in any way.
Can you recite the Pledge of Allegiance?
Posted by: Traveledman | February 21, 2011, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
I used to be a Republican.
Posted by: Martin | February 21, 2011, 7:20 pm 7:20 pm
“The republican party is not American in any way.”
You lose making such an absurd statement as that. If you honestly feel that way, you should seek life elsewhere. America is not for you.
Posted by: Kate | February 21, 2011, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm
I’m an Independent – I vote for whoever shares my ideals and I think will do the best job. That being said, I do NOT think that Government should be trying to take care of everyone’s wants or needs. Everyone seems to have their hand out looking for something. I get tired of hearing about entitlements and “rights” that are not specifically allowed in the United States Constitution. And I most certainly have had enough with the endless taxes & fees for literally thousands of programs across the Country that the Government really has no business being a part of. Government spending is out of control, and it’s got to get back under control.
Posted by: IronManCC | February 21, 2011, 9:50 pm 9:50 pm
By November 2012 even fewer will identify themselves as Democrtat or leaning Democrat. And it will not be just Obama’s fault.
Posted by: kottaras | February 21, 2011, 11:05 pm 11:05 pm
I think we folks are sick to death of Republicans or Democrats. The Republicans are already in self destruct mode; so democrat affiliation will increase over the year. However, Independent voters will continue to increase at greater levels because we are so ashamed of our politicians and do not want to be categorized in either major party. We want the freedom to vote for individuals and their respective stand on issues – not for a particular party.
Posted by: pwmcgill | February 21, 2011, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm
people choose the less evil or the most
good – weather they are Republican or De
moctats or Independents People choose who they want to govern the country and
no matter how those poor fanatics or fans may be dreaming or no matter how
inmature they behave the truth is that
every 4 or 8 years there is a change and
the change is good for the country so we
have to see if will happen in 2012 or on 2016 Time will tell mean while let’s
wait for our turns in civilized manner.
Posted by: fred conti | February 21, 2011, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm
Lets just pass it and then we’ll see whats in it?????
Posted by: Bob Cap | February 22, 2011, 12:10 am 12:10 am
We the people don’t need nor want a nanny state. And unions are a relic.
Posted by: Kate | Feb 21, 2011 6:01:05 PM
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No nanny state eh? So then you would agree that govt should keep it’s nose out of the uterus of private citizens and let them make the right, excuse me, CORRECT decision for themselves? I thought so.
Unions a relic? So who do you want teaching the future of America? Good hardworking qualified teachers who make a decent living wage with good benefits or whatever is left over to fill the seats? Because that is what you get when you bust the union, lower the pay, and destroy the benefits. But that’s what republican lawmakers want isn’t it? More stupid people they can brainwash with their gods, guns, and gay fiasco to keep themselves in power.
Posted by: dk | February 22, 2011, 1:47 am 1:47 am
The US economy took the biggest hit since the Great Depression, beginning in late 2007.
Even though virtually all major economists predicted a very long recovery by the end of 2008, Americans want to blame someone for it not turning around and who was in power? The Democrats. That’s why things the Dems dropped. Just like the GOP dropped from 2006-8.
Posted by: The_Mick | February 22, 2011, 2:41 am 2:41 am
Apparently the right wingers didn’t read the entire article..especially
“Americans aren’t flocking in droves toward Republicans either.”
This ‘poll’ just proves this country is fed up with both parties, and if you honestly think the GOP will come out smelling like roses after flip flopping on border security, cutting the EPA and killing regulation..you are simply in denial.
Posted by: D | February 22, 2011, 2:55 am 2:55 am
ELOC…..no matter how many times you ask it, and no matter how many times you put your sophomoric capitalization on the CON, I will always prefer to be identified as a CONservative rather than as a liberal. I will choose self reliance and pride over a government run life any day of the year. I know that I can trust myself, my family, and my friends, and God with any problems that I face. And has been shown by this administration, I certainly cannot trust certain portions of the government. A friend of mine (a judge in district court) had been a life long Democrat. He even had a bumper sticker that read, “Proud to be a Democrat”. Not long ago, he took a magic marker and inserted one word in front of the slogan: “Too”. Now his bumper sticker reads, “Too Proud to be a Democrat”…..he’s an old guy, and his heart’s been broken by the party he once was proud of…the “Entitlement” and the “Gimme” party. So yeah….contrary to your dreams, there are many of us that will happily choose the title CONservative over gimme. Every day.
Posted by: ncpilot15 | February 22, 2011, 6:10 am 6:10 am
A Gallup poll in August 2010 showed 40% of Americans identify themselves as conservative and only 20% identify themselves as liberal.
Why do you think Obama is in massive PR mode trying to hide his liberal views and pretend he’s a ‘centrist’?
Posted by: Joe White | February 22, 2011, 7:57 am 7:57 am
What people like DK fail to realize is there are teachers who don’t want to be part of the union.
They hate being forced to pay union dues, and see that money given to candidates or the dnc.
Money has corrupted education and nobody dare touch it, or suffer the dnc lie, doom and gloom campaign.
Posted by: Kate | February 22, 2011, 8:46 am 8:46 am
The old conservative Democratic Party has been stolen by radical progressives. No one with a bit of sense would join this new party of socialism. America was born in freedom and a chance to make something of yourself. Only the weak in the mind want to be led around by the nose and told what to do. Dems are killing their own party.
Posted by: Freedom | February 22, 2011, 10:15 am 10:15 am
HEHAW, HEHAW, HEHAW—The war cry of liberal progressive democrats.
Posted by: billy bob | February 22, 2011, 10:52 am 10:52 am
The Democratic Party has been stolen by progressive radicals & Unions that want socialism. People have had enough, there is no Democratic Party as we used to know it, it’s been hijacked.
Posted by: Freedom | February 22, 2011, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
traveledman, care to elaborate on how the republicans are in no way american…and by extension, i suppose the democrats are? both of the parties are full of baloney…they’re both controlled by special interests and neither group of special interests is concerned with anyone or anything but their own interests. unions don’t give a rip about anyone or anything but their members…big business doesn’t give a rip about anyone or anything other than profits and shareholders. quit being a partisan fool…both parties have sold us up a river and the longer people side with one as the savior against the other as the devil we’ll continue our downward slide. get real…i’m so tired of democrats’ and republicans b.s. self-righteousness…both parties (and their dogmatic members) are detrimental to our country’s well-being.
Posted by: grumpopolis | February 22, 2011, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
DK, explain this to me…democrats say republicans are the party of the rich…and also the party of the uneducated redneck but that the democrats are the party of the educated and the poor. we know in this country that there is a direct correlation between education and income. so, which is it…which is the the party of the rich (and educated by definition) and which is the party of the uneducated (and poor)? you can’t have it both ways…or, is it possible, that there are rich and poor republicans, educated and uneducated republicans, rich and poor democrats, educated and uneducated democrats? or do we necessarily have to be a society divided into socio-economic classes defined by party affiliation?
Posted by: grumpopolis | February 22, 2011, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm
DK–”No nanny state eh? So then you would agree that govt should keep it’s nose out of the uterus of private citizens and let them make the right, excuse me, CORRECT decision for themselves? I thought so.”– Only if you will agree that the government has no right to arrest anyone for mugging, beating, or raping another human being.. IT NOT ABOUT CHOICE its about whether or not its the MURDER of another living being that makes it wrong… EVERYTHING is a matter of choice.. you CHOOSE to rob a bank, you choose to mug an old lady.. and yes, if the chocie only affect you, then the government has no business regulating it in most cases, but this choice does not just affect the woman.. it affects another living human being.. so its NOT the same..no matter how much you want it to be…for the sake of someone’s convenience..
“Unions a relic? So who do you want teaching the future of America? Good hardworking qualified teachers who make a decent living wage with good benefits or whatever is left over to fill the seats? Because that is what you get when you bust the union, lower the pay, and destroy the benefits. But that’s what republican lawmakers want isn’t it? More stupid people they can brainwash with their gods, guns, and gay fiasco to keep themselves in power.” The only brainwashing is what the progressives are doing to teach the American peiople that they are NOT self sufficient..that the NEED big government to save them from themselves.. And yes I do want qualified teachers to teach our children.. But we are paying UNION wages and benefits and in return getting one of the worst educational systems in the developed world.. What you get when you bust the union is salvation from having your budget busted by public servants who make 30% above the private sector AND scream whne the tax payers balk at having to pay ALL of their pension and healthcare as well… IF the unionized teachereds are so good in WI, then why do over 30% of them send their own kids to PRIVATE schools instead of the schools they teach in? Whats worse, isn’t it funny that so many can afford to send their kids to private schools while the taxpayers who pay their salaries are stuck with placing thier kids in the FAILING public schools that the union teacher are getting paid to teach at.. Sorry, my friend… but you better read the writing on the wall.. the unions can look for sympathy from the American people all they want to, but they are NOT going to find it.. and you did it to yourselves…
Posted by: arkie vet | February 22, 2011, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
What people like DK fail to realize is there are teachers who don’t want to be part of the union.
They hate being forced to pay union dues, and see that money given to candidates or the dnc.
Money has corrupted education and nobody dare touch it, or suffer the dnc lie, doom and gloom campaign.
Posted by: Kate | Feb 22, 2011 8:46:32 AM
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Then go teach in the private sector. Whoever said any of them had to teach in public schoold or join the union? A weak argument at best.
And face it all you righties, if those unions gave their money to Republicans none of you would be badmouthing the system right now because your wonderful union busting candidates wouldn’t be saying a peep. It’s all about politics.
Posted by: dk | February 23, 2011, 2:30 am 2:30 am
“The only brainwashing is what the progressives are doing to teach the American peiople that they are NOT self sufficient..that the NEED big government to save them from themselves…
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oh yes, here we go again with the liberals and democrats don’t work, or pay taxes, and live with their hand out speech…………blah blah blah blah blah……can you guys ever come up with an argument of your own? The parrotting of the same old garbage gets quite old.
Posted by: dk | February 23, 2011, 2:33 am 2:33 am
How do I imitate a Republican? Should I put my nose in the air, and talk about how those less fortunate should just shut up, and go away, because MY people say everything is okay. Should I tune into Fox News to get pointers on arrogance from Krauthamer, and Dennis Miller? Can I just have 1 of their paychecks, so I can pay off everything I own, and retire, while looking down my nose at the peons.
Posted by: parma hts gary | February 24, 2011, 7:15 am 7:15 am