Anti-Incumbent Sentiment At Record Levels, Economy No. 1 Issue In 2010 (POLL)

Anti-incumbency sentiment is at unprecedented levels, according to a recent USA Today-Gallup survey, spelling trouble for the Democratic majority in Congress and foreshadowing a reversal of the Congressional balance of power in this November's mid-term elections.

A worrisome indicator for Congressional Democrats: Only 28 percent of all respondents said they believed most members of Congress deserved to be re-elected. That represents a new nadir for Congressional incumbents; the previous low was 29 percent in October of 1992.

In context, in both 1994 and 2006 --when Congressional majorities were overturned-- around 40 percent of all voters believed most members of Congress deserved to be re-elected. When Republicans retained their majorities in 1998 and 2002, that indicator held strong at 55 percent or higher.

An equally dismaying statistic for Congressional incumbents, 65 percent of all respondents believe most members of Congress do not deserve to be re-elected, the highest that indicator has ever been in Gallup history, suggesting record levels of disillusionment with Congress.

Further underscoring the extent of anti-incumbency sentiment, only 49 percent of Gallup respondents believed their own Congressional members deserved to be re-elected, another record-low on the brink of a mid-term election.

The state of the economy appears to be the primary issue on voters' minds. 57 percent of all poll respondents said the economy would be an "extremely important" voting determinant come November. Health care, unemployment and the federal budget deficit were all trumped in importance by the state of the economy as a whole.

This year's polling results differ markedly from those in 2006, the year of the last mid-term election, when Iraq, terrorism and other international concerns were far more salient.

The USA-Today Gallup poll included 968 registered voters and took place from March 26-28, with a margin of error of four percentage points.

Comments

[NoFactsJustTruth]

10:25 PM on 04/10/2010

CONgress has a slight credibility problem, as in they have NONE.

Accepting 'bundled' contributions (BRIBES) from lobbyist middlemen - daily - is now recognized for what it is, perhaps the largest legal government corruption scheme on the planet.

For decades most of them have sold OUR country to the highest bidder, and deserve ZERO respect. Most of OUR country knows this now and should properly make their lives HE!!, because they betray us.

Republican'ts are MOST in league with big-business and corporate corruption, but the Dems still take their money, too. No member should be given a pass on 'bundled' corruption, and 'bundling' contributions in ANY way must be criminalized. Lobbyists will then cease to exist - as we currently know them.

[uniquindividual]

10:36 PM on 04/10/2010

Impeach justices Alito, Roberts, Thomas, Scalia

[Joy Erasmus]

08:58 PM on 04/10/2010

What? You will vote out all incumbents? I guess m ost of you with that sentiment..don't know what you really stand for..right..or you're all brainless. Will you be voting the TEA PARTY into congress..very intelligent!!! I will vote again and again for ALL DEMOCRATS if my choice is between a REPUBLICAN AND A DEMOCRAT. Why would I vote against my own convictions and principles for a Republican with whom I have NOTHING in common? Can I change from being a DEM to a Repub or Independent who can float between parties...NO! I am a Democrat because I believe in the democratic platform and share those ideals...I don't vote for a PERSON..who might be lying to you as it happens in politics just to get elected. Those Blue Dogs are not true democrats and they need to go..but I will vote for any other dem who runs..I am a proud Liberal Democrat and I believe in social justice and liberty and love of country etc.

[uniquindividual]

10:37 PM on 04/10/2010

agreed (pun intended)

[jerryatthebeach]

04:38 PM on 04/10/2010

This is nothing new, when we have a change of power, the Senate of the opposing party is usually voted in. This is what a democracy is. Then we are forced to work together. Clinton thought for sure that he would be voted out in 96 but it didn't happen. We are an evenly divided country now and need to accept it to move forward. That's why we need Centrist leadership. to keep all Americans happy....

[Marcospinelli]

03:25 PM on 04/10/2010

Democratic voters have mistakenly believed that Obama&Democrats support things like public health care & all populist issues.

If the Bush years taught us nothing else, it's that anyone can sell anything to Americans, if you're stolid & relentless in your sales pitch & tactics. It's not that Bush&R0ve were geniuses & knew something that nobody else knew; Bush&R0ve were just more ruthless (clumsy & careless many political graybeards would say) in doing what politicians & the parties had gone to great lengths to hide from Americans.

Obama didn't get to be the first black president, vanquish the Clinton machine (to get the nomination) & the oldest, most experienced politicians in our nation's history (including the Rove machine) by not having mastered these skills. Nor do Democratic politicians (more incumbents than ever, in office longer) not know how to do it. How do you think Democrats managed to keep the impeachment of Bush&Cheney off the table & have us still reelecting them, not marching on Washington with torches&pitchforks?

Obama&Democrats know how to do it -- They don't want to do it.

The trick for them has been to keep the many different populist groups believing that they really do support our issues, but that they're merely inept. And to get us to keep voting for them in spite of their failure to deliver on any of our alleged shared objectives.

Harder to do now, as voters are wising up.

[uniquindividual]

10:39 PM on 04/10/2010

and at this point in history the alternative that will not put the even more corrupt and incompetent republican party back in office is?????

[AZreb]

09:55 AM on 04/10/2010

968 polled? And what were the demographics of those polled? I always wonder about where they get the pollees.

[AyeChart]

10:03 PM on 04/09/2010

I betcha that anti-incumbent sentiment is still there in November. And mostly it's anti-liberal sentiment. Anti-fake-conservative sentiment. Anti-Rino sentiment. Anti-Obamacare sentiment. Anti-cap'n-trade sentiment. Anti-pretty-much-whatever-Obama-is-trying-to-do sentiment.

[jsgaetano]

10:12 PM on 04/09/2010

I betcha I'm going to have a lot of fun laughing at your tears in November....

[Gidster]

04:21 AM on 04/10/2010

So basically the "I am as gullible as a newborn lamb" sentiment?

[DFL]

09:24 PM on 04/09/2010

The best thing to do for the country and democracy is don't vote for anyone with a "R" by their name, remember Bush? remember those 8 dark years in america's history? you want to return to that
again?!

[jsgaetano]

10:13 PM on 04/09/2010

The hilarious thing is... Republicans think American's memories don't go that far back. According to the Goopers, the world started in 2009.

[Gidster]

04:21 AM on 04/10/2010

That is when they tell everyone all of America's problems began.....

[DXM]

09:57 AM on 04/10/2010

Sad thing is, too many Americans' memories do *NOT* go back that far. And despite all objective evidence to the contrary, they believe that the GOP will solve all of their problems (instead of making their lives worse while bettering those of big money interests)

[Camille21]

08:10 PM on 04/09/2010

do people not see that repubs are destructive and care for no one?

[AyeChart]

10:04 PM on 04/09/2010

I don't see that at all. Indeed, it looks as though the Democratic Party, all alone, all by itself, is highly destructive. Health care costs will go up. Taxes will go up ON EVERYBODY. Deficits will go up. Our grandchildren and beyond have their futures already mortgaged. You can't get much more destructive than that, can you?

[jsgaetano]

10:14 PM on 04/09/2010

So you think the party who created 80% of the national debt is to blame, correct?

[Gidster]

04:25 AM on 04/10/2010

Yes....Because Republicans Always have the best interests of the people at heart.....

That is why they want to abolish the social safety net
get rid of collective bargaining
remove the minimum wage
end all government regulation
empower business

Enjoy your toxic air, water and all of those inferior goods built as cheaply as possible with no quality standards......While you either work until you die or starve.

The Conservative Utopia.......Somalia.

[Camille21]

08:08 PM on 04/09/2010

i don't get it.. where were these unhappy folks when boosh/shamey in office?? a little healthcare and they lose their minds.

[Gidster]

04:25 AM on 04/10/2010

A black man elected president started this spark......

They started screaming in anger shortly after he won the primary!

[TheApeMan]

07:38 PM on 04/09/2010

I can't understand this at all.
Hey let's give the democrats a year to fix every huge problem left by the republicans, and if they don't we'll vote the republicans back in...
really?

[Camille21]

08:09 PM on 04/09/2010

i know. i'm flabbergasted. truly.

[Azsin]

08:34 PM on 04/09/2010

there not just for Gops
they dont like anyone

so if a incumbent is a (d) they wil vote agaisnt them
even if they dont neccsarily liek the person next to them

same thinng if its a (r)

sad tho

they wan tthings to get done
why put in people with no credible plans for the economy

[JackND]

03:16 PM on 04/09/2010

If the economy is the concern, and Americans decide that returning the GOP to control of Congress is the answer, America deserves whatever comes next.

[AyeChart]

10:07 PM on 04/09/2010

I think the American people are way more sensible than congress.

[Gidster]

04:28 AM on 04/10/2010

You may be right.

However since 41 members of the Senate have refused to do any work for the last 16 months, I say fire them!

[fireW]

02:52 PM on 04/10/2010

Yeah, right. That's why the sheep are marching in the streets now? To bellow about the "party of No"? LOL.

[jonjon66]

02:21 PM on 04/09/2010

Headline should read : Racial Animosity fueled by GOP at highest levels since the Civil Rights era.

[StillweRise]

12:39 PM on 04/09/2010

i believe to be nothing more than the corporate owned media working in concert with the right to build a momentum that doesn't exist. Given the success that President and his party have enjoyed over the past few weeks, there is a serious disconnect between what that type of success brings, vs what they (the corporate media) are actually claiming and/or saying. Had Bush or Reagan had a string of wins like this, they would have proclaimed that the second coming had arrived!

I read this as an effort to build a momentum that just isn't there.... to create a buzz that obviously republicans haven't been able to create due to any actions or success of their own..... to build and push a meme and create a 'bandwagon' effect....

But just like in '06 and '08... people are beginning to believe their own eyes.... and THAT is a HUGE problem for the right..... (necessitating polls and stories like these in the first place)

[scorpioman]

07:44 PM on 04/09/2010

just like they are saying the teaparty is way bigger than what it is in reality

[AyeChart]

10:07 PM on 04/09/2010

We'll see in November, won't we???!!!

[BonzaiBoy]

09:18 PM on 04/09/2010

^^^ This. I think you are spot on. In this age of empty "news reporting," I think more and more of the MSM are creating drama where there is none or very little just to try to make themselves seem more relevant.

[Welib]

12:08 PM on 04/09/2010

Republicans are fooling themselves if they think they will not be voted out in November. I think that they have made such a huge mess of the country, again, that they can never get close to any kind of power. They abuse their power every time and never spend money at home.

No way Repubs are going to win anything in November. They have stolen enough from the American people and they couldn't run a lemonade stand!

Who are they polling?

[Gidster]

04:32 AM on 04/10/2010

Unfortunately a large chunk of voters are stupid and will fight you tooth and nail to remain so.

They hate Democrats because they have been told to hate Democrats since GOP politicians and pundits embraced Gingritch's 1996 memo on how to vilify and demonize your opponent.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4443.htm

Read this, then you tube EVERY republican and conservative pundit speech and count the negative buzz words!

[awake108]

11:54 AM on 04/09/2010

Check out the CoffeeParty. It ia an alternative forum to the tea party which is interested in truthful dialogue and problem solving of the many problems facing this country. It encourages civliity and it is nonpartician. It can help people sort out the truth from all the lie and deception and educate those that really care about the violent and destructive direction this country We are all in this together and have to come togeether to solve these problems.

[nexxtep54]

02:19 PM on 04/09/2010

go back to sleep.

[Gidster]

04:33 AM on 04/10/2010

No, no, The coffee party is actually a good thing!

http://www.coffeepartyusa.com/