Republicans In Congress Get Worse Marks Than Democrats On Job Performance, Economy (POLL)

WASHINGTON — A political enthusiasm gap is helping Republicans in their effort to roll up big gains in the congressional elections. GOP supporters are a lot more interested in getting their party's candidates elected than Democrats are in electing theirs, a new AP-GfK poll shows.

Democrats struggling to defend their control of Congress have lucked out in one way: Republicans are at least as unpopular as they are, the poll shows. Yet GOP voters are more fired up, leaving the Democrats little more than a month to energize their supporters.

How? They're using President Barack Obama and his Cabinet. Al Gore, too. And until Election Day dawns on Nov. 2, the Democrats will try to refocus voters from their anger over the stubbornly limp economy to the risks of putting Republicans in charge on Capitol Hill.

It's a common theme: A TV ad by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., accuses his GOP opponent of a proposal that is "not just extreme, that's dangerous," while one by Rep. Larry Kissell, D-N.C., says his challenger would shield tax breaks for companies that ship American jobs overseas.

"There's a level of frustration the American people have that we understand and that obviously Democrats are trying to address," said party spokesman Brad Woodhouse. "But I haven't run into anybody who says they want to go back to the fall of 2008," when Republicans held the White House.

Also helping Democrats round up votes will be their traditional labor union allies, who plan to spend nearly $100 million helping the party's candidates. This includes plans by the AFL-CIO, the nation's largest labor federation, to mobilize members in 26 states and target 70 House races and 18 Senate contests with television ads, phone banks and leaflets.

Republicans, energized by tea party fervor and capitalizing on frustration over the sluggish economy, are tailoring their campaign strategy to reflect concerns about job losses and government growth under Obama as he fought a recession and won a battle to revamp the country's health care system. In a fundraising appeal e-mailed Friday, the head of the House Republican campaign arm, Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, warned that the Democratic agenda means "America gets less – fewer jobs. Lower incomes. Less freedom."

Says Rob Jesmer, executive director of Senate Republicans' campaign committee: "We need to continue to tell people that the more Republicans who get elected, the less chance the president will have to enact his agenda."

The Associated Press-GfK Poll this month shows that the public is fed up with both parties. Only 38 percent approve of how congressional Democrats are handling their jobs, and just 31 percent like how Republicans are doing theirs. Fifty-nine percent are unhappy with how Democrats are nursing the economy, 64 percent are upset by the GOP's work on the country's top issue.

More than half have negative views of each party. Most say Obama isn't cooperating enough on the economy, but even more accuse Republicans of the same thing. And former President George W. Bush and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin – the only two Republicans the AP-GfK Poll tested – are significantly less popular than Obama.

Even so, Republicans have the upper hand because their supporters seem significantly likelier to show up Election Day and vote. Political scientists say people are likeliest to vote based on present conditions – which today means a wounded economy – rather than choosing between competing philosophies for the future.

In the AP-GfK Poll, 54 percent who strongly dislike Democrats express intense interest in the election, compared with just 40 percent of those with very negative views of Republicans. Nearly six in 10 who say their November vote will signal opposition to Obama also say they are extremely interested in the campaign, compared with only about four in 10 who say their vote will show support for him.

Overall, 49 percent of those supporting their Republican congressional candidate are very interested in the election, compared with 39 percent of those backing the Democrat in their local race.

The bottom line: Registered voters in the AP-GfK Poll are divided evenly over which party's congressional candidate they will support, but Republicans have a slight edge among voters considered likeliest to show up.

Having even a scant edge in motivated supporters can make a big difference – especially in midterm elections, only about 40 percent of voters nationally have been bothering to cast ballots, a figure than can dip to 30 percent in some states.

Aware of that, Obama will be hitting the road in coming days, headlining at least four major rallies in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Nevada. During next week's rally in Madison, Wis., Vice President Joe Biden and members of the Cabinet will fan out to college campuses across the country in hopes of activating students who heavily supported Obama in his 2008 election victory.

On Friday, former Vice President Al Gore joined the Democratic campaign to drum up party voters. He signed a fundraising e-mail for House Democrats saying Republicans' goal is "to restore the very same policies followed for eight years by the Bush-Cheney White House."

Democrats have also used their control of Congress to try changing the campaign's subject to social issues that might prompt their supporters to vote.

This week Reid forced a Senate vote on a bill with provisions appealing to two Democratic constituencies: one repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" law barring gays from openly serving in the military, the other helping hundreds of thousands of young immigrants become legal U.S. residents. Republicans blocked the measure.

The AP-GfK Poll was conducted from Sept. 8-13 by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate Communications and involved landline and cell phone interviews with 1,000 randomly chosen adults. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

___

AP Polling Director Trevor Tompson, Deputy Polling Director Jennifer Agiesta, News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius and reporter Liz Sidoti contributed to this report.

___

Online:

AP-GfK Poll: http://www.ap-gfkpoll.com

AP polls: . http://surveys.ap.org

Comments

[ZeraLee]

02:10 AM on 09/28/2010

An election determined by mindless anger? The Founding Fathers would be rolling in their graves.

We are becoming a barbarian nation.

[jsgaetano]

11:45 AM on 09/27/2010

This is... um... "Good For Republicans (tm)"

...somehow... I'm sure Faux will figure it out.

[clevelandchick]

09:44 AM on 09/27/2010

One of the reasons the Democrats are lacking in the enthusiasm department is the fact they allow a small minority in the Senate to control everything and they protect them politically instead of forcing them to defend their GOP-lite votes to the people.

The Dems could have kept the Senate seat in Arkansas had they backed the more progressive candidate over the Blue Dog in the primary. But, instead of going with the labor backed candidate Bill Halter, the DNC big wigs and party establishment stuck with Blanche Lincoln. They even went so far as to trash labor at the rallies.

Halter polled much higher against the GOP candidate in the GE than Lincoln, not to mention we're in a time when nearly all incumbents are vulnerable due to voter anger. The Dems stuck with the unpopular Blue Dog who is currently 20 points behind the Republican candidate in the polls instead of going with the Progressive candidate who had a better shot.

Another reason D voter enthusiasm is lacking is that the party is viewed as 'being just as bad as Republicans' by many. Is that fair? No. But again, because of the Blue Dogs' hold on the party, it definitely makes it seem that way.

[OliverTwist]

11:21 AM on 09/27/2010

OT:

I picked up a good song from one of your discussions. I enjoyed it. So, here's one that I like for you. Oh Mary Don't You Weep. Hope you like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlpvbxmFm5g

[dparks]

01:15 PM on 10/13/2010

It's not the "Blue Dog" Democrats that are cause for the parties' woes, it's the Democratic Leadership, starting from the White House, to Pelosi, to Reid - who have pushed forth their extremist social agenda against the majority of the taxpayer's wishes..
The majority of the American people were against the bailouts, yet Obama forced them - the majority of the American people were against the administration meddling with the *Housing* industry, yet Obama forced it - the majority of the American people were against the administration meddling with the *Banking* industry, yet Obama forced it - the majority of the American people were against the administration meddling with the *Auto* industry, yet Obama forced it - the majority of the American people were against the administration meddling with the *Health Care* industry, yet Obama forced that as well..
However - when it came to a consensus on which the American DO agree, and quite clearly, such as the Arizona law cracking down on Illegal Immigration, how does Obama respond? By suing the state.. .
It would make any rational person question on exactly which side, Obama is on - the American people's, or his own?

[Chucktheman]

08:49 AM on 09/27/2010

Republicans are so worried about getting in charge to save the store, they forget the customers.
They want to be in charge but their policies are heavy on exporting of jobs, and giving tax breaks to those who Put American Workers Out Of Work. The cuts they propose to undertake while we are in recovery will destroy our tax base, destroy our GCP which our economy is based on and throw us into a depression with no safety net.

[Chucktheman]

08:50 AM on 09/27/2010

Sorry, GDP

[dparks]

12:13 PM on 10/13/2010

I'm curious, which Republican "policies are heavy on exporting of jobs, and giving tax breaks to those who Put American Workers Out Of Work."

[CynAnne]

05:33 AM on 09/27/2010

Ah, those GoBPers, howling about how "...unwanted..." the stimulus package was - through the magic of prior videotaped statements, Rachel hoists the pontificating Publican'ts from their own petards: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#39352649 ...hypocrisy, thy name starts (and ends) with 'Republican'...

[muck-raker]

08:13 AM on 09/27/2010

CynAnne, thanx for the Rachel home link. F&F

[CynAnne]

09:41 AM on 09/27/2010

Quite welcome, and right back'atcha. Nothing seems to vex a Publican't more than those pesky ol' matters of record, eh...? ;)

[Pandaforum]

01:07 AM on 09/27/2010

Basically huffp0 cherrypicks the poll data while ignoring the bad news for dems. 

here's another AP-GfK poll that's probably more meaningful.
http://www.startribune.com/nation/103624134.html

this article puts the poll in better perspective. Again more negatively for dems.
http://www.startribune.com/politics/103701494.html


 

[cascot]

04:23 AM on 09/27/2010

Well said...but they don't want to hear it. Your post may get deleted by an intolerant Liberal poster.
You are fanned...

[Ira Meyers]

11:31 PM on 09/26/2010

The right wing in this country has done another outstanding job of three card monty. Pitting people who have the same concerns against each other, I read them here and write my own frustrations.
However, I have come to this conclusion. Either your a "WE" person, or "ME" person. Either is fine and we seem to always come out very close to 50/50. Demoracts seem to be "WE" people, we are all in this together so let's spread it around. Conservitives are more "Me" in I worked hard for mine, now go get yours. Both are very rational postitions. However we do have something the founders Ben Franklin comes to mind called "The Commons" he understood, we needed, Parks, and Libraries, Schools, and Fire Dept to protect and educate us all. AS always, in the middle lies the truth and the answers. We have to give up a little right now if we are going to have a future. Or take the other route, which is, I'm not helping anyone, and I really do not care. The next two years will show you what is the results. Good luck to us.

[muck-raker]

08:21 AM on 09/27/2010

Ira Meyers, excellent post, F&F who does this "ME" person represent? you betcha
Congressman John Boehner 2009 - 2010

Select cycle and data to include:

*

Representative John Boehner has reported a total of 1,818 contributions ($200 or more) totaling $1,219,122 in the current cycle. To search these itemized contributions for this member, click here.

Top 20 Contributors to Campaign Cmte and Leadership PAC
Rank ↓ Contributor ↓ Total ↓ Indivs ↓ PACs ↓
1 American Financial Group $38,900 $38,900 $0
2 Boehner for Speaker Cmte $36,000 $36,000 $0
3 Altria Group $30,625 $10,625 $20,000
4 American Electric Power $28,450 $18,450 $10,000
5 Blue Cross/Blue Shield $27,500 $0 $27,500
6 Reynolds American $25,000 $10,000 $15,000
7 FirstEnergy Corp $24,800 $4,800 $20,000
8 FMR Corp $24,300 $4,300 $20,000
9 Microsoft Corp $23,000 $3,000 $20,000
9 Akin, Gump et al $23,000 $7,500 $15,500
11 General Electric $22,800 $7,800 $15,000
12 Performant Financial Corp $22,550 $15,050 $7,500
13 New York Life Insurance $21,000 $1,000 $20,000
13 National Community Pharmacists Assn $21,000 $0 $21,000
15 Ernst & Young $20,500 $500 $20,000
15 Nationwide $20,500 $500 $20,000
15 Citigroup Inc $20,500 $5,500 $15,000
15 Amgen Inc $20,500 $500 $20,000
19 American Institute of CPAs $20,000 $0 $20,000
19 GlaxoSmithKline $20,000 $0 $20,000
19 National Beer Wholesalers Assn $20,000 $0 $20,000
19 Villages of Lake Sumter $20,000 $20,000 $0
19 American Assn of Orthopaedic Surgeons $20,000 $0 $20,000
19 AstraZeneca PLC $20,000 $0 $20,000
19 Jacobs Engineering Group $20,000``````````$20,00
www.wrmea.com

[dparks]

12:09 PM on 10/13/2010

I disagree, Ira - it's not a matter of "giving up a little right now", it's a matter of whether you 'want' to earn your living or have it handed to you..
Speaking of Franklin here's a relevant quote, "I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I traveled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer."

[funkyou]

10:47 PM on 09/26/2010

Just because we don't have the visible excitement as we did during the election of the President, doesn't mean we aren't quietly committed to getting out and voting.
We don't need to be running all over the place trying to convince everyone to vote for 'us'.
Most of us already know who we are voting for
I don't need to see ads for Barbara Boxer or Jerry Brown here in CA. they've got my support and
we know full well what to do when the right time comes...and that's vote in Nov!
Fired Up ...Ready To Vote

[cascot]

02:14 AM on 09/27/2010

Tell us all your talking points you want. You are all going down in flames in November and you know it. Your President has a 42% approval rating. You can't get anything passed in Congress unless you bribe Politicians like you did with H.C. You just don't get. You can't spend your way out of a depression. We have a 13 Trillion dollar national debt and we can't even afford to pay the interest on that debt. We have had a Democratic Congress since 2006. Who do you think voted to spend Americans money? You got it. Democratics. Bush can't spend a cent. It was the Democratic Congress. Thank you. Get your facts straight before you open your pie hole.

[erl92]

03:05 AM on 09/27/2010

That 13 trillion dollars you speak of had a lot to do with tax breaks this country couldn't afford and that was with a Republican congress. There were two unfunded wars started and a medicare program unfunded. If it wasn't for those tax breaks this country would have been scheduled to pay off the debt by 2013. During the Bush years many jobs relocated overseas. Let's not forget that Bush got down to 23% approval rating. It is no denying that the debt increased drastically under Reagan, Bush 41 & 43. Do you really think Congress voted to spend money on things like the Iran/Contra scheme? Not hardly. As far as spending money Roosevelt did just that during the great depression. Money in the hands of a middle class is where the most money is spent to support our consumer economy, certainly not sending jobs to China or India. If you want an example of what spending money can do take Subway. The person that started that company was going to go bankrupt with his one shop. Rather than do that he opened up another shop and today I'd say it's a fairly big company. Now I know that Republicans and tea baggers make up their own facts and you can believe whatever you want. I don't care quite frankly. I do think you should work on your rudeness problem though.

[funkyou]

03:22 PM on 09/27/2010

My my...feeling a little desperate are you?

Anger isn't very attractive and it definitely doesn't help your blood pressure...save it for those that want to hear your misinformed rant.

[tombaan]

10:40 PM on 09/26/2010

I still believe Democrats leadership has to change....Reid does not cut it.....

[clevelandchick]

09:31 AM on 09/27/2010

I agree, Reid is weak, he bows to the Blue Dogs instead of forcing them to compromise with the rest of the Dems in the Senate.

The BD's vote with Republicans to protect their donors' corporate profits/interests over that of the constituents. They are the reason the American public holds this misleading notion that 'the Democrats are as bad as the Republicans'. They are an anchor on the party. They are the reason for the lack of enthusiasm.

[Daniel R Cobb]

10:33 PM on 09/26/2010

I confess. I get completely caught up in the absurdity of American politics, absurd because of the baiting, the distractions from the real issues, the shrieking over foolishness as Rome - the American economy, the Middle Class, the Sanctity of our Civil Liberties, our future as a healthy pluralistic democracy, all burns. And while this Rome burns, even more important issues are ignored.

We are the most destructive species on the planet. We flood the air and waters with synthetic chemicals that disrupt human biology, we terrascale entire regions, we bury rivers with the debris of coal mining, we kill entire river systems with the heavy metals, acids and cyanide of open pit gold mining. We pollute endlessly. We alter the balance of gases in the environment to the extent that plants and animals must cope or die. We are killing species by the millions. While we rage, obviously unable to govern ourselves, this Earth is burning. We must soon break free from this narcissistic notion that the Earth is ours to consume, because as goes the Earth, so goes humankind.

[muck-raker]

08:26 AM on 09/27/2010

Daniel R Cobb....agreed, F&F....this is all about the ultra Rich corporations and their quest for Power and money. nothing is sacred. Nothing will change until it is apparent that we need to act and address this mindset before we all perish

[Kleet]

10:23 PM on 09/26/2010

Yeah. Let's wait. After the election, we have two more years to cave in to radical right agenda. No, Don't hold us accountable now 'cause we put it off till after. See? You have no reason to suspect we won't vote totally for people AFTER the election. Then it's bye bye.

Boys and girls, you haven't done a very good job of representing us up till now. We caved on health care and most major initiatives. And we haven't the guts to stand up for the unemployed, the under employed and the soldiers coming home.
Our agenda and they say "boo " to you, you,cringe, run, hide,
I'm disgusted with the fractured Democratic Party. I'm disgusted that you, a majority, are afraid to say "boo" to those who should be scared of you.Ask yourselves in private, heart stuff, why the hell are you not standing tall with security of heart and mind that you are right to protect the lower 98. Get to work! Don't wait or I can't trust you to be your word.

[kinnycut]

09:57 PM on 09/26/2010

Republicans liked or not get the voting public to vote their way by creating fear, anger, and distrust in the masses. Make people afraid and angry add a little governmental distrust, and give them someone, or some group to blame for their woes and wallah you have the most highly motivated voters out there. The Republican Party's clever tactics, and skillful use of propaganda would bring a tear to Hitler's eyes.

[muck-raker]

08:54 AM on 09/27/2010

kinnycut. excellent post F&F,excerpt: House Republicans have now admitted what we've known for a long time: They intend to bring back the exact same George W. Bush agenda which drove our economy into the ditch.

In 1993, President Clinton, a Democrat and Vice President Gore launched their economic strategy: (1) establishing fiscal discipline, eliminating the budget deficit, keeping interest rates low, and spurring private-sector investment; (2) investing in people through education, training, science, and research; and (3) opening foreign markets so American workers can compete abroad. After eight years, the results of President Clinton’s economic leadership are clear. Record budget deficits have become record surpluses, 22 million new jobs have been created, unemployment and core inflation are at their lowest levels in more than 30 years, and America is in the midst of the longest economic expansion in our history.

On Jan. 7, 2009, after 8 years of a Republican administration and two weeks before Obama took office, the CBO reported the deficit was projected to be $1.2 trillion. When Bush took office, the national debt, accumulated since the founding of the nation, stood at $5.6 trillion. By the time Bush left office, it exceed $11 trillion. In only eight years, he will have created more debt than all other U.S. presidents combined.

.

http://www.helium.com/debates/165684-which-us-political-party-is-best-to-handle-the-economy-republican-vs-democratic/side_by_side

[dparks]

12:37 PM on 10/13/2010

muck-raker wrote: "(3) opening foreign markets so American workers can compete abroad.". OMGosh, thank you SO much for posting that! Because it seems that many Democrat and Liberal supporters, in expressing their anti-Pug rants citing outsourcing and job loss to foreign countries, seem to have forgotten or willfully ignore that it was Bill Clinton who passed about 300 trade agreements with foreign countries - including the U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000, which granted Permanent Normal Trade Relations status to China. Those darn Republicans!!

[RollaLoneRanger]

09:28 PM on 09/26/2010

The sad fact is that the Democratic Party continues to struggle to energize its base. We are going to lose, because we cannot get people to get out and vote. The Republicans are a clear minority, but are so much better at getting their people to the polls. If more people would get involved then the Republicans would have to shift away from such radical positions (aka stopping the country from having sex).

[magnoliabird]

09:26 PM on 09/26/2010

Is anyone really surprized?

[PhDcommonsense]

09:23 PM on 09/26/2010

I was beginning to wonder if the whole country have lost their minds with all of this Nastiness thrown out by the Republicans, Newt, Beck, Palin and Limbaugh. Karl Rove and the rest of the Conservative group it is all about preserving the RICH, CLOAKED in we feel your pain and Big Government.

Does the Country SERIOUSLY, want to go back Republican rule, when they got us into this mess in the FIRST PLACE. The Democrats could get something done, if they were not afraid of their Shawdows. People should stop blaming the President, when he has Wimpy Democrats in the Congress and the Republicans are BLOCKING everything, even when it is THEIR IDEA, and the President likes it. Since they want to see him FAIL, no matter how it affects the Country, they say NO.

With the 60 Vote rule and about 5 FLAKY Democrats in the Senate, the President's hands are tied. Yet, the News Media is pushing the Fact that it is his fault and Policies that there are not more jobs.

If the Republicans would stop protecting the RICH, while they tell the average working fellow it is all about the Government Taxing them and Big Government, the Rich laugh all the way to the Bank. I hope some of these LOW INFORMATION voters wake up.

The Republican Party use to be Intelligent, now they seem to be encouraging nothing by AIR HEADEDNESS, and the more OUTRAGEOUS with likes and Racism, the Better.

[dparks]

12:27 PM on 10/13/2010

And the Democratic Party used to have the United State's best interests at heart rather than their extremist political agenda. And is that the "Racism Card" you've just played? tsk tsk