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Real News in Pew Poll
Missed Part Three of Three By Dave Andrusko
As someone who reads and writes for a living, no one needs to remind me how easy it is for the most important information in a story to be overpowered by the more spectacular. For example, virtually all the attention paid to a recent poll by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life dealt with the electorate's changing view of pro-abortion President Barack Obama's religion. But as Neil Stevens, of the DC Examiner newspaper wrote this morning, "Pew buried the lede by focusing on the distraction of Barack Obama's personal religion." Far more important are changes in support for the two political parties. (See www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/Examiner-Opinion-Zone/Republicans-building-a-demographic-majority-for-2010-101113899.html#ixzz0x9wYLXB1). In a word, Democrats made huge gains in 2006 and 2008 because of support in demographic groups whose current level of support for Democrats is falling. To cite just three highlights…. When it comes to identifying with a political party, if you look at all registered voters, Republicans have gained 8 percentage points since 2008. Two years ago 51% identified with Democrats to 39% for Republicans. This month 47% identified with Democrats and 43% with Republicans. And virtually every index is that Republicans are far more energized than Democrats. In that vein, "As the Pew Research Center noted in its Aug. 10 report, the Republican Party continues to hold an engagement advantage over the Democratic Party. More than half of Republicans (55%) say they have given a lot of thought to the election, compared with 37% of Democrats." Put another way that's a 3-2 advantage. "Half of white Catholics (50%) now identify themselves as Republican or lean toward the GOP, up nine points since 2008," according to Pew. "Republicans also have made gains among Jewish voters; 33% now identify or lean Republican, up from 20% in 2008." If you get a chance, also read the Washington Post story this morning, headlined "Worried Democrats courting elderly voters as midterm elections near" (www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/19/AR2010081906688.html). Please send your comments on Today's News & Views and National Right to Life News Today to daveandrusko@gmail.com. |
