Monday, September 06, 2010 :::
Back in April, Americans who dislike both parties appeared to mildly favor the GOP on the generic ballot, by a 43-to-39 percent margin, with a large number saying at the time that they would pick a minor-party candidate or stay at home.
"Now, a lot of those voters appear to be bolting to the GOP," Holland said. "Republicans now have a whopping 38-point advantage on the generic ballot among voters who dislike both parties." So says CNN.
I would like to know the degree to which these respondents hate Democrats more than Republicans relative to the degree to which they prefer divided government to one-party rule. I would guess that a 43-39 margin would indicate a preference for the party in power, if the respondents had to put one party in charge, but that a 38-point advantage would hold up even if those voters had to put all of their eggs in one basket.
Either way, though, that's an impressive shift. Assuming it holds through the election, and the Republicans win one or both houses of Congress, that they remember that they were elected by people who don't like them.
::: posted by Steven at 3:06 PM
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