Poll finds most Americans welcome Dem control
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/10/08/art.capital.flower.gi.jpg caption="A new poll suggest a majority of Americans welcome Democratic control."]
WASHINGTON (CNN) - It was one of John McCain's closing arguments: "We're getting a glimpse of what one-party rule would look like under Obama, Pelosi, and Reid. Apparently it starts with lowering our defenses and raising our taxes," the Republican presidential nominee said repeatedly on the campaign trail in the final weeks leading up to Election Day.
But a new national poll suggests why a majority of voters didn't seem to buy that argument, as Barack Obama beat McCain in the presidential election and the Democrats made major gains in both the House, under Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the Senate, under Majority Leader Harry Reid.
In the CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Tuesday, 59 percent of those questioned said Democratic control of both the executive and legislative branches will be good for the country, compared with 38 percent saying such one-party control will be bad.
"That much good will from the public opens a window of opportunity for the Democrats," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "But the public expects results, and may not listen to excuses for very long if a Democratic Congress and a Democratic White House can't get their act together in time."
The poll also indicates that the public has a positive view of the Democratic Party, with 62 percent saying they have a favorable opinion and 31 percent an unfavorable opinion of the party. For the Republicans, a majority, 54 percent, said they have an unfavorable view of the GOP while 38 percent hold a positive view.
"The public has a positive view of the Democratic Party while the GOP 'brand' is hurting," Holland said. "Overall views of the Democratic Party have gone from 53 percent favorable in October to 62 percent favorable now; the GOP overall has seen a 5-point drop in its favorable rating."
The 62 percent figure is the "the highest opinion of the Democrats in at least 16 years, since before Bill Clinton got elected," said CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider.
"When has the Republican Party image ever been that bad? Answer: When the Republican Congress impeached President Clinton at the end of 1998," he added.
The poll indicates the public is split regarding the top Democrats in Congress. And that's an improvement.
"Democratic congressional leaders, much maligned this fall, have also seen a boost in their approval rating," Holland said. "Nearly half of those polled now approve of how congressional Democrats are handling their job, up from just a third who felt that way a month ago."
Schneider added, "Same thing happens when you ask them about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Good-bad, 50-50, among voters who even know who they are."
It's a different story for the GOP, with just 24 percent approving of how Republican leaders are handling their jobs and nearly three in four disapproving.
But that doesn't mean the public wants to see the GOP shut out of government. Seven out of eight want the Democrats to include Republican views in any legislation they pass.
"What about those times, and they will occur, when Barack Obama and the Democratic leaders in Congress disagree," asked Holland. "The public is likely to side with Obama: 59 percent say they are more likely to trust him than the congressional Democrats."
With Senate contests in Alaska, Georgia, and Minnesota still unresolved, the Democrats have increased from 51 to 57 seats in the 100-seat chamber. That includes two independent senators, Joe Lieberman and Bernie Saunders, who caucus with the Democrats.
In the House of Representatives, the Democrats have picked up 20 seats, reaching 255, with six out of 435 races still undecided.
"There's an opening here for a new Democratic majority. But it's just that, an opening," Schneider said. "It all depends on how President Obama does. And whether he can overcome the red-blue divide in the country - something neither of the baby-boomer presidents, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, could do."
The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll was conducted Thursday through Sunday, with 1,246 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
From CNN Politics
- Progressive group launches $3.2 million advertising buy to push federal voting law March 23, 2021 11:01 am
- US and allies announce sanctions against Chinese officials for 'serious human rights abuses' against Uyghurs March 23, 2021 10:32 am
- Trump's army takes aim at 2022 touting his election lies March 23, 2021 05:01 am
- Why Republican voter restrictions are a race against time March 23, 2021 04:27 am
- Warnock's seat comes into focus amid battle over voting laws and filibuster rules March 23, 2021 03:06 am
- White House aides prep $3 trillion jobs package for Biden March 23, 2021 02:30 am
And that would explain why I see the same few names posting such negative comments about the Dems over and over and over and over again on here.
Silly rethugs with no lives...
It would have been difficult for any republician to win after Bush.
That's right... because Americans know that the GOP has lead us to higher deficits and fewer jobs EVERY TIME.
And.. the Dems have lead us to more jobs and lower deficits, EVERY TIME.
Look it up GOP, or are you a little afraid of who the fiscally responsible party is????
Well I guess we were not as scared of a Democratic government as the radical religious right seems to think we should be.. Maybe we saw what happens when the radical religious right controls the entire government for the first 6 years of the bush presidency and figured the dems could do no worse!
i hope one day the republican Party again becomes the party of individual liberties and a less intrusive government, but as long as they espouse the hatreds of the radical religious right then they will never get a vote from me!
After BARRY gets done with us, they will pray for GOP control....
Voters welcomed it, but since when does Democrat mean Corporate friends bail-out, more troops in Afghanistan, insider politics, a private military, and a missle shield?
Obama is a Republicrat. You have been lied to.
Almost half the country voted for McCain. This article is bogus.
DON'T STRESS IT SO MUCH MY POOR REPUBS.
THE DEMS ARE NOT COMPLETELY NUTS AND ONE-SIDED LIKE YOUR CONSERVATIVE NEO-CONS.
THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE IN GOOD HANDS, THE PEOPLE'S HANDS.
WE = ARE = ONE = NATION
I think it's more about accountability than anything else. We are sick of one party blaming the other when things go wrong. Now there is no excuse we know who to blame now.
ahh...another poll that will have the GOP freaks out there foaming at the mouth. Republicans, america does not like you. We have figured out that you are a hate filled, right wing infested, religious nut jobs with plans of world dominance via imperialistic conquests.
You can hate it all you want, but you are only in denial. There is a new world power, and it's called democracy, freedom and justice. Your tyrannical days of dictatorship and taxing the poor to feed the rich are over. So bend over, grab your ankles and cry all you like...we took our country back, your PARTY is over!
and most Americans are idiots
There is no arguing with these numbers or their meaning: the Republican party, and George Bush, have conclusively demonstrated that the way they manage the nation's business is disastrous. The public, much more aware and intelligent than John McCain thought, understands just what a disaster it would be to continue with the GOP in control.
Now he's history. So is the GOP as we know it.
I think most Americans are just sick of the Republicans.
I'm a big CNN fan, but this article is silly. I'm pretty sure we had an election last week that told us this news...
This nation has better see a return to financial stability, to humaneness, and to caring for each other. The devisiveness during these times is ripping us apart.
Of course this was probably a CNN poll, which means they probably polled the most liberal people in the US. CNN-come poll in the midwest and see what happens. Here comes the higher taxes! We've already heard from the Obama transition team that Obama will exercise his executive powers as President to stop any attempts for domestic drilling, including off-shore drilling. How is an all-democratic agenda (Oval Office, Senate, House) best for America? Seems to me Mr. Obama is already going against what he said during the campaign. And all you sucker Democrats bought it.
College student's opinions don't count.....they haven't started contributing to society yet and once they do get jobs and paying taxes, starting families, making mortgage payments, etc....then they will yell and scream like the rest of us at the way the government is emptying their pockets. P.S. The vote in the election was separated by 7 million votes.....so I wouldn't say that most American's are happy with an all Democrat lead government - just 1/2. But at least we will be able to say they (Dems) did it this time and it will be obviously clear.
I welcome it and do not want it to go away. Keep the GOP away from Washington. I always imagine about how much better off we would be if Bill Clinton was still president. I think America needs to keep the president in office as long as he keeps the country moving forward. Forget how many terms they can serve for, as long as the country is progressing, why change the leadership. That's what Bloomberg is doing in NY, why not have that law amended for the presidency.
Constipation is what we can expect.
It's time to fly united. Bickering and name calling is for school kids in grades 1&2
I am an independant that voted for McCain. He lost /I can get over it quite easy/ Hope and pray for Obama and his leadership. Plan on supporting him unless he goes against my Christian upbringing.
He will disappoint some for sure but hope not many. Economy is a mess and when he get behind the wheel, I hope he is looking at a good GPS system. It will be a long road and the trip will have lots of pot holes for him just like anyone else. After all he puts his pants on just like most of us do.
Independant/Iowa
Dem control???! Welcome??! I don't think so. Every time a democratic prez has been in office, he's taken us to war. Let's see...lazy folks like a dem in office because they get free handouts. Your poll is bias'd...just like most polls. Barry won't do anything more than any other president but because he is a white African with some black traits, he'll get the credit. President George Bush will go down in history as a great president.
Watch: Presidnet Elect Barry Obama will allow stem cell killing....it kills unborn babies...yet he will want to bring home the troops because they are getting killed...sorry....any human with a brain can tell that embryos grow up to be people...not tadpoles!!!
Fasten your seatbelt folks...they will continue to blame George Bush...'cause you have to blame somone besides YOURSELF!!!
I thought Republicans were supposed to be tuff guys. Every day all they do is whine all over the internet. Cant you guys go shoot some defenseless animal or something?
Excuse me, but the Democrats had complete control fot he last two years and enoujgh of a majority to make anything the Republicans wanted to do, impossible. Thats why the country is in the shape it is in...nothing was accomplished and when oversight was requested, the Democrats ie Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Chris Dodd etc, refused.
By the way, is this CNN's personal Poller? They didn't get anything right during the election, how did they improve and come up with this no brain statement?
Of course we do. Didn't you watch the election?!?
And I guess the democrates take no blame what so ever for the situations our country is in. They are totally innocent of all wrong doing.
I think not. Let's hear from Barney Frank!!!! What does he have to say ?
Nancy Pelosi, who by the way earmarked 33 million of that 700 billion bailout money to make sure her husbands investments were safe. Don't believe me check out the bailout agreement. Who is soma productions. They are the one's that own star kiss tuna, who Pelosi's husbands investements are in.