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.
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"Obama got 53% of the vote… A whopping 7% difference. So what's your point Sara from Arizona?"
Bush beat Kerry by about 2.5% and called it a mandate.
Bush beat Gore by -.5%
Clinton beat Dole by 9 points, but he was still under 50%.
Clinton was initially elected with 43% of the vote, thanks to Perot.
You have to go back twenty years to find a president (Bush I) who won by as much as Obama won.
Obama has a popular mandate.
After reading the posts on this entire website, it seems as though the Democrat supporters post the most hateful comments. And so much name-calling, too. As for the polls, I don't buy it. The Democrats have had control of Congress for the past two years. The Congress has the lowest approval rating in HISTORY. And they are viewed as favorably? I don't think so.
THE SAME POLL FOUND THAT MOST AMERICANS ARE STUPID
I think America was influenced by biased info' and many facts left out, like the fact that these currently elected Democrats had a majority influence on the downfall of our ecomony so golly gee whiz since we can't think for ourselves let the news media tell us who to vote for and why! Actions will speak louder than eloquent words so America shall see what will be will be!? Nancy Pelosi wouldn't reach across the aisle the past 8 yrs and loves to blame 'W' so what makes you think she'll promote financial stability for all during the new administration and not continue with her own agenda as she is currently? Oh golly gee maybe Nancy Pelosi will bail out all us American families too with one of her bailout pkgs!! She continues to think it's okay to bail out AIG when their execs continue to make obviously the same bad decisions of extravagent spending which demonstrates why the company is in trouble. Shouldn't she be asking them to pay us back for funds so obviously misspent?
Republicans are narrow-mind control freaks: PROHIBITIONISTS.
Rotten Bush and his henchmen almost ruined this country in 8 short years with LIES and CORRUPTION and EROSION OF CIVIL RIGHTS....
NO MORE GOP, ESPECIALLY BOOB PALIN.
Dem's have been in control of the House and senate since the last election cycle. So this statement coincides with the fact that everyone polled is either unaware or just plain stupid.
Ummm...the poll was called Election Day. Why conduct another poll a week later?
Obama victim--
and most Americans are idiots
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Would you be speaking of those who re-elected Bush? That was a (small) majority. Or would you be speaking of those who thought that McCain represented change? Or that Sarah Palin is qualified? Or the ones who believe the Republicans when they say they care about your values??
Interestingly enough, I am already beginning to hear/read that promises made during the campaign may or cannot be made, for various reasons. Standard politics?
How could they/we not welcome Dem control.....Repub control was/is a complete disaster....at least the Dems are sure to put less in their own pockets than Bush and his buddies are doing as I type
I want to keep my eyes open and never let anyone like Bush/Cheney have so much power AND misuse it, without being held accountable. That will not happen again. We have a new course ahead of us and it looks really good and really powerful...I like how everyone is INCLUDED.
The grumpy old white men stuff will stop when they see they were wrong and that things could get better with participation rather than just being crabby.
Ian November 11th, 2008 4:40 pm ET
I'd guess most Americans don't know what they've just got themselves into.
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You are absolutely correct. But you fail to realize that we DO know what we just got ourselves OUT of. ANYTHING is better then the failed bumbling and treason of the GOP.
After the hash that the Reptilicans have made of this country through their greed and corruption, it's time for new leadership. Pelosi should be removed as well for enabling Dumbya the Clown Prince at every turn...
Great to see all the attacks on Palin and repubs from all the sensitive and caring dems. And the repubs are the party of hate? Why can't we just focus on going forward. Oh, forgot, the Clinton News Network is doing their best to further the cause. Oh well. I honestly do hope the new President succeeds because we are all in this together.
These people polled are the same ones that voted for Barney Frank.......Need I say more
Their should be less than a 1/3 of repubs left in both houses for at least 6 years.
Maggie from Virginia
The point is about 8 million more votes for obama. Thats a lot of people.
Well, democrats are very non uniform and represent all reasonable political spectrum – conservative and progressive. Republicans right now represent only marginal extreme right, which is becoming more and more irrelevant.
In future conservative democrats may split and join reasonable republicans – here you go, two party system again.
Too bad the polls never call me. I would say NO WAY to Dem control. They've had control of both houses of congress for two years and have not done one single thing.
Sara from AZ, that's not quite right. 47% of people who VOTED voted for McCain. And only about 65% of America voted. Which means that 35% of the country didn't even bother to make their choice known.
Just wanted to clear that up.
Let's take a look at History! Dem's bring Economic Stability, whereas...Repub's haven't a clue.
A No-brainer!
There were several websites generally available where you could type in your income and compare your taxes under the Obama plan and the McCain plan ... whatever that was ...
Most folks came out ahead under the Obama plan... and the stench of hypocrisy was overwhelming as the Republicans moaned about one party control – after for years dancing to the tune of Karl Rove's "permanent Republican Majority."
The Republicans were left a balanced budget and a surplus. The Republicans leave us with 2 wars, recession, housing and financial crises, "corporate welfare for AIG so they can go on expensive trips, the highest deficit in history ... and on and on ...
Fear and smear does not work anymore: and that is all the Republicans offered – both in their campaign and posted here.
until the Tide turns.
Weird that we think the answer to our problems in every new election is contingent on one quality; whether or not there is a (D) or an (R) following a candidate's name.
Why do you think high profile knowledgeable people go back and forth –like this year...Powell, Eisenhower, etc.
Its all about the candidate's abilities people.
One party rule?????? You have the word write anyway; RULE..... I was always under the impression that our elected leaders are to govern... When this all blows up.................................... ALL IN THE WORLD WILL KNOW FOR SURE THIS TIME...IT'S THE DEMS and has been since 2006.
The people polled were Democracts that voted for Obama. So history repeats itself...........Democrats have always done a lousy job running the country that is a FACT. We are heading for a depression under the new leadership........their actions already speak that.