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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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.
THEY ALSO HAVE SEEN WHAT GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEIR TAXEX EITHER
The stupid democrates will now get the government they deserve, unfortunately it is the rest of us that will have to put up with it.
1. Obama's aunt who is an illegal immigrant living in Public Housing at Taxpayer expense. Throw her out now. A judge has already deported her but she's being protected by someone-this is an affront to all legal immigrants....
2. Obama's racism where he is insisting his replacement in the Senate be black-not the best candidate mind you-but a black-–
Source: Michael Sneed-Chicago Sun Times.
If our elected officials especially the Republicans would have done their job these last 8 yrs. instead of rubber stamping anything Bush wanted ignoring their responsibilities we would not be in the mess we are in. Also, because in the last 2 yrs the Republicans did all they could to make sure nothing would happen with a small Democratic majority, we need to have one party control now to get things done before it is to late. Our founders had a system so we could have checks and balances and in the 6 yrs the Republicans had control they abdicated their responsibilities to our constitution.
History and Politics shows that one party rule doesn't do much good – ask the Republicans & Newt Gingrich. The sad part is Obama may bring some great & needed change (this coming from a Republican) but he still has "Dumb & Dumber" (Pelosi & Reid) in the Senate.
Anything i better then the Republicans who only want white America!!!
Of course they love Dems in control! The Dems fix the problems, get the country going in the right direction and then the people vote them out! How stupid is that? This country has never prospered under Rebublican leadership. Never!
And for the anti Palin people...McCain ruined his own campaign. He couldn't excite a dog in heat. I bet when he comes homes his own dog gets depressed!
What's left after total control-only dictatorship and Facism.
Bailing out the Automakers will be the last straw, America will fall apart, when all the rest of the corporations beg for money too!
It's never good for one party to have too much control – Republican or Democrat.
The Republicans did their share of messing things up – including themselves. You'll see that played out again with the Democrats over the next four years.
Same old cycle.
The only time anything gets done is when the Dems are in control of Congress. The only time mostly good things get done is when the Dems are in charge of the whole thing. Give them 8 years and see where we are. If they do a good job give them 4 more. Just think where we could be if Bush never got...ahem...elected.
There is a reason why there has only been two democratic administrations since the sixties (Jimmy Carter – worst prez of the 20th century, only elected because of Nixon – sound familiar?) and Bubba Clinton who was was impeached. Unfortunately history is about to repeat itself.
REPUGS must always blame DEM's, their brains won't let them look at the 6yrs they were in control from 2000 to 2006 what AIRHEADS!!!
clones of PALIN!
After 8 years of the most disastrous administration in recorded history I think most Americans would welcome anyone.
Ian – we know very well what we got ourselves into. We also know what steps we took to get ourselves out of. Clinton – balanced budget, lowered deficit, created 22 million jobs and created more millionaires than any other President in history. How did things go under 8 years of Republican control? Get some facts!
Funny, I heard this type of rhetoric when the Republicans were in control and the Democrats were grumpy. Funny how it is the same angry grumbling from the party out of power and the same gloating for those now in power, regardless of party title. I can't wait until a viable third party comes along. CHANGE???? Doesn't matter what party, it's all the same. The change is superficial. When will the people's interests override the individual (see the Edward's article)? Obama has no easy task ahead, and it is foolishness to think that when party changes things will get magically better. If only we followed GEORGE WASHINGTON, who was against political parties, since he was aware that politicos show more allegiance to party that their DUTY.
Americans have truly proven whey they are known around the world as "ignorant folk." We now have the government we deserve so I don't want to hear any complaints later on when things go really sour from the fools that believe a Congress and White House controlled by Dems is a good thing. Time will tell the truth (as it always does).
THE DISTRUCTION OF OUR COUNTRY. EVERYONE WILL SOON FIND OUT.
I am a conservative. Yes, we lost. I accept my place as loyal opposition and offer no combative text but a word of caution for all of us.
Some think we elected JFK, some think Karl Marx, truth is we elected Barack Obama in part , at least, on a reactionary leap of faith. He may surprise both camps but the truth is we have no idea where he will end up governing from.
All I ask is that we recognize the conditions are here that would allow for changes that would alter our country for good. I am not talking about swings to the right or left but of the basic principles the top of the political pendulum has always been tethered too.
Economic frustration has been the catalyst for every revolution. And it is now the time we all need to look inward to decide what exactly we see as broken, what exactly do we think the Govt can fix, and most important, what are the limits we are willing to place on the monarchy of power.
Again, even if you think these will never be needed and Barack will govern from the center, it is important you know what you believe is not up for overhaul.
Otherwise, the euphoria of victory over Bush will allow you to get swept off your feet into whatever "winds of change" Obama has in store, and have you come to rest in a place that was neither intended nor sactioned.
Democrats equal Economic Stability?? Since when? Does anybody remember Jimmy Carter?? Prime rate was double digits, inflation was double digits. And I can well imagine if 9/11 had happened under a liberal Democrat president. He would probably want to sit down and "talk" to the terrorist. America has had several tragedies over the eight years (9/11, Hurricane Katrina, financial meltdown). No other President has had to deal with as much adversity in recent memory than President Bush. Just watch in four short years, everyone will be running to elect a Republican president and Republican led Congress!
Wouldn't you think, after Republicans voted Bush in for a 2nd term. The problems our nation faces takes a young intelligent mind, too many challenges ahead for the an old head.
i though up until two years ago the repub.had controll that was good and now it's bad. give me a break.more twist and spin.[thanks but no thinks]
Obama has more of a chance of pissing off the far left then he does the right. If he is not a rubberstamp for Pelosi and Reid there will be problems.
why shouldn´t they? Now thousands americans lost their homes, no health insurance, no jobs, no more frenzy spending in the shopping mall or leverage spending. Now they welcome the bail out and hand out from the govornment and congress. Republicans wouldn´t do this kind of liberal spending except lowering taxes.