Posted on 10/29/2004 5:07:10 PM PDT by ambrose
Bush singles more open to dating opposites than Kerry supporters
By Erin Smith/ Staff Writer
Friday, October 29, 2004
As President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry ready for an Election Day showdown in their race for the White House, one Brighton business owner has come to a startling conclusion: Bush backers are actually more liberal than Kerry supporters - if only while out prowling the singles scene.
In a recent poll by LunchDates, a Brighton-based personalized dating service, found that the majority of its Democrat members prefer to date only Democrats, while Republican singles said the political affiliation of their significant other is unimportant.
Seventy percent of Bush backers, age 25 to over 40, told LunchDates the political affiliation of a prospective date is unimportant, but Kerry supporters may be pickier daters. Twelve percent of Kerry supporters declared shared political views were "very important" to a relationship versus only 1 percent of Bush backers.
"Bush men seem to be more into women's looks and other interests," said LunchDates founder Steve Penner.
Forty-two percent of Kerry singles and 29 percent of Bush backers also claimed political similarities were "somewhat" important.
Kerry men were the most politically discriminating, with 60 percent noting common political ground was somewhat or very important.
Although Penner admits the poll is scientifically inaccurate, he said it is important to examine whether shared political beliefs is a trait Boston-area singles look for in potential spouses.
Penner, who has been tracking political preferences at LunchDates since the 1988 presidential election, said the political sentiments of singles have changed over the years.
During the Reagan years, singles tended to readily identify themselves as liberals or conservatives, but in the 1990s, many singles responded that they did not think about politics often, Penner said.
Democrat singles' interests in dating within their own political arenas is continuing to rise in the new millennium, according to LunchDates polls. In the 2000 election, 55 percent of Gore, compared with 46 percent of Kerry supporters in 2004, said political affiliation was not important dating criteria.
Republican singles, on the other hand, are becoming less interested in politics in the singles scene. Republican single who believed shared political beliefs to be unimportant jumped 18 percent from 2000 to 2004, said Penner.
Although Republican singles appear to be less discriminating daters when it comes to politics, it does not indicate a general disinterest in politics. In fact, the opposite is true as there are fewer ambiguous and waffling single voters in 2004, said Penner.
Penner documented that 21 percent of LunchDates singles were still undecided two weeks before the 2000 elections, but this year, only 13 percent were undecided five weeks before the Nov. 2 election.
Although politics is not the only focus of the dating service, a LunchDates' standard entrance interview asks singles how important politics is to them in a relationship.
"We don't ever want to match up a right-winged conservative with a more progressive left-leaning liberal because they're certainly not going to get along," said Penner.
LunchDates, Boston's oldest personalized dating service, surveyed 200 men and 200 women through interviews with match counselors from Sept. 21 to 28.
they = Kerry men all have boyfriends.
I'd be happy for them settling for abortion happy women who'll abort their seed out of existence.
Of course, many Kerry supporters think that a "mixed marriage" is between a man and a woman.
And if she's a conservative, she'll be smart enough not to go home with you.
I can't speak for Gustaf, but I've bagged my share of GOP girls.
*Grin* I was formerly engaged to a liberal/moderate. I'm now dating a conservative Republican. The difference is like water to wine. Never again will I visit the dark side.
I said conservative. Not GOP ;) and there is a difference.
Either GOP or conservative, my statement still stands.
*laugh* In name only. Actions are louder than words, He-Man. Yours too.
What's the term, 'single for a reason'?
So, a chick who has sex can't be conservative?
It's not about whether she has sex or not. It's about who she has it with.
How about explaining the conservative values behind sleeping around with anyone who "looks hot"?
I wasn't aware that every decision in life was governed by conservative values. Some decisions (like going home with a member of the opposite sex) have no political or ideological significance.
No problem, then. If a conservative girl sleeps with a conservative guy, everything is okay.
I am open to all races since God made all women beautiful, but I could not handle (FOR DATING) a non conservative thinking woman. It would be so illogical to me, that I wouldn't be having as much fun as I should have.
Also, if it gets serious and you have a liberal as a spouse, could be an unhappy home IMO. But, that is just me.
I want to meet a nice conservative girl but I really don't know how.
"All my friends tell me just to be myself and pursue my hobbies.....do what I'm good at - and love - and I'll meet a like-minded woman. So, I've been getting stoned and watching Star Trek re-runs the last couple years.....it isn't working."
No ;) if a conservative girl sleeps with her husband, it's okay.
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