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Republicans Closing The Congressional Gap
Captain's Quarters ^ | Jan. 22, 2008 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 01/22/2008 8:16:54 AM PST by jdm

After a disastrous 2006 election, Republicans lost control of Congress for the first time in twelve years. After a disastrous 2007 session, Democrats may have given Republicans a window of opportunity to take it back. Rasmussen reports that the GOP has closed the gap on the generic Congressional ballot question to five points, their best showing since November 2006:

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that, if the Congressional Election were held today, 43% of American voters say they would vote for the Democrat in their district and 38% would opt for the Republican (see crosstabs). That’s the closest Republicans have been on this measure since losing control of Congress in Election 2006. It’s also the first time in six months that the Democrat’s advantage has been in single digits. A month ago, the Democrats enjoyed a ten-point edge over the GOP.

Democrats lead by eleven among women while Republicans lead by three among men. A separate survey found that voters have fairly low expectations for Congress during this election year.

It remains to be seen whether this survey reflects lasting change or is merely a statistical aberration. However, it is worth noting that Republicans have also recently reduced the gap in partisan identification. This may be partly due to increased confidence in the War on Terror and the situation in Iraq.

One of the more worrying indicators for Democrats comes from the behavior of independents. Unaffiliated voters gave Democrats a 20-point edge in December. Now that number has fallen to six points, a dramatic shift in a demographic that the Republicans desperately need to recapture.

Democrats tried to sell 2007 as a winning year at the end of the first session, but this shows that no one bought it. They failed to budge the White House on the war, and they spent so much time on fruitless investigations that they failed to push the rest of their agenda. Their leadership now faces the daunting task of pushing an agenda during a presidential election cycle, a near-impossibility even under the best of circumstances with the most talented of leadership.

Under Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, it will turn from tragedy to farce, and in fairly short order.

Republicans appear to have picked up momentum, but it's largely based on recognition that the Democrats turned out worse than previous voter analysis of Republicans. If the GOP wants to give voters a real reason to continue flocking back to the Republican banner, they need to demonstrate their seriousness about ending corruption and pork-barrel politics and their commitment to limited government. Appointing Jeff Flake to Appropriations would be a good start, and an executive order defunding the airdropped earmarks in the latest omnibus spending bill would amplify that good start.


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: congress; gap; republicans

1 posted on 01/22/2008 8:16:55 AM PST by jdm
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To: jdm

I recall seeing, a couple of years ago that the left enjoys a somewhat permanent advantage in these Party ID numbers and if the Rep. can close to 5 points is the same, for purposes of an election, as a dead heat.


2 posted on 01/22/2008 8:20:46 AM PST by aroundabout
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To: jdm

The longer Schumer delays and reduces the economic stimulus, the closer he comes to Daschle’s fate.


3 posted on 01/22/2008 8:23:32 AM PST by Brilliant
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To: jdm
Republicans could maybe take back congress with a big turnout in November. If our presidential candidate had long coat-tails and could really energize the base, it would make a difference.

Why are you laughing?

4 posted on 01/22/2008 8:24:33 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (The broken wall, the burning roof and tower. And Agamemnon dead.)
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To: ClearCase_guy
Republicans could maybe take back congress with a big turnout in November. If our presidential candidate had long coat-tails and could really energize the base, it would make a difference. Why are you laughing?

Because we just spent a year peeing in everyone's punchbowl and now we ALL stink. ;-)

5 posted on 01/22/2008 8:30:47 AM PST by rhombus
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To: jdm
Bump and a call to all to ping to this thread anyone who is talking about sitting out the election. If you cannot stomach a vote for a RINO against a beast, at least block them with a vote for an opposing majority in Congress. Send Harry and Nancy to the back bench where they belong.
6 posted on 01/22/2008 8:33:59 AM PST by NonValueAdded (Fred Dalton Thompson for President)
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To: jdm

the GOP has closed the gap on the generic Congressional ballot question to five points, their best showing since November 2006:

Well, since we got our a$$es handed to us in Nov ‘06 I wouldn’t call this exactly good news. Just less bad than before.


7 posted on 01/22/2008 8:35:42 AM PST by saganite (Lust type what you what in the “tagline” space)
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To: jdm

Maybe the only way we can survive is taking back House and Senate. Dont believe we can keep the Presidency.

But keeping all the RINOs wont cut it.


8 posted on 01/22/2008 8:40:08 AM PST by Bailee
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To: aroundabout
That is correct. The Congressional Generic Ballot question (would you vote for a Dem or Repub for congress) has a 5% bias towards the commies. This is a factor of turnout since GOP voters tend to be more reliable voters and there are many more dilettantes on the other side of the aisle.
9 posted on 01/22/2008 8:40:10 AM PST by bpjam (I'll crawl over broken glass to vote against McCain (or the Huck))
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A Hillary v McCain matchup will actually help the congressional GOP IMO.

I am not a huge fan of McCain (I supported Fred Thompson), but I think the polarizing affect of Hillary, the fact that I think she will bring out the GOP vote (even overcoming McCain’s wishy washiness) AND drive some independents and maybe even a few white male moderate to conservative DEMS into McCain, which might translate into a few more votes down the ballot for the GOP.

I am no fan of Huckabee, Romney and not fired up about McCain, but if I would drive through a hellstorm to vote for Cartman, Adam Sandler or even my dog over Hillary Clinton.


10 posted on 01/22/2008 8:42:19 AM PST by Crimson Elephant
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To: jdm
If the Democrats nominate Hillary Clinton to the Presidency, the Republicans will take the White House and both houses of Congress in November. It'll be a clean sweep.
11 posted on 01/22/2008 8:45:31 AM PST by Savage Beast ("History is not just cruel. It is witty." ~Charles Krauthammer)
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To: Savage Beast

I agree. There just aren’t that many welfare-grabbing, union thug trial lawyers out there. It’s gotta be less than 50%. aT LEAST i PRAY SO.


12 posted on 01/22/2008 9:01:12 AM PST by mallardx
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To: jdm

We will lose more seats in both houses and the Presidency. We cannot win with the pathetic liberal team we have been presented with. 8 years of canklesaurus... bank on it!

LLS


13 posted on 01/22/2008 9:02:32 AM PST by LibLieSlayer (Support America, Kill terrorists, Destroy dims and vote Fred!)
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To: jdm

A great strategy would be to point out that the economy turned south after the Democrats took control of Congress. They delayed the budget and increased earmarks 400%. Making the tax cuts permanent was not even in the cards. Now we’re headed towards recession. Thank Nancy and Harry!


14 posted on 01/22/2008 9:25:26 AM PST by bobjam
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To: ClearCase_guy
Republicans could maybe take back congress with a big turnout in November. If our presidential candidate had long coat-tails and could really energize the base, it would make a difference.

It's also possible that, if a less than desirable Republican is the nominee, committed conservatives may turn inward and concentrate on their Congressional candidates, rallying around them, and helping to get them elected. Having conservatives in Congress, and possibly taking it back from the Democrats, would go a long way toward countering any bad legislation supported either by a RINO, or a Democrat president.

15 posted on 01/22/2008 9:32:22 AM PST by SuziQ
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To: ClearCase_guy
If our presidential candidate had long coat-tails and could really energize the base, it would make a difference.

True. I just can't see Clinton energizing the Dem base all that much esp. if the primary continues to be as nasty as it has been and blacks think Clinton is ganging up on Obama.

16 posted on 01/22/2008 9:33:02 AM PST by randita (Do not trust any polls!)
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To: Crimson Elephant
(I supported Fred Thompson)

I hope you still do, since he's still in the race. ;o) I'm looking forward to voting for him on Super Duper Tuesday!

17 posted on 01/22/2008 9:33:40 AM PST by SuziQ
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To: aroundabout

Yeah, maybe but with the economy tanking, the media and the Left will put that baggage directly on Bush and his Party. We get shafted either way.


18 posted on 01/22/2008 10:05:47 AM PST by phillyfanatic ( tH)
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To: phillyfanatic

All you can do is vote Republican. If you allow the media to make up your mind then you are handing them a victory without a fight.

Do all YOU can and don’t worry about the biased media.


19 posted on 01/22/2008 12:23:05 PM PST by aroundabout
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To: jdm

btt


20 posted on 01/22/2008 1:33:09 PM PST by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
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