Remember how McCain shifted his argument in the closing stages of the campaign to the need for a Republican in the White House to keep Dems from running everything? Well, CNN just released a new poll showing that argument didn't go anywhere.
Not only did Obama beat McCain in the presidential election, the Democrats picked up seats in Congress. And a new national poll suggests why a majority of voters didn't seem to buy McCain's argument.
In a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday, 59 percent of those questioned think that Democratic control of both the executive and legislative branches will be good for the country, with 38 percent saying that such one-party control will be bad.
The same poll also reveals just how far in the gutter the Repub brand has gone.
The poll also suggests that the public has a positive view of the Democratic Party, with 62 percent having a favorable opinion and 31 percent an unfavorable opinion.
That is not the case for the Republicans, with a majority, 54 percent, having an unfavorable view of the GOP and 38 percent holding a positive view.
Bill Schneider mentions that the Republicans haven't had a favorable rating this low since the Clinton impeachment. In contrast, the Democrats' favorable ratings are their highest since 1992.
One note, though--the public does expect the Democrats to reach across the aisle rather than run roughshod over the Repubs. A staggering number--86 percent--of respondents want Democrats to work across the aisle. Apparently the public remembers how the Republicans--especially from 2003 to 2007--treated compromise like a cussword when they ran the place.
The people also expect Dems to use their majority to govern well.
"That much good will from the public opens a window of opportunity for the Democrats," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. "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."
[snip]
"There's an opening here for a new Democratic majority. But it's just that, an opening. 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," Schneider said.