Poltical Wire had a small note up this morning: No More Enthsuiasm Gap between Democrats and Republicans. So I checked out the Washington Post story and it's true: As of Friday, 74% of Democrats are enthusiastic about voting for their party's choice in their Congressional district, vs. 76% of Republicans.
Table below the fold. And nothing against Frank Rich and his excellent article this morning on Tea Party anger, but this is another reason the Republicans are so furious over health care: Its passage has energized the Democratic base and made it that much more difficult for the GOP to return to power.
First, the table. Then we'll talk.
- How enthusiastic are you about voting for the (Democrat/Republican) in your Congressional district this year - very enthusiastic, fairly enthusiastic, not too enthusiastic, or not enthusiastic at all?
3/26/10 Summary Table - Leaned Dem/Rep Supporters
--- Enthusiastic -- ---- Not Enthusiastic ---- No
NET Very Fairly NET Not too Not at all op.
a. Democrat 74 39 35 25 14 11 1
b. Republican 76 42 34 23 16 7 1
Trend:
a. Democrat
--- Enthusiastic -- ---- Not Enthusiastic ---- No
NET Very Fairly NET Not too Not at all op.
3/26/10 74 39 35 25 14 11 1
3/26/10 RV 76 41 35 23 13 9 1
10/22/06 RV 78 38 40 20 13 8 2
10/8/06 RV 81 42 40 18 14 4 1
b. Republican
--- Enthusiastic -- ---- Not Enthusiastic ---- No
NET Very Fairly NET Not too Not at all op.
3/26/10 76 42 34 23 16 7 1
3/26/10 RV 75 41 34 23 18 5 2
10/22/06 RV 80 39 41 19 14 5 1
10/8/06 RV 76 35 41 23 18 5 1
WaPo
This squares with the polling that Markos reported on yesterday, with some additional interesting information: While it would have been nice to have comparisons to the same times in 2006, or to any times in 2008, but this is the salient point: Both parties are now at the same level of enthusiasm now as they were in 2006, when the Democrats regained control of Congress.
This is the enthusiasm gap Meteor Blades worried about after Massachusetts, when young voters failed to turn out. The National Journal had the same concern, as did Eugene Robinson. And lots of Kossaks.
What a difference a victory makes.
The most recent Gallup poll (4-7 March 2010) does show an almost even split between Democrats and Republican (30% to 29%, or 45% to 44% if leaners are included). Those numbers are prior to the health care victory, of course, and I can't find any more recent polls right now.
But, while we have our work cut out for us (eternal vigilance being the price of freedom), it may no longer be an uphill battle. Democrats are energized again.
And from the sound of things, President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and even Leader Reid are determined, this time, to keep the enthusiasm up.