Tea Party More Popular Than Republican Party

[Nina~ 431]

A new Rasmussen poll finds that the tea party movement's popularity is growing, so much so that it garners more support than the Republican party on a generic Congressional ballot. The poll hints that the burgeoning discontent among conservatives within the GOP threatens to splinter the party at a time when the popularity of President Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress are waning as we head into an election year.

The tea party movement was conceived out of antipathy for President Obama's economic stimulus plan and cultivated by groups like Freedom Works and conservative commentators such as Glenn Beck. Its guiding principals are centered around opposition to tax increases and the expansion of federal government spending. The movement rose to prominence when it organized highly-publicized protest gatherings across the country on April 15th of this year.

As reported by Talking Points Memo, the respondents to the Rasmussen poll were asked the following question:

"Okay, suppose the Tea Party Movement organized itself as a political party. When thinking about the next election for Congress, would you vote for the Republican candidate from your district, the Democratic candidate from your district, or the Tea Party candidate from your district?"

The response of all those who were polled was Democratic 36%, Tea Party 23% and Republican 18%. Further, the poll found that independents are more inclined to vote for a tea party candidate over Democratic or Republican candidates.

While some Republicans have expressed dismay over the emergence of the tea party movement, others have suggested that the GOP should embrace the group and its issues.

Tea party sympathizers recently proposed a resolution to make the RNC withhold its endorsement and funding unless candidates pass an "ideological purity test." The movement will hold its first national convention this January in Nashville, and Glenn Beck has indicated that he intends to stake out a more activist role in politics going forward by holding seminars across the country to educate conservatives on how to run for office without the support of a major political party.

But the Republican party has yet to determine whether or not they can harness the energy emanating from the right wing without being pulled out of the mainstream. This dilemma was highlighted by the GOP's November loss of a congressional seat it had held since the 1800s, after a tea party-supported candidate pressured the establishment Republican out of the race. That race suggested something rather striking: while the GOP may not be able to win without the support of the tea party movement, they might not be able to win with it running the show either.

Link

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The response of all those who were polled was Democratic 36%, Tea Party 23% and Republican 18%. Further, the poll found that independents are more inclined to vote for a tea party candidate over Democratic or Republican candidates.

Excellent. This works well for the Democrats in a "winner takes all" election system.

Goooooo Tea Party.

[alienlovechild 75]

The response of all those who were polled was Democratic 36%, Tea Party 23% and Republican 18%. Further, the poll found that independents are more inclined to vote for a tea party candidate over Democratic or Republican candidates.

Excellent. This works well for the Democrats in a "winner takes all" election system.

Goooooo Tea Party.

That won't happen as it will guarantee Obama's re-election. Relying on a non-existent 3rd political party means the Democrats are in big trouble. It's a big switch for them considering they claimed for months that there was no widespread dissatisfaction with Obama and that the GOP had made the whole thing up!

[Nina~ 431]

The Tea Party is way too disorganized to make any real damage in 2012.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The response of all those who were polled was Democratic 36%, Tea Party 23% and Republican 18%. Further, the poll found that independents are more inclined to vote for a tea party candidate over Democratic or Republican candidates.

Excellent. This works well for the Democrats in a "winner takes all" election system.

Goooooo Tea Party.

That won't happen as it will guarantee Obama's re-election. Relying on a non-existent 3rd political party means the Democrats are in big trouble. It's a big switch for them considering they claimed for months that there was no widespread dissatisfaction with Obama and that the GOP had made the whole thing up!

I wouldn't bet on the right fringe to develop enough sense not to sabotage the GOP. But even if they do, Obama's re-election hinges first and foremost on the state of the economy going into 2012, the projected fiscal situation at that time and - to a lesser extent - on the situation and the degree of our continued involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. The current dissatisfaction with the President is nothing I worry about too much at this point. Certainly not in light of the fact that the GOP clearly failed thus far to capitalize on it.

Edited December 8, 2009 by Mr. Big Dog

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The Tea Party is way too disorganized to make any real damage in 2012.

Wait until after their convention in Nashville next year. Sarah will be on stage. This will be fun to watch.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

[Ban Hammer 14,297]

[nowhereman 1]

The Tea Party is way too disorganized to make any real damage in 2012.

I don't know about that... if any party gets say 5% of the votes it can do a lot of damage to another mainstream candidate. Just consider the Ross Perot effect in 1992 or the Ralph Nader effect in 2000.