Public Prefers Candidates Who Serve Pork, But Not Tea

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Despite being fed a steady diet of political vitriol about the evils of earmarking, Americans are more likely to vote for a congressional candidate who brings home the bacon, according to the latest Society for Human Resource Management/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll, conducted with the Pew Research Center.

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Fifty-three percent of the public said they were more likely to vote for the person on the ballot who had brought government projects and money to their home district.

Only 12 percent said it would make them less likely to vote for the candidate.

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Even a plurality of Republicans, who have made the most hay in Congress out of earmarks, want the money to keep flowing. Forty-seven percent of Republicans said they were more likely to vote for someone who supplied the pork, compared to 17 percent who said they were less likely.

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The tea party movement didn't get particularly high marks, either, with 41 percent saying a candidate's support for the tea party would make no difference in their support.

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The influence of Palin and the tea party fell short even of majority support among Republicans. Forty-one percent of Republicans said Palin's campaigning would make them more likely to vote for her preferred candidate. Forty-four percent of Republicans said they were more likely to vote for a candidate who supported the tea party.

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Independents were almost as unimpressed with the tea party, with only a quarter of them saying they were more likely to vote for a candidate who embraced the movement. Roughly the same, 27 percent, said they were less likely to vote for such a candidate.

http://congressionalconnection.nationaljournal.com/2010/08/public-prefers-candidates-who.php

[The_Dude 1,142]

I know that in my old district, the prevailing rationale behind continually voting for the uncumbent was his lofty committee positions. A junior congressman will have less clout and as such, fewer opportunities to get jobs and money for our district.

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I know that in my old district, the prevailing rationale behind continually voting for the uncumbent was his lofty committee positions. A junior congressman will have less clout and as such, fewer opportunities to get jobs and money for our district.

Our Congressman has a kickass "constituent services" department. It is common knowledge and that's why most people I know vote to re-elect him over and over again.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Our Congressman has a kickass "constituent services" department. It is common knowledge and that's why most people I know vote to re-elect him over and over again.

On the local level, there is much more rational thinking when voting and much less demagoguery.

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On the local level, there is much more rational thinking when voting and much less demagoguery.

Yeah, my congressman's facebook page is hilarious because it is full of out-of-state teabagger freaks who demagogue on EVERYTHING he posts. For example, he'll post something like, "attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for state of art cancer screening facility" and a bunch of Jersey posters will say "way to go" or just like it but the teabagger freaks will respond with "taxpayer money omgomgomgomgomg".

[chri'stina 190]

Yeah, my congressman's facebook page is hilarious because it is full of out-of-state teabagger freaks who demagogue on EVERYTHING he posts. For example, he'll post something like, "attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for state of art cancer screening facility" and a bunch of Jersey posters will say "way to go" or just like it but the teabagger freaks will respond with "taxpayer money omgomgomgomgomg".

Those could be Jersey tea bag people, ya know. http://www.teapartypatriots.org/state/New_Jersey

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Those could be Jersey tea bag people, ya know. http://www.teapartypatriots.org/state/New_Jersey

I look at their profiles where they list current city.

[chri'stina 190]

I look at their profiles where they list current city.

[mawilson 2,133]

Americans are more likely to vote for a congressional candidate who brings home the bacon... more likely to vote for someone who supplied the pork

No Muslim candidates, then?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

No Muslim candidates, then?