… The polarized stalemate leaves both parties dissatisfied. … But every effort to break the stalemate in the age of polarization has failed. Red-state Democrats and blue-state Republicans have tried to create separate, localized identities for their candidates that can allow them to compete in hostile terrain. It doesn’t work because […] Read more »
The astonishing decline of the American swing voter
American voters are becoming more reliably partisan. This is visible in lots of different evidence. Now, new research has nicely captured a logical consequence: the decline of the swing voter. The research — “Polarization and the Decline of the American Floating Voter” — is from Michigan State political scientist Corwin […] Read more »
More Republicans Now Prefer One-Party Government
In a shift from last year, Republicans now clearly prefer having one party control Congress and the presidency, as opposed to favoring divided party control or saying it makes no difference. CONT. Jeffrey M. Jones, Gallup Read more »
Role of U.S. Gov’t Remains Key Source of Party Differences
Democrats and Republicans have almost precisely opposite views of the purpose of government in today’s society. Fifty-seven percent of Democrats tend to believe the government should take active steps to try to improve the lives of its citizens. The same percentage of Republicans tilt toward the belief that the government […] Read more »
Social Issues Draw Lines Between Republicans, Other Voters
Social issues are tricky terrain for Republican presidential hopefuls, the new WSJ/NBC News poll underscores. On a series of “trends in American society today” – including tightening abortion restrictions and increasing legislation protecting gays and lesbians – Americans who identify as Republicans have different beliefs about the direction the country […] Read more »
Majority in U.S. Maintain Need for Third Major Party
A majority of Americans, 60%, say a third major political party is needed because the Republican and Democratic parties “do such a poor job” of representing the American people. This matches the high set in 2013. Since 2007, a majority of Americans have generally called for a third party, with […] Read more »