We were singing,
“bye-bye, miss american pie.”
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.— Don McLean, 1971
The Republican Party had great potential, building on the massive failure of Obamacare. All throughout 2013, the political forces were beginning to tilt against Obama and the democrats. Until…the Republican establishment turned against their core and attacked the Tea Party and conservatives. The ‘pubs in Washington betrayed their core, siding, time after time, with Obama, democrats and liberals. We now see the results of that betrayal in polls being released this week.
The latest Gallup Poll has some startling news. Only 25% of voters now identify themselves as Republicans. Where did those who disappeared go? 42% say they are now Independents.
Record-High 42% of Americans Identify as Independents
Republican identification lowest in at least 25 years
PRINCETON, NJ — Forty-two percent of Americans, on average, identified as political independents in 2013, the highest Gallup has measured since it began conducting interviews by telephone 25 years ago. Meanwhile, Republican identification fell to 25%, the lowest over that time span. At 31%, Democratic identification is unchanged from the last four years but down from 36% in 2008.
The trend, if you examine the chart above, proves the allegations that the more the ‘Pubs switch to and supports the left, the more members they lose. Historically, elections have been won by the party who wins the most of the independents. Rather than gathering those independents into the party, the ‘Pubs are alienating their core causing them to leave the party.
If that 42% suddenly decided to become a 3rd party, they would have enough members to beat both the ‘Pubs and the dems. That realization has not occurred to the ‘Pubs in Washington, and more and more, the ‘Pubs in the states. When it is time for the ‘Pubs to go to the well of core voters, they may discovered that well is dry. They’ve driven that Chevy to the levy one time too many.
The column below from the Washington Times expands on the shift of voters to independence and describes just how deep into denial are the Washington establishment
Inside the Beltway: Don’t worry, be happy, Republicans
By Jennifer Harper, The Washington Times, Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Republican foes were eager to spring upon new Gallup poll findings revealing that a mere 25 percent of voters currently identify with the Grand Old Party, compared to a record high 42 percent who call themselves independents and 31 percent who were Democrats. Is it time to gnash teeth and panic as midterm election season sets in? No, Republican strategist Matt Mackowiak tells Inside the Beltway.
“There are many dynamics at work here. You have to remember how many people also identify as conservative or liberal, and that the generic congressional ballot currently favors Republicans. You also have to consider voter motivation and enthusiasm, a force which will likely sway the election in GOP favor,” he observes. “And yes, the party must woo independents to win a national election.”
…
“One survey doesn’t mean more than a Democrat in a red state choosing to retire,” Mr. Mackowiak says. “I pay more attention to the decisions of Mike McIntyre than I do one Gallup poll.”
Interesting to note that a YouGov/Economist poll also released Wednesday finds that 62 percent of independent voters would not re-elect their current local representatives. So indeed, the demographic is up for grabs.
• 46 percent of Americans would not re-elect the current member of Congress in their district if the election were today; 45 percent of Republicans, 37 percent of Democrats and 62 percent of independents agree.
• 49 percent of conservatives, 40 percent of liberals and 49 percent of moderates also agree.
• 30 percent of Americans overall are not sure yet if they would re-elect their local member of Congress; 27 percent of Republicans, 33 percent of Democrats and 22 percent of independents agree.
• 27 percent of conservatives, 31 percent of liberals and 20 percent of moderates also agree.