Democrats Not Only Lost The Election, They Keep On Losing With The American People

Post-election polling shows Democrats’ popularity continuing downward slide

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Ben Bullard

For the first time in a long time, Democrats fare worse than Republicans in nationwide political polling — a striking phenomenon that suggests the midterm elections may have been a mere harbinger of worse things to come for Democrats, rather than the momentary nadir of their popularity during the waning years of a troubled presidency.

Gallup revealed Wednesday that Democrats are perceived favorably by only 36 percent of Americans, compared with a (not impressive) 42 percent favorability rating for Republicans.

From Gallup’s synopsis:

After the 2012 election, many political analysts focused on the GOP’s “image problem.” Now, it is the Democrats who appear to have the more battered image. Their favorability rating has never been lower, and they are reeling from defeats that cost them control of the U.S. Senate and strengthened the Republican House majority to levels likely not seen in 90 years.

On the other hand, the American public does not admire Republicans more, their numerous election victories notwithstanding. Neither party can say it is making significant progress in improving its image among the U.S. population, but undoubtedly the 2014 elections augmented the GOP’s ability to shape the agenda in Washington and in state capitals across the country. This newfound power could pose its own problems for the GOP.

The 36 percent approval rating for Democrats marks a record low, according to Gallup. Democrats have polled higher than their GOP foes in every Gallup survey since Sept. 2011. Whether that advantage broadens in coming months will largely depend on how the new Republican majority in both houses of Congress carries out the will of the voters who sent GOP candidates to Washington, D.C., predicts Gallup.

“The [Republican] party could be on the verge of winning over a greater segment of the country or, not unlike the Democrats this year, could see its brand go into a free fall,” the survey states. “This will depend on what Republican leaders do in the coming two years.”