Democrats,  GOP

Republican Party in Free Fall – Number of Democrats Increases for Third Straight Month

Republican Elephant Distress

Partisan trends do not look good for the Grand Old Party.

The number of Americans who consider themselves to be Democrats inched up again in December to 41.6%. That’s up two-tenths of a point since November and the third straight monthly increase in the number of Democrats.

Only once since Rasmussen Reports began tracking this data on a monthly basis in 2002 has the number of Democrats been higher. In May, as the Obama-Clinton primary battle neared its conclusion, 41.7% of Americans said they were Democrats.

At the same time, the number of Republicans declined a full percentage point from 33.8% in November to 32.8% in December. That’s the lowest number of Republicans since August. The number claiming allegiance to the GOP peaked in September at 34.4% as the party enjoyed a convention bounce and Sarah Palin was picked as the party’s Vice Presidential nominee.

The number not affiliated with either major party inched up from 24.7% in November to 25.6% in December.

These figures are not a shock but will be food for thought for the next Repuiblican National Chairman. How ill the party increase its numbers without alienating its conservative base, driving them to the not affiliated column.

During the Goldwater/Reagan era there was a coherent message. This will be the challenge for a revived GOP post Bush – message and its deliverance within a changing demographic landscape.

Stay tuned……


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