strategy and research | November 6, 2007
One year after the 2006 election when Democrats took control of the House and Senate, Republicans continue to pay the price for the current battles taking place in Congress. Democrats have moved into a stable 51-41 lead in the Congressional vote - bigger than the margin they achieved in 2006 - and are well ahead in the battleground districts. In the latest Democracy Corps memo, Stan Greenberg and James Carville take a look at how the public views the two parties and who should carry the mantle of change in next year’s election. We hope you find this report helpful in your work. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at 202-478-8300.
One year after the 2006 election where Democrats gained control of the House and Senate, the media and political commentators have been paying a great deal of attention to the Congress’ low approval ratings. That is a legitimate measure on the public’s discontent with Washington, but it is not a window on how the public is viewing the parties and who should carry the mantle of change next year. The focus on Congress’ approval allows the press to write more ‘balanced stories,’ but in the process, misses the main story: it is incumbent Republican members individually and ‘Republicans in Congress’ generally who are paying the price for the current battles. That helps account for why the Democrats have moved into a stable lead in the named balloting for Congress – bigger than the margin they achieved in 2006.
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