Independent Voters Favor Democrats by 2 to 1 in Poll - WaPo\ABC

[WillyT]

Iraq War Cited Most Often As Top Issue for Elections

By Dan Balz and Jon Cohen
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, October 24, 2006

<snip>

Two weeks before the midterm elections, Republicans are losing the battle for independent voters, who now strongly favor Democrats on Iraq and other major issues facing the country and overwhelmingly prefer to see them take over the House in November, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The new poll underscores how much of a drag the war threatens to be on Republican candidates in competitive races. With debate underway in Washington about possible course changes in Iraq, Americans cite the war as the most important issue in determining their vote next month more often than any other issue, and those who do favor Democrats over Republicans by 76 percent to 21 percent.

Independents are poised to play a pivotal role in next month's elections because Democrats and Republicans are basically united behind candidates of their own parties. Ninety-five percent of Democrats said they will support Democratic candidates for the House, while slightly fewer Republicans, 88 percent, said they plan to vote for their party's candidates.

The independent voters surveyed said they plan to support Democratic candidates over Republicans by roughly 2 to 1 -- 59 percent to 31 percent -- the largest margin in any Post-ABC News poll this year. Forty-five percent said it would be good if Democrats recaptured the House majority, while 10 percent said it would not be. The rest said it would not matter.

<snip>

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/23/AR2006102300766.html

This is good news.

:bounce:

[JeffR]

1. Damn good news

I only wish they had felt this way in '04. But better late than never!