Will Democrats show up to vote? Polls point to GOP turnout advantage – VIDEO: Will Dems show up to polls? – Full …
A trend-line is emerging in the polls that is buoying Republicans spirits for the Nov. 4 midterms beyond President Obamas unpopularity and a few key races turning in their favor, the numbers show GOP voters simply care about this election more than Democrats.
And that could translate to a sizable advantage in turnout next month.
A Fox News poll released last week showed 45 percent of Republicans described themselves as extremely interested in the election, compared with 30 percent of Democrats.
The results aligned with a recent Gallup poll also showing Republican and Republican-leaning voters far more interested in the midterms. Forty-four percent of Republicans described themselves as extremely motivated to vote, compared with just 25 percent of Democrats.
Surveys also indicate that, compared with past elections, interest among voters of both parties is low this year, making for an unpredictable election night. But GOP strategists say dissatisfaction among Americans with the direction of the country ultimately will boost their candidates.
Thats why you see Republican candidates having real momentum right now, said Andrea Bozek, the National Republican Congressional Committees communications director.
That Democrats are less enthused or motivated is expected, considering they typically turn out in low numbers in election years without a White House race.
But this year could be particularly unnerving for Democrats, considering the poll numbers raise doubts about their success in slowing the historical trend with get-out-the-vote efforts for such loyalists as young people, unmarried women and minorities. For instance, their participation dropped 21 percent from 2008, a presidential election year, to 2010, a midterm year, according to the nonpartisan Voter Participation Center.
Campaigns to keep Hispanic voters excited about going to the polls this year for Democratic candidates suffered a setback in September when President Obama decided to delay executive action on immigration, resulting in some of the countrys most influential Latino groups accusing him of caving to election-year politics.
We are bitterly disappointed in the president, said Frank Sharry, executive director of the group Americas Voice. The president and Senate Democrats have chosen politics over people.