DCPolitics

Party ID: Independents Rule

GOP, DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT IS SLIPPING …  Nearly half of Americans – 46 percent – described themselves as political independents last month, according to partisan identification data compiled by Gallup.  That’s the second-highest mark ever recorded – and the fifteenth consecutive survey in which the total of self-described independents topped 40…

GOP, DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT IS SLIPPING … 

Nearly half of Americans – 46 percent – described themselves as political independents last month, according to partisan identification data compiled by Gallup.  That’s the second-highest mark ever recorded – and the fifteenth consecutive survey in which the total of self-described independents topped 40 percent.

By contrast, only 28 percent of Americans classified themselves as Democrats and only 24 percent said they were “Republicans” in the latest survey.

GOP partisan identification hasn’t topped 25 percent since last June, while Democratic partisan identification hasn’t topped 33 percent since last March – signs America’s two-party system is losing its grip over an increasingly disaffected electorate.

Don’t believe us?  Look at the voter turnout (or lack thereof) for the major party primary and runoff elections last month (HERE and HERE).

When U.S. President Barack Obama took office in 2009, only 33 percent of Americans identified as independents – compared to 36 percent who described themselves as Democrats and 30 percent who described themselves as “Republicans.

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11 comments

WW July 3, 2014 at 9:22 am

Easily understood!
I’m disenchanted with almost EVERY elected official. I see them as self serving, egotistical, unethical, immoral, LIARS, with their own interest first and foremost in their agenda!
Obama Clyburn Wilson Clinton Obama Pelosi Reid Shumer Sanford Landreau Boxer McCain Graham
Haley Harrell Eckstrom Leatherman Martin Ravenel Peeler Rankin Cromer McGill Courson Malloy
This list could go on until it included 99% of ALL elected officials of both major parties.
About the only one I would vote for, Gowdy.
We now have Government of the politician, by the politician and for the politician and we stupidly and ignorantly continue to reelect most all. The voters are our own poison!
I hear more and more people profess their feelings of voting for NO incumbent! Maybe we will awaken, if not already too late!
The protests in Southern California regarding the dumping of illegals all over this country gives me some hope for my country, my children and grandchildren.
Will make up my mind on South Carolina and Washington, sfter November.

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Same ol' Same ol' July 3, 2014 at 10:16 am

“I see them as self serving, egotistical, unethical, immoral, LIARS, with their own interest first and foremost in their agenda!”

Those are entry requirements for the job. If you don’t have the qualifications, you can’t win. The meek need not apply. Even if a good person gets in, they’ll likely “turn” before it’s all said and done.

It takes a special person to run for public office. They’re called psychopaths.

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aikencounty July 3, 2014 at 9:25 am

A bit of wisdom from “Cornbread Confuseus”.
Democrats or Republicans NEVER elect a President!
INDEPENDENTS do it.
YOU BETCHA!

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Smirks July 3, 2014 at 9:40 am

It doesn’t matter what they identify themselves as, it matters who they vote for. If 46% of Americans vote for third party candidates, then the two-party system really would be falling apart. 46% identifying as independent doesn’t matter when more than 90% of the vote still goes to the two big parties.

The 46% are more than likely just a mix of moderates and far left/far right people disgruntled with Democrats/Republicans respectively.

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Bill July 3, 2014 at 11:19 am

I sort of disagree with you on this. By saying I am an independent I am saying I will not vote straight party. I may vote for a Democrat, I may vote for a Republican or I may vote third party. It depends on the candidate. Unfortunately I not offered much in the way of choice in this state. What I want the parties to know is they cannot count on me. I use to say I was a Republican until the Teanuts took over.

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Tunes'n'News July 3, 2014 at 9:42 am

Question: What happens to the primary system and related party stranglehold on barriers to entry if 46% independent climbs well above 50%? Say, each party has about 20%?

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tomstickler July 3, 2014 at 10:04 am

Meaningless in states like South Carolina with open primaries, where voters do not register by party ID, and anyone can vote in any primary.

This fact alone makes Will’s moaning about the low turnout in SC’s primaries and runoffs being connected to “partisan identification” inapposite.

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sparklecity July 3, 2014 at 11:30 pm

As a proud Independent (since 1971) I say that is the way it should be

What do you want – mandatory registration in some political party to be able to vote????

That is what the communists do.

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GrandTango July 3, 2014 at 10:24 am

Wonder why these Independents put REPUBLICANS in control of the US House, and will put them in control of the US Senate? And why is the GOP in charge of SC?

Could it be that people are really CONSERVATIVES, not Independents…and the GOP Platform stresses Conservatism, even if the media vilifies it.

People may be dissuaded from calling themselves Republicans, because the media, FITS included are in lockstep, training their followers to HATE Republicans…

But people want Republicans running things, because we want CONSERVATIVES even more. And Conservatives are in the GOP.

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sparklecity July 3, 2014 at 11:57 pm

Been a PROUD independent since 1971!!!!!

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nitrat July 4, 2014 at 4:38 pm

I’ve seen studies that show that most ‘independents’ actually vote R or D every single election and the actual number of true independents is about 7%.

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