Americans Divided Into Thirds
Friday September 29, 2006
A Pew Research Study shows that "34.9% of registered voters identify themselves as Democrats, 33.5% as independents, and 31.6% as Republicans." The big change from 2000 is a strengthening in the number of self-identified Democrats in blue states and the number of Republicans in southern states, according to the report.
[W]hile the Democratic Party has widened its lead considerably over the past four years among the group of blue states, it has gained little ground elsewhere...
Republicans currently hold a small but consistent edge over the Democrats in political red states (35% Republican, 33% independent, 32% Democrat). And as a group, swing states remain evenly divided politically - 34% identify themselves as Democrats, the same number as Republicans and 32% as independents. In 2000 these states tilted Democratic (35% vs. 32% Republican)...
[T]he Republican Party has consolidated its post-9/11 gains in the states of the deep South. In 2000, the Democrats led by six points in this group of states, but two years later the GOP took a three-point lead. In 2004, 35% of voters in the deep South identified themselves as Democrats, and the same number as Republicans. But this year, the GOP again has a three-point lead over the Democrats (36%-33%).
Pew categorized states based on the 2004 election (Alaska and Hawaii are not included):
- Red States (Bush won by more than 5%): AL, AR, AZ, GA, ID, IN, KS, LA, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WY
- Blue States (Kerry won by more than 5%): CA, CT, DC, DE, IL, NJ, MA, MD, ME, NY, RI, VT, WA
- Swing States: FL, CO, IA, OH, OR, MI, MN, NM, NH, NV, PA, WI
"In Pew Research Center surveys conducted over the past year, an average of 37% of Americans register approval of the job George W. Bush is doing as president, while 55% disapprove." There are only two states where President Bush has a job approval rating greater than 50%: Utah (63%) and New Mexico (51%). His lowest approval rating is in Maryland (24%). More Americans approve than disapprove in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama, Kansas and Texas. Voters disapprove in an approximate two-to-one ratio in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon, Illinois, California and New York.