Decentralizing The GOP
By Reid Wilson
No member of Congress, except the party's '08 WH nominee, scored more than 1% of the vote when GOP voters were asked who best represents the party's core values.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) took 13%, but in the latest sign of the GOP's general dissatisfaction with DC -- including their own incumbents -- every other name mentioned by more than 1% of respondents is not a member of Congress.
Ex-AK Gov. Sarah Palin (R) won the most mentions, at 18%, followed by McCain at 13%. Ex-AR Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) was the choice of 7%, while ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney, ex-Speaker Newt Gingrich and radio host Rush Limbaugh trailed with 6%, 4% and 2%, respectively.
Members of Congress getting the nod at 1% included House Min. Leader John Boehner, Sen. Min. Leader Mitch McConnell, Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Reps. Mike Pence (R-IN) and Ron Paul (R-TX).
The new survey from the Washington Post shows GOP voters are unhappy with the direction their party is headed, but they disagree with some national party officials by allowing for a broader tent and a greater diversity of opinion.
Though conservatives have howled when a centrist candidate shows up on the ballot, GOP voters are largely fine with their candidates holding more moderate positions. Fully 69% said it is okay for GOP candidates to take moderate positions, while 27% said their candidates should have "only conservative" views.
Meanwhile, GOP voters say the party is spending too little time on three key issues that have brought them mixed success. Six in 10 voters say they think the GOP is not talking enough about federal spending and the economy, two issues that GOPers have used in recent months to set themselves apart from the WH, with good results.
But 61% say the GOP is not talking enough about illegal immigration. Many political watchers blame that issue for costing the party among Hispanic voters, who backed Pres. Obama by a more than 2-to-1 margin in '08.
GOPers seem to be content with the amount their party talks about social issues. More than half the party's backers say they talk the right amount or too much about gun rights, same-sex marriage and abortion.
The GOP electorate, it seems, is more forgiving than some members of the RNC. A resolution proposed by a conservative RNC member would prohibit the party from funding candidates who do not fit 8 of 10 tenets of the party -- something that could eliminate funding for two of the party's top Sen candidates in DE and IL this year.
The GOP remains unified in its feelings towards the admin -- 89% say they are either dissatisfied or angry at the Obama WH -- but they are less sure of their feelings towards their own leaders. Just 49% say the GOP is headed in the right direction, while 42% say the party is going the wrong way. And 41% is dissatisfied or angry about GOPers in Congress.
The poll, conducted 11/19-23, surveyed 804 self-identified GOPers and GOP-leaning nonpartisans for a margin of error of +/- 3.5%.
Seems like at least 1% of those polled have some level of intelligence. Ron Paul seems to be spot on on just about everything right now in hindsight.