12/16/09

from The Hill

Pollster: 2010 could be year of 'the angry white male' heading into elections

By Sean J. Miller 

2010 could be the year of the “angry white male” as Americans are anxious about the state of the economy, according Republican pollster Ed Goeas.

Citing results from a new bipartisan survey released on Wednesday that found more men than women are struggling to find work, Goeas said, “There is the potential for this being a 1994 year of the angry white male."


Republicans captured control of both the House and Senate in the 1994 elections.

Of the 1,000 likely voters surveyed Dec. 6-9 in The George Washington University Battleground Poll conducted by the Tarrance Group and Lake Research Partners, 20 percent described themselves as "angry" about "the way things are going in the country today."

While only 5 percent of Democrats feel that way, 26 percent of Independents and 33 percent of Republicans described themselves as angry. Moreover, 35 percent of respondents said the country is in recession and 56 percent said it is on the wrong track.

Looking ahead to the 2010 elections, Goeas said, "I’m certainly going to say this is good news for Republicans.”


The poll was released at a breakfast briefing sponsored by The Christian Science Monitor.

Citing voters' main issue in the survey, Democratic pollster Celinda Lake said, "It's still the economy."

“There have been some really dramatic demographic changes going on in the country, when you see, for example, women holding more jobs than men," Lake said.

That's a “a real key change in terms of the economy," Lake added.

Pointing to a 13-point lead that Republicans enjoy over Democrats in the category of “extremely likely to vote,” Lake acknowledged that “there is a very important enthusiasm gap."

Healthcare may not be the issue to help Democrats overcome that gap.

“People feel fairly secure in their access to healthcare,” Lake said. “We still have a challenge when it comes to the healthcare debate."

Lake called the White House’s hands-off approach in dealing with the specifics of healthcare reform a “mistake."

“People are looking for the president to lay out his agenda," she said. Only 48 percent of those surveyed said President Barack Obama is better at handling healthcare reform than Republicans, down from 53 percent in July.


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Tip: Guns don't kill people. Good aim, proper techniques and frequent practice kills people.