Chris Cillizza noted yesterday that for much of 2012, "Republicans have enjoyed an enthusiasm edge -- largely attributed to the fact that they are the party without control of the White House and whose base is animated by a deep-seeded distaste for the current president."
Quite right. Rank-and-file GOP voters were underwhelmed by their presidential choices during the Republican nominating process, and their comfort level with Mitt Romney has lagged throughout 2012. But their blinding hatred of President Obama has nevertheless given the party an advantage when it comes to voter enthusiasm.
At least it used to.
MaddowBlog chart based on Gallup data
Gallup released a poll yesterday on voter enthusiasm in swing states, and I put together this chart based on the results. On the left, you'll notice Gallup data from late June, which found Republicans with an edge when it came to those who considered themselves "extremely" or "very" enthusiastic about voting in this year's presidential election.
On the right, you'll see the latest figures, based on a poll that wrapped up earlier this week. The good news for Republicans is that GOP voters are more enthusiastic now than they were in June. The bad news for Republicans is that swing-state Democratic voters are much more enthusiastic, and have surged past their rivals.
There are competing explanations for this.
It's possible the Democrats' successful convention helped wake party voters up and generate some renewed excitement. Perhaps the slowly improving economy is making Obama's supporters more energized. Maybe Democratic advertising is having the intended effect. Don't discount the possibility that Democratic voters are getting a good long look at Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, and are deciding they really do love Obama after all.
Regardless of the motivation, the larger trend is hard to miss. If the GOP was counting on an enthusiasm gap to give them an edge this fall, they'll need to turn to a fallback plan.
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It is difficult to be enthusiastic while being chased with a vaginal probe.
That should be a bumper sticker! Wouldn't you agree Shooter?
It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue
Is that a cunning linguist joke?
Is that innuendo?
Given the recent unveiling of the real republican character I am not surprised but actually disillusioned by the low enthusiasm on the left.
What low enthusiasm on the left? Did you even bother to read this post?
I think Paul's point may have been that given what we know about the GOP's platform, the "real" Mitt Romney and the voter suppression efforts ... the Democratic base's enthusiasm should be through the roof.
It's refreshing to see that enthusiasm is way up but, call me greedy, it needs to go nuclear.
. double post
I agree with 80's Girl. The left is fortunate that the Republican party had such poor pickings this time around. If they had access to a real candidate we (the left) would be reeling. I see the change in enthusiasm being caused by the willful self-destruction of the Romney campaign and the fact that it looks like we have a good chance to pull it off. Much like a football team picks up more fans as the playoffs get near and it looks like they have a shot.
The inspiration of 2008's Candidate Obama is not there. He's done some great things, but is slow to tout his success. Some of the things that we expected him to deal with never materialized. The Bush administration took liberties with presidential power and legal interpretation to back up heinous practices. Instead of bringing these to light they were driver further underground and taken advantage of by Obama as well. Obama snubbed large dollar donors by not thanking them after the election. The list goes on.
We are fortunate, indeed, that Romney is such a moron.
Two words: Bill. Clinton.
Nothin' like a little Big Dog to stir up the base.
Bill Clinton was huge, but did you catch those speeches the night before? Man, they were on fire! I'm still reeling from that night - I'm so unused to a Democratic Party that isn't trying to run away from itself, but Tuesday night of the convention established, with speaker after speaker, that the Dems were willing to fight for stuff that they were still running and hiding from just months ago, like Obamacare, gay marriage, and abortion rights. Not to mention, they were almost gleefully attacking the Republicans every which way.
I'm convinced that this personality transplant has a lot to do with the renewed enthusiasm among Democrats. If you're on the left side of the spectrum, how could you catch that night and not say, "YEAH, that's MY team!" in a way that we've rarely been able to say during the past couple of decades.
...and Eric, along the same lines:
Nothin' like a little Big Dog to stir up Monica. (maybe sniffing some green off his success?)
Two words Mitt Romney. Nothin' like a little "Big Idiot" to stir up the base.
Does anyone actually believe that 50+% of Republicans were ever enthusiastic about Romney? If so, we need a better word for people who like "Dancing with the Stars".
Sheeple is the word you're looking for.
http://www.xkcd.com/1013/
Totally off-topic, but is "deep-seeded" correct? I always thought it was "deep-seated."
Is that an empty chair allusion! We of the "friends of empty chairs" society find no humor in your snide question!
I gotta quit drinking so much coffee.
yes, it is indeed, "deep seated.'
speaking of off topic, I head that Ms Warren did some Horological Housekeeping last night. (She cleaned Scott Brown's clock)
I look forward to Mr. Benen's take on the debate.
A quick google revealed that it should be "deep-seated".
However, we all have a natural instinct to be wary of someone who is "different" - a "seed". In some people, this "seed" has been encouraged, watered and fertilized to grow - put down roots - and blossom. So perhaps "deep-seeded" is actually correct.
In terms of the analogy, a seed too deep will never sprout and grow. The cotyledons will never get light. So, I don't think that works for what Steve was saying.
Re: #5.4
You are correct - too deep is bad. Can't be on the surface (superficial) either.
This kind of "seed" will only sprout and grow in shallow "ground".
So I still like my analogy.
"Deep-seated" is usually correct. But when you're talking about Bill Clinton, "deep-seeded" can sometimes be appropriate.
I think it's more the case that as voters get a good look at Romney/Ryan, they are afraid of what would happen should the 'dynamic duo' get a shot at the White House. That has been a very poorly ran campaign, and the lies are so over the top it eventually becomes difficult to ignore the fact they think the majority of us stupid.
There's also the fact that Dems have apparently finally awakened to the fact that they really do need to get off their duffs and actually point out some of the many things that have been done, despite years of obstruction from those dedicated to making this a one term president instead of doing something to help the average American.
AKA Voter Supression
Big Jay, you got that right. Every msnbc host needs to stay after the voter suppression going on. Bill Clinton is afraid it could cost Obama the election. Why is there not major outrage over this in the mainstream press? It seems the Justice dept could do something besides suing, or Obama could use an Executive order or something. How can we preach democracy to the world when some are trying to rule by fiat? These Repub state governments are using their power in the same way Hitler did. It is so obvious what their motives are. What they do not seem to think about is the price they will pay as more Americans see through their real intent. Intelligent Republicans know the changing demographics are against them and yet they are suppressing the very people they need by this stupid and in my opinion, criminal abuse of power.
UPDATED NOTICE TO POTUS:
Mr. Obama: You're excused from having to worry about me. I am fine with the notion that you need NOT be my president. In fact, I prefer it that way. You worry about the 47% who cling to your goodies and godless view of america, with unfettered abortions, solemnized sodomy, and a morally and fiscally bankrupt ever-BIGGER government.
You said it well, "You can NOT change Washington" from your perch in the White House, even with Senate aid.
That's because you are inept and unskilled. You do NOT know how to build coalitions, consensus, and make MORAL arguments based upon a sound and plain understanding of the Constitution and our Judeo-Christian heritage.
As you said, yours "is a one-term proposition."
NO YOU CAN'T!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=106031546218047&set=a.102781546543047.5311.100004336054487&type=1&theater
...and vaginal probes for all those harlots out there!!!!!!!!!
Earth to Moon: another of Newt's colonists got loose...please gather and return.
Regardless of one's ideological stance, can anyone, after witnessing his campaign to date, actually believe Mr. Romney capable of building coalitions or consensus, or of making a moral argument about anything? Guy's been a weathervane with regard to his beliefs and values, saying whatever he thinks he needs to say to get elected, and his management of his campaign indicates an inability to adapt his skills from the world of finance (where a CEO can be, essentially, a dictator) to that of politics, where one actually needs to know how to play well with others. I thought McCain's campaign was managed ineptly; Romney's is worse.
Mr. Fodera,
You are completely within your right to pop on over to whitehouse.gov and send your message to the President, if you haven't done so already.
One thing you'll find with him, (which you won't find with your Republican friends) is that he won't blow you off like a leaf on a driveway.
To the topic at hand: I'm enthusiastic enough to go vote the Republican clowns out of office.
It is my belief that more ryhmes per lines
Works best time after times
So when offering , as I do
Unsolicited advice from me to you
Try remembering either June or November
Sounds rather arch in hearing , yes ! betterer than fetterer
Making the lurch to soap box from pulpit
Where sterile bums have portraits so achingly fey
That winsome or solumn commoditees in sodomy we totally trust
Is it coy Lee's apologee that on occasions of biggerer
Can pay up with pleasurer when the poor tender is ill
In epting such swill whose lunch would not burst
What was is on its way downhill
We should a knew ob-la-di-bla-da
But can you show me how to train Savoy Truffles ?
From the pull pits ripe perch
Can we make just one legal proposition ?
Also soon appearing
Regrets , No doubt in hearing
Thank you .
Thanks once again for the daily dose of up-close-and-personal demonstrations of what it takes to be one of you ignorant drooling asswipes.
Hypocrisy By Romney:
RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. -- Mitt Romney
lighted into President
Obama on Thursday for saying that Washington could not be changed from the
inside, but the GOP
nominee said the same thing during his unsuccessful 2008 presidential
bid.
While running against Sen. John
McCain, Romney sought to position himself as an outsider who could shake up
the nation’s capital.
“I believe that at this time, to change
Washington, it would be helpful to have somebody who comes with more private
sector skill, experience outside Washington. I don't think you change Washington
from the inside. I think you change it from the outside," Romney said
in late 2007, according to NBC News.
Do you think he could for America, what he did for Mass. when he was the Gov.
funny he rarely mentions Mass, HMMMMMMMMMM
"...they'll need to turn to a fallback plan."
They've HAD a fallback plan from the git-go: voter suppression and intimidation in Democratic districts.
And don't forget the outright vote-rigging, sponsored by Diebold. I've always thought that the President would need at least a ten-point edge to overcome these shenanigans. And thanks to Willard's total ineptitude, he may well get it.
i am a republican but in this election my vote will be for president obama and if you want a reason there is a couple 1.voter supression never thought or even dreamed in this country it would happen.2.medicare leave my medicare as it is i worked for it,i earned it keep your volcher 3. this war on women is out of place.we live in the land of the free i see bills in congress for our service people blocked and voted down by republicans even after you put in this bill what you wanted .know is this how we treat our hero's
I feel sorry for you Peter. You are very busy excluding everyone different from you, and you have been ignoring facts for apparently a long time.
You have been feed some really overgeneralized stuff, that takes nothing but your point of view into account.
1. people don't go around having abortions just for the fun of it, contrary to your belief.
2. the "republican view" of government was not paying attention to what people did in their own back yard, but that has changed, and everyone is paying attention to what the LGBT community is doing--asking for equal treatment. Doesn't mean that I or you are going to become gay. It just allows them to have their lives and take care of their families. Why do you think it is all about sex? It isn't.
3. Economists have been saying if the financial meltdown had been allowed to happen, it would have destroyed our economy completely. Besides, it was implemented initially by the Bush Administration. When President Obama had taken his place in the White house, should he have stopped the bail out? Whether he did or not, probably no matter what course of action he took, you and the republicans would have blamed him for everything.
4. Speaking of republicans. I know I watched very carefully to see whether his efforts to reach across the aisle were accepted by the republicans. They dove down and did not try to work with the president. Repeatedly. They just did it again, by filibustering the Veterans Jobs bill this week (Fully funded, and with much bipartisan input on how the legislation should work) and they STILL killed it. There is no more chance to try again this year. Veterans have to languish longer looking for work because like Lucy, the republicans snatched the ball away and will try to blame President Obama for being ineffective, their strategy this whole time.
5. President Obama saved the Auto industry, while Romney and the rest of the republicans wanted to let it fail. That would have taken the auto industry down, as well as all the businesses that support them-part makers for inside and outside of the vehicles, as well as the companies that support the aftermarket, and then the restaurants around the plants that feed those American workers. He saved millions of jobs. My husband and I were able to get him a GM car this year, because GM is still alive, and has paid back the bail out money. If it had been left to die, the republicans would have blamed him for that too.
By the way, President Obama is a constitutional law professor. How can he not know the constitution?
So, my answer to you, Peter, is "HE ALREADY DID."
God bless you.
Fodera - and obvious troll. Teflon covered so truth can't stick.
Take a stroll, troll and crawl back into your hole.
Rachel, I'm pretty sure that your voter obstruction/suppression exposure segments have contributed substantially toward waking up the Democratic base.
Keep up the good work!
Yes...at a time when the best reporting on tv comes from Comedy Central it is refreshing to have a commentator who checks her facts, asks the tough questions, and actually provides news that steps outside the corporate feeding trough. I really wish the Republicans would have similar reporting. Fox resembles Pravda more than the NBC or CBS of the sixties.
yeah, fall back to Utah.
How can anybody be enthusiastic about a party that
would rather find solutions to problems that do not exist like
voter fraud, a party that claims to be Pro-Life when the truth
is they are Pro-Birth/Anti-Life, a party that has more interest
in a womens UTERUS and how to govern it, then they do jobs,
a party that believes our future lies in the hands of the 1% and
would sacrifice the well beinng of the 99% to that end,
How can any party be enthusiasti about, Romney the man with
ever changing plans and Lyin Ryan, the who propose a much touted
budget, but has not run the numbers on it. Its a hollow party, with
hollow candidates.