Poll Results are in The Eyes of the Beholder

The lead story in the New York Times this morning, “Coalition That Vaulted Democrats Into Power has Frayed, Poll Finds,” proves that public opinion is in the eyes of the beholder. Despite loud and cantakerous proclamations of victory by the Republicans, the poll raises some thorny and surprising issues.

For one thing, more people still have a favorable view of the Democratic Party than the Republican Party, with 46 percent favoring the Democrats and 41 percent the Republicans. That result flies in the face of how people said they would vote with the results flipped: 46 percent are voting Republican and 40 percent Democratic.

How to explain the incongruity? Well, maybe people have been overinfluenced by noisy protests from the loud minority that is the Tea Party. Or maybe the national healthcare legislation was created in an unseemly manner. Or maybe, it’s just an off-year election.

Despite the loud protests about President Obama, he is in a very similar position to Bill Clinton in 1994. At a 43 percent approval rating, he is at the exact same level.

One disquieting effort about the poll, however, concerns the level of support of women who have always supported the Democrats over the Republicans since this particular poll was inaugurated.

With all the hoopla of the election, it will be what happens afterwards that will be the most important. Will the Republicans waste another two years in their power grab or actually try to work with Democrats to get something done for the American people?