On this question, 60% of voters in Red states said it was unpopular Democratic policies that led to their demise, and only 19% think it had to do with the President’s inability to persuade voters. The numbers for Green state voters is similar, as 59% blame unpopular Democratic proposals, and just 22% blame the President’s salesmanship.
Sixty-two percent of voters in Red and Green states also want Congress to reduce spending and balance the budget as opposed to spending money in an effort to create jobs. Pluralities of voters in both Red and Green states (64% and 63% respectively) think the best way to create jobs is to reduce corporate taxes, regulations and red tape for businesses.
Also, 67% of Red state voters and 70% of Green state voters won’t view the President’s economic policies as successful until unemployment drops to 8% or below.
In his State of the Union address, the President made clear that he wants to invest money in green technologies and K-12 government schools. But 53% of Red state voters and 52% of Green states voters would prefer America focus on developing energy from all natural resources, including oil from the Gulf of Mexico and the Arctic National Wildlife Preserve. Fifty-nine percent of voters from Red states and 58% from Green states think the U.S. has more immediate needs than pumping more tax dollars into government schools.
While it’s true that 2012 is a long time away (a lifetime in politics, you might say) it’s also true that Republicans have a clear upper hand right now. Voters in the so-called middle ground Green states closely resemble Red state voters in their beliefs on important issues and their attitudes toward the current Obama administration. The GOP should forge ahead confidently that it’s on the right course…for now.