Fifty-eight percent (58%) of likely voters say it is at least somewhat likely the next president of the United States will be a Republican, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
The number has been trending in this direction since Democrat Barack Obama took office in January and is up 14 points since then.
Thirty-one percent (31%) of voters see it as Very Likely that the next president will be a Republican.
The survey was taken on Tuesday and Wednesday nights of this past week, but the question did not specify whether the next president will be elected in 2012 or 2016. Republicans recaptured the governorships of New Jersey and Virginia in elections on Tuesday
The Breakdown:
Just 29% of voters now say it is not very or not at all likely the next president will be from the GOP, the lowest level found all year and down nine points from January.
Sixty-six percent (66%) of men expect the next president to be a Republican, compared to 52% of women.
Eighty-five percent (85%) of Republicans see a member of their party winning the presidency as likely, including 57% who see it as very likely. Sixty percent (60%) of voters not affiliated with either major party think they're right, but just 31% of Democrats agree.
The numbers from the Republicans and Democrats are expected. The ones to watch and take note of are those unaffiliated.
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