Gallup released a poll dealing with party negatives and positives for both the Republican and Democratic parties and while most the headlines highlight what is seen as negatives for both parties, the positives are just as indicative of how Americans view their political leaders and what each party needs to focus on.
For Republicans, two positive statements made it to double digits. Better fiscal management/Budget cuts/Less debt with 11 percent and Conservative views with 10 percent.
For Democrats, one positive statement made it to double digits. Care about middle/working class with 14 percent saying it about the Democratic party.
Gallup also finds that Republicans are more willing to disagree or criticize their own party than Democrats.
Via MediaIte:
Gallup identifies a trend in this survey: “Republicans are much more likely to criticize their own party for its style or approach than for its substance.” Just 33 percent of Republican respondents found nothing about their party worthy of criticism.
Compare this to self-identified Democrats who, following President Barack Obama’s reelection victory, find little to criticize within their own party. 51 percent of Democrats either found nothing worth criticizing in their own party or expressed no opinion on the question. Just 6 percent of Democrats found their party “inflexible” or “unwilling to compromise.”
Which brings us to the negaitive views Americans see in each party.
For the GOP the top negative is they are seen as Inflexible/Unwilling to compromise. For Democrats, the top fault named is Spend too much/Increase the budget deficit.
The second negative listed for Republicans is For the rich/ Protecting the wealthy, not the middle class.
The second negative listed for Democrats is Inflexible/Unwilling to compromise.
Polls like this give both parties a chance to improve in areas where they are viewed negatively and highlight areas where they are viewed positively.
Democrats have to show a willingness to deal with the debt, deficit and overspending to counter their negatives and the findings of the poll will encourage them to continue the class warfare campaign they have been waging over the last four years.
To counter that Republicans have to better state how their policies will help the middle/working class and continue to focus on fiscal issues, spending, debt and deficit to highlight the positive views.
