Faithful Democrats
Going into the elections on Tuesday, both President Bush and Republican
candidates should be concerned about their deteriorating base. Since
January 2005, Bush's approval rating has dropped 15 points among white
evangelicals (72% to 57%). During that same period, Bush saw a similar
drop among adults (50% to 37%).
Recent polling by the Pew Research Center suggests a further weakening of GOP support among white evangelicals.
Since December 2004, the GOP favorability rating among white
evangelicals has deterioated more rapidly than within the wider
population. While the GOP favorability rating has declined by 12
points among adults from December 2004 to July 2006 (52% to 40%), it
has fallen by 20 points among white evangelicals (74% to 54%).
At the same time, fewer white evangelicals believe that the Republican
Party governs ethically, when compared to Democrats. While 55% of
white evangelicals believed that the GOP governs ethically in January
2006, just 42% believe that in October 2006 — a 13-point
decline. During that same period, that number dropped by only three
points over that same period among adults.
Going into the elections on Tuesday, both President Bush and Republican
candidates should be concerned about their deteriorating base. Since
January 2005, Bush's approval rating has dropped 15 points among white
evangelicals (72% to 57%). During that same period, Bush saw a similar
drop among adults (50% to 37%).
Furthermore, Republicans are in a much worse position among white
evangelicals than they were in November 2002. In November 2002, 68% of
white evangelicals supported Republican Congressional candidates. In
October 2006, that number stands at only 57% — an 11-point decline.
Check out the full Pew Research Center report at:
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