These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
35% Say New Political Party Is Needed
February 10, 2010
Thirty-five percent (35%) of U.S. voters now think Republicans and Democrats are so much alike that an entirely new political party is needed to represent the American people.
Nearly half (47%) of voters disagree and say a new party is not needed, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Another 19% are not sure.
Interestingly, the identical number of Republicans and Democrats - 32% - say a new party is needed. Fifty-four percent (54%) of Democratic voters and 49% of GOP voters disagree.
But voters not affiliated with either party have more mixed feelings. Forty percent (40%) think a new party is needed; 36% don't.
Male voters are evenly divided on the question. Female voters by 22 points say a new party is not necessary. Younger voters are more skeptical of the current parties than their elders.
Forty-two percent (42%) of Mainstream voters see a need for a new political party, but 36% disagree. However, a whopping 81% of the Political Class reject the idea of a new party.
Seventy-five percent (75%) of voters are at least somewhat angry at the government's current policies , up four points from late November and up nine points since September. The overall figures include 45% who are Very Angry, also a nine-point increase since September. Sixty percent (60%) of voters that neither Republican political leaders nor Democratic political leaders have a good understanding of what is needed today.
As Scott Rasmussen notes in his new book, In Search of Self Governance , "If we ever found a Little League team behaving as poorly at the Republicans and Democrats or the congressmen or senators, we'd probably disband the team and go home. Heck, we might even disband the entire league and bulldoze the field."
This anger and unhappiness with the traditional parties prompted the rise last year of the so-called Tea Party movement. Still, in a three-way congressional contest with a Tea Party candidate on the ballot , the Tea Party candidate now finishes third. In early December , the Tea Party candidate came in second, with the Republican last.