2006-06-26-皮尤-Democrats_More_Eager_to_Vote,_But_Unhappy_with_Party_30页_97kb

Key Findings from the 2006 Midterm Election Report

This report, released by the Pew Research Center, analyzes voter attitudes and priorities ahead of the 2006 U.S. midterm elections. The data, based on surveys of 1,501 registered voters in June 2006, highlights several key trends:

• Voter Priorities: Education, the economy, and health care are the top concerns (82-80% very important), while issues like gay marriage (34% very important) and the inheritance tax (44% very important) rank low. The Iraq war is also a high priority, but national issues like terrorism and immigration vary by party; terrorism is most important for Republicans at 84%, while healthcare tops the list for Democrats.

• Election Enthusiasm: Democrats are highly enthusiastic, with 64% more eager to vote than usual, driven by anger toward President Bush and Republican leaders. Republicans show lower enthusiasm, and anti-incumbent sentiment is strong, rising to 32% wanting representatives not reelected, similar to 1994 levels.

• Party Evaluations: Approval of Democratic leaders is 50%, slightly lower than in 2002. Republican leadership approval dropped to 30%, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction despite efforts to address issues. Independents disapprove of both parties by more than a two-to-one margin.

• Demographic Variations: Factors like age, education, and ideology influence priorities; for instance, younger voters emphasize the minimum wage, while those with less education prioritize Social Security or flag burning amendments. Ideology also shapes party preferences, with conservatives more satisfied with the Republican party.

• Historical Context: This election shows parallels to 1994 in anti-incumbent sentiment but differs in voter focus on the president; Bush is seen as a factor in the vote by 38%, with Democrats more likely to view it as a "vote against" him.

Overall, the sour public mood favors Democrats due to increased anti-incumbent sentiment, though enthusiasm is largely driven by opposition to Republican policies rather than support for Democratic leaders. Federal budget deficit and energy policy are also key concerns, with varying importance across demographics.