Republicans Love the Tea Party

YouGov
October 08, 2010, 12:50 AM GMT+0

Despite concerns raised by some Republican leaders about the possible negative impact of Tea Party candidates on the Republican Party’s chances of winning control of the U.S. Congress, the latest Economist/YouGov Poll finds most rank and file Republicans thrilled about the Tea Party. By eight to one (55% to 7%), Republicans believe the Tea Party movement will be good, not bad, for the Republican Party.

By nearly four to one (50% to 13%), Republicans expect the Tea Party connection will help - not hurt - Republican chances of taking control of the U.S. Congress. Part of the reason is that many Republicans link themselves to the Tea Party:

  • 49% of Republicans describe themselves as part of the Tea Party movement – more than twice as many as the 23% of Americans overall who say that.
  • 70% of Republicans say they support the Tea Party’s positions, something just 38% overall say.
  • 68% of Republicans have a favorable view of the Tea Party. Looking at all adults, there are more negative feelings: 37% are favorable towards the Tea Party, 43% are not.

The good feelings work in reverse as well. Tea Party members believe that most Republicans agree with them. When asked if most Republicans think of themselves as part f the Tea Party, 56% of Tea Party identifiers say that is the case. Tea Party identifiers have positive feelings about many Republican leaders and individuals who have linked themselves to the Tea Party movement. But there are two special favorites: former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and television commentator Glenn Beck. Tea Party members give them both favorable ratings of 80% or higher. Americans overall have negative views of both.

The economy continues to be the dominant issue for Americans of all political persuasions, but the parties differ when it comes to what’s the next important issue. Among all registered voters, it is health care. For Democrats, Social Security ranks second. Republicans say it is the budget deficit, and so do Tea Party identifiers.

Republicans and Tea Party members agree, however, that the government is just too big, and that it got that way because it has gotten involved in things it didn’t need to be involved with.

  • Americans overall are relatively closely divided on whether less government is better, 81% of Republicans and 89% of Tea Party identifiers say that’s the way it should be.
  • 55% of all adults say a strong government is necessary to handle complex economic problems – but just 25% of Republicans and 15% of Tea Party identifiers agree.
  • 59% of Americans say the government has gotten bigger because it has gotten involved in too many things that it should have stayed out of – something 86% of Republicans and 95% of Tea Party identifiers believe.

When it comes to extending the George W. Bush tax cuts, most Republicans and Tea Party identifiers want to extend them all – even those for people earning more than $250,000 a year – something just 33% of Americans would do.

Tax Cut Preferences

AllRepublicansTea Party

Keep all tax cuts in place

33

65

80

Keep tax cuts only for those earning under $250,000

43

21

12

Let all tax cuts expire

10

5

4

Not sure

14

9

4

A majority of Americans would even raise taxes on people at that higher income level. Republicans and Tea Partiers would not.

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