Report on a web survey examining Independent voters’ attitudes on the debt ceiling debate
A national web survey conducted this week by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner on behalf of Democracy Corps, shows that
Independent voters do not trust House Speaker John Boehner and the Congressional Republicans on the debt ceiling and
budget deficit debate. These swing voters are tuned in and paying close attention to the debt ceiling debate in
Washington and are very concerned about what could happen to the economy should Congress not act.
Most problematic for Speaker Boehner and Republicans is these voters represent a critical bloc that propelled them into
the majority last November, but have now turned away from the Republicans. Independent voters supported Republicans
nationally by a double digit margin last November, but that support has fallen off during the debt ceiling debate.
Independents are extremely negative toward Boehner and just 30 percent favor Boehner and the Republicans’ approach on
the debt ceiling debate. Boehner’s personal standing is abysmally low with this bloc, including among self-described
conservatives.
Equally important, President Obama has a sizeable advantage over Boehner and the Republicans among Independents on who
is more concerned with the interests of the middle class, and Boehner is viewed as looking out more for millionaires and
billionaires by a huge margin. Independents simply don’t see Boehner as an advocate for the middle class.
President Obama and Democrats have a real advantage as Boehner and Republicans lack credibility among these swing voters
as the debt ceiling debate continues.
The memo and frequency questionnaire can be found at Democracy Corps.