As we head into the summer of the 2010 elections, polling data shows that despite all the fiery rhetoric, a narrow majority — or at least a plurality — of Americans are satisfied with Democratic leadership.<\/p>\n
According to Gallup 48% of voters say they’re inclined to vote for Democrats in this year’s congressional mid-terms, compared with just 43% leaning toward Republicans.<\/p>\n
CNN’s survey found that 50% of Americans approve of President Obama’s job as president, compared with 48% who disapprove.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, there are more signs of the limitations of the tea party movement’s power in moving the great center of American political attitudes.<\/p>\n
In Florida, conservative tea party favorite Marco Rubio is losing badly to Charlie Crist, the centrist Republican turned Independent who is now courting Democratic voters.<\/p>\n
Given this tepid atmosphere, why is there so much talk of a Republican revolution in November?<\/p>\n
How can the GOP possibly erase the Democrats’ huge majority when there’s no clear consensus that a change is needed?<\/p>\n
The answer is apathy.\u00a0 According to another Gallup survey, only 44% of Democratic voters are “more enthusiastic” about voting this year.<\/p>\n
That compares with 59% on the Republican side.\u00a0 In political terms, those are landslide “zeal” numbers.<\/p>\n
Democrats know this is big trouble and the White House political types have rolled out a big effort to re-energize young voters who tend toward liberalism.<\/p>\n
The bottom line is that in this — if nothing else — 2010 may resemble 1994.<\/p>\n
Republicans could surge to power not on the popularity of their candidates or the strength of their ideas, but on the apathy of the opposition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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