Democratic pollster PPP, whose very accurate surveys of the recent races in Wisconsin have won it plaudits, poses a new problem to the Democrats — or rather, an old problem that’s back. Their base is demoralized:
In 13 polls before August the average level of Democrats ‘very excited’ about voting next year had averaged 57%. It had been as high as 65% and only twice had the number even dipped below 55%.
Recommended Stories
It had seemed earlier in the year like Democrats had overcome the ‘enthusiasm gap’ that caused so much of their trouble in last year’s elections. But now 54% of Republicans say they’re ‘very excited’ about casting their ballots next year, indicating that the problem may be back.
A six-point enthusiasm gap is only a bit less than the eight-point gap that PPP estimated in October 2010.
There’s more than a year for Obama to right the ship. Or capsize it.
