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Americans Still Trust Democrats Over Republicans

11/17/2009, by Proloy Bhatta

HIGHLIGHTS

• Which party adults trust most?: Democrats 47%, Republicans 31%.
• Trust on the economy, Obama vs Republicans in Congress: Obama 52%, Republicans 37%.
• 61% say the Republicans are criticizing the President without offering their own alternatives.

The Republicans have had a Cinderella month. From winning two governor races to taking the lead in a hypothetical 2010 congressional poll, they seem to have picked up steam.

But wait a second.

ABC conducted a poll from Nov 12-15 of adults nationwide and found that Democrats still continue to hold large margins over the Republicans with respect to who they trust to do a better job in "coping with the main problems the nation faces".

Adults trusted Democrats over Republicans, 47% to 31%. Republicans were as behind as 33% just after Obama was elected. Some could say they are narrowing the gap, but others would say they still have a long way to go.

The last time the Republicans held a lead was when Bush was reelected in 2004 so this suggests the Republican party is not out of the clear for the 2012 election. Would voters really vote in a presidential candidate of a party they did not trust -- despite their feelings on Obama and the Democrats?

Obama vs Republicans in Congress

Adults may be critical of Obama but they are even more critical of the Republicans in congress.

Adults trust "Obama over the Republicans in Congress to handle the economy by a 15-point margin, 52 to 37 percent". And on health care by 13-point margin.

What remains odd with all this is if Democrats are trusted by a 16% margin, why do congressional polls show Republicans are competitive?

The same poll found that Obama had a 56% approval rating and a 61% favorable rating.

Republicans' Policy Positions

Americans have not forgotten the economic woes attributable to the Republican Bush administration. Republican views on the issues are going to be linked to him unless they are able to eloquently express alternatives.

But they aren't doing so as ABC News points out:

Americans by 2-1, 61 percent to 31 percent, say leaders of the Republican Party are mainly criticizing Obama without presenting other ideas, rather than offering alternatives to his proposals.

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