Report: GOP Support Spiraling in Nearly Every Demographic

By: Denise Stewart

The Republican Party has lost support in almost every demographic subgroup, with the exception of regular churchgoers, according to a Gallup analysis released on Monday.

In 2001, the first year President George W. Bush was in office, 47 percent of Americans identified themselves as Republicans, and 46 percent identified themselves as Democrats.

Spring forward to 2009 - after eight years of a Bush presidency - and the election of President Barack Obama, and the numbers change to 52 percent identifying as Democrats and 37 percent identifying as Republicans.

“Most of the loss in support actually occurred beginning in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina and Bush’s nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court – both of which created major public relations problems for the administration,” the Gallop organization said.

Carol Swain, a Vanderbilt University law professor and frequent political commentator on national newscasts, said she is not surprised with the drop in Republican support.

“There are so few choices. You either support Democrats or you stay at home,” Swain told BlackAmericaWeb.com. In the last election, a lot of Republicans stayed at home, and many have not returned, she said.

Report: GOP Support Spiraling in Nearly Every Demographic....