Demographics of Bush support/opposition (Time/CNN)

[carolinayellowdog]

Hey,

The current (12/1) issue of Time has Dubya on the cover with smooch marks on one cheek and a black eye on the other side of his face. The cover reads "Love Him! Hate Him! Why George Bush arouses such passion, and what it means for the country."

http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101031201/

Plenty is worth discussing, but what I notice immediately is a chart of demographic groups and the breakdown between very likely/somewhat likely to vote for him in `04, and very unlikely/somewhat unlikely. It shows that religion and population density, rather than region or even economic status, produce the widest margins. Weekly churchgoers support Bush by 54 to 41 percent, whereas never churchgoers oppose him, 56 to 37. Southerners, often lambasted here as unanimous Bush supporters, only break in his favor by 2 points, 48 to 46 percent, whereas the Midwest breaks 49/48 in the same direction. The West opposes him 52/44, the Northeast 48/45. Next strongest defining factor is urban vs. rural and suburban. Urbanites oppose Bush 57/39 while suburbanites support him 51/45. College graduates oppose, 53/44; high school or less support 49/45.

Income and age show some interesting patterns. Those with under 35K annual income oppose 51/42, but the highest Bush support comes not from the wealthiest (over 75k) but those from 50k to 75k annual income, 53/43. (Over 75k support 51/46.) The youngest group, 18-24, oppose 51/47; those 25-34 oppose by a bigger margin, 50/43. Biggest supporters by age are those 50-64, 50/48 in Dubya's favor.

What are the strategic implications of all this information?

CYD

[Racenut20]

1. It means to me

We need to figure out how to get the young people and the poor people registered to vote. Which has held true for Democrats right back to the time Hubert Humphry thought he could win by doing that but failed to get them to the polls.

[joeybee12]

2. Implication is that he's toast

Seriously, he's hated by a lot of people--if the Dems play it right (i'm betting they don.t however, since the Medicare fiasco has proven, once again, they lack a collective spine) it could be a landslide in our favor.

But I ain't holding my breath.

[Guaranteed]

3. Well, I'd say the first thing I notice is that

Bush is opposed by a whole lot of people.

So, let's go find em, and sign em to vote!

[Jester_11218]

4. Scott Peterson on the brain

Ask anyone on the street why Scott Peterson has to go to court and then ask if they even know that Cheney has been in lawsuits for 2 1/2 years hiding public information.

Then you will understand why the polls reflect support for Bush.

If the people knew what has been happenning in this nation we would be discussing prison terms, not poll numbers for the Bush/PNAC administration.

Convicted felons appointed to high positions, the 9/11 connections, PNAC and their plan for global domination...

It's the media's falt. Period. End of story.

[eissa]

10. This is so true, it's scary

I work at a university. Think I might be surrounded by brainiacs informed of matters political, right? WRONG! I have anti-shrub pictures posted all over my office door. One is a picture of Cheney in the Tin Man costume saying "if I only had a heart." A student asked who that was. I replied it was Dick Cheney. She then asked "Who's Dick Cheney?" AAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

[mhr]

5. Seeing Karl Rove's Lilly White *** On The Street Will Be the Happiest Day

What this all means is that we have to keep the pressure on because BBV will nullify everything without overwhelming numbers.

Oh, if Bush goes, so goes Rove.

[mrsteve]

6. The middle class seems to be either duped, lazy, or stupid

"but the highest Bush support comes not from the wealthiest (over 75k) but those from 50k to 75k annual income, 53/43. (Over 75k support 51/46.)"

Why hasn't the middle class figured out that *'s policies hurt them the worst, in terms of what is lost?

The middle class have good solid middle class jobs to lose, houses to lose, education for their children to lose, healthcare for themselves, their parents, and their children to lose.

Waht will it take to wake them up?

[KoKo]

8. Remember the polling that shows "Middle Class" thinks it's in Top 1% of

Income Bracket? That's why. Dumbya has convinced the Middle Class that they are the wealthy who will benefit from all the tax break, inheritance tax give aways, and all the rest of it.

It will take them another year to wake up and realize those checks they were promised and the recovery that's being touted, really doesn't affect them.

[Jacobin]

13. PRECISELY

20% of the middle class think they are in the top one percent of wage earners and ANOTHER 20% think they will be in the top one percent within one year.

There you have it. Gore/Bush debate on tax cuts. Cost Gore bigtime. Gore didn't fathom the stupidity of the middle classes.

[maddezmom]

12. Gep had a good line in one of the debates

if you want to live like a rebuplican vote democratic....not word for word.

[rucky]

7. Universal Healthcare...

The boomers are reaching retirement. Okay, so the upper middle class 50-65 year olds are pro-bush. They prolly don't need social security. But they will need healthcare when they retire.

We have a timely opportunity to reach this group, seeing as the bad medicare bill just passed. We've got to hammer the bill AND promise a better alternative.

He with the best healthcare plan wins.

[Onward]

9. The Age Demographics are Interesting

-- while the income is surprising, look at the age groups -- older folks -- AARP range -- seem to support him. Maybe because they don't want to change, or they somehow feel comfortable with Republicans in general. I wonder if the AARP problems might make this group take notice. Anyone want to start a competitive organization as an AARP alternative?

[newyawker99]

11. Hi Onward!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: