(06/16/10) -

Some Americans Grow More Fond of Tea Party

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Some people in the United States are becoming more enthusiastic about the National Tea Party, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 29 per cent of respondents expect the movement to have a positive effect on American politics, up six points since March.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Some people in the United States are becoming more enthusiastic about the National Tea Party, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 29 per cent of respondents expect the movement to have a positive effect on American politics, up six points since March.

Since last year, numerous Tea Party protests have been held across the U.S. Attendants to these events have expressed dissatisfaction with specific policies, including the federal stimulus package, the possibility of a carbon emissions trading scheme, and proposed changes to the country’s health care system. The movement is generally against taxation and the government playing a major role in the lives of individuals. Several politicians—including former House of Representatives speaker Newt Gingrich and current Texas governor Rick Perry—have voiced support for the demonstrations.

Earlier this year, several candidates backed by the Tea Party movement won Republican Party primaries, including U.S. Senate candidates Rand Paul in Kentucky and Sharron Angle in Nevada, as well as gubernatorial hopefuls Nikki Haley in South Carolina and Paul LePage in Maine.

On Jun. 12, Paul discussed his views on gun ownership, saying, "We must be ever vigilant of our Second Amendment rights. We must continually remind Washington that a majority cannot vote to take away our Second Amendment rights."

American voters will renew the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate on Nov. 2, 2010.

Polling Data

What effect do you expect the National Tea Party Movement to have on American politics?

Complete Poll (PDF)