(06/15/10) -

U.S. Republicans Become More Enthralled with Tea Party Movement

While Democrats and Independents are not as fond of the Tea Party, support among GOP voters has increased markedly since March.

While Democrats and Independents are not as fond of the Tea Party, support among GOP voters has increased markedly since March.

As the 2010 Congressional Election draws near, a large proportion of Republican Party supporters in the United States is supportive of the core policies of the National Tea Party, and a majority of them believe the movement will have a positive effect on American politics, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,003 American adults, 42 per cent of respondents (-1 since March) say they have followed news stories related to the National Tea Party movement “very closely’ or “moderately closely” over the past year.

Two-in-five Americans (39%, +2) agree with the core policies of the National Tea Party movement, while 23 per cent (-1) disagree. Republicans (68%, +6) are more likely to endorse these policies than Independents (41%, -5) or Democrats (21%, =).

Three-in-ten Americans (29%, +6) believe the National Tea Party movement will have a positive effect on American politics—including 56 per cent of Republicans (+9)—while 18 per cent (+4) think it will have a negative effect.

Taking Action

Respondents were asked whether they would take four specific actions in support of the National Tea Party movement. More than one-in-four respondents (26%, -2) say they would “definitely” or “probably” recommend it to friends and family, 23 per cent (-2) would join an online group, and 21 per cent (-1) would attend a rally. In addition, 14 per cent of respondents (-2) say they would “definitely” or “probably” donate money to the National Tea Party movement.

The Future

Almost half of Americans (46%, -3) remain undecided about the future of the National Tea Party movement. Three-in-ten Republicans (31%, +1) want the National Tea Party Movement to become affiliated with an existing political party, so that some or all of its core policies can be implemented. Roughly the same proportion of Independents (32%, +2) would prefer to see the National Tea Party Movement become a full-fledged political party, and run candidates for public office, just like the Democrats and Republicans.

Analysis

At the national level, the fluctuations observed in this survey when compared to the one conducted in March are not substantial. There is little change when people are asked what they are willing to do to support the National Tea Party movement.

The big change since March lies in the way Republican Party supporters have grown to identify with the National Tea Party, as exemplified by the six-point increase in the agreement with its core policies and the nine-point jump on whether the movement will have a positive effect on American politics.

While the Tea Party is not attracting many Democrats and is actually losing some Independents since the survey conducted three months ago, it has provided a perfect opportunity for the GOP to stimulate its base.

Our March 2010 survey on the National Tea Party movement can be accessed here.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Public Affairs
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From June 9 to June 10, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,021 American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States.