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Some Americans Predict Less Partisan Politics
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Almost half of adults in the United States expect their federal lawmakers to be more accommodating, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 48 per cent of respondents believe politics in Washington will become more cooperative, while 34 per cent think the situation will become more partisan.
In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2008, Democratic nominee Barack Obama secured a majority of electoral votes, defeating Republican candidate John McCain. Obama will become the first African American president in U.S. history when he takes over from George W. Bush—who served two four-year terms—on Jan. 20.
American voters renewed the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate in November 2008. The Democrats currently control 257 seats in the lower house and at least 56 in the upper house. Democratic California congresswoman Nancy Pelosi has served as speaker of the House since January 2007.
On Jan. 6, Republican House minority leader John Boehner pledged to collaborate with the incoming head of state, saying, "When our president, our new president, extends his hand across the aisle, to do what is right for our country, Republicans will extend ours in return."
Polling Data
Over the next year, will politics in Washington become more partisan or more cooperative?
|
More partisan |
34% |
|
More cooperative |
48% |
|
Not sure |
17% |
Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 American adults, conducted on Jan. 3 and Jan. 4, 2009. Margin of error is 3 per cent.