Tea Party Enthusiasm Is Trouble for Democrats

They're far more enthused about voting in November

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 9, 2010 4:24 PM CDT

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Tea Party Enthusiasm Is Trouble for Democrats — Participants attend a rally hosted by the St. Louis Tea Party and Tea Party Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Whitney Curtis)

The so-called enthusiasm gap remains a problem for Democrats a month away from the November election. A series of polls by the Washington Post produces results with a familiar ring: Democrats are lukewarm about voting, Republicans are fairly enthused, and Tea Partiers cannot wait to get to the polls. They're also more likely to talk it up among friends.

Some highlights:

43% of Democrats are "very interested" in the elections, compared to 57% of Republicans and 74% of Tea Partiers.
22% of Democrats say they are more interested in this election than the one in 2008, versus 40% of Republicans and 41% of Tea Partiers.
22% of Democrats say they will try to get friends and family to vote for their candidates, versus 30% of Republicans and 39% of Tea Partiers.

(More midterm elections stories.)

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