Gallup: In shift, more Americans identify as Democrats

RAW STORY
Published: Wednesday March 29, 2006

In a potentially historic shift, the Gallup poll has found that Americans are now more likely to identify themselves as Democrats than Republicans -- a shift that may give Democrats a needed edge in the November congressional elections. (Hat tip: AmericaBLOG.)

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"Americans are about as likely to identify as Republicans as they are Democrats according to a review of recent Gallup polls," Gallup says. "However, once the leanings of independents are taken into account, the Democrats gain an advantage. Democrats have been on par with, or ahead of, Republicans in party identification since the second quarter of 2005. Since that time, the percentage of Americans identifying as Democrats has held steady, but fewer have identified with the Republican Party and more as independents."

"In the eight national polls Gallup conducted in the first quarter of 2006, an average of 33% of Americans identified as Democrats, while 32% identified as Republicans and 34% as independents," Gallup adds. "More Americans have identified as Democrats than Republicans in each of the last four quarters, although in each case the advantage was small -- from less than one percentage point to three points."

READ THE FULL GALLUP POLL HERE