A new Gallup survey contained very good news for Republicans ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, and adds to the belief that the party has a good chance of regaining control of Congress.
According to the survey, there was a 14-point shift to Republicans from Democrats in the fourth quarter of 2021, per The Daily Wire:
Aggregating data from all U.S. Gallup telephone surveys in 2021, the Gallup poll revealed on Monday that between the first quarter of 2012 through the last quarter of the year, a radical and massive shift occurred in the American electorate, as what had been a nine-point lead for voters identifying or leaning toward the Democratic Party morphed into a five-point lead of voters identifying or leaning toward the Republican Party.
“In the first quarter of 2021, 49% of U.S. adults identified as Democrats or leaned Democratic, while 40% identified as Republicans or leaned Republican,” Gallup .
“In the second quarter, 49% were Democrats or Democratic leaners, and 43% were Republicans and Republican leaners. In the third quarter, 45% were Democrats and Democratic leaners, and were 44% Republicans and Republican leaners. In the fourth quarter, 42% were Democrats and Democratic leaners, and 47% were Republicans and Republican leaners,” the pollster added.
The GOP’s five-point edge in the fourth quarter is the party’s biggest over Democrats since Gallup began taking the measure in 1991.
The Daily Wire added: “The only other quarters the GOP held a five-point lead were in early 1995, after the GOP seized control of the House for the first time in four decades, and the first quarter of 1991, after the U.S. victory in the Persian Gulf War.”
The survey’s findings come as President Biden’s approval slipped to 33 percent last week.
“Americans give President Joe Biden a negative 33 – 53 percent job approval rating, while 13 percent did not offer an opinion,” Quinnipiac University reported. “In November 2021, Americans gave Biden a negative 36 – 53 percent job approval rating with 10 percent not offering an opinion.”
Hispanic voters were least supportive of Biden’s job performance, with 28% saying they approve of how he is handling his duties, compared to 32% of white voters and 57% of black voters. Just 25% of independent voters said they approve of Biden’s performance, while 57% said they disapprove.
Voters were critical of Biden’s handling of key issues, including the economy, the COVID-19 pandemic and foreign policy.
Just 34% of Americans said they approve of Biden’s handling of the economy, with 57% saying they disapprove. The results follow several months of increasing inflation, with the Consumer Price Index currently rising at its highest rate in 40 years.
Americans also said they believed the economy is suffering, with 35% saying the economy is in a “poor” condition and another 35% saying it is in a “not so good” condition.
Biden’s handling of foreign policy received similar levels of disapproval, with only 35% saying they approve of his performance on the issue. The Biden administration received harsh criticism for its withdrawal from Afghanistan in August that left hundreds of Americans stranded.