Why did so many Republicans/Independents vote Democratic during this mid-term election?
952114
People I know say they vote Republican because they want morality and fiscal responsibility.   After a while they couldn't ignore the magnitude and the cynicism of the betrayal their elected official were perpetrating.
975146
Cause they lost. They have little control in the house and a big democrat vote this election, means big democrate trends and likelyhood of a democrat president. I'm actually a republicn, but their needs to be big changes, and I was all about a democraic vote.We've gone down hill, a change in domination of the hosue may help.
732436
I used to think like that... I was registered as an independent in the 90s and voted for Perot in 92 and 96. I believed in voting for the person not the party.\n\nNow, I have since come to realize that is wasting a vote. \n\nI changed my mind after watching many many CSPAN legislative votes where the Republican party ALWAYS voted right down party lines. Meanwhile there were always some democrats that didn't do that.\n\nThis resulted in one party always getting what they wanted. Let me restate that... this resulted in ONE SMALL portion of the Republican party controlling it's entire party and getting what it wanted.\n\nBecause of this I reregistered democrat and have since decided to always vote down party lines no matter what. I mean really... look at what destruction having one party in power has done to our constitution, our freedoms and our country.\n\nReality is that younger (not by age) congressional members are controlled by long time leaders of their parties.
84635
Republican usually, the Democrats have never in my voting life time had anybody worth voting for in an election.  There might be a local democratic candidate from time to time I will vote for if it makes sense.  Not all Republicans are good and not all Democrats are bad it just depends on what needs to get done at the local level.  Nationally though I seem to like the Republican's agendas better. \n\nOh and by the way the Democrat is not the working mans politician.  They are full of **** to get your votes.  Joe Kennedy taught his kids to speak with a Boston accent in order to get the working man's votes.  And things like unions actually hurt our economy not help.  Once again votes not solutions.  Many working class people, especially self-employed, get great tax benefits from Republicans, just not $35/hr. \n\nI guess we could bring back Clinton and have creative accounting, false stock reports, etc... that really worked.  What happened right after he left; 9/11, recession, market unstability, high unemployment rate, etc...  Who cares though he got to go on Oprah.  Awesome.
740627
The latinos are becoming a major voting block, and they shouldn't be taken for granted!\n\nLatinos seem to be divided when it comes to choosing a political party. CNN has claimed 58% vote Democrat. I'm sure that'll change in the future.
836361
The democrats generally support big business and seek to maintain the status quo - don't rock the boat. On the other hand the republicans generally support big business and would like things to stay pretty much the same - don't make waves. The two parties have taken over the election process and the national debates. Neither party will allow independent oversight for elections or independent candidates in any of the national debates.\n\nAbout 30% of Americans are registered democrat; about 30% are republican. Divide and rule is each party's motto.
844120
Because the democrats have successfully pitched themselves as a party concerned about the poor.  I admit to being cynical, I think many democrat leaders prefer to keep the poor poor (by addicting them to welfare and making them think they can't survive without it because of racism or whatever) so they have a steady source of votes.  So they have no incentive to work on getting them off of welfare and in to the workforce. \n\nI'm a republican which is probably no surprise.
1166776
its not that split atleast  a fourth of the democrats voted with the republicans; looks like they're finaly pulling their heads outa the ground
836409
This year's midterm election was a true voter's initiative where more voters came out and became actively involved.  So the citizens will be inputing into the new government more than ever.\n\nIt's important for this new congress and the next candidates to show that they are ACTIVELY LISTENING to voters and to respond to their wishes, i.e. bringing the soldier's home, a reinstatement of habeas corpus, etc.  This election also showed that Americans are not as racist and homophobic as the NeoConservatives wanted people to believe.\n\nThe midterm election indicated that voter's want to return to a government that serves more than just a few select privileged people from the right. Voters want a return to..... A Government "...By the PEOPLE that Shall NEVER Perish!"
970261
Essentially, it's a combination of the fact that the current republican party as a whole isn't exactly the best group of people out there, and the current democratic party as a whole is too afraid to take action against their opponents when they need to [aka: as much as I hate it to be true, the Democratic party right now is acting like a bunch of acquiescent p.ussies].\nSo this leads to the Republican party taking every jab possible at the Democratic party, and the democrats just say, "Hey, stop that!".\n\nThen, on your point of, "& not talking about why they think they are better", is basically how it is for the Republicans AND the Democrats now. Everyone just says why you shouldn't vote for the opponent and doesnt say crap about what they're doing themselves. Unfortunately, that's even more the case [the second part] with the Democrats right now. And the Republicans just take every dirty stab in the book at them because they know they can get away with it.
530277
Interesting question.  What is interesting is that "the powers that be" have been effective in making some people think that (all) Republicans do & think in a certain way--and that (all) Democrats do the same.  Fortunately, the truth lies closer in the middle & there is great diversity of thought among people in each party.  We are not living in a polarized political society as much as some one have "us" think.
792794
I generally concur with your observation,I see it as the majority of the American public frustrated with and administration who tried to dictate a war and a plan that the populous disagreed with, and furthermore wanted to decrease our individual rights as citizens. \nI am and Independent and voted very heavily for Democrats this time around.
703670
political party allegiance is slowly taking precedence over the issues. i believe they shovel whatever they can out in order to keep their job, thats what it essentially is, they are competing with one another for their jobs. some still have real convictions, but after the past election, having to deal with the crap the republicans pulled, i feel they have generally committed themselves to each other rather than the cause, so i declare myself an independent now, because my convictions are more important than my party allegiance. \n\nso, more yes than no, but im not going to agree with certainty either way.\n\n"you can fool all of the people some of the time; and you can fool some of the people all of the time; but you can't fool all of the people all of the time."\n-abraham lincoln
706288
The Democrats used to be the ones with the huge voter drives, getting their people to the polls.  The Republicans have easily taken over the lead in this department.\n\nThis election will be fun to watch to see how the Democratic 'machine' responds.\n\nUmmm...I guess that means my answer is "I dunno".
122654
Political parties are around free people from the burden of actually thinking. In the last election, it has been estimated that 20-25% of the country voted straight Republican or straght Democratic tickets, Rather than choose candidates based on issues, most choose based on party.  How many opeople have the time or the patience to actually sit down and research how a candidate votes on issues or what their beliefs are? How many vote for Republicans simple because they are Republicans or Democrats simply because they are Democrats? Political parties are not mentioned as a part of democracy in the Constiution. They are in place only as a crutch for the non-thinking populus.
360901
Because the GOP has been more successful than the Democrats at using social issues to attract people - most who wouldn't benefit from Republican economic policies. \n\nPeople do vote against their economic self-interest, if they have a compelling enough reason. Last election cycle, the GOP made it imperative to include a gay marriage initiative on most ballots. This was their main focus, and it caused people who hated gay marriage to vote, often for the Republican party. \n\nAnother example was under the first Bush, who made flag-burning a political issue - it was an unsuccessful attempt to turn out morally conscious people to vote for the GOP, even if under close inspection, their economic policies would not have directly benefited them as much as rich voters.
702504
Just an observation, over a couple of decades. Exit polling seems to skew to the left, partly because democrats seem to want to answer questions about their vote, more than do republicans. As for pre-election polling, the keys there are "sample" and "style" of the question. Both can have a remarkable influence on the results. More generically, I believe pre-election polling skews democrat, because more democrats identify themselves as "independent", and thus, when that portion of the sample is counted, it generally skews the result to the left. You'll note (realclearpolitics.com) that the polls tend to drift back to the middle, as the election nears.