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Poll: Majority favors single-party control of Washington
After two years of divided government, a majority of voters now prefers single-party control of Washington, according to a new poll.
Fifty-two percent of registered voters surveyed believe it would be better if the presidency, the Senate and House were controlled by the same party, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Tuesday. Thirty-nine percent still favor divided government.
The poll’s findings mark the first time since 1986 that a majority of voters has favored one-party control, as well as a significant shift since the same survey taken in 2010.
That year, 29 percent of voters preferred one-party control and a strong majority of 62 percent favored divided government, marking a 23-point swing over the last two years.
Regardless of whether Obama or Mitt Romney wins the White House in November, voters are likely to be faced with divided government next year.
For Republicans to achieve single-party control with a Romney victory, the GOP would need a net gain of three seats in the Senate. That would still leave the Senate far from a filibuster-proof majority, though.
If the president were to win reelection, Democrats would need to hold their narrow majority in the Senate and net 25 seats in the House, something most political handicappers see as unlikely.
The last time The Wall Street Journal’s polling found such strong support for single-party control was in 1996, when 43 percent said they were in favor.
That year also saw voters headed to the polls with divided government, as Republicans then controlled both chambers and Democrats had President Clinton in the White House.
Budgetary fights between Clinton and GOP lawmakers led by then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) caused multiple government 1995 and early 1996.
The poll's findings show that support for single-party control tends to rise in the midst of divided government. It had those numbers similarly rising in 2008, when Republicans had President George W. Bush in the White House but had lost control of both chambers in 2006.
A similar survey done by Gallup last month showed a more modest 39 percent of Americans preferring single-party control. But the Gallup numbers parallel the Journal poll’s trend upward, with Americans’ support for single-party control spiking 10 points in a year.
The uptick is a reflection of Democrats' and Independents' shift in preference, according to Gallup. Democrats’ preference for single-party control shot up 14 points in a year, while Independents’ preference went up 7 points since 2011. Republican preference stayed about the same.
The Journal poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters and has a 3 percent margin of error. The Gallup poll surveyed 1,000 respondents and has a 4 percent margin of error.
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