Blue Dog Research Forum and Zogby Partner to Survey Key Voter Demographic: Likely Independent Voters

3 in 4 Independents believe the "government is broken," Top cause of anxiety and frustration: the cost of health care

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Blue Dog Research Forum and Zogby International today released a new poll, "Measuring the Middle - How Independents Think: A Survey of Independent Voters," which examines likely independent voters' current views on policy, President Obama, Congress and the political environment in the run-up to the upcoming mid-term elections.

As momentum toward the mid-term elections builds, understanding how the independent voter is approaching this year's key issues and candidates is critical.  With regard to perceptions of political leadership, 77% of Independents believe that "the American government is broken" and 62% believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction.  Independents rate President Obama's job performance higher (36%) than they rate Democrats in Congress (13%) or Republicans (5%).  

The top issues Independents say they would like Congress to address in the next two years are job creation (58%), the rising national debt and deficit (37%), energy independence (31%), unresolved issues related to health care reform (30%), tax reform (27%) and making Social Security and Medicare sustainable for the future (27%).  Interestingly, while Independents rate job creation as the number one issue, they are less concerned with their own personal employment status or job security.  For complete poll results, please visit http://www.zogby.com/bluedogresearchforum.

According to John Zogby, Chairman of Zogby International, "There is plenty of talk about Independents, but we provide an in-depth look at who they are, how they think, and what they want."

Co-chairmen of the Blue Dog Research Forum, former Reps. Bud Cramer (Ala.) and Charlie Stenholm (Texas), agree.  "We partnered with Zogby to take a deeper dive on the views of the independent voter, to give voice to a key demographic likely to impact the upcoming mid-term elections," said Stenholm.  "We were struck by the overwhelming number of Independents calling for consensus; 82% want Congress to 'put aside partisanship and work together.'  This common ground approach reflects the spirit of the Blue Dogs," said Cramer.

To that end, the top three issues causing Independents to be frustrated with the government are the state of the economy (85%), influence of special interests (73%), and partisan politics (71%), while the top three issues causing the most anxiety are the cost of health care (66%), the state of the education system (62%), and what they see in the news (52%).

Zogby International was commissioned by the Blue Dog Research Forum to conduct a nationwide telephone poll of independent and unaffiliated likely voters.  The survey of likely independent voters ran from September 22nd to September 27th, 2010. The sample consists of 1,004 interviews and has a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points.

About the Blue Dog Research Forum (BRDF):

The Blue Dog Research Forum (BRDF) is a think tank formed to advance the mainstream principals espoused by the Blue Dog movement by providing a series of forums and programs through which Members of Congress, candidates, academic experts, not-for-profit representatives, associations, unions and corporations can participate in thoughtful discussion and debate on federal issues relevant to the fiscal well-being of the country.  

The Blue Dog Research Forum will strive to approach the national debate with a common sense perspective by focusing on constructive, evidence-based solutions and opinions to current federal issues.  This information will be made public and may be used as a basis to draft or defend legislation that reflects the mainstream values and principles of the Blue Dog movement.

For all press inquiries, please contact: Stacie Paxton, On behalf of BRDF, (202)258-0738, stacie.paxton@hillandknowlton.com

SOURCE Blue Dog Research Forum