Study of Tea Party Activists Reveals Movement's Level of Momentum

"The Next Wave" Report finds the movement is gaining activists, but fewer identify as Republican

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An extensive new study of the Tea Party movement released today finds that the activists involved grew in number and enthusiasm in recent months. The Sam Adams Alliance report, The Next Wave: A Surf Report, also found that among new activists, a smaller number identify themselves as Republicans, with 50 percent choosing a different label for their political affiliation. The results of the full report can be found at www.activistinsightsreport.com.

The Next Wave report, announced at the American Legislative Exchange Council's annual conference, is the first of three reports studying Tea Party activists that will be released by Sam Adams Alliance before the November elections. Among newcomers to the movement, which the study identifies as "Next Wave" activists, 74 percent said the movement is "gaining active supporters," and 66 percent indicated that the movement is "more enthusiastic" than it was before the passage of health care reform.

"We found that Tea Party activists, above all, view themselves as both „restoring‟ and „forward- thinking,' which is an interesting tension as they continue to make their mark on the political landscape," said Anne Sorock, the study's research director. "They must find a way to preserve the best of what their America means while making their movement relevant to today's challenges."

The report also reveals that both Next Wave and Early Adopters are dropping their affiliation with the Republican label. Among the Next Wave activists polled, there was a near 30-point drop in their affiliation with the Republican party since becoming involved in the Tea Party movement.

Sam Adams Alliance's research shows that 47 percent changed their political affiliation to

"Independent/Unaffiliated," 20 percent changed to "Other," 20 percent to "Tea Party," and 13

percent to "Libertarian."

The report also revealed that 63.6 percent of Next Wave activists were recruited by friends, compared to only 37.5 percent of Early Adopters, who were more likely to be recruited by media personalities.

Other findings of the study include:

• 89 percent of Tea Party activists have been recruiting new people into the movement.
• 44 percent of Next Wave activists said they were uninvolved or rarely involved with politics prior to their Tea Party involvement.
• 22 percent of Next Wave Activists identified as Independents, 10 percent as "Tea
• Party."
• Prior to becoming active in the movement, 74 percent of Next Wave activists identified as Republican, 20 percent as Independent.
• Sarah Palin was the leading choice for the 2012 presidential elections with 23 percent, though 19 other choices were mentioned.
• Tea Partiers have a more favorable view of the state-level Republican party (38.7 percent unfavorable/very unfavorable) than the national (49.2 percent unfavorable/very unfavorable)

For the full report findings, survey questions, methodology, and a preview video visit www.activistinsightsreport.com, or www.samadamsalliance.org.

Sam Adams Alliance is a non-profit organization that promotes and studies citizen activism and responsible government. For more information, visit http://www.samadamsalliance.org.

SOURCE Sam Adams Alliance