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Opinion: ‘Throw everybody out!’ -- New Gallup poll shows Americans unhappy with both parties

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Hey, if Gallup wanted to put a theme song alongside its latest political poll, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “That Smell” could be considered.

Not for its message on drug use but because in a literal sense Americans think the two major parties stink.

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Voter sentiment toward both the Republican and Democratic parties is near a record low, according to a survey released Monday.

Of the two, Democrats fared better than Republicans, with 43% of those polled registering a favorable opinion of the party, just 2 percentage points higher than its record low recorded in March.

The Republican Party, which appeared to be enjoying a comeback, plunged 6 percentage points from last March and recorded a 36% approval rating. That’s just 5 points higher than its record low of 31% scored back in 1998.

Although it’s never surprising that voters have negative opinions of politics in general, it is odd that both major parties are viewed so negatively at the same time.

But then again, Americans don’t like much of anything right now (except the upcoming Lakers-Celtics match-up).

“The current poor ratings for both parties are likely an extension of the more general frustration with government institutions -- as evidenced by low approval ratings of Congress and widespread anti-incumbent sentiment -- as well as overall dissatisfaction with current conditions in the United States,” the report reads.

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So maybe the expected midterm walloping won’t be so bad for the Democrats now as they have higher ratings than the GOP?

Premature exaltation. Gallup still predicts a “strong showing” for the Republicans this fall.

“Registered voter preferences in Gallup’s generic ballot are divided equally between the parties, which would generally indicate a stronger Republican year given the party’s usual advantage in voter turnout,” Gallup writes.

Read the full report here.

-- Jimmy Orr

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