Dramatic drop in GOP support in over-65 demographic

[Tanuki]

https://www.newsweek.com/gop-senior-voters-polls-midterms-trump-republicans-1726839

"The Republican Party has suffered a heavy loss of support from senior voters in recent months, a key demographic for the party in November's midterms and for Donald Trump's presidential ambitions, according to polls.

A recent survey conducted by CNN and the research firm SSRS found that 47 percent of those aged 65 and over said they would vote for a GOP candidate if the midterm congressional election for their district were held "today," with slightly more people aged 65 and over saying they would vote for a Democratic candidate (49 percent).

This is a major turnaround from May, when a previous CNN/SSRS poll found that nearly two-thirds of those aged 65 and over (62 percent) said they would back a Republican candidate in the midterms, compared to just 37 percent of seniors who said they would back a Democratic candidate.

According to the results, the GOP has seen a 15 percent drop in support from those aged 65 and over—one of the main demographics in any election—in just two months between the two polls being conducted." ....(more)

[tinrobot]

1. Next step: take back the Villages!

Seriously, this is good.

[Rebl2]

38. YES!

[Walleye]

2. Ha! We old people remember before Roe vs Wade

[Freddie]

11. Yup, and we have granddaughters

A lot of women my age are really pissed off about the future for our girls.

[PortTack]

18. Yes we are, and the granddaughters are pissed off too!

[Joinfortmill]

49. 👍

[elleng]

71. Darn right!

[Demovictory9]

12. Yep.

[MyMission]

23. Absolutely, and also remember ww2

Or remember male family members who fought in that war,
The war to end all wars.
The war against tyranny, fascism and Nazis.

I think many "older" folks see the direction our country is moving in, and understand it's not a good direction. And they understand, or are realizing the importance of country over party.

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me!
Looks like many won't be fooled again.

[Warpy]

24. That shocked a lot of old folks back into reality, that's for sure

and old folks are the ones who are watching more of the hearings since they've got the time to do it.

Both are causing them to rethink their loyalty to that rotten excuse for a political party.

[BonnieJW]

26. Rick Scott

coming out with his opinion about getting rid of Social security, Medicare and Medicaid didn't win any over 65 hearts either

[Warpy]

35. Well, that's always been the Republican wet cream

They want all the billions going into the stock market, instead. Never mind that everywhere that scheme has been tried, it has failed miserably and they've ended up with o;ld folks who didn't get rich quick in miserable poverty and dependent on the state for a handout.

The USSC abolishing Roe was a wakeup call, I think, people know that the GOP will continue to overreach and try to run this country from the extremist court.

I also think that the next Democratic administration will be forced to expand the court to break their stranglehold. I don't see Congress growing the cojones it would take to remove the extremists for violating their oaths of office and perjuring themselves before the Senate.

[soldierant]

52. There are Democrats in both houses

who are not lacking in cojones. There just aren't enough of them, particularly in the Senate. And whose fault is that?

[rzemanfl]

55. Darn c and d keys are close together. n/t

[Warpy]

59. Could be a Fraudulent slip

[calimary]

66. Boom!

[ChazInAz]

64. It still worked.

[CrispyQ]

3. Maybe going after abortion & birth control turned off the generation of sex, drugs, & rock-n-roll.

I know Roe was a big event in my young life. So was Planned Parenthood & having access to BC.

[Rebl2]

39. Hope so

[EYESORE 9001]

4. COVID-19 took a heavy toll on seniors who refused to get vaccinated

It’s kinda hard to poll the dead.

[OMGWTF]

13. True! Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson said that Rs were dying at five times the rate of the Ds

from Covid and it could be enough to swing some elections blue.

[MyMission]

44. 1.02 million have died in the US as of today

That's 1 million, 27 thousand dead from documented covid, as of July 25, 2022.

And Not all deaths caused by covid were recorded as such, so the number is certainly higher. And odds are those that weren't recorded were rethugs in denial, so some lost votes in that category.

But Not everyone who died was voting age, or registered to vote, or registered with a political party, so the official number doesn't represent quite that many voters (but we can add voters from those who died with unrecorded covid to extrapolate, and remove a portion of non voters.)

If the ratio of deaths is five times greater for them, I'd guestimate that's still probably 600,000 dead rethugs at least, with numbers rising, and I hope closer to 800,000. That number of lost votes, combined with added votes for blue candidates could impact elections in red areas, especially where a few percentage points shifting can change the outcome.

I live in NC where state elections have generally been within 1-2 points. In 2020 we reelected our Dem governor with a higher margin, 51.5/47. But rethug senator won 48.7/46.9, and NC went for tfg by a narrow margin of 49.93/48.59. Both won with less than 50% of the votes. Local elections generally run 60/40 their favor. But I'm sure there are counties across the US where percentages are close enough they can be flipped for local elections.

I have no doubt Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson is very wise.

[Joinfortmill]

50. 👍

[machoneman]

78. Ten times would have been better by far!

[ProudMNDemocrat]

5. May it drop even further when the J6 hearings commence.

[HelpImSurrounded]

6. Jan 6 hearings?

Is this the result of the Jan 6 hearings?

[EYESORE 9001]

7. Mucking about with Social Security and Medicare isn't exactly endearing

to the senior demographic.

[Wounded Bear]

9. Took a lot of them a long time to realize this...

repubs hate, hate, hate SS and Medicare. At best, they want to "privatize" them. At worst they just want to outright kill them.

[Danascot]

63. I'm not sure a lot of seniors know

the GQP wants to get rid of SS and Medicare. Where are they going to hear about it? Fox news?

[FSogol]

19. Exactly. n/t

[nini]

25. that's what I think it is more than Roe

When it hits your livelihood for retirement they'll wake the hell up.

Though Roe is definitely not helping either.

[not fooled]

31. pukes have been trying to destroy Social Security and Medicare for decades

just goes to show how poorly informed most voters--including seniors--have been, that seniors didn't realize this before.

I continue to maintain that if the corporate media had adequately informed seniors all along of what the GQPee has been doing to destroy Social Security and Medicare, seniors would have stopped voting for them a long time ago. Hence the plethora of billionaire-funded think-tank drones propagandizing voters into thinking Social Security and Medicare are failing and need to be destroyed. Gotta get the marks to buy into the con.

[3Hotdogs]

48. --- since the time of Alf Landon.

Then, Landon went on to apply for Social Security.

[not fooled]

53. Perhaps he was behind Ayn Rand in line

to apply for Social Security.

[3Hotdogs]

68. At least 15 years ahead of Ayn Rand.

[Rebl2]

41. No it is not!

I remember when Obama administration was trying to pass ACA, seniors were saying don’t touch my Medicare or social security.

[gulliver]

62. If Trumpie stooges will toss democracy over a lie, they'd have no problem with SS and Medicare

Seniors better think long and hard about just how much boat rocking the boat will take before their retirement incomes and health care go overboard.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

8. Roe, Roe, Roe your vote against theocracy ...

Republicans revoke your rights
and kill democracy!

The radicalized Republican party loves NRA money more than your grandkids and is drooling over the Social Security stockpile.

[Baitball Blogger]

10. Go on and make them work at their age for social security

What a winning platform.

[NNadir]

14. A slight expiation given what we did to the planet.

[StrkSrviver]

15. The corporate greed

The truth about the unequal results of the 2017 tax cuts is starting to get looked at with all the talk of corporate greed. A lot of the younger "boomers " are also turning 65 and there was always a political shift leftward from people born in the mid 40's to people born after rock and roll was.

[Takket]

16. So after doing exactly what they said they would do, people are upset? Lol

[Cracklin Charlie]

17. Something my dad used to say:

With regard to elections, especially…

“When the grey hairs team up with the long hairs, it’s all over”. (Meaning young and old)

I have been watching for news of this in the lead-up to mid terms. This makes me happy.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

20. Those Hypocrites voted for 2 draft dodgers Bush and Trump

and they fly the most flags in the entire country.

This demographic should be known as the paper tigers.

Remember how many shit political hack SC judges were put on the court by BUSH and TRUMP. never forget

[radical noodle]

60. Many of the early baby boomers were opposed

to the Vietnam War, so perhaps dodging the draft during that time doesn't necessarily look like a big negative to them.

[OrlandoDem2]

21. Because the GOP will cut Medicare and Social Security?

[RAB910]

22. if you value your social security, one would be wise not to vote for the GOP

[pamdb]

27. senior citizen

I've always hated it when the media lumps all us senior citizens (71 and 70 here) into one group
as people who vote republican. All of my friends are seniors and NONE of us vote republican.
I would sooner vote for road kill rather than any republican. We are all pretty much retired librarians, teachers, and municipal employees. The only republican I ever voted for was Gerald
Ford and that was because he was Michigan and frankly, I wasn't paying a lot of attention to
that race. I think I was still in college then.

[Mariana]

46. The majority of senior citizens have voted Republican for a long time.

There is nothing wrong with saying so.

[obamanut2012]

74. Well, it is one age demographic, and they do heavily lean GOP

There is nothing wrong with stating that, since it is a fact.

[demigoddess]

84. I agree. I am a boomer and haven't voted for a repub in decades. I can't even

stand to listen to their stupidity. Most of them make no sense and haven't since 1960. And you might have forgotten the idiots who ran as democrats, got elected, and immediately switched over to the republican party back in about the early 80s. Cheating doesn't make you a leader. Can't stand the republicans.

[maxsolomon]

28. 65 and older watched the J6 hearings.

the truth has an impact.

[mdelaguna]

73. This.

[Elessar Zappa]

29. That's a huge drop in support for Republicans.

If it holds till November, we’ll keep the House.

[Martin68]

30. That's excellent news.

Then again, I'm part of the demographic.

[Demsrule86]

32. Very good news for the white hats...IE Democrats.

[DENVERPOPS]

37. I would gladly wear

a white ball cap with an upside down U.S. Flag on the front...........

Someone should start producing them (and sell them at Cost vs the outrageous priced MAGA hats that I am sure Trump grifts off a ton of profits.........) (And make them here in the U.S.A. vs some sweat shop in China with children as employees.....)

I'll bet that most MAGGats aren't educated enough to even tell you what an upside down U.S. Flag signifies........

If there ever was a time..........now would be it...............

[Emile]

33. Jan 6 hearings, social security democratic TV ads, Roe

and putrid for Trump wing all having an effect.

[SCantiGOP]

69. Don't underestimate the talk of Social Security

That could be the most important single factor in this shift.

[Captain Zero]

34. drop this headline and link everywhere

Most 65+ don't browse DU.

[DownriverDem]

43. Not with

trump's picture. Besides how do you don't what 65+ folks browse?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

65. I'm 73 and I'm on DU.

I expect there are more seniors here than you know.

[Pluvious]

36. There's a reason The Summer of Love...

…Didn’t result in its own mini Baby Boom

[JT45242]

40. Macabre part -- covid as selective influence

The old folks who were die hard Rethugs -- may have died off in larger numbers.

According to this site https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm#SexAndAge]

approximately 760,000 deaths in the age group 65+ out of the 1.02 million official covid deaths.

That's a big chunk not including the undercount.

The survivors are probably pissed about the friends that they lost.

Threatening to take away Medicare and social security also a bad move. Dems should pounce on this, because these people will show up to vote to keep SS and Medicare

[Mariana]

47. But the decrease has happened since May.

Most of the seniors who died of Covid were already dead then.

[DownriverDem]

42. Too bad

the poll comes with trump's picture. I googled it and all the articles come with his picture. I do not post trump's picture ever.

[Texin]

45. Methinks it could have a lot to do with certain GQP Senators saying they're all in in doing away

with Social Security and Medicare and that restoring them in the majority will allow them to gut those programs. And being a woman who worked and paid in my fair share of taxes throughout the years, who is herself needing to supplement my income with what I worked my ass off for nearly 40 years for, to hear somebody telling me - a 67 year old woman - that I need to rejoin the labor pool hasn't gone over well. I think it probably has had a pretty chilling and galling effect on a lot of us in that bloc. And I'm old enough to remember when Roe was the law of the land. I never had a Sword of Damocles hanging over my head of such as an unwanted, unplanned pregnancy being forced on me by the goddamned Supreme Court and the equally goddamned Texas lawmakers, et al.

You try telling some 60 to 90+ year old group of voters that they're just going to give up benefits they've had access to and worked for since The New Deal was enacted and go back to work (and where?, Walmart? McDonalds?) WTF what the actual fuck? How else would a voting bloc feel and plan to act when they are being threated with being thrown out onto the streets or into debt prisons which is surely next on the list of the GQP agenda.

[SWBTATTReg]

76. Well said. NT

[LiberalFighter]

51. What is the breakdown by gender?

[dalton99a]

54. Republicans are going after the New Deal itself - Social Security and Medicare.

Going backward as far as they can is their goal

[Katinfl]

56. Dems have to drive home the fact that the GOP

Is ready to gut Social Security and Medicare if they take Congress. This is not a scare tactic, it is the truth and the GOP has come right out and said it. But the Dems have to get out and shout it from the rooftop so people are aware of it.

[XanaDUer2]

57. 100 percent

I want to see messaging

[dalton99a]

58. +1. When Republicans say anything is "settled", they are lying.

Nothing is safe with Republicans in power

[uponit7771]

72. +1,

[SouthernDem4ever]

61. How stupid.

Repugs have been threatening to remove SS and Medicare and they still vote for them? Is there any other word other than stupid to describe that?

[czarjak]

67. Retirees voting R? Not the smart ones.

[Wounded Bear]

70. Wonder how many over 65 anti-vaxxers are still around?

repubs must have lost some votes there. I'm assuming most of the leftist old folks (like me ) got vaxxed and survived.

[CousinIT]

75. GOP said they'd take away Social Security, Medicare + raise their taxes. n/t

[Paper Roses]

79. As a very senior, I'm scared to death that something will happen to dissolve S.S.

I paid for it all my working life and now find myself (a widow) in a very bad situation. If the GOP wins in November, I'll be on welfare. Scares the heck out of me. Work all your life, pay into the system and then be shot to hell.
Who benefits? The rich! With all of us old timers gone, just think of all the goodies (property in particular) that they will pick up at pennies on the dollar.
I'm so sick of it I could scream!

[Zambero]

81. Rick Scott in this instance being the grim reaper poster child

Kill entitlements, even though we PAID for them and are therefore very much entitled to those benefits! As I recall, GWB attempted a similar ploy, and despite its eventual demise, the mere notion of having proposed it cost his party dearly with 65+ voters in the 2006 mid-terms.

[Deep State Witch]

77. Social Security

That's because they found out that Repugs are going after Social Security.

[XanaDUer2]

80. "Get a job" may not be effective campaign to a 75-yr-old

[SouthernLiberal]

82. I am well over 65

And I am one of those older folks who have gotten more 'blue' as we get older.

[liberalla]

83. I LOVE reading this!