A CNN poll has revealed that the Tea Party, the conservative Republican movement, is rapidly decreasing in popularly. Nearly half of America has a negative view of the grass-roots organization, with less than a third of the population having a positive view.

47% of people questioned said that they had unfavorable views of the movement, which started in 2009 and advocates lower taxation, lower public spending and an originalist take on the American constitution. Just 32% said they had a favorable view, a decrease of five points since December.

The Tea Party is now almost exactly as unpopular as the Republican and Democrat parties themselves, both with 48% unfavorable ratings. Most of the drop in popularity came from voters with household incomes of less than $50,000.

The Tea Party’s policy of public spending reductions could disadvantage low-income households. “It's possible the drop among lower income Americans is a reaction to the tea party's push for large cuts in government programs that help lower-income Americans, although there are certainly other factors at work," said Keating Holland, CNN’s polling director.

The movement began in 2009 and has since been a fulcrum of Republican politics, helping to secure the White House for the party and beef up control of the Senate in November 2010. The group had a distinct influence over the 2010 electoral cycle and is expected to bolster Republican performance in 2012’s election. A recent Tea Party poll suggested that Herman Cain was the movement’s preferred candidate for next year’s campaign.

Reported by Mike Jordison.

Back to the Tripbase News Homepage