ABC News on Wednesday ignored its own poll, one finding that the percentage of Americans who call themselves Democrats is at a "record low." Instead, the network relegated the survey, conducted with the Washington Post, to ABCNews.com. This is despite the ample two-hour running time of Good Morning America.
On the website, Gary Langer explained, "Just 26 percent of Americans now identify themselves as Democrats, down from 32 percent six weeks ago to the fewest since ABC/Post polling began in 1981." He added, "The number of Americans identifying themselves as Democrats has dropped to a record low in nearly 34 years..., marking the party’s challenges after its poor showing in the 2014 midterm elections."
Langer noted, "The Republican Party, by contrast, has gained sharply in popularity, if not allegiance."
What did GMA cover instead? The network spent over five minutes on a fashion make-over story called "60 Minutes to Party Ready." Clearly, the program could have found time for the poll.
Online, ABC detailed:
The Republicans in Congress, moreover, lead Barack Obama by 47-38 percent in trust to handle the economy, a clear GOP advantage on this central issue for the first time in his presidency.
Beyond the economy, 43 percent also trust the Republicans over Obama to handle the nation’s main problems in general, while 39 percent pick Obama – not a meaningful difference in this case, but the first time the GOP has held even a numerical advantage vs. Obama on the question. And with no help from his initiative on immigration, the president trails the GOP by 9 points in trust to handle that issue, as well.
The only hint that ABC even conducted a poll came when GMA co-host George Stephanopoulos informed viewers of unrelated results: "As our latest ABC News/Washington Post poll shows, [Jeb Bush is] an early frontrunner in what could be a crowded Republican field."
The Washington Post on Tuesday mentioned the survey's finding that the majority of U.S. citizens think enhanced interrogation tactics are justified. But the article failed to mention the record low number of Americans calling themselves Democrats.
