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21
Jul

The Hill: “GOP to focus on policy, not Pelosi”

by Lisa Mathias

The Hill features David Winston today in an article outlining the approach Republicans need to take in order to win seats this November. Republicans are trying to separate themselves from Nancy Pelosi and her Democrat followers, but David points out that the GOP needs to do more than just that, by showing the policy plans they will implement after the elections:

“Part of the dynamic here is the way President Obama and congressional Democrats govern ha[s] opened this door wide open for Republicans, but the public at this point isn’t just simply saying, ‘Look at how bad [Democrats] are.’ They want to know what you’re going to do — why should they vote for you?”

To read more, turn to thehill.com

20
Jul

Pew Research Center: Voters Rate Political Parties’ Ideologies

by Lisa Mathias

The Pew Research Center for The People and The Press recently released the results of a study mapping out voters’ opinions on political ideologies. The study confirms that most voters are center-right in ideology. The study also outlines voters’ views on opposing political parties, as well as insight into what voters believe about the Tea Party.

To read the report and check out Pew’s methodology and toplines, go to pewresearch.org

20
Jul

Washington Post: Republicans divided on the importance of an agenda for midterm elections

by Lisa Mathias

WaPo released an article over the weekend by Karen Tumulty and Paul Kane, describing different approaches from Republicans on taking back the House. Some strategists are going for an attack plan, but others like David Winston say that a plan needs to be included in the GOP’s message to voters:

“What’s our plan to create jobs and grow the economy?” said GOP pollster David Winston, who is advising the House Republican leadership on the effort. “That’s really what we have to address. We need command focus.”

To read more, turn to washingtonpost.com

12
Jul

LA Times: A post-November congressional outlook: partisan gridlock

by Lisa Mathias

Doyle McManus featured David Winston in his July 11th column in the LA Times, writing about how the GOP’s potential success in the House may be a difficult one to reach, since Republicans have yet to settle on a unifying message. David explains why they are currently doing well in terms of public opinion:

Winston argues that the GOP should articulate a specific plan, but he also cautions against putting too much into it.

“One of the reason the door has opened for Republicans is that President Obama has focused on so many other things,” he added. “If you create an 87-point agenda, you’re making the same mistake.”

To read more, click to latimes.com

08
Jul

LA Times: The boomer defection

by Lisa Mathias

LA Times’ Doyle McManus notes that members of the baby boomer generation are identifying themselves more and more as Republicans, at least according to recent polls. This can prove to be a huge benefit to the GOP for the upcoming November elections. David Winston explains why this shift has occurred:

Polls taken during the healthcare debate last year found that senior citizens over 65 were more strongly opposed to the plan than any other age group — but over time, they were joined by middle-aged baby boomers, who became increasingly negative.

“Older voters are worried that the quality of their healthcare could decline,” said David Winston, a Republican pollster. “That opens a door where they’re willing to listen to Republicans. It’s a huge opportunity.”

To read more: click to latimes.com

08
Jul

CNBC: Geithner Shares Economic Outlook

by Lisa Mathias


Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner shares his economic outlook and discusses trade with CNBC’s Larry Kudlow. David Winston, of The Winston Group, and Josh Gottheimer, of Burson-Marsteller, share their reactions to Geithner’s comments.

25
Jun

Washington Examiner: Obama and Dems heading for electoral disaster

by Lisa Mathias

In Byron York’s latest piece for the Washington Examiner, The WG’s David Winston explains why Obama’s poll numbers look bad for Democrats in this mid-term election year:

Of course, Obama isn’t on the ballot this November. But his ratings contribute to what Winston calls the public’s “overall sense of the ability to govern.” From that perspective, Obama’s troubles are the Democrats’ troubles.

To read more about the poll numbers and Republican response to them, read the full article at washingtonexaminer.com

10
Jun

Roll Call:Republicans Encouraged to Pound Democrats Over Budget

by Lisa Mathias

Roll Call’s Jackie Kucinich reports on Republican leaders’ push for fiscal responsibility and rein in spending. Republican Leader John Boehner referred to a Winston Group poll at their recent meeting that backs their message:

Boehner released new data produced by Republican pollster David Winston. The survey of 1,000 registered voters just before the Memorial Day recess showed that 62 percent believed that by not passing a budget, Congress missed an opportunity to “rein in spending.”

Access the full article (with an account) on rollcall.com

09
Jun

Washington Post: Health-care debate still alive and well for parties

by Lisa Mathias

David Winston comments on how the healthcare debate continues between the GOP and Democrats, in today’s Washington Post:

“For the election, part of what you want to do is contrast what would happen if you were governing,” said David Winston, a Republican pollster who advises party leaders in Congress. “The Democrats and President Obama spent months talking about health care, and Republicans say they should have spent that time working on jobs.”

Access the full article at washingtonpost.com

08
Jun

US News & World Report: Republicans Worry They Could Squander 2010 Opportunity

by Lisa Mathias

The WG’s David Winston comments in Paul Bedard’s Washington Whispers column today on how the GOP can’t rest easy in 2010 and expect to win in 2012 as well:

David Winston, a GOP pollster who worked on the 1994 Contract with America Republican majorities, says the 2010 elections offer a “real opportunity,” but so does 2012. The reason: The Bush tax cuts expire starting later this year, and the economy could get socked. “I don’t view this year as a one-shot deal.”

To check out the fill Washington Whispers post, go to usnews.com

08
Jun

Des Moines Register: New Iowa Poll shows GOP majority favors Terry Branstad in governor’s race

by Lisa Mathias

Thomas Beaumont recently featured The Winston Group’s David Winston in a piece discussing Iowa’s primary for governor; polls show former governor Terry Brandstad in the lead:

“Branstad is proving that his credentials and an economic focus as a conservative puts together a large majority coalition,” said David Winston, a national Republican pollster. “It’s a good position for him to be in, and positions him well for the general election.”

To read the full article, click on desmoinesregister.com

07
Jun

LA Times: GOP worries about ‘tea party’ candidates’ broad appeal

by Lisa Mathias

Los Angeles Times’ Kathleen Henessy writes about how more non-politicians are entering themselves as candidates for this year’s election, many of whom are aligning with the tea party. The Winston Group’s David Winston commented on the need for tea party and for GOP members to work together, especially to win over independent voters:

“This isn’t a college debate about who made the best points,” said Republican strategist David Winston, who has seen tea party candidates rising as they focus their arguments on deficit spending and federal overreach. “If they’re going to win races, they have to prove they can build a coalition.”

To read the full article, turn to latimes.com

25
May

Movers and Shakers: Kristen Soltis

by Lisa Mathias

Politics magazine recently featured the Winston Group’s own Kristen Soltis as one of their “Movers and Shakers,” and asked her several questions about polling, policy and the Tea Party:

Politics: “Tea Party” is a bit of a loaded term on all sides of the debate. Does that make it hard to get an accurate reading?
Soltis: It depends on the question that you ask. Some pollsters ask “Do you support the Tea Party?” I believe there was a question some months ago, “Do you sympathize with the Tea Party?” We tried to ask a question that was pretty strong, so it was either yes or no, not how you feel about it. We wanted to get the most definite group.

To read the entire interview, go to politicsmagazine.com

08
Apr

Christian Science Monitor: GOP marginalizing Michael Steele in run-up to midterm elections

by Lisa Mathias

CSM’s Linda Feldmann features commentary from David Winston on today’s story about the GOP’s possible success in the 2010 elections, among efforts to marginalize Michael Steele in his position as Chairman of the RNC.

“There’s a certain level of infrastructure that’s certainly important,” says David Winston, a Republican pollster. “But ultimately, it’s the broader message and the American people’s sense of who they want to have govern the country that matters.”

To read the full story, turn to CSMonitor.com

05
Apr

LA Times: Myth-busting polls: Tea Party members are average Americans, 41% are Democrats, independents

by Lisa Mathias

The LA Times features a story on Tea Party members and their makeup, and refers to our Tea Party poll and analysis, along with commentary from The WG’s David Winston:

“It’s a good sample size,” David Winston, polling director of the Winston Group that did the poll for an education advocacy group, told the Ballot Box blog of The Hill newspaper.

The Tea Party adherents broke down 28% independent, 17% Democrat and only 57% Republican. Not coincidentally, this bipartisan breakdown has been the way that Tea Party favorite Sarah Palin has often described movement members as “commonsense Americans” worried and….

…angered by the over-reaching one-party control of Democrats in Washington these last 15 months, rooted initially in opposition to Obama’s $787 billion government economic stimulus package.

Read the full story at latimesblogs.com

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