Public Pans Candidates Who Backed Bailouts, Likes Those Open to Compromise

When it comes to stands that will sway voters in this year's congressional elections, most Americans are less likely to vote for candidates who supported government loans to banks during the 2008 financial crisis and are more likely to favor those who are willing to make compromises with people that they disagree with, according to a Pew Research/National Journal poll conducted May 20-23.

Forty-nine percent say they are less likely to vote for for those who supported bank bailouts while 32 percent say it will make no difference in their decisions and 14 percent are more likely to vote for those who supported the aid to banks.

Forty-two percent are more likely to vote for candidates open to compromise while 22 percent are less likely, with 29 percent saying it makes no difference to what they decide.

Although there has been a lot of talk of an anti-incumbent mood this year, 51 percent say their decision will not rely on whether a candidate is an incumbent and 43 percent say that never having held an elective office is not a factor that will decide their vote.

The results are more mixed on health care, with 39 percent more likely to support a candidate that backed the legislation approved this year, compared with 35 percent who said they'd be more likely to vote for someone who opposed it. Twenty-two percent said it would make no difference.

A plurality of Republicans (40 percent) are less likely to vote for a candidate open to compromise, while nearly half of Democrats (49 percent) would support such a candidate. Independents support someone open to compromise by 44 percent to 15 percent, with 36 percent saying it makes no difference to their decision.

Republicans have the highest percentage of voters who say they would not support an incumbent at 43 percent, compared with 27 percent for independents and 17 percent for Democrats.

When it comes to people who say they are Tea Party supporters, about three-quarters are less likely to support a candidate who backed the health care reform legislation or bailout of banks. Fifty-five percent are less likely to vote for an incumbent, compared with 27 percent of the general public and 42 percent or more likely to vote for a candidate who has never held elective office, compared with 24 percent of Americans overall.


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