Poll: Voter Enthusiasm Dropping In 2012
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – As the Republican Party looks to wind up its nominating process after the January 31 Florida GOP primary; the enthusiasm amongst Republicans for the coming election is starting to cool.
In a new CNN poll released Monday evening, enthusiasm amongst registered Republicans has dropped by 10 points from the same time in October 2010.
Still, roughly 54 percent of Republicans are enthusiastic about the coming election.
According to the poll, the most enthusiastic support amongst Republicans has dropped every month since March 2011.
The problem for Republicans is that while their enthusiasm has been falling, enthusiasm amongst Democrats has continued to rise.
Since October, Democratic enthusiasm has risen by six points according to the CNN poll and is now 49 percent.
Still, coming into a presidential election cycle, a sitting incumbent with less than 50 percent of enthusiastic support is enough to give President Barack Obama many sleepless nights.
The problem Republicans will have to face is can they get their base sufficiently fired up to rally around likely GOP nominee Mitt Romney.
If they can, Obama faces a steep climb towards winning a second-term in 2012.
