A Patch poll of Georgia Democrats found that most respondents feel that Mitt Romney’s decision to tap Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate could make it easier for Democrats to paint the GOP ticket as out of touch with the middle class.
“Romney is now absolutely married to the tax breaks for the rich, tax increases for the middle class, gut the programs for everybody but the 1%,” one respondent said.
Most of those who took part in the nonscientific flash poll agreed that Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman, will ‘galvanize’ Democrats in the Peach State. Twenty Democratic elected officials, candidates and activists completed the nonscientific survey over the weekend.
Several respondents said they didn’t think the Ryan selection would make a big different in Georgia, which has been a safe Republican state in the past several presidential races, though it could help Democrats in other key states.
“They [the Romney-Ryan ticket] will have to defend public policy that is antithetical to the needs of middle and working class Americans,” said one respondent.
Respondents overwhelmingly agreed that the Ryan pick would give Democrats a chance to win the presidential race by running against the Congressman’s budget plans, which would reduce spending on Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security. Sixty percent strongly agreed and 30 percent somewhat agreed with the statement, "Now that Ryan is on the ticket, Georgia Democrats can win by running against Ryan's existing budget plans and particularly his proposal for Medicare."
Still, Democratic respondents were less strong in their opinion on whether the Ryan pick would help Democrats win the support of senior citizens in Georgia. Forty percent agreed with that statement and 15 percent somewhat agreed.
When asked if they felt the Ryan nomination would “galvanize” Georgia Democrats, 35 said they strongly agreed and 40 percent said they somewhat agreed.
A similar flash poll of influential Georgia Republicans found enthusiasm for the Romney-Ryan team.
Here are some excerpts from the Democratic respondents:
- “He’s not from the South – can’t imagine he’s going to win over undecideds in Georgia.”
- “Senior citizens will be pushed toward President Obama because of Ryan's Medicare voucher plan.”
- “The CEO has hired a brilliant and youthful CFO.”
Related headlines from Patch sites across the country:
- Blue Commonwealth Snap Poll: Massachusetts Democrats Say Ryan’s Budget Plans Will Hurt GOP
- Illinois Politicos: Paul Ryan VP Selection Could Energize Both Parties
- Democrat Rep. Gerry Connolly Calls VP Pick Ryan an ‘Amicable Radical’
Would you like to take part in future polls? If you are an elected official, candidate or party activist—Republican or Democrat—and you'd like to take part in our surveys, please email Regional Editor Anna Varela.
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