Minnesotans More Independent

Minnesotans are rejecting the major parties and identifying themselves as independents in the largest numbers in four years, according to a poll. Thirty-eight percent of Minnesota adults polled by the Star Tribune Minnesota Poll described themselves as independents, compared with 29 percent who said they're Democrats and 24 percent who consider themselves Republicans. The numbers were similar in December 2003, when the poll showed 39 percent of the respondents calling themselves independents, 27 percent Democrats and 25 percent Republicans. Kathryn Pearson, a University of Minnesota political scientist, called the results "incredible" in a time of intense polarization. "It's really striking that the public's disaffected with the Republicans and the Democrats," she said. Fully identified Democrats and Republicans are nearly at parity, but the Republicans remain at a distinct disadvantage when independents who lean toward the parties are factored in, the poll showed. When self-described partisans and leaners are combined, Democrats are ahead 45 percent to 33 percent. The poll, conducted Sept. 18-23, surveyed 802 Minnesotans and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.Recent national polls have found a comparable rise in the number of independents, mostly at GOP expense. A recent Pew Research Center poll showed independents and Democrats nationally tied with 34 percent support, lagged by Republicans at 25 percent. When leaners were factored in, the Democrats' advantage swelled to 52 percent to 35 percent. Pearson, however, had a warning for Democrats, noting that the approval ratings for Congress, which is controlled by Democrats, are even lower than those for President Bush. "Sure, people are dissatisfied with the Republicans, but they're dissatisfied with the Democratic leadership, too," she said. "They took control of Congress, have done nothing, so the public isn't very sympathetic to them." Minnesota Republican Party spokesman Mark Drake downplayed what he called "generic party identification," saying Minnesota "is a state that's always had an independent maverick streak. A lot of those independents are up for grabs." DFL chair Brian Melendez also focused on independents, particularly those who said they lean toward his party. "That's almost as good an indication of how we're doing as those who have a straight party ID," he said. "We really care about how people act at the polls. ... We care more about how they behave than whether they're card-carrying members of the party."