WHAT AMERICANS WANT – AT 8:53 A.M. ET:  A new poll indicates that most Americans are in tune with Republican demands for smaller government, but a significant number are not.  From Investor's Business Daily:

Americans are deeply split on the role of government, but the majority at this point think Washington should be smaller and provide fewer services, according to the latest IBD/TIPP poll.

Overall, nearly six in 10 (59%) Americans surveyed in February think the federal government has too much power, 31% believe it has the right amount of power and 7% say it has too little power.

Not surprisingly, 83% of Republicans and 72% of conservatives believe the government is too powerful. But 64% of independents and 62% of moderates feel the same way. Majorities of Democrats (52%) and liberals (54%) think the government has the right amount of power.

This political alignment of Republicans with independents and the ideological alignment of conservatives and moderates make small-government supporters a force to be reckoned with.

The breakdowns were similar when the 915 respondents were asked how big a government they preferred and how many services they desired. Overall, a majority (54%) prefer a smaller government providing fewer services, and 34% want a bigger government providing more services. Republicans prefer a small government by 80% to 13%, and independents prefer a smaller government by 62% to 27%. By contrast, Democrats prefer a bigger government by a 56%-28% spread.

And...

The ideological composition of the country is 42% conservative, 37% moderate and 19% liberal. By party, 33% are Democrats, 28% Republicans and 35% independents.

COMMENT:  Overall, favorable results for our side, although I'm surprised that Democrats still outnumber Republicans by five percent in the party-preference section.  Republicans will win their elections through a coalition of conservatives and independents.  That is why nurturing the independent vote is so critical for GOP success.  And that, in turn, is why Republicans must be wary of ideological absolutism.  Draw independents in.  Don't repel them.

March 1, 2011