The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-03-19
RELIEFERS, FARMERS,
WOMEN, AND YOUTH
PUT FDR VOTE AHEAD
President Gains in 70 States and
Loses in Is in Nationwide
Polling for One Month

O@eo@-0 A'.Oo@Ooo
NEW YORK, March IA num-
Der of important facts about Presi-
dent Roosevelt's political position
today are revealed in the latest
Nationwide presidential poll con-
Quoted by the Institute of Public
Opinion.
First, the Presidents popularity
increased slightly. during the period
covered by the poll, from early
February to early March. He re-
ceived SAL per cent of the major
party vote cast in the poll, against
45.9 per cent for the Republicans.
One month ago the President polled
$50 per cent.
Second the poll reveals for the
first time that a considerable pro-
portion of the Presidents political
support comes from four large
groups of voters-persons in the
lower economic levels young per-
sons, farmers and women. His ma
jority among these groups ranges
from Sc per cent women to Is per
cent among persons on relief
Conversely the President is weak
est and the Republicans are strong
est among business and professional
persons, a cross-section of whom
voted 7-to-3 for the C. o. P.
The prospects of the Republican
Party next November will depend
largely on developing an appeal to
win over greater proportion of the
four pro-Roosevelt groups than it
now has. This probably means NOV
ing toward a more liberal program
President Roosevelt's strategy, on
the other hand, will probably be to
win over as much of the present
pro-Republican business and profess
sional vote as he can without losing
support elsewhere. This would mean
a swing toward the right, toward
economy, budget-balancing and 9TH
er conservative proposals.
Quiet Along the Potomac
The President nearly always gains
in popularity when things are quiet
along the Potomac when his legis-
lative program is not under fire in
Congress This fact, first demon
strated by the National Weekly Poll
some months ago is again borne out
in the poll reported today. For the
daily sittings of Congress up OF the
close of this months poll early in
March were quieter than they had
been in years. What was the result?
Roosevelt's popularity with the
voters of the two major parties
climbed to it's highest point in Is
months.
To match his present majority of
54.1 per cent the statistical wayfarer
must travel back along the curve on
the Institutes chart to February
1885.
The Score Today
The Democrats are leading today
in 80 States with a total electoral
vote of 343. (Number necessary to
win: 1867 The Republicans are
ahead in eleven States with 128
electoral votes. Each side has an
even chance of winning go more
electoral votes in the four States
whcih are today half-Republican,
alf-Democratic = Michigan, Illinois,
Kansas and Wyoming.
The political lineup of the States
may be altered, of course, after next
June when the Republicans name
their candidate. This months poll
simply reflects the situation as it is
today, showing how President Roose-
welt runs against The Field, which
includes large number of potential
candidates.
AS soon as the Republicans select
one of these, the National Weekly
Poll will be able for the first time in
history, to report whether a party's
strength increases or decreases after
it's nominating convention.
Some Reasons for the Vote
Whence comes the increase in
Presidents popularity in the last
two polls of the Institute?
Some Of it is due, undoubtedly, to
the fact that this Congressional ses-
sional session has been relatively
tranquil. Another factor, which OBJ
servers have noted in the South and
Middle West, is that the Supreme