Democrats hit new low at 30-percent approval

The Democratic Party hit another historic low in a national poll this week.

Thirty percent of voters questioned in a Quinnipiac University survey said they have a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party, and 54 percent say they hold an unfavorable opinion.

This is the lowest favorability rating for the Democratic Party since the Quinnipiac University Poll began asking voters this question in 2008, the survey's release noted.

The Democratic Party has been in the political wilderness since last year's elections. Not only did the party lose control of the White House and Senate and failed to win back the House majority, but Republicans made gains among Black, Hispanic and younger voters, all traditional members of the Democratic Party's base.

In the poll, 38 percent of voters have a favorable opinion of the Republican party, while 51 percent have an unfavorable opinion, and 7 percent haven't heard enough about it.

Given a list of four economic issues and asked which one worries voters the most right now, 53 percent say the price of food and consumer goods, 28 percent say the cost of housing or rent, 8 percent say their job situation, and 7 percent say the stock market.

This compares to Quinnipiac University's April 9 poll when 47 percent of voters said the price of food and consumer goods, 20 percent said the cost of housing or rent, 17 percent said the stock market, and 6 percent said their job.

Forty-two percent of voters say they have cut spending on non-essential items compared to one year ago, while 14 percent say they have increased spending, and 43 percent say there is no change in their spending on non-essential items compared to one year ago.