A new Gallup Organization report demonstrates that the Republican brand name has been severely damaged as a result of Iraq and scandals over the last six years.

For 2001 through 2005, the party identification balance in Gallup polling — before independents are asked which way they lean — remained within 2 points of each other.

In 2001, Democrats had an edge of eight-tenths of a percent; in 2002 the GOP was up by nine-tenths of a percent, then in 2003, Republicans were 1.9 points ahead.

That GOP lead shrank to six-tenths of a point in 2004, then Democrats pulled within the error margin, with just four-tenths of a point separating the parties.

But for 2006, Democrats pulled away, leading Republicans by 3.9 points, with 34.3 percent identifying themselves as Democrats, 30.4 percent as Republicans and 33.9 percent as independents.

This represents a swing of 5.8 points in just three years, from a GOP lead of 1.9 points to a deficit of 3.9 points.

Much more startling, though, was about the identification of “leaners”–people who categorize themselves as independents but who tend to “lean” or “identify with” one party or the other and who in fact often end up voting for that party.

In this category of leaners, Democrats had an advantage of 1.3 points in 2001. The parties were within the margin of error in 2002, when four-tenths of a point separated them and in 2003, when there was just a one-tenth of a point difference.

In 2004, Democrats had a 2.7 point advantage, and it grew to 4.4 points in 2005.

But in 2006, this category exploded to a 10.2-point advantage for Democrats: 50.4 percent for Democrats, 40.2 percent for Republicans. The remaining 9.4 percent did not lean toward either party.

This 10.2-point advantage is the biggest lead either party has had since Gallup began tracking the leaners in 1991.

It should come as no surprise that fewer and fewer people want to be associated in any way with the party that brought us the Iraq disaster and Mark Foley. Time will tell, but I wonder whether the mid 2000’s will end up being a turning point in American politics. Just like the early 80’s under Reagan brought an end to decades of liberal thinking and progressive government, 2006 may be the time that brought the brand of conservatism espoused by the GOP to an end as a viable governing philosophy. Or maybe not..it depends on how well Democrats handle their new majorities.

Tags: democrats, gallup, independents, republicans