Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 10, 1995 TAG: 9503100039
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
AN INDEPENDENT STREAK
Just because we're conservative doesn't mean we're automatically Republicans. The single biggest group of voters in the Roanoke Valley don't claim affiliation with either political party.
What's your political party affiliation?
Democrat 29%
Republican 25%
Independent or none 41%
Other 1%
Who's what politically?
Republicans have a slight edge among whites. But blacks are overwhelmingly Democratic. Although both races have a strong independent streak.
RACE
Democrats Republicans Independents or none
Whites 25% 29% 42%
Blacks 47% 5% 44%
There's not much of a gender gap. Women tend to be only slightly more inclined to be Democrats than men.
GENDER
Men 26% 26% 47%
Women 30% 25% 38%
Is time on the GOP's side?
Among Generation Xers, the Republicans have a slight lead. Among baby boomers, it's a tie. But Democrats still outnumber Republicans among those age 50 and up - the New Deal generations.
Democrats Republicans Independents or none
AGE
18-29: 16% 28% 54%
30-49: 26% 23% 44%
50-64: 34% 26% 39%
65 and up: 37% 25% 34%
Class struggle?
Those with a high school education or less tend to be Democrats. Those with some college or a college degree tend to be Republicans. But those who have gone on to grad school tend to become Democrats again.
EDUCATION
High school drop-outs: 38% 11% 49%
High school grads: 29% 22% 43%
Some college: 21% 32% 42%
College graduates: 26% 36% 35%
Advanced degrees: 39% 22% 35%
It's money that matters
Perhaps the Republicans should raise the minimum wage to $30,000 per year. Those who make less than that tend to be Democrats, by wide margins. But once we start making more than that, we tend to become Republicans.
INCOME
Less than $10,000: 39% 13% 43%
$10,000-$19,999: 32% 20% 46%
$20,000-$29,999: 38% 17% 44%
$30,000-$39,999: 25% 35% 36%
$40,000 and up: 24% 37% 37%
by CNB