Page 4 - Intensity Gap News Today

Success in getting some things done, and particularly in new york city, and as well as in business and could it be a game-changer? >> well, it is an open question. the issue is what you described. a big intensity gap on this issue. a lot of the gun control measures that poll well, but people who support them dont go into the voting booth to vote on that specific issue. you have advocates for the gun ownership who care about that issue and vote on it and political activists on it and that is why ...

The nra, and they were able to use off-year elections which are small turnout where they can marshal a very small but impassioned voter base to take down any congressman who would dare to pass gun laws. >> two state senators were recalled and the third one resigned. >> even though the laws are popular. >> but theres an intensity gap here. when you poll people about these sorts of restrictions, most people say that they favor them. but the people who go to the polls an vote because they care abou...

Bipartisan group. republicans for immigration reform and the national immigration forum. they tell us that in republican states, conservative states, poll of republicans only from -- depending on the state, 61%, to 78% of republicans are in favor of immigration reform. so if these congressmen are listening to their constituents. they will pitch in and help us. you may have some special interests that theyre afraid of, im not sure. >> heres the problem, though. that polling, ive seen polling that...

State and face what shes faced this week. watching dean heller from nevada suddenly get poll numbers that say, maybe theres a backlash to me about voting no on background checks. or jeff flake, potentially moving toward a swing state of arizona, where the same things happen. >> why is that a surprise when polls say 90% of people want this legislation? >> the key thing is, whether, you know, this is going to last in a couple months, in a couple of years. the key dynamic to the gunfight, and steve...

To level the playing field. >> in indiana, you have joe donley coming out saying hes for background checks. the numbers you talked about earlier today, pretty staggering. the overall numbers suggest maybe a little bit of the support has waned. for background checks state by state, those numbers are still very, very high. where is the disconnect? i know weve talked about this intensity gap. it feels like we are doing -- people are trying to do, and the president was sure pretty hot about it today...

This, i hope, will be a partial equalizer. the more you have voices out there putting pressure on members of congress, its all about raising the stakes on members of congress, whether its money or votes. the more people raise the stakes on their members of congress and make it an issue, if you dont support this, i will not support you, thats what the president is trying to do here. im just saying, hes won two elections with this grassroots organization. >> this is a classic case for political sc...

Strong and that they, their early voter turnout, i mean ive seen things on both side, that are supportive of the early voter turnout. again all who you ask. >> thats the point i was going to make. the obama campaign in say the state of ohio is investing $50 million in gotv activity. unless they pull voters to the polls the natural enthusiasm advantage the republicans enjoy could give governor romney a slight edge. the gotv effort i firmly believe is stronger on the democratic side than the repub...

The the democrats enjoyed four years ago which has swung in the other direction is so intense. we saw from gallup earlier this week, martha were looking at all-time highs in terms of enthusiasm, highest of any point gallup has been polling. you look at that. then you combine that with numbers you put out, martha, about the major issues driving voters to the polls this time. it is the economy. it is jobs. it small business. it is the deficit, it is the debt. on all of those issues governor romney...

Heaving and grumbling for one minute. he tightened the lead in colorado, wisconsin, virginia and the key state, your home state, billy, of ohio. i think that is really important. he also increased the intensity gap. i believe he has a real chance because of three things. threeis i like to call them. one being intensity, which gallup in same poll widened to 13 points. that means republicans are more passionate and more enthusiastic than democrats. also, independents. romney has held a consistent ...

Voters, likely voter polls do a little better for mitt romney because of that intensity gap you were just talking about. but right now in those states, theres four core states that we look at -- north carolina, virginia, ohio and florida -- mitt romney needs to win all four of those, and at best hes even in all four. megyn: interesting, though, in ohio, 45-45, because there was a significant gap there not too long ago. guys, thank you both so much. >> thanks, megyn. >> you bet. megyn: meantime, ...