Republicans Bank on Angry Voters, Half-Confident They'll Take the House

The latest National Journal Insiders Poll is out, and reveals something about Republicans' strategy heading into the November midterms: they're banking on an angry electorate.

When asked how angry the electorate will be this November, 101 GOP insiders (strategists, operatives, high-ranking members of the party) answered thusly:

A lot angrier than normal: 79%
A little angrier than normal: 18%
About as angry as always: 3%
A little less angry than normal: 0%
A lot less angry than normal: 0%

107 Democratic insiders weren't as sure that the electorate will be so riled up, but they did expect a more-angry-than-usual environment:

A lot angrier than normal: 43%
A little angrier than normal: 41%
About as angry as always: 10%
A little less angry than normal: 4%
A lot less angry than normal: 0%

At the same time, Republican insiders were a little over halfway-confident that the GOP will retake the House of Representatives in 2010. Asked to rate their chances from 0 to 10, the average score was 5.8.

Dems, on average, rated the GOP's chances at 3.7, reflecting some concern but not an overwhelming fear that the House will change hands.