More in Tennessee leaning Democratic, poll says

NASHVILLE — While Republicans won presidential, U.S. Senate and legislative victories in Tennessee during 2008, a new Gallup poll says more Tennesseans lean Democratic than Republican.

The polling outfit says an analysis of Gallup Poll Daily tracking data during the first six months of 2009 found 47 percent of adult Tennesseans said they identified more with the Democratic Party versus 39 percent of voters who leaned Republican.

In Georgia, Gallup says, 46 percent of adults identified with the Democratic Party and 39 percent identified with the Republican Party. Georgia, which also went heavily Republican last year, was one of just nine states Gallup found that changed classifications from 2008 data to 2009 data. In 2008, Gallup ranked Georgia “competitive,” but the polling organization now says Georgia leans Democratic.

The findings were based on 3,408 interviews in Tennessee and 3,962 in Georgia, Gallup says in its news release. The poll’s sampling error in most states was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Gallup surveyors initially asked respondents to say whether they identified with the Democratic or Republican Party. Those who said they were independent were asked in a follow-up question whether they leaned Democratic or Republican. Their answers were included so total figures represent Democratic or Republican Party identifiers and Democratic or GOP-leaning independents.

The findings apply only to a state population’s party leanings, Gallup says, and “are not necessarily indicative of a party’s electoral strength in that state.” The company’s news release also points out election outcomes are decided on party support, which shows a Democratic advantage, but also on party turnout “which typically works in the Republicans’ favor.”