Karlyn Bowman writes at AEI:
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As the “summer of the political outsider” becomes fall, the October issue of AEI’s Political Report breaks down public opinion on insider versus outsider presidential candidates. ...
Insiders and outsiders
- Political experience: In 1987, 35 percent said they would rather support a presidential candidate whose political experience was mostly outside of Washington. This spring, 56 percent gave that response (CBS News/The New York Times). In a new Quinnipiac poll, 48 percent of registered voters said experience as a Washington outsider would better help a candidate serve effectively as president, while 46 percent said experience in Washington would be better.
- Party differences: In the September Quinnipiac poll, 72 percent of registered Republican voters, compared to only 15 percent of registered Democratic voters, said experience as a Washington outsider would better help a candidate serve effectively as president.
Nevertheless, 52 percent say that they would be less likely to support a candidate who has
never held elected office.
