Most Republicans want a more conservative GOP

A recent Gallup Poll found only 34% of Americans have a favorable view of the Republican Party. Just as bad, if not worse, 61% now hold an unfavorable view of the party. That is the highest unfavorable number recorded for the Republican Party since Gallup started polling on that question in 1992.

To find clues about the Republican Part can do to reverse this unfavorable trend, Gallup asked repondents:

"Over the next few years, would you like to see the Republican Party and its candidates move in a more conservative direction, a less conservative direction, or stay about the same?"

Most Republicans (59%) want to see the party become more conservative, another 28% want it to remain about the same and 12% would prefer to see the party become less conservative.

In order to make gains in Congress or win the Presidency in 2012, Republicans must attract substantial support from political independents. According to Gallup, independents are split about the direction they would like the Republican Party to move. About a third say the party should become more conservative, an equal percentage say it should become less conservative, and just under one-quarter say it should stay the same.

Gallup Poll Editor in Chief, Frank Newport, covers the details in the following video report: