Dean Meetup Survey Results
NOTE: We are currently conducting the second round of Dean Meetup surveys (Jan. 7-14, 2004). To participate, fill in the survey at http://atc.bentley.edu/resources/perseus5/surveys/dmeetup.htm
Bentley College (Waltham, MA) and Dean Volunteers conducted a survey of attendees at the Dean Meetups. We attempted to address three key questions in the survey:
- Who attends Meetups?
- What are the political beliefs of Dean Meetup attendees?
- Are Meetups politically effective?
The survey received 579 valid responses from 16 Meetup venues in 13 states, all at the October Dean Meetups. Our findings:
Demographics
- Demographically, Dean Meetup attendees were mostly white (91%), middle aged (44 years, on average), middle income (about $47,000 per household) professionals (44%).
- For comparison, the national average for Internet users in the general population is 80% white, about 36 years of age on average, from households with an average income of $62,000 (Pew Internet & American Life Project, summer 2003 survey ).
- Our Dean Meetup respondents almost universally reported heavy Internet usage: 91% went on-line at least once a day.
- For perspective, Pew found that in 2002, 59% of the on-line audience sought election news from the Internet at least once a week, down from the 75% who reported that frequency of use during the presidential year 2000.
Conclusions: Dean Meetup attendees fit the stereotype of predominantly white and middle-class. The average age is higher than the stereotype. Internet usage is well above average.
Political Preferences
- In the 2000 election, 72% voted for Gore, 12% for Nader, and 2% for Bush.
- 66% self-identified as strong Democrats; 19% as independents.
- 39% self-identified as progressive; 32% as liberal; 11% as populist.
- On a scale of 1-5, where 1 means strongly oppose, 3 means neutral, and 5 means strongly favor, the average response for other selected politicians was:
- 3.6 for Bill Bradley
- 3.1 for John McCain
- 3.0 for Ralph Nader
- 2.0 for Ross Perot
- 1.1 for George W. Bush
Conclusions: Dean supporters are stereotyped as supporting maverick candidates -- but our survey found selectivity in support. John McCain edged out Ralph Nader, a sign of non-ideological support. Ross Perot was opposed despite his maverick reputation. Bush's universally low rating is the closest item to consensus in the survey results.
Primary Preferences
- We asked which respondents' opinions of the other Democratic presidential candidates. On the same scale of 1-5, the average response was:
- 4.9 for Howard Dean
- 3.2 for Carol Moseley-Braun
- 3.1 for Dennis Kucinich
- 3.0 for Wesley Clark (this was 2 weeks after he entered the race)
- 3.0 for John Edwards
- 2.9 for John Kerry
- 2.8 for Bob Graham (this was 1 week before he withdrew)
- 2.5 for Dick Gephardt
- 2.5 for Al Sharpton
- 1.8 for Joe Lieberman
Conclusions: Dean supporters viewed only Moseley-Braun and Kucinich favorably, and even they barely scored above neutral. Lieberman scored by far the most unfavorably, despite that 72% of respondents voted for him in 2000.
Campaign Effectiveness
- Campaigns care about support as expressed in donating and volunteering as well as voting. Our results indicate this is Meetup's greatest strength:
- 53% of Dean Meetup attendees have donated to political campaigns.
- 52% reported stronger support for Dean as a result of this Meetup.
- Less than 1% reported weaker support for Dean as a result of this Meetup.
- 73% will get more involved with Dean campaign because of this Meetup.
- Less than 1% will get less involved with Dean campaign because of this Meetup.
- 74% reported that they had invited others to attend Meetups.
- 32% reported that this was their first Meetup.
Conclusions:Over half of the participants claim stronger support as a result of their attendance. That's a sign of strong political effectiveness, especially because this Meetup was attended by 120,000 people. The donation rates indicate that over one-third of Dean's entire donor base attends Meetups. One-third of the attendees were newcomers -- that growth rate is consistent with past Meetup attendance growth rates.
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