[announce] Democrat and Republican Affiliation Drops While Libertarian Party Numbers Surge

[Official Missouri Libertarian Party Announcements]

Press Release             The Libertarian Party            June 14th, 2007

Democrat and Republican Affiliation Drops While Libertarian Party Numbers Surge

       Libertarians See Increase in Active Duty Military Numbers and
                       Improved Election Results

(Washington, DC) - At a time when Libertarian Party membership continues to
rise, a recent Rasmussen Report survey indicates that Republican Party
affiliation continues to decline while Democratic Party affiliation is
decreasing, as well.

Republican numbers have been dropping since the November 2004 elections and
they continue to decrease with no bottom in sight.  For the last four
consecutive months, the amount of self-identified Republicans continued their
decline - from 31.1 percent to 30.8 percent in a telephone survey of 15,000
adults. 

The number of self-identified Democrats fell to 36.3 percent, its lowest number
in seventeen months.  Democrats have suffered losses in the last three
consecutive months, resulting in a six month decrease of 4.5 percent.

At the same time, Libertarian Party membership numbers have been on an upswing.
For the last five months, people willing to pay at least $25 per year for
Libertarian Party affiliation have increased at a rate of approximately 2.7
percent per month, which is a 14 percent increase from December's figure.

Additionally, Libertarian Party fundraising is increasing at the same time the
GOP dismissed their entire telephone solicitation staff.  According to the
Washington Times, "declining contributions and a donor backlash" against
Republican policy was the cause for their dismissal.

"These are certainly encouraging data, but not at all surprising," said
Libertarian National Committee Chairman William Redpath. "Despite the electoral
barriers thrown our way by the Democrats and Republicans, their numbers are
decreasing while ours are simultaneously increasing.  Americans desire fiscal
responsibility, social tolerance and oppose the continued deaths of our
soldiers in Iraq.  Unfortunately, neither major party is willing to effectively
address these important issues."

Current U.S. foreign policy, as well as proposals from the new
Democrat-controlled Congress, are significant reasons for the increase in
Libertarian Party membership.  So far this year, the LP has attracted fourteen
times the expected national average of active duty service members.  The LP's
soldiers, sailors and airmen range in rank from junior enlisted personnel to
Vice Admiral (Ret.) Michael Colley, who now serves on the Libertarian National
Committee.

Based on required Federal Elections Commission reporting data, seven percent of
new LP members have reported their employer as a branch of the Armed Forces.

"It is heartening for me to see that the men and women who serve our nation are
finding a principled alternative to the Republicans and Democrats," said
Libertarian Party Executive Director Shane Cory, who first noticed this trend.
While noting that Libertarian members of our military have the discipline
necessary to accomplish the mission they are handed, Cory noted "the men and
women of our fighting forces are intelligent, informed, and, yes, opinionated."

Increased support for the Libertarian Party is beginning to translate into
election results, too.  While significant national media attention highlighted
Republican losses in 2006, over 13,400,000 votes were cast for Libertarians in
the same elections.

"Since the Democrats have taken control of Congress, our numbers continue to
improve," said Libertarian Party Political Director Stephen Gordon.  "In 2007,
we've already won over a quarter of the races where we've fielded candidates.
In April's Midwestern contests, we won seven out of eleven of the campaigns we
ran.  When third party candidates start showing these sorts of returns, it's
obvious that the mood of the electorate is changing."

"Democrats didn't win the elections in 2006; Republicans lost them," said
Chairman Redpath.  "Since then, Democratic leaders have failed to show
leadership on the Iraq War, are talking about tax increases and beginning to
have ethical problems of their own.  Americans continue to look for a viable
alternative to the two-party system - one which better represents the values
most Americans find important. To those who are becoming involved with the
Libertarian Party, we'd like to say 'Welcome home.'"

Link to original article: http://www.lp.org/media/article_493.shtml