Election 2006: Corruption Bigger Issue than Iraq War

The pundits missed this one:

...when asked which issue was extremely important to their vote, more voters said corruption and ethics in government than any other issue, including the war, according to national exit polls.

Iraq was the 5th most important issue for voters:

Asked which issues were extremely important to their vote, 42 percent said corruption and ethics; 40 percent, terrorism; 39 percent, the economy; 37 percent, Iraq; 36 percent, values; and 29 percent, illegal immigration.

Congress' job approval is just as bad as that of Bush:

Asked if they approved of how Congress is handling its job, 62 percent said they did not, while just 36 percent said they did.

Despite the insistence from Republicans, voters didn't think the economy is doing all that good. And they voted Democratic:

The exit polls showed that 29 percent of voters felt their families' financial situations were better than they were two years ago, while 25 percent said they were worse and 45 percent said they were unchanged.

Those who said their financial condition hadn't changed chose Democratic House candidates over Republicans, 57 percent to 40 percent. That number increased to 79 percent among those who said their financial condition was worse.

The campaigns were dirty now the elections are dirty as well:

While new voting machines confounded some poll workers, reports of dirty tricks and voter intimidation surfaced across the nation Tuesday, prompting federal investigations in at least two states.

And then there were those phone calls:

Across the country, Democrats accused Republicans of sponsoring automated "robo-calls" that have infuriated voters. The recorded calls, which reached a fever pitch in the days leading up to the election, automatically dial and re-redial, promoting or trashing a candidate.

Republicans have denied responsibility. Some voters have reported being awakened in the middle of the night by such calls, and said that after they hung up, the phone rang again. Federal rules bar election phone solicitations after 9 p.m.

Voting machine fiasco:

In North Carolina, about 100 voters were left waiting at a church because the poll worker who had the key showed up nearly an hour late. In Pennsylvania, a computer programming error forced some to cast paper ballots. In Indiana, 175 precincts also resorted to paper. Counties in those states also extended poll hours to make up for delays.