Not very free-thinking constituents

Survey USA polled voters in the 6th, 9th and 10th Congressional Districts on the House vote of the bailout/rescue plan. There are some interesting results.

Q: Did you want your congressman to vote FOR or AGAINST the rescue plan? 

6th: For 40% Against 47%

9th: For 45% Against 43%

10th: For 41% Against 43%

By a margin of +7, -2 and +2 percent, voters in these three districts wanted their representatives to vote against the plan.

Next, voters were told that in fact their representative voted against the plan and then asked if they had cast the right vote.

Q: Your congressman, _______, voted against the rescue plan. Did your congressman cast the right vote? Or the wrong vote?

6th: Right Vote 53% Wrong Vote 33%

9th: Right Vote 45% Wrong Vote 41% 

10th: Right Vote 52% Wrong Vote 36%

Now, by margins of +20, +4 and +16, voters say that the "right vote" was to vote against the rescue plan.

Simply by being told how their representative voted, constituents' opinions shifted by +13, +6 and +14 percent in the direction of their representative.

Looks like U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch has the least sway over his constituents...or they're the most independent.