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During the 2008 election, white voters favored Republicans by only two percentage points. That difference has widened to 13-points since.

The Pew Research Center says the increase in white voters who identify as Republicans has narrowed the gap among all voters so much that Democrats only have a 4-point lead.

Republicans have made sizable gains among white voters since 2008. Currently, 52% of white voters either identify as Republicans or lean to the GOP, compared with 39% who affiliate with the Democratic Party or lean Democratic. In 2008, Republicans held only a two-point lead among white voters (46% to 44%).

There has been no change in party identification among African American or Hispanic voters. Large majorities of African American (86%) and Hispanic voters (64%) continue to identify as Democrats or lean Democratic.

The Democratic Party's advantage among young voters has declined from 28 points in 2008 to 13 points in the first half of 2011. The Democrats' edge among voters ages 30 to 64 also has narrowed (from 10 points to three points). And Republicans now hold a two-point lead among voters ages 65 and older (47% to 45%); Democrats held an eight-point lead among seniors in 2008 (49% to 41%).