Took ‘em long enough.

Although both Democrats and the Occupy protesters have similar views on economic inequality and corporate responsibility, each holds the other at arm’s length. There’s little benefit to Democrats in opening their arms wide to a scruffy group that has erupted in violence, defied police and shown evidence of drug use while camping in public parks across the country — much as the prospect of such a pairing delights Republicans.

Unfortunately, the Associated Press concludes Democrats are making the wrong decision by not fully embracing the movement, which the wire service considers popular:

Both sides may be missing an opportunity. Polling shows the public supports the message of the Occupy Wall Street movement even if people have reservations about the encampments themselves. And political observers say Democrats may be missing a chance to reinvigorate their base.

And what message is that? Even lefties admit the movement doesn’t have a coherent message. It’s easy to agree with a message when the movement doesn’t have one other than “give us your stuff”. Let’s hear a coherent message setting out policies for redistributing wealth, and then we’ll see how the American electorate views that message. Something tells me its alleged popularity will fall like a rock.

It’s not until several paragraphs later that the Associated Press admits the Occupy movement lacks “tangible goals”. In other words, people supposedly support an incoherent message that lacks goals, policy proposals, or even a common principle outside of “Let’s hate bankers and the wealthy.” So color me impressed.

But just how popular is the movement anyway? Not at all. In fact, the Tea Party is more popular, according to Democratic polling firm Public Policy Polling.

Only 33% now say that they are supportive of its goals, compared to 45% who say they oppose them. That represents an 11 point shift in the wrong direction for the movement’s support compared to a month ago when 35% of voters said they supported it and 36% were opposed. Most notably independents have gone from supporting Occupy Wall Street’s goals 39/34, to opposing them 34/42.

Just 33% support the movement’s goals, including just 34% of Independents. Yeah, that’s a really popular movement you’ve got there. Politicians are really missing something by keeping it at arms length, or something.