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Poll Finds Americans Pumped for Oil Pipeline Wednesday, February 01, 2012The overall benefits of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline outweigh the risks to the environment for most Americans, including groups that are historically more environmentally conscious, according to a recent United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. The overwhelming majority of Americans surveyed -64 percent- agreed that building a pipeline from Canada to the United States would ease America's dependence on Mideast oil and create jobs, the poll showed. Just 22 percent of respondents agreed with opponents of the controversial pipeline, who fear its environmental impact, and 13 percent were undecided. Even constituencies that are usually more likely to choose protecting the environment over promoting economic growth are, at this point, supportive of the project. A majority of Democrats, 51 percent, said they support building the pipeline, while just one-third opposed it. Sixty percent of those who live in urban areas said they back building the pipeline. Even 60 percent of respondents ages 18 to 29 support it. The lack of opposition among subgroups that are typically more environmentally conscious is likely reflective of the weak U.S. economy, combined with an overall lack of awareness about the issue. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted January 26-29, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,008 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 402 cell phone interviews.
Voters Favor Obama Ideas But Keystone, Too Tuesday, January 31, 2012According to the latest United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection Poll, Americans overwhelmingly support the key ideas President Obama laid out in his State of the Union address last week but also favor the GOP approach to taxes and regulation and a controversial oil pipeline from Canada to the U.S. - all while doubting the ability of the president and Congress to come to agreement. By a whopping 76-percent-to-19-percent margin, Americans agreed with Obama's proposal to "impose a minimum tax on money American companies earn from their operations abroad to discourage them from creating jobs overseas and encourage them to create jobs in the U.S." When it comes to the so-called Buffett Rule - named for billionaire investor Warren Buffett - 65-percent surveyed agreed with the proposition that Congress should "establish a new rule that anyone who earns at least $1 million annually must pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes," while just 31 percent disagreed. And once again expressing doubt about Washington's ability to get things done, an eye-popping 70 percent of respondents said it was not too likely or not at all likely that the president and Congress would agree on the major ideas Obama presented. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted January 26-29, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,008 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 402 cell phone interviews.
GOP Voters Continue to Give Field Subpar Ratings Monday, January 30, 2012Amid a bruising primary campaign, Republicans remain unimpressed with their party's presidential field. In fact, more Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters say the GOP field is only fair or poor (52%) than did so in early January (44%). By comparison, just 46% of Republican voters have positive opinions of the GOP field, according to the latest survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Jan 26-29, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among 1,006 adults, including 341 Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters. In early January, shortly before the New Hampshire primary, 51% gave the field excellent or good ratings while 44% rated the candidates collectively as only fair or poor. That survey showed that GOP voters' ratings of the field are far less positive than were opinions of the Republican field in 2008. At about this point four years ago, 68% of Republican and GOP-leaning voters rated the field as excellent or good.
Poll Finds Voters Wary of Congressional GOP Tuesday, January 24, 2012Americans are losing faith in congressional Republicans, according to a new United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection Poll that underscores President Obama's strategy as he presents his priorities on Tuesday night in his annual State of the Union address and prepares to mount his reelection campaign.
And there is some evidence that the strategy is working: More voters polled say they would rather see Obama reelected over a Republican opponent - and Democrats win control of the House of Representatives - in November. On the central issues before Congress this year and voters this November, Obama has moved ahead of Republican legislators over the past four months, according to the poll. Asked to choose whom they trusted more between Obama and congressional Republicans "to develop solutions to the country's economic challenges," 41 percent preferred Obama and 29 percent picked the Hill GOP. More than 20 percent of Americans said they trust neither Obama nor the GOP, however. Americans were split in a Congressional Connection Poll conducted last September, with 37 percent saying they trusted Obama more and 35 percent choosing the Republicans.
The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted January 19-22, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,002 adults age 18 and older living in the continental U.S., including 773 registered voters and 401 cell phone interviews.
Public Priorities: Deficit Rising, Terrorism Slipping Monday, January 23, 2012As the 2012 State of the Union approaches, the public continues to give the highest priority to economic issues. Fully 86% say that strengthening the economy should be a top priority for the president and Congress this year, and 82% rate improving the job situation as a top priority. None of the other 20 issues tested in this annual survey rate as a top priority for more than 70% of Americans.
More generally, the public's concerns rest more with domestic policy than at any point in the past 15 years; 81% say Obama should be focused on domestic policy, just 9% say foreign policy. In keeping with this, defending against terrorism and strengthening the military are given less priority today than over the course of the past decade.
The annual policy priorities survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted January 11-16, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among 1,502 adults, finds that reducing the federal budget deficit stands out as the fastest growing policy priority for Americans, largely because of increasing Republican concerns about the issue. Fully 69% rate reducing the budget deficit as a top priority - the most in any of the Pew Research Center's surveys going back to 1994.
Obama: Weak Job Ratings, but Positive Personal Image Thursday, January 19, 2012Barack Obama begins his fourth year in office facing a struggling economy, an unhappy public, and a lower job approval rating than most of his recent predecessors at a comparable point in their presidencies. In fact, Obama's job rating today is a bit more negative than it was in December: 48% disapprove of his performance as president while 44% approve.
Nonetheless, Obama possesses political strengths at the start of his reelection year, notably a positive personal image. Large majorities say Obama stands up for his beliefs (75%), cares about people like them (61%) and is trustworthy (61%). And while perceptions of Obama's leadership have declined over time, on balance more say he is a strong leader than disagree (52% vs. 45%). The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Jan. 11-16, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among 1,502 adults, finds that Obama's personal image is much stronger than GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney's. Currently, 51% say they have a favorable opinion of Obama while 45% have an unfavorable view. Romney's favorability with the public stands at just 31%, while his unfavorable rating is as high as Obama's (45%).
Rising Share of Americans See Conflict Between Rich and Poor Friday, January 13, 2012The Occupy Wall Street movement no longer occupies Wall Street, but the issue of class conflict has captured a growing share of the national consciousness. A new Pew Research Center survey of 2,048 adults finds that about two-thirds of the public (66%) believes there are "very strong" or "strong" conflicts between the rich and the poor -- an increase of 19 percentage points since 2009. Not only have perceptions of class conflict grown more prevalent; so, too, has the belief that these disputes are intense. According to the new survey, three-in-ten Americans (30%) say there are "very strong conflicts" between poor people and rich people. That is double the proportion that offered a similar view in July 2009 and the largest share expressing this opinion since the question was first asked in 1987. The results are based on data collected from landline (769) and cell phone (1,279) interviews conducted December 6-19, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International in English and Spanish.
Please click here to view the New York Times article on this studyGOP Voters Still Unenthused About 2012 Field Monday, January 09, 2012On the eve of the New Hampshire primary, Republican voters continue to express mixed views of the party's presidential field. Roughly half (51%) of Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters say the candidates are excellent or good, while 44% say they are only fair or poor. The percentage expressing positive views of the GOP presidential field is largely unchanged from 48% in November and 49% in August. Republicans and GOP leaners expressed much more positive views of the presidential field at a comparable point four year ago: in January 2008, 68% of Republicans and Republican leaners said they had good candidates to choose from, as did 78% of Democrats and Democratic leaners. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted January 4-8, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,507 adults, including 549 Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters.
Little Change in Public's Response to 'Capitalism,' 'Socialism' Wednesday, December 28, 2011The recent Occupy Wall Street protests have focused public attention on what organizers see as the excesses of America’s free market system, but perceptions of capitalism – and even of socialism – have changed little since early 2010 despite the recent tumult. The American public’s take on capitalism remains mixed, with just slightly more saying they have a positive (50%) than a negative (40%) reaction to the term. That’s largely unchanged from a 52% to 37% balance of opinion in April 2010. Socialism is a negative for most Americans, but certainly not all. Six-in-ten (60%) say they have a negative reaction to the word; 31% have a positive reaction. Those numbers are little changed from when the question was last asked in April 2010.
Tax System Seen as Unfair, in Need of Overhaul Tuesday, December 20, 2011Public dissatisfaction with the tax system has grown over the past decade, and the focus of the public’s frustration is not how much they themselves pay, but rather the impression that wealthy people are not paying their fair share. The number of Americans who feel they pay more than their fair share in federal taxes has dropped significantly over the past decade, from 55% in 2000 to 38% today. About half (52%) now say they pay the right amount in taxes. Yet at the same time, fewer see the overall tax system as even moderately fair (43%, down from 51% eight years ago), and roughly six-in-ten (59%) say that so much is wrong with the tax system that Congress should completely change it.
Frustration with Congress Could Hurt Republican Incumbents Thursday, December 15, 2011Public discontent with Congress has reached record levels, and the implications for incumbents in next year’s elections could be stark. Two-in-three voters say most members of Congress should be voted out of office in 2012 – the highest on record. And the number who say their own member should be replaced matches the all-time high recorded in 2010, when fully 58 members of Congress lost reelection bids – the most in any election since 1948. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted December 7-11, 2011.
Poll: Independent Voters Are Angry, Despairing Wednesday, December 14, 2011Americans are as disgusted with their government - and with Congress, in particular - as they have ever been, and the overwhelming disillusionment of independents portends great electoral uncertainty next November, according to an analysis of the latest United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. Overall, the poll shows that those voters aligned with neither party lack confidence in the federal government and are more eager to change the people who make up that government. Independents are also significantly less confident in the government than they were last summer, before the bitter, scorched-earth fight over raising the federal debt ceiling and the failure of the super committee to produce a plan to reduce the budget deficit. Twenty-nine percent of respondents have "a lot" or "some confidence" that the federal government will make progress over the next year on the most important problems facing the country. But among independents, just 18 percent express that level of confidence. A whopping 80 percent of independents say they have "not much confidence" or "no confidence at all" in the federal government to make progress next year. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted December 8-11, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,008 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 400 cell phone interviews.
Anger With Congress At '06, '10 Levels Tuesday, December 13, 2011Across a wide array of measures, Americans are now as dissatisfied with Congress as they were immediately before the 2006 and 2010 electoral landslides that ousted the majority party in one or both chambers, according to a year-end United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. One year after Republicans made the largest gains in a midterm House election since 1938, the survey finds Americans still restless, dissatisfied, and profoundly pessimistic about Washington's capacity to make progress on the major problems facing the country. In the survey, independent voters - whose shifts in allegiance helped trigger both the big Democratic gains of 2006 and last year's Republican revival - display little faith in either party, and register a strong initial inclination to vote against their own incumbent member of Congress. Not only a solid majority of independents, but also a surprisingly large share of Republican and Democratic partisans, say they are reluctant to give either party control of both chambers, preferring instead a divided government where both can "act as a check on each other." The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted December 8-11, 2011 among a national sample of 1,008 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 400 cell phone interviews.
Gingrich Leads, But Likely GOP Primary Voters Have Not Ruled out Romney Tuesday, December 13, 2011Newt Gingrich holds a substantial 35% to 21% lead over Mitt Romney among Republican and Republican-leaning independent voters who say they are very likely to vote in the GOP primaries or caucuses. But clear majorities say there is at least a chance they would vote for either Gingrich or Romney in Republican primaries in their state. None of the other Republican candidates draw nearly as much potential support. The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press was conducted December 7-11, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among 1,521 adults, including 392 likely Republican primary voters. It finds that 70% support Gingrich or say there is a chance they would vote for him. Romney trails Gingrich for the nomination, but as many as 61% of likely Republican primary voters either support Romney or say there is a chance they could support him.
Public Wants Immigrants to Be Able to Stay Tuesday, December 13, 2011As the debate over immigration continues to roil the Republican presidential field, a substantial majority of Americans say they would prefer to allow some or all illegal immigrants to remain in the United States, the latest United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection Poll has found. When asked what should be done with the roughly 11 million illegal immigrants in the country, just 25 percent of those polled said that they should all be deported "no matter how long they have been in the U.S." Another 28 percent of those surveyed said that all illegal immigrants should be allowed "to stay, provided they have broken no other laws and commit to learning English and U.S. history." The largest group, at 39 percent, said that the United States should "deport some, but allow those who have been here for many years and have broken no other laws to stay here legally." The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted December 1-4, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,008 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 403 cell phone interviews.
Elizabeth Warren Leading Scott Brown by Biggest Margin Yet - The Huffington Post Thursday, December 08, 2011A wave of early television advertising appears to be working to the advantage of consumer finance watchdog Elizabeth Warren as a new poll shows her surging to her biggest advantage yet over Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass). The survey conducted by the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and
The Boston Herald finds Warren leading Brown by a 49 to 42 percent margin. Warren's showing represents a significant improvement over a previous UMass Lowell/
Herald poll conducted in late September that had Brown with a nominal 41 to 38 percent lead. The results and trend comparisons are based on data collected from telephone interviews, both landline and cell phone, conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International in two separate surveys - the latest, conducted December 1-6, 2011 among 505 Massachusetts registered voters and the first, conducted September 22-28, 2011 among 1,005 Massachusetts registered voters.
Poll: Elizabeth Warren soars 7 up over Scott Brown - Boston Herald Thursday, December 08, 2011Democrat Elizabeth Warren has opened up a lead against Republican incumbent Scott Brown for the first time in their U.S. Senate showdown, but a barrage of attack ads appears to have damaged Warren and Brown's standing among Massachusetts voters, a new University of Massachusetts at Lowell/Boston Herald poll shows. Warren leads Brown by a 49-42 percent margin, outside of the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 5.3 percentage points. That number includes voters who say they are "leaning" for either candidate. But even without the "leaners," Warren still leads by a 46-41 percent margin, barely within the margin of error. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted December 1-6, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among 505 Massachusetts registered voters, including landline and cell phone interviews.
Nomination Race Hurting GOP, But Not Helping Obama Tuesday, December 06, 2011As the fight for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination unfolds, more Americans say their impression of the GOP field is worsening than improving, according to the latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press and The Washington Post. Those views, however, have not resulted in a better view of President Barack Obama at this point. By a margin of two-to-one, more say that their impression of the GOP field is getting worse (31%) than getting better (14%). Half (50%) say their impression remains the same as they learn more about the Republican candidates. About one-in-five (19%) say their impression of Obama has improved as they learn more about the Republicans. About as many (21%) say that the GOP campaign is worsening their impression of the president. Most (58%) say the Republicans have had no effect on their feelings about Obama. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted December 1-4, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,008 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 403 cell phone interviews.
Public Wants Payroll Cut Even with Deficit Tuesday, December 06, 2011A majority of Americans support efforts to extend the payroll tax-cut despite concerns that an extension of the short-term reduction would increase the federal budget deficit. The public, though, is more divided on other economic issues facing Congress before the end of the year, according to a new United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection poll. The poll found that voters are seeking middle ground on extending unemployment insurance for those who have lost their jobs. The country is also split on whether regulations adopted by federal agencies hinder business growth, or if restricting regulations hurts consumers and the environment. The poll is the latest in the Congressional Connection poll, a series of national surveys that will track the public's priorities for Congress - and its assessment of Washington's performance - during most weeks that Congress is in session through 2012. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted December 1-4, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,008 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 403 cell phone interviews.
Kaiser Health Tracking Poll – November 2011 Wednesday, November 30, 2011The November Health Tracking Poll takes a closer look at public opinion and knowledge about specific provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Findings include:
* After taking a negative turn in October, the public's overall views on the ACA returned to a more mixed status this month. Still, Americans remain somewhat more likely to have an unfavorable view of the law (44%) than a favorable one (37%).
* The survey also finds that individual elements of the law are viewed favorably by a majority of the public. The law's most popular element, viewed favorably by more than eight in ten (84%) and "very" favorably by six in ten, is the requirement that health plans provide easy-to-understand benefit summaries. Also extremely popular are provisions that would award tax credits for small businesses (80% favorable, including 45% very favorable) and provide subsidies to help some individuals buy coverage (75% favorable, including 44% very favorable), as well as the provision that would gradually close the Medicare doughnut hole (74% favorable, including 46% very favorable) and the "guaranteed issue" requirement that prohibits health plans from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions (67% favorable, including 47% “very” favorable).
More Now Disagree with Tea Party - Even in Tea Party Districts Tuesday, November 29, 2011Since the 2010 midterm elections, the Tea Party has not only lost support nationwide, but also in the congressional districts represented by members of the House Tea Party Caucus. And this year, the image of the Republican Party has declined even more sharply in these GOP-controlled districts than across the country at large. In the latest Pew Research Center survey, more Americans say they disagree (27%) than agree (20%) with the Tea Party movement. A year ago, in the wake of the sweeping GOP gains in the midterm elections, the balance of opinion was just the opposite: 27% agreed and 22% disagreed with the Tea Party. At both points, more than half offered no opinion. Throughout the 2010 election cycle, agreement with the Tea Party far outweighed disagreement in the 60 House districts represented by members of the Congressional Tea Party Caucus. But as is the case nationwide, support has decreased significantly over the past year; now about as many people living in Tea Party districts disagree (23%) as agree (25%) with the Tea Party. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted November 9-14, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 2,001 adults, including 1,576 registered voters.
Religion and the 2012 Election Wednesday, November 23, 2011Many Americans continue to see the Mormon faith as unfamiliar and different. Half say they know little or nothing about Mormonism, half say it is a Christian religion while a third say it is not, and roughly two-thirds believe Mormonism is “very different” from their own beliefs. There has been virtually no change in these impressions over the past four years. About half of all voters, and 60% of evangelical Republicans, know that Mitt Romney is a Mormon. The former Massachusetts governor’s religion has implications for his nomination run but not for the general election, should he be nominated as his party’s standard bearer. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted November 9-14, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 2,001 adults, including 1,576 registered voters.
Unlike Super Committee, Public United on Taxing Wealthy Wednesday, November 23, 2011The deficit-reduction super committee collapsed on Monday after its members failed to negotiate a proposal to reduce the nation's debt, and this week's United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection Poll showed voters likewise struggling to find common, bipartisan ground in specific ways to trim the federal deficit. The only debt-reduction proposals to earn majority support in the poll involved raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans - either by letting the Bush tax cuts expire or by reducing the value of itemized deductions. Fifty-three percent of voters thought letting the Bush tax cuts expire for families making more than $250,000 a year should be part of the deficit-reduction package, while 55 percent supported reducing the value of itemized deductions for families at the same income level, the poll showed. But even those proposals lacked the kind of strong, bipartisan support that super-committee members and rank-and-file legislators would have wanted to see in order to lend their support. While Americans overall support letting the Bush tax cuts expire for wealthier families, a 54 percent majority of Republicans thought it should not be part of the final package. On reducing deductions, Republicans were slightly more supportive, but still mixed: 47 percent thought it should be part of the package, and 41 percent did not. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted November 17-20, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,003 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 402 cell phone interviews.
Deficit "Super Committee" Draws Little Attention Tuesday, November 22, 2011Few Americans (17%) paid very close attention to news about the congressional "super committee" last week as the panel approached its deadline to agree on a plan to cut federal spending and reduce the national deficit. Another 24% say they followed news about the super committee fairly closely. Most (58%) followed news about the special panel not too closely or not at all closely, according to the latest weekly News Interest Index survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. The survey was completed before panel leaders announced on Monday that they would not reach a deal by their deadline. Still, panel members and others already had indicated that a deal was unlikely. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted November 17-20, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,003 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 402 cell phone interviews.
Poll Shows Public Opposes Sequestration Tuesday, November 22, 2011With the congressional deficit-reduction super committee collapsing into stalemate, a solid majority of Americans say that Congress should block the automatic spending cuts established as a fallback if the panel deadlocked, according to the latest United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. Although a majority of adults said they preferred their member of Congress to compromise on reaching a deficit-reduction agreement, and a plurality said they believed that a deal would benefit the economy, a commanding 61 percent said that Congress should stop the $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts now scheduled to be imposed after the committee announced its failure on Monday afternoon. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted November 17-20, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,003 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 402 cell phone interviews.
Obama Job Approval Edges Up Thursday, November 17, 2011With much of the recent political focus on the ever-changing Republican presidential nomination race, Barack Obama’s job rating has improved modestly over the past month. And a majority of Americans continue to hold a favorable personal opinion of Obama. This is not the case for his main GOP rivals, whom he mostly bests in test election measures. Currently, as many approve (46%) of Obama’s job performance as disapprove (46%); from July through early October his job ratings were more negative than positive. A majority of Americans (52%) still have a favorable personal impression of Obama, while 45% view him unfavorably. Among the leading GOP candidates, none is viewed favorably on balance. Slightly more have an unfavorable opinion of Mitt Romney (42%) than a favorable opinion (36%), and the balance of opinion toward Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry is even more negative. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted Nov. 9-14 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 2,001 national adults age 18, including 1,576 registered voters.
Americans Hold Favorable Views on Business but not CEOs Wednesday, November 16, 2011The Public Affairs Pulse survey - a first of-its-kind, in-depth survey of Americans' opinions on business and government, commissioned by the Public Affairs Council - provides insight on attitudes toward issues ranging from corporate compensation and business's role in providing public services to crisis communication and lobbying. Among the survey's most noteworthy findings, more than six in 10 Americans have a favorable view of major companies. Nearly three-quarters say companies are doing a good job of providing useful products and services. Yet despite their overall positive view, Americans also see much to dislike. Many think CEOs are paid too much, while regular workers and lower-level managers are paid less than they deserve. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted August 10 to September 8, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,753 adults age 18 and older living in the continental U.S.
Fewer Hearing Mostly Bad News about Economy, Penn State Scandal Tops Public's News Interest Wednesday, November 16, 2011The Penn State child sex abuse scandal topped the public's news interest last week, but Americans also continued to closely track news about the nation's economy. The public's perceptions of economic news, which took a decided downturn in August, are much less negative today. Currently, 48% say they are hearing mostly bad news about the economy, down from 58% in October and 67% in August. Still, very few Americans say news about the economy is mostly good (3%). Nearly half (48%) see the news as a mix of good and bad. The latest weekly News Interest Index survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press finds that 32% say they followed news about the Penn State scandal, which led to the firing of legendary football coach, Joe Paterno, more closely than any other news. By comparison, 18% cite news about the economy as their top story while 12% cite sexual harassment accusations against GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted November 10-13, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,000 adults 18 and older, including 189 without a landline phone.
Why Americans use social media Tuesday, November 15, 2011Two-thirds of online adults (66%) use social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or LinkedIn. These internet users say that connections with family members and friends (both new and old) are a primary consideration in their adoption of social media tools. Roughly two thirds of social media users say that staying in touch with current friends and family members is a major reason they use these sites, while half say that connecting with old friends they’ve lost touch with is a major reason behind their use of these technologies. The results reported here are based on a national telephone survey of 2,277 adults conducted April 26-May 22, 2011. 1,522 interviews were conducted by landline phone, and 755 interviews were conducted by cell phone. Interviews were conducted in both English and Spanish.
Public Split on Parties' Super Committee Ideas Wednesday, November 09, 2011With the super committee scheduled to report its findings to Congress in just two weeks, the latest United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection poll finds that slightly more Americans favor a Democratic proposal to pare the deficit with cuts and revenue increases on the wealthy rather than a cuts-only approach. By a margin of 49 percent to 44 percent, the public favored the Democratic plan suggested earlier this month that would include "$4 trillion in deficit reduction through a combination of federal spending cuts and tax increases on wealthier Americans" over a "Republican plan that calls for $3 trillion in deficit reduction through spending cuts alone, with no tax increases." A small number of voters - 7 percent - said neither one, said they don't know, or refused to answer. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted November 3-6, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,005 adults age 18 and older living in the continental U.S., including 404 cell phone interviews.
Teens, kindness and cruelty on social network sites Wednesday, November 09, 2011Social media use has become so pervasive in the lives of American teens that having a presence on a social network site is almost synonymous with being online. Fully 95% of all teens ages 12-17 are now online and 80% of those online teens are users of social media sites. Many log on daily to their social network pages and these have become spaces where much of the social activity of teen life is echoed and amplified—in both good and bad ways. The data discussed in this report are the result of a three-part, multi-modal study that included interviews with experts, seven focus groups with middle and high school students, and a nationally representative random-digit-dial telephone survey of teens and parents. The survey was fielded April 19 through July 14, 2011, and was administered by landline and cell phone, in English and Spanish, to 799 teens ages 12-17 and a parent or guardian. Black and Latino families were oversampled.
Public Doubts Congress Will Aid Economy Tuesday, November 08, 2011With time ticking down on the first session of the 112th Congress, Americans generally prefer that Congress act on priorities supported by Democratic members and the White House, but they are very pessimistic about any of these initiatives actually being realized before the end of the year, according to the latest United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection poll. The public's low expectations for Congress combined with what a large number of surveys show is a sour public mood - dissatisfied with the economy and even more so with political leaders - don't show signs of abating, but there are ideas that curry favor with the public. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted November 3-6, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,005 adults age 18 and older living in the continental U.S., including 404 cell phone interviews.
39% Think Cain Allegations True, 24% False Monday, November 07, 2011Americans who have heard about the sexual harassment allegations against Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, on balance, think they are true rather than false, according to the latest survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. At the same time, a plurality thinks that recent coverage of Cain has been fair. While Republicans and Democrats are about equally likely to have heard about the allegations against Cain, they have different impressions of the news - and of the coverage. Among those who have heard at least a little about this, Democrats and independents who lean Democratic are much more likely than Republicans and independents who lean Republican to say they think the accusations are true. Republicans and independents who lean Republican are much more likely to say media coverage has been too tough. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted November 3-6, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,005 adults age 18 and older, including 404 cell phone interviews.
If Public Funds New Stadium, Gambling is Top Choice Monday, November 07, 2011Minnesotans much prefer using new forms of gambling revenue to pay for a new Vikings stadium instead of higher taxes, a Star Tribune Minnesota Poll has found. The poll showed widespread public support for everything from a state lottery scratch-off game to slots at horse-racing tracks and electronic pulltabs in bars and restaurants. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted November 2-3, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a sample of 807 Minnesota adults age 18 and older, including 281 cell phone interviews.
Angry Silents, Disengaged Millennials: The Generation Gap and the 2012 Election Thursday, November 03, 2011Not since 1972 has generation played such a significant role in voter preferences as it has in recent elections. Younger people have voted substantially more Democratic in each election since 2004, while older voters have cast more ballots for Republican candidates in each election since 2006. A new Pew Research Center study suggests this pattern may well continue in 2012. Millennial voters are inclined to back President Barack Obama by a wide margin in a potential matchup against former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, while Silent generation voters are solidly behind Romney. Baby Boomers and Generation X voters, who are the most anxious about the uncertain economic times, are on the fence about a second term for Obama. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews in two separate major national surveys conducted September 1-15, 2011 and September 22-October 4, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a total sample of 4,413 adults.
Voters Evenly Split on GOP House, Obama Wednesday, November 02, 2011Underscoring widespread discontent with all political leaders, registered voters now divide almost exactly in half on whether President Obama and the Republican majority in the House of Representatives each deserve another term in power, according to the latest United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection poll. Asked what outcome they would prefer in the 2012 presidential election, 44 percent of registered voters said they would like to see a Republican elected, while 42% want Obama to win a second term - a finding within the survey's margin of error. Asked if Republicans should retain control of the House, 41% said yes and 43% said they would prefer Democrats to recapture the majority - also within the poll's margin of error. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted October 27-30, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,002 adults age 18 and older living in the continental U.S., including 385 cell phone interviews.
Kaiser Health Tracking Poll - October 2011 Friday, October 28, 2011The October health tracking poll finds a more negative overall public mood about the health reform law, driven largely by changes in support for the law among Democrats. The poll also asked the public's
impressions of the Massachusetts health reform law enacted under then- Gov. Mitt Romney, who is now a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews (landline and cell) conducted October 13-18, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International in English and Spanish among 1,223 national adults age 18 and older.
The Tablet Revolution and What it Means for the Future of News Thursday, October 27, 2011Eleven percent of adults now own a tablet computer. About half get news on it everyday, and three in ten spend more time consuming news than they did before. But contrary to what some in the news industry hoped, a majority say they are not willing to pay for news content on the devices, according to the most detailed study to date of tablet users and their news consumption habits. The study, conducted by the Project for Excellence in Journalism in collaboration with The Economist Group, finds that the vast majority of tablet owners - fully 77% - use their tablet every day. They spend an average of about 90 minutes on them. The results are based on data collected from seven telephone and web-based surveys of national adults and tablet users under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International in the summer of 2011.
Public Divided Over Occupy Wall Street Movement, Tea Party Draws More Opposition than Support Tuesday, October 25, 2011About four-in-ten Americans say they support the Occupy Wall Street movement (39%), while nearly as many (35%) say they oppose the movement
launched last month in New York’s financial district. By contrast, more say they oppose the Tea Party movement than support
it (44% vs. 32%), according to the latest survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and The Washington Post. One-in-ten (10%) say they support both, while 14% say they oppose both. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted October 20-23, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,009 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 403 cell phone interviews.
Occupy D.C.? Most Back Protests, Surtax Wednesday, October 19, 2011At a time when protests have erupted across the country over a growing inequality of wealth and Congress is considering measures to impose a surtax on those earning more than $1 million annually, the public seems to be in a populist mood—one that’s tempered by skepticism
about Washington’s ability to do anything about the grim economy.
A new survey shows that Americans overwhelmingly support the self-styled Occupy Wall Street protests that not only have disrupted life in Lower Manhattan but also in Washington and cities and towns across the U.S. and in other nations. Some 59 percent of adults either completely agree
or mostly agree with the protesters, while 31 percent mostly disagree or completely disagree; 10 percent of those surveyed didn’t know or refused to answer. What’s more, many people are paying attention to the rallies. Almost two-thirds of respondents—65 percent—said they’ve heard “a lot” or “some” about the rallies, while 35 percent have said they’ve heard or seen “not too much” or “nothing at all” about the demonstrations. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted October 13-16, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,007 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 403 cell phone interviews.
A Third in GOP Have Seen a Presidential Debate: Most See Debates as Helpful Tuesday, October 18, 2011About a quarter of the public (27%) says they have watched one or more of the Republican presidential debates so far this year. Most debate watchers say the televised sessions have been helpful in learning about the candidates (61%) and a third (34%) say the debates have led them to change their minds about which candidate they might support. Four years ago, in July 2007, 40% said they had watched any presidential debate – whether Democratic or Republican – at that early point in the campaign. In that cycle both parties had wide open races and a number of debates took place early on. Looking back to 2004, when only the Democrats had a primary contest, only 20% said they had watched
any of the Democratic debates as of January 2004.
According to the latest survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, about a third (36%) of Republicans say they have watched a debate this year, which is comparable to the number that said this in July 2007 (38%).
Interest among Democrats and independents is understandably much lower, with only a quarter of Democrats (25%) and independents (24%) reporting
that they have watched any of the debates. This compares to significantly broader viewership in 2007 (45% of Democrats and 38% of independents) in July 2007, when there were contested primaries in both parties. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted October 13-16, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,007 adults age 18 or older living in the continental US., including 403 cell phone interviews.
In Both Parties, a Schism on Trade Tuesday, October 18, 2011In the wake of congressional passage of three long-delayed free-trade deals, voters are divided over those agreements, and they are also at
odds over a measure designed to change China’s currency policies, according to a new survey. The voters’ conflicting views are echoed among the very highest officeholders. For instance the Obama administration was joined by congressional Republican leaders in supporting the trade deals with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama, while
voters opposed them, 41 percent to 38 percent, with a combined 21 percent saying they did not know or refusing to answer. Senate Majority
Leader
Harry Reid, D-Nev., opposed all three and House Minority Leader
Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., opposed the Colombia deal. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted October 13-16, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,007 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 403 cell phone interviews.
Wall Street Protests Receive Limited Attention: Public Remains Focused on Economic Conditions Friday, October 14, 2011Americans continued to closely track news about the nation’s struggling economy last week, and paid only modest attention to a fast-
growing media story – the anti-Wall Street protests in New York and other cities. About a quarter (27%) say news about the condition of the U.S. economy was their top story, while just 7% cite the Occupy Wall Street protests as their top story. Looking at a separate measure, 43% say they
followed economic news very closely, compared with 17% for the protests, according to the latest weekly News Interest Index survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted October 6-9, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,000 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 400 cell phone interviews.
More see crisis ahead; GOP fractured on best candidate to fix economy Monday, October 10, 2011Most Americans now see a 2008-style financial crisis on the horizon, and —reflecting the deep partisan divide in the country —there is no
consensus about whether a second term for President Obama or a Republican administration would improve the rough economic situation,
according to a new
Washington Post-Bloomberg News poll. Republicans, for their part, are not conflicted: nearly two-thirds are confident the economy would be better under a GOP president and sense their own financial situations would improve with a Republican win in 2012. Democrats are less sure the economy is better under Obama’s leadership, and most independents say it would not make much difference one way or the other. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted October 6-9, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,000 adults, including 400 cell phone interviews.
New poll from Institutes of Politics at Harvard, Saint Anselm finds Romney leading in NH Primary field by 18 points Monday, October 10, 2011A new poll by the Institute of Politics (IOP) at Harvard University and the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College shows former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney leading the candidate field with 38 percent among likely voters in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary. Businessman Herman Cain (20%) and U.S. Representative Ron Paul (13%) follow, with all remaining candidates polling at 5 percent or less. The poll''''s 648 telephone interviews (landline and cell phone lines) with likely voters in the New Hampshire Republican primary for President were conducted between Sunday, Oct. 2 and Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percentage points.
Obama Motivates Supporters, Opponents in Early 2012 Matchups Thursday, October 06, 2011According to the latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, Barack Obama is a leading driver of voter preferences in possible 2012 matchups, among both his supporters and opponents. Currently, Obama is running a close race in hypothetical matchups against Mitt Romney and Rick Perry. Against both GOP candidates, most of Obama''''s supporters view their vote as a vote for the president, while most of those who plan to vote for Romney or Perry see their vote as a vote against Obama. Given a choice between Obama and Romney, 48% of registered voters say they would vote for Romney or lean toward Romney, while an identical percentage supports Obama or leans toward Obama. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted September 22-October 4, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among 2,410 adults, including 1,901 registered voters.
Bachmann Finds Support for Position on HPV Injections Wednesday, October 05, 2011Rep.
Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., would have wide support for her position denouncing a onetime Texas requirement that
girls entering the sixth grade be inoculated against a virus that can cause cervical cancer in women. According to the latest United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection poll, a firm majority of voters—57 percent—oppose the Texas policy that
made the injections mandatory unless a parent or legal guardian requested that they not receive them. The requirement has been vigorously defended by Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas, who is battling Bachmann for the Republican presidential nomination; he has said he would err on “the side of life” in the fight against the human
papillomavirus, or HPV. Bachmann has suggested that the vaccine causes mental retardation, although the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention contends there’s no evidence of that. The report is based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from September 29-October 2, 2011 among a national sample of 1,000 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 400 cell phone interviews.
Voters of Two Minds on Federal Regulation Tuesday, October 04, 2011A majority of voters worry that government regulation of business has gone too far and is hurting the economy, but most also remain reluctant to block several of the key rules that congressional Republicans want to reverse, according to the latest United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. On many questions relating to Washington’s role, voters expressed the mix of views that political scientists often describe as philosophically conservative and operationally liberal: Though skeptical of regulation in principle, Americans are open to it in practice. The poll also found that these issues carved fissures of opinion along lines of gender, race, education, and age that could complicate their electoral impact. The report is based on data collected from telephone interviews
conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from September 29-October 2, 2011 among a national sample of 1,000 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 400 cell phone interviews.
UMass-Lowell/Herald poll: Elizabeth Warren, Scott Brown in dead heat Monday, October 03, 2011Democrat Elizabeth Warren’s meteoric ascent in Massachusetts politics has landed her in a virtual dead heat with Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, while two Democrats who passed on the race — Gov. Deval Patrick and former U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II — could pose even bigger
threats to the GOP incumbent, a new UMass-Lowell/Boston Herald poll shows. Brown is ahead of Warren by a 41-38 percent margin in a general
election trial heat, a statistical tie given the poll’s 3.8 percent margin of error. Warren, who announced her campaign just last month, faces her first crucial test Tuesday night in a Democratic debate sponsored by University of Massachusetts at Lowell and the Herald. The poll of 1,005 registered Massachusetts voters was conducted September 22-28, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International.
Obama Draws More Confidence than GOP Leaders on Deficit Monday, September 26, 2011As the nation prepares for another round of deficit reduction debates, the public’s confidence in congressional leaders, particularly Republican leaders in Congress, has plummeted. Just 35% say they have a great deal or fair amount of confidence in Republican leaders in Congress to do the right thing when it comes to dealing with the federal budget deficit, down from 47% in May. Public confidence in Barack Obama on the budget deficit, by comparison, has remained largely unchanged. The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Sept. 22-25 among 1,000 adults finds that 52% express at least a fair amount of confidence in Obama to do the right thing when it comes to dealing with the deficit, virtually unchanged from 55% earlier in the year.
Press Widely Criticized, But Trusted More than Other Information Sources
Sunday, September 25, 2011According to the latest biennial news attitudes survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, negative opinions about the performance of news organizations now equal or surpass all-time highs on nine of 12 core measures the Pew Research Center has been tracking since 1985. However, these bleak findings are put into some perspective by the fact that news organizations are more trusted sources of information than are many other institutions, including government and business. Further, people rate the performance of the news organizations they rely on much more positively than they rate the performance of news organizations generally.
The report is based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International in English and Spanish from July 20-24, 2011 among a national sample of 1,501 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 585 cell phone interviews.
Voters Favor Balance in Cutting Deficit
Wednesday, September 21, 2011As President Obama challenged congressional Republicans with his new deficit plan on Monday, voters are rejecting the idea of reducing the
nation’s debt through spending cuts alone—but there is no clear-cut enthusiasm for any specific proposal offered by either political party
and even less confidence in their ability to get things done. According to the latest United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection poll, when asked if the congressional super committee that is charged with recommending at least $1.2 trillion in reductions from the deficit should rely “entirely on spending cuts without any tax increases,” only
28 percent of voters said yes. The cuts-only position is basically the one offered by the Republican leadership in Congress and by the
candidates seeking the Republican presidential nomination. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from September 15-18, 2011 among a national sample of 1,006 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 402 cell phone interviews.
With Doubts, Voters Prefer Obama Jobs Plan Tuesday, September 13, 2011Despite deepening doubts about President Obama’s economic agenda, Americans generally prefer the proposals he offered last week for reviving the economy to the competing ideas advanced by congressional Republicans and the GOP’s 2012 presidential field. According to the latest United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection poll, Americans remain unconvinced that either party’s agenda can significantly dent the nation’s longest period of sustained unemployment since the Depression. The share of Americans who said that Obama’s policies have compounded economic difficulties was nearly double the portion who said he has improved conditions. And just one-in-six said they expected the jobs plan he sent to Congress will significantly reduce unemployment. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from September 8-11, 2011 among a national sample of 1,010 adults
age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 402 cell phone interviews.
Primetime Terror: How TV Dramas Depict the War on Terror and the War on Drugs Thursday, September 08, 2011This just-completed study for the ACLU and the Norman Lear Center, which provides a surprising portrait of the War on Terror and the War on Drugs as seen in TV dramas, says that America's most popular shows stayed closer to reality than common stereotypes about what terrorists and drug users look like and what drugs Americans are abusing. But these ripped-from-the-headlines crime shows largely left out the basic mechanisms of the justice system: the reading of Miranda rights, and the presence of lawyers at interrogations, trials and punishment. The study analyzed 49 hours of 10 top-rated TV series with storylines including terrorism or drugs that aired in 2010. Shows included NCIS, CSI: Miami, 24, Law & Order: SVU, House and The Good Wife.
Few See Job Proposals Having Much Effect Wednesday, September 07, 2011When asked which economic issue worries them most, nearly twice as many Americans cite the job situation as the federal budget deficit (43%
to 22%). There is less clarity in the public’s views about ideas to address the job situation – many are seen as helping at least a little,
but no specific proposal emerges as a silver bullet. The latest survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and
The Washington Post finds that large majorities say additional spending on infrastructure, cutting the federal budget deficit and tax cuts for businesses and individuals would do at least a little to improve the job situation. But there is no consensus that any of these ideas would do a lot to help. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from September 1-4, 2011 among a national sample of 1,001 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 400 cell phone interviews.
August Health Tracking Monday, August 29, 2011The August tracking poll examines the views of Americans without health insurance, with a particular focus on how they think the health reform law will affect them. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from August 10-15, 2011 among a national sample of 1,201 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 501 cell phone interviews.
Obama Leadership Image Takes a Hit, GOP Ratings Decline Thursday, August 25, 2011The public is profoundly discontented with conditions in the country, its government, political leadership and several of its major institutions. Fully 79% are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country. Even more (86%) say they are frustrated or angry with the federal government. Favorable ratings for both political parties are in negative territory and have declined since the beginning of the year. Just 22% approve of the job performance of Republican congressional leaders, down from 36% in February. Ratings for Democratic leaders are only somewhat better (29% approve). The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted August 17-21, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,509 adults age 18 or older, including 604 cell phone interviews.
Democrats Not Eager for an Obama Challenger Wednesday, August 10, 2011Despite speculation that the Democratic base has become increasingly disillusioned with Barack Obama, rank-and-file Democrats are not eager to see other candidates challenge him for their party’s nomination in 2012. Just 32% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say they would like other Democrats to take on Obama for the nomination, while 59% say they would not. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from August 4-7, 2011 among a national sample of 1,001 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 400 cell phone interviews.
Views of Tea Party Supporters in Congress Grow More Negative Tuesday, August 09, 2011More Americans now think that members of Congress who support the Tea Party are having a negative effect than said that in January, at the start of the new Congress. Currently, according to the latest survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and
The Washington Post, 29% judge the impact of Tea Party
supporters as mostly negative compared with 22% who see their impact as mostly positive. At the beginning of the year, the balance of opinion
was just the opposite: 27% said that Tea Party members in Congress would have a positive impact, while 18% expected a negative effect. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from August 4-7, 2011 among a national sample of 1,001 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 400 cell phone interviews.
National Journal Daily: Amidst Debt Fight, Discontent with Congress Wednesday, August 03, 2011Amidst a tumultuous fight over raising the debt ceiling, Americans are deeply dissatisfied with Washington and eager to elect fresh faces to Congress, raising warning flags for Democrats and Republicans alike. The latest United Technologies/
National Journal Congressional Connection poll showed discontent at about the same levels seen in the 2006 and 2010 “wave” elections. The results are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from July 28-31, 2011 among a national sample of 1,001 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 401 cell phone interviews.
Public Sees Budget Negotiations as “Ridiculous”, “Disgusting”, “Stupid" Monday, August 01, 2011From liberal Democrats to Tea Party Republicans, there is broad public consensus that the budget negotiations of recent weeks can be summed up in words such as
ridiculous,
disgusting,
stupid, and
frustrating. Nationwide, 72% describe the recent negotiations in negative terms such
as these; while very few offer a positive (2%), or even neutral (11%) assessment, according to the latest survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press and
The Washington Post. Other frequently used terms include
terrible,
disappointing,
childish, and
joke. The results are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from July 28-31, 2011 among a national sample of 1,001 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 401 cell phone interviews.
July Health Tracking Thursday, July 28, 2011Health care, and particularly Medicare and Medicaid, continue to play a role in the national discussion over the federal budget deficit. In the midst of this debate, the latest Kaiser Health Tracking poll finds that Americans of all political stripes see a role for both spending reductions and tax increases as part of an overall deficit reduction strategy. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from July 13-18, 2011 among a national sample of 1,201 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 401 cell phone interviews.
Obama Loses Ground in 2012 Reelection Bid Thursday, July 28, 2011The sizeable lead Barack Obama held over a generic Republican opponent in polls conducted earlier this year has vanished as his support among independent voters has fallen off. Currently, 41% of registered voters say they would like to see Barack Obama reelected, while 40% say they would prefer to see a Republican
candidate win in 2012. In May, Obama held an 11-point lead. The results are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International in English and Spanish from July 20-24, 2011 among a national sample of 1,501 adults age 18 and older living in the continental U.S, including 585 cell phone interviews.
National Journal Daily: First in a Series of Surveys Tracking the Public's Priorities for Congress Tuesday, July 26, 2011Americans expressed more trust in President Obama than in congressional Republicans to make decisions about both the federal deficit and debt ceiling, but continued to display little urgency about the risk of default if the two sides remain stalemated, a new United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll found. The results are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from July 21-24, 2011 among a national sample of 999 adults age 18 and older living in the continental U.S., including 397 cell phone interviews.
Public Now Divided on Debt Limit Debate Tuesday, July 12, 2011As the debate over the nation’s debt and deficit continues, the public has grown more concerned that failing to raise the debt limit would
force the government into default and hurt the economy. Despite this change, however, about as many Americans are concerned by the
consequences of raising the nation’s debt limit as by the fallout from not doing so according to the latest survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and the Washington Post.
Currently, 47% say their greater concern is that raising the debt limit would lead to higher government spending and make the national debt bigger, while 42% say their greater concern is that not raising the limit would force the government into default and hurt the economy. This
represents a change in the balance of opinion since May, when more expressed concern over raising the debt limit (48%) than said their
greater concern was the prospect of a government default (35%). The results are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from July 7-10, 2011 among a national sample of 1,007 adults age 18 and older living in the continental U.S., including 333 cell phone interviews.
Majority Sees U.S. Leadership in Space as Essential Tuesday, July 05, 2011On the eve of the final mission of the U.S. space shuttle program, most Americans say the United States must be at the forefront of future space exploration. Fifty years after the first American manned space flight, nearly six-in-ten (58%) say it is essential that the United States continue to be a world leader in space exploration; about four-in-ten say this is not essential (38%).
June Health Tracking Thursday, June 30, 2011The June Kaiser Health Tracking Poll examines the opinions of seniors and the public about Medicare and the federal budget deficit, a topic of heightened interest these days as policymakers in Washington focus on ways to bring down Medicare spending as part of efforts to reduce the deficit. The poll also provides an early look at the views of registered voters and the potential role health care might play in the upcoming presidential election cycle.
Little Change in Views of Obama's Approach for Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal Monday, June 27, 2011Following Barack Obama’s June 22 speech about the Afghanistan war, there has been little change in public opinion about the president’s
plans for drawing down the number of U.S. combat troops in that country. As in early March, a plurality (44%) says they think Obama will
remove troops at about the right pace. About three-in-ten (29%) think he will not withdraw them quickly enough, while 16% say troops will be
removed too quickly, according to the latest survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and The Washington Post. The results are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International in English from June 23-26, 2011 among a national sample of 1,005 adults age 18 and older living in the continental U.S., including 333 cell phone interviews.
HIV/AIDS At 30: A Public Opinion Perspective Tuesday, June 21, 2011As the HIV/AIDS epidemic marks its thirtieth year, the Kaiser Family Foundation conducted its eighth large-scale national survey of Americans on HIV/AIDS. Key findings include: Black Americans, and particularly young blacks, express much higher levels of concern about HIV infection than whites. Reported HIV testing rates are flat since 1997, including among some key groups at higher risk. Thirty years into the epidemic, there is a declining sense of national urgency and visibility of HIV/AIDS.
Record Number Favors Removing U.S. Troops from Afghanistan Tuesday, June 21, 2011As President Obama prepares to announce his policy for drawing down U.S. forces in Afghanistan, the percentage of Americans who favor removing the troops as soon as possible has reached an all-time high in Pew Research Center surveys. For the first time, a majority (56%) says that U.S. troops should be brought home as soon as possible, while 39% favor keeping troops in Afghanistan until the situation has stabilized. According to the latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, the proportion favoring a quick withdrawal of U.S. forces has increased
by eight points since last month (from 48%), immediately after the killing of Osama bin Laden. A year ago, just 40% favored removing the
troops as soon as possible, while 53% favored keeping them in Afghanistan until the situation stabilized. The results are based on data from telephone interviews conducted in English and Spanish by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from June 15-19, 2011 among a national sample of 1,502 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 501 cell phone interviews.
More Say GOP Would Be Mainly Responsible If No Increase In Debt Limit Monday, June 20, 2011More Americans believe Republicans in Congress, rather than the Obama administration, would be mainly responsible if the two sides cannot agree on a plan to increase the federal debt limit. About four-in-ten (42%) say Republicans would bear the most responsibility if the debt limit is not raised and the government is unable to borrow more money to fund its operations. A third (33%) say the Obama administration would be mainly responsible.
Most Say Political Sex Scandals Due to Greater Scrutiny, Not Lower Morality Wednesday, June 15, 2011Most Americans attribute the series of public sex scandals in recent years involving politicians more to the heightened scrutiny they face
than to lower moral standards among elected officials. A 57% majority say elected officials just get caught more often because they are under greater scrutiny. About two-in-ten (19%), on the
other hand, say elected officials have lower moral standards than ordinary Americans, according to the latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and The Washington Post. The results are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International in English from June 9-12, 2011 among a national sample of 1,002 adults age 18 and older, including 330 cell phone interviews.
Opposition to Ryan Medicare Plan from Older, Attentive Americans Monday, June 06, 2011The public offers a mixed reaction to a proposal to change Medicare into a program that would give future participants a credit toward purchasing private health insurance coverage: 41% oppose such a change, 36% favor it, and nearly a quarter (23%) have no opinion either way. Despite this even division of opinion overall, there is broad, and strong, opposition to the proposal among older Americans, and those who are paying a lot of attention to the issue. Those ages 50 and older oppose this proposal, which is part of Rep. Paul Ryan’s deficit reduction plan, by a 51% to 29% margin. And this opposition is intense: 42% strongly oppose this kind of change, while only 19% strongly favor it. The same is true among people who say they have heard a lot about this proposal – fully 56% are opposed while 33% are in favor, and strong opposition among this group outweighs strong support by two-to-one (50% vs. 25%).
Republican Candidates Stir Little Enthusiasm
Thursday, June 02, 2011The emerging Republican presidential field draws tepid ratings. Just a quarter of voters (25%) have an excellent or good impression of the
possible GOP candidates, and a separate survey conducted jointly by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press with
The Washington Post finds that negative descriptions of the field far outnumber positive ones. Asked for a single word to describe the GOP field, the top
response is “unimpressed.” Of the party’s best-known possible candidates, only Mitt Romney has
broad potential appeal. Large majorities have heard of four possible Republican candidates – Romney, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul.
But most who have heard of Palin and Gingrich say there is no chance they would vote for them (63% each). About as many (60%) say there is no
chance they would support Paul. The results are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from May 25 - May 30, 2011 among a national sample of 1,509 adults age 18 and older, including 505 cell phone interviews. Interviews were conducted in English.
May Health Tracking Wednesday, May 25, 2011Most Americans oppose the idea of converting Medicaid to block grant financing to reduce the federal deficit, and more than half want to see no reductions at all in Medicaid spending. One in five adults has received Medicaid benefits over time, and for most, experiences were positive, although one third of them report having had problems finding a doctor. The findings come at a time of intense public debate in Washington about the future of entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid as policymakers attempt to address rising public concerns about the federal deficit. While conventional wisdom and recent public opinion polling has suggested that dramatic changes in Medicare would be politically unpopular, the poll findings illustrate that major alterations to Medicaid also could strike a negative chord with many Americans.
More Concern about Raising Debt Limit than Government Default Tuesday, May 24, 2011The public is concerned about both of the possible outcomes of the debt limit debate – raising the debt limit and failing to do so. But more say they are very concerned about the possible consequences of raising the debt limit than of not raising it. And by a 48% to 35% margin, Americans say their greater concern is that raising the debt limit would lead to higher government spending and a larger national debt than that not raising the limit would force the government into default and hurt the nation’s economy.
Interest in bin Laden Now Tops News Coverage Wednesday, May 18, 2011Public interest in the killing of Osama bin Laden has declined since the week U.S. forces raided his compound in Pakistan. But news coverage of bin Laden’s death has fallen more precipitously.
About a third of the public (32%) says they followed this news more closely than any other story last week, down from 42% one week earlier. The proportion saying they followed this story very closely also has fallen, from 50% to 37%.
Is College Worth It? Sunday, May 15, 2011A majority of Americans (57%) say the higher education system in the United States fails to provide good value for the money students and their families spend, and about four-in-ten college presidents say the system is headed in the wrong direction, according to a pair of nationwide surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center in Spring 2011. One is a telephone survey taken among a nationally representative sample of 2,142 adults ages 18 and older. The other is an online survey, done in association with the Chronicle of Higher Education, among the presidents of 1,055 two-year and four-year private, public, and for-profit colleges and universities.
Death of bin Laden: More Coverage than Interest Wednesday, May 11, 2011While the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan by U.S. military forces attracted a near-record amount of news coverage, public interest in the story has been comparatively modest. Just more than four-in-ten (42%) say they followed news about the Al Qaeda leader’s killing more closely than any other news last week. One-in-five (20%) followed news about severe weather and flooding in the South and Midwest most closely. Bin Laden’s death is clearly the week’s top story, but it is not the top story for 2011. In mid-March, far more (57%) said they followed the Japan earthquake and nuclear disaster most closely.
Obama Bump Recedes a Bit Monday, May 09, 2011Barack Obama’s job approval rating has fallen slightly since the day after Osama bin Laden’s death was announced. But the balance of opinion regarding Obama’s job performance remains more positive than it was in early April. There also continues to be more optimism about the U.S. achieving its goals in Afghanistan than there was prior to bin Laden’s killing. Currently, 50% approve of the way Obama is handling his job as president while 39% disapprove. In a May 2 poll by the Pew Research Center and The Washington Post, 56% approved while 38% disapproved. Obama’s current job rating represents an improvement from early April, when 47% approved of his job performance and nearly as many (45%) disapproved.
Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology Wednesday, May 04, 2011With the economy still struggling and the nation involved in multiple military operations overseas, the public’s political mood is fractious. In this environment, many political attitudes have become more doctrinaire at both ends of the ideological spectrum, a polarization that reflects the current atmosphere in Washington. Yet at the same time, a growing number of Americans are choosing not to identify with either political party, and the center of the political spectrum is increasingly diverse. Rather than being moderate, many of these independents hold extremely strong ideological positions on issues such as the role of government, immigration, the environment and social issues. But they combine these views in ways that defy liberal or conservative orthodoxy.
April Health Tracking Wednesday, April 27, 2011As Congress and the president debate different approaches to reducing the deficit, a new survey indicates that initial public reaction is fairly evenly split when a premium support/voucher program like the one in House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s "Path to Prosperity" proposal is described, but seniors prefer to keep the current Medicare system by a 2-to-1 margin. Meanwhile, public opinion on the health reform law remains remarkably steady.
Trump Most Visible Among Possible GOP Contenders Wednesday, April 20, 2011Donald Trump has drawn a lot of attention in a slow-starting race for the GOP nomination. Roughly a quarter of all Americans (26%) name Trump as the possible Republican presidential candidate they have heard most about lately, far more than volunteer any other candidate. Among Republicans, 39% name Trump as most visible – more than all other possible GOP candidates combined. To be sure, Trump is standing out in a contest that has yet to draw much public interest or media coverage. In fact, about half of all Americans (53%) could not name anyone when asked which GOP candidate they have been hearing the most about.
Budget Negotiations in a Word - "Ridiculous" Monday, April 11, 2011The public has an overwhelmingly negative reaction to the budget negotiations that narrowly avoided a government shutdown. A new survey finds that “ridiculous” is the word used most frequently to describe the budget negotiations, followed by “disgusting,” “frustrating,” “messy,” “disappointing” and “stupid.” Overall, 69% of respondents use negative terms to describe the budget talks, while just 3% use positive words; 16% use neutral words to characterize their impressions of the negotiations. Large majorities of independents (74%), Democrats (69%) and Republicans (65%) offer negative terms to describe the negotiations.
Civil War at 150: Still Relevant, Still Divisive Friday, April 08, 2011As the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War approaches, most Americans say the war between the North and South is still relevant to American politics and public life today. More than half of Americans (56%) say the Civil War is still relevant, according to a new national survey. Nearly four-in-ten (39%) say the Civil War is important historically but has little current relevance. In a nation that has long endured deep racial divisions, the history of that era still elicits some strong reactions. Nearly half of the public (46%) says it is inappropriate for today’s public officials to praise the leaders of the Confederate states during the war; 36% say such statements are appropriate.
Economic Views Sag, Obama Rating Slips Thursday, April 07, 2011With the public growing more anxious about the economy and concerned about overseas commitments, Barack Obama’s job rating has edged lower.
About as many now approve (47%) as disapprove (45%) of the way Obama is handling his job as president. In March, opinions about Obama’s job performance were more positive; 51% approved of his job performance and 39% disapproved. The current measure is similar to Obama’s ratings from last fall through early 2011. Despite recent signs of job growth, Americans are taking a more negative view of the national economy. The proportion rating economic conditions as “poor” has risen from 42% in February to 53% currently.
Public Sees Better News about Jobs, But Not Prices Wednesday, April 06, 2011With the employment picture slowly improving in recent months, fewer Americans say they are hearing mostly bad news about the job situation. At the same time, perceptions of news about prices – especially gas prices – remain overwhelmingly negative. Currently, 43% say they are hearing mostly bad news about the job situation – down seven points from last month and the lowest percentage since June 2009, when the question was first asked. About as many (42%) say they are hearing a mix of good and bad news, while 12% say they are hearing mostly good news about jobs.
Obama Tests Well at Start of Reelection Run Wednesday, March 23, 2011Barack Obama currently fares as well against a generic opponent in the upcoming presidential election as George W. Bush did in April 2003, a time when Bush’s job approval rating was much higher than Obama’s is today. He also tests considerably better than Bill Clinton did in March 1995. According to a new survey, nearly half (47%) of registered voters say they would like to see Barack Obama reelected, while 37% say they would prefer to see a Republican candidate win the 2012 election. In April 2003, 48% of registered voters said they would like to see Bush reelected in 2004; 34% said they would prefer to see a Democrat win.
Opposition to Nuclear Power Rises Amid Japanese Crisis Monday, March 21, 2011Not surprisingly, public support for the increased use of nuclear power has declined amid the ongoing nuclear emergency in Japan. Currently, 39% say they favor promoting the increased use of nuclear power while 52% are opposed. Last October, 47% favored promoting the increased use of nuclear power and the same percentage (47%) was opposed. Opinion about expanding the use of nuclear power has fluctuated in recent years. However, the current measure matches a previous low in support for increased nuclear power recorded in September 2005 (39% favor, 53% oppose).
March Health Tracking Friday, March 18, 2011Little has changed since President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law. The March Health Tracking Poll finds that the public continues to report that they are confused about the law, say they don’t have enough information on how the law will affect them, and remain divided in their views of the law.
The Internet and Campaign 2010 Thursday, March 17, 201154% of adults used the internet for political purposes in the last cycle, far surpassing the 2006 midterm contest. They hold mixed views about the impact of the internet: It enables extremism, while helping the like-minded find each other. It provides diverse sources, but makes it harder to find truthful sources.
Republicans Are Losing Ground on the Deficit, But Obama's Not Gaining Wednesday, March 16, 2011As the budget debate moves into a crucial phase, far fewer Americans say that Republicans in Congress have the better approach to the budget deficit than did so in November, shortly after the GOP’s sweeping election victories. The GOP has lost ground on the deficit among political independents and, surprisingly, among key elements of the Republican base, including Tea Party supporters. However, the public is no more supportive of Barack Obama’s approach to the budget deficit than it was in November. Rather, there has been a sharp rise in the percentage saying there is not much difference between Obama’s approach and that of congressional Republicans – 52% say that now, up from just 33% in November.
How mobile devices are changing community information environments Monday, March 14, 2011Local news is going mobile. Nearly half of all American adults (47%) report that they get at least some local news and information on their cellphone or tablet computer. This survey is a part of the Project for Excellence in Journalism’s 2011 State of the News Media Report. These results come from a national phone survey of 2,251 American adults (age 18 or more) in English and Spanish.
Public Wary of Military Intervention in Libya Monday, March 14, 2011The public by a wide margin says the United States does not have a responsibility to do something about the fighting between government forces and anti-government groups in Libya. And while opinion is divided over enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya, this view is undercut by the fact that Americans overwhelmingly oppose bombing Libyan military air defenses.
Continuing Divide in Views of Islam and Violence Wednesday, March 09, 2011The public remains divided over whether Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence among its believers. Currently, 40% say the Islamic religion is more likely than others to encourage violence while 42% say it is not. These opinions have changed little in recent years. But in March 2002, just 25% saw Islam as more likely to encourage violence while twice as many (51%) disagreed.
Most See Role for Government in Reducing Childhood Obesity Tuesday, March 08, 2011Most Americans say the government should play a significant role in reducing obesity among children. But there is strong opposition to government involvement in this effort among conservative Republicans and Tea Party supporters. A new survey finds that 57% say the government should play a significant role in reducing obesity among children, while 39% say it should not. However, the public does not view the fight against obesity as a major policy priority for the president and Congress. In Pew Research’s annual policy priorities poll in January, just 19% rated dealing with obesity in this country as a top priority, the lowest among 22 items tested; nearly as many (14%) said it should not be done at all.
Fewer Are Angry at Government, But Discontent Remains High Thursday, March 03, 2011The public remains deeply frustrated with the federal government, but fewer Americans say they are angry at government than did so last fall. Overall, the percentage saying they are angry with the federal government has fallen from 23% last September to 14% today, with much of the decline coming among Republicans and Tea Party supporters. While anger at government has subsided, the public expresses no greater taste for political compromise today than it did last fall. As political leaders head into a tough political debate over the budget, 54% say they like elected officials who stick to their positions, while 40% prefer officials who make compromises with people they disagree with. This is virtually identical to the balance of opinion among registered voters last September.
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