Rhodes Cook 7/29
Playing Defense in a Recession
... A new president facing his first midterm election with declining approval ratings as his party struggles to keep the upper hand in Congress – all in the midst of a darkened political environment where the unemployment rate hovers around 10%. It is a description, however, of both past and present. ...

Center for American Progress 7/29
What Americans Want From Their Federal Government
... Americans want a federal government that is better, not smaller. CAP's new research shows people would rather improve government performance than reduce its size. ...

Gallup 7/29
Americans Look to Wealthy to Help Save Social Security
Of six possible ways to address concerns with the Social Security system in a recent USA Today/Gallup poll, a majority of Americans favor two, both of which would affect only wealthy Americans. ...

Kaiser: Drew Altman 7/29
Seniors and Health Reform
It is widely believed that seniors are antsy about the new health reform law. And there is heightened interest in how seniors feel about the law in the political world because they are more likely to vote in midterm elections. ...

Kaiser (pdf) 7/29
Health Tracking Poll
The share of the public with favorable views of the health reform law remained about the same this month, while unfavorable views trended downward. Half the public now expresses a favorable view of the law, while 35 percent say they have an unfavorable opinion. ...

PPIC (pdf) 7/29
In Big Shift, Californians Oppose Offshore Oil Drilling
Three months after a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Californians' support for more drilling off their coast has plunged, according to a survey released today by the Public Policy Institute of California. A solid majority of the state's residents now oppose more offshore drilling. ...