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Gallup 11/20
Obama Job Approval Down to 49%
The latest Gallup Daily tracking results show 49% of Americans approving
of the job Barack Obama is doing as president, putting him below the
majority approval level for the first time in his presidency. . . .
A. Gelman, N, Silver, D. Lee
11/19
The Senate's Health Care Calculations
Critics of the health care reform plan often refer to it derisively as "ObamaCare."
... [W]hen it comes to politics, "ObamaCare" could hardly be more apt:
lawmakers' support for or opposition to reform generally has less to do
with the views of their constituents and more to do with the issue of
presidential popularity. . . .
Pew Research Center
11/18
Modest Rise in Concern About Islamic Extremism
The public continues to express concern about the rise of Islamic
extremism in the United States and abroad, but a survey taken shortly
after the deadly Nov. 5 shootings at the Fort Hood Army base shows only a
modest increase in these concerns since 2007. . . .
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ABC News 11/17
Views on the Terror Trials
Americans divide evenly on whether to try 9/11 suspects in U.S. civilian
courts or military tribunals, a split like so many driven chiefly by
partisan and ideological differences. . . .
Washington Post
11/17
Deep
divisions linger on health care
As the Senate prepares to take up legislation aimed at overhauling the
nation's health-care system, President Obama and the Democrats are still
struggling to win the battle for public opinion. A new Washington Post-ABC
News poll shows Americans deeply divided over the proposals under
consideration and majorities predicting higher costs ahead. . . .
Washington Post
11/16
So
much for the power of incumbency
Amid the spin spewing from the parties over what this month's elections in
New Jersey, Virginia and New York meant, there is one indisputable lesson
learned: Voters don't like incumbents these days. . . .
Scott Rasmussen & Douglas E. Schoen
11/14
Obama Is Losing Independent Voters
The announcement a week ago of 10.2% unemployment is a significant
political event for President Barack Obama. It could well usher in a
particularly serious crisis for his political standing, influence and
ability to advance his agenda. . . .
GQRR/POS
11/13
Prevention as Part of Health Care Reform
When it comes to health care reform, one thing is clear: the American
electorate wants prevention to play a central role in shaping a new
direction for our health care system. . . .
Rhodes Cook 11/12
'09
Elections: Some Parting Thoughts
No doubt off-year elections can be overanalyzed. They are few in number.
They sometimes give evidence of conflicting trends. And their predictive
value for the midterm elections to follow has been rather conclusively
debunked. . . .
Pew Research Center
11/12
Battle of the Budget Bulge
Americans are famous both for being weight conscious, and at the same time
unable to come to terms successfully with their bloated waistlines. The
same paradox has applied to how the public looks at budget deficits for a
very long time. . . .
Gary Langer 11/12
Chasing Feathers
... We swim in a sea of manufactured data produced not to independently
know and assess public attitudes or behavior but rather intentionally to
misinform or even disinform to promote a policy or product, an agenda or
a point of view, a candidate or a career. . . .
Kaiser Family Foundation (pdf)
11/12
The U.S. Role in Global Health
... As we found in March, the public continues to support maintaining or
increasing spending on global health. . . .
David Hill 11/11
Independents recast pollsters
... Independents, by voting almost 2-to-1 for Republicans in Virginia and
New Jersey, turned over two governors' mansions. This is particularly
interesting because students of partisanship and opinions know that
self-professed independents often have belief systems that are
outrageously strange. . . .
Mark Mellman 11/11
Lessons from Election '09
Last week, I asserted that Tuesday's election would tell us precious
little we did not already know. That prediction proved mostly, though not
completely, correct. . . .
Pew Research Center
11/11
A
Year Out, Widespread Anti-Incumbent Sentiment
The mood of America is glum. ... Despite the public's grim mood, overall
opinion of Barack Obama has not soured his job approval rating of 51% is
largely unchanged since July, although his approval rating on Afghanistan
has declined. But opinions about congressional incumbents are another
matter. . . .
Gallup 11/11
Republicans Edge Ahead of Democrats in 2010 Vote
Republicans have moved ahead of Democrats by 48% to 44% among registered
voters in the latest update on Gallup's generic congressional ballot for
the 2010 House elections, after trailing by six points in July and two
points last month. . . .
The State 11/11
South isn't buying Obama health plan
Barack Obama's push to revamp the nation's health care system is getting
the cold shoulder from Southerners, according to a new poll by Winthrop
University. But the president, who picked up a trio of Southern states in
winning the 2008 presidential election, remains well-liked in this region,
with solid majorities saying he is warm and friendly, trustworthy and
concerned about people like those polled in South Carolina and 10 other
Southern states. . . .
Robert Blendon
11/9
Keep
an Eye on Public Opinion
... Regardless of public enthusiasm for health reform as a principle, and
support for many policy elements in the House bill itself, most Americans
do not see their health care situation as getting better if this
legislation is signed into law, and some see their situation as getting
worse. . . .
Washington Post: Dan Balz
11/8
Republicans seek a path to revival
One year after hitting bottom in the aftermath of President Obama's
election, Republicans have taken their first concrete steps toward
recovery. But they remain an embattled and divided force, facing an
electorate still skeptical about their capacity to govern and embroiled in
a struggle between party regulars and populist conservative forces over
how to return to power. . . .
Los Angeles Times
11/8
California's best years have passed, voters say
Frustrated at California's woes, voters are sharply pessimistic about
whether the next governor will be able to move the state in the right
direction, and most believe California is in the midst of a long-term
decline, a new Los Angeles Times/USC poll shows. . . .
Pew Research Center
11/6
Public Divided Over Afghan Troop Requests
As President Obama and his staff weigh their difficult choices in the
Afghanistan theater, the public also appears to be finding it difficult to
judge the merits of different options for expanding, maintaining or
contracting the U.S. effort on that front. . . .
Los Angeles Times 11/6
Voters oppose putting gay marriage on ballot next year
A small majority of California voters supports the right of gay couples to
marry, but a much larger portion of voters opposes efforts to place the
issue back on the ballot next year, a new Los Angeles Times/USC poll has
found. . . .
Harvard School of Public Health
11/6
Majority Unable to Get H1N1 Vaccine
A new national poll from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)
researchers found that a majority of adults who tried to get the H1N1
vaccine for themselves or their children have been unable to do so. . . .
ABC News 11/6
Year After Obama vs. McCain, Obama vs. the Economy
A year after he went one-on-one with John McCain, Barack Obama's now
playing for time. For all that's transpired since his election as
president, public opinion has not moved on the big issue, the current
economy. . . .
Alan I. Abramowitz
11/5
What
Happens in VA and NJ Stays in VA and NJ
... Before we conclude that Republican victories in Virginia and New
Jersey provide an early indication of what is likely to happen in next
year's midterm elections, we need to take a more systematic look at the
evidence. . . .
Monmouth University Polling Institute
11/5
New
Jersey: Who Voted, Where and How?
Well, the pundits said that turnout would be the name of the game in New
Jersey this year. The problem is we were looking at the wrong type of
turnout. While we were busy focusing on core Democratic areas, the
Republicans upped the ante on their own turf. . . .
Washington Post
11/5
For
parties, the soul-searching begins
... [M]oderate and conservative Democrats took a clear signal from
Tuesday's voting, warning that the results prove that independent voters
are wary of Obama's far-reaching proposals and mounting spending, as well
as the growing federal debt. . . .
Washington Post
11/5
As
GOP celebrates, internal ideological battles remain
... As the party turns toward the 2010 midterm elections, pitched battles
between moderates and conservatives -- and between the Washington
establishment and the conservative grass roots -- are underway from
Florida to Illinois to California. . . .
John Zogby 11/4
Reading Tuesday's election results
So what did we learn from Tuesday's elections? And what lessons should
Democrats and Republicans draw from the results? . . .
Gallup 11/4
Political Climate Not as Favorable to Democrats
The 2010 election cycle begins in a political climate that is shaping up
to be not as favorable to the Democratic Party as the 2006 and 2008
elections were. . . .
Glen Bolger 11/4
VA:
An Analysis of Bob McDonnell's Win
Democrat claims that Bob McDonnell's victory in Virginia is just a
Republican electorate reasserting itself and has nothing to do with Barack
Obama are simply trying to put lipstick on a pig. Saying Virginia is a
Republican state is like saying the Washington Redskins are a well-run
organization. It was once true, but not any more. . . .
Washington Post: Dan Balz
11/4
Warning to Democrats: It's not 2008 anymore
... Neither gubernatorial election amounted to a referendum on the
president, but the changing shape of the electorates in both states and
the shifts among key constituencies revealed cracks in the Obama 2008
coalition and demonstrated that, at this point, Republicans have the more
energized constituency heading into next year's midterm elections. . . .
ABC
News 11/4
Exit
Polls: Voters Approve of Obama, Wary of Economy
Vast economic discontent marked the mood of Tuesday's off-year voters,
portending potential trouble for incumbents generally and Democrats in
particular in 2010. Still the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New
Jersey looked less like a referendum on Barack Obama than a reflection of
their own candidates and issues. . . .
David Hill 11/4
Ball-watchers focus on prior results
... While most fans try to follow the ball on every play, the expert's
field of view widens to pay attention to defensive schemes, pulling
linemen, downfield blocking and a host of other things nowhere near the
ball. I wish most political pundits had a wider field of view. . . .
Mark Mellman 11/4
Tell
me something I don't know
By the time you read this, thousands of words will have been written about
what Tuesday's elections portend not for the people of New Jersey,
Virginia and New York's 23rd congressional district, but for the fate of
Democrats and Republicans in 2010. . . .
Democracy Corps
11/3
The
Economy at a Sensitive Juncture
With GDP growth having finally returned, but unemployment still rising
slowly toward 10 percent, the economy is at a sensitive juncture as an
issue for the 2010 elections. . . .
New York Times
11/3
3
Contests Could Signal Political Winds
In this supposedly quiet off-year election, there are three contests
taking place Tuesday that are filling the void. Voters in New Jersey and
Virginia will elect a governor, while voters in upstate New York are
filling a vacant House seat in a race with national implications. Here are
some things to look for as the results come in. . . .
Pew Research Center
11/2
End of Communism Cheered but with More Reservations
Nearly two decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall, publics of former
Iron Curtain countries generally look back approvingly at the collapse of
communism. ... However, the initial widespread enthusiasm about these
changes has dimmed in most of the countries surveyed. . . .
ABC News: Gary Langer
11/2
Tomorrow's Elections: An Obama Referendum?
While spinmeisters from both sides will do their best after tomorrows
results are in, it's a dicey business to draw broad conclusions from state
and local off-year elections. ... But first things first: Is tomorrow's
voting a referendum on Barack Obama? . . .
Gallup 11/2
Generic Ballot Provides Clues for 2010 Vote
One year from today, U.S. voters will head to the polls to elect all 435
members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Gallup measures voting
intentions in midterm elections using the generic congressional ballot,
which has proven an accurate predictor of the eventual vote in midterm
elections. . . .
John Harwood 11/2
If
Fox Is Partisan, It Is Not Alone
The Obama White House's decision to challenge Fox News appears driven
equally by strategy and frustration. It is also a test case for
politicians in both parties. That is because partisan fragmentation
throughout America's news media and their audiences has grown
significantly. . . .
Frank Luntz
11/1
Health Reform Language Highlights
I was there in 1994. I saw what happened when a once-popular president
tried to push healthcare legislation that Americans didn't want or
appreciate. . . .
Ronald Brownstein
10/31
A
Reaganite Or Jacksonian Wave?
... From the White House to Capitol Hill, Democrats are wagering that they
can sell Americans on a sweeping and in some ways unprecedented expansion
of government's reach to confront both the immediate economic downturn and
such long-term challenges as health care and climate change. . . .
Gallup 10/30
Americans on Healthcare Reform: Five Key Realities
Americans are closely divided on the issue of passing comprehensive
healthcare reform, meaning that public opinion offers no real political
advantage to either champions or opponents of the idea. That said, a
review of Gallup polls conducted throughout the debate reveals five
realities crucial to understanding public opinion on this issue. . . .
Larry J. Sabato
10/29
VA:
Look to the north stars
We're heading 'round the final bend in this year's Virginia contest for
governor, so it's time to take a look at our traditional gubernatorial
"north stars." These stars, fixed in the firmament and reliable indicators
for decades, have long guided our prognostications. . . .
New York Times: Marjorie Connelly
10/29
Polls and the Public Option
In recent weeks, polls kept showing solid support for a public insurance
option, seeming to breathe new life into its viability as a provision of
the health care legislation under way in Congress. In fact, advocates of a
public option, from left-leaning groups to pundits to lawmakers, seized on
each new number and trumpeted the news across the 24/7 news spectrum of
Twitter, TV ads, blogs and headlines. . . .
John Kenneth White (in The
Polling Report) 10/28
Barack Obama's America
In 1970, Richard Scammon and Ben Wattenberg famously defined the "Real
Majority" as being "un-young, un-poor, and un-black." ... A shift in the
nation's demography and cultural thinking is tilting the electoral
landscape in favor of the Democrats. Since 1970, the U.S. has experienced
four historic transformations: (1) a racial revolution where whites will
be a minority of the U.S. population by mid-century; (2) a revolution in
family structures where having a mom, dad, and kids living at home with
their biological parents is no longer the norm; (3) a gay rights
revolution where greater tolerance toward homosexuals prevails; and (4) a
religious revolution where the location of faith is not necessarily in a
church building, but in the heart of the individual. Taken together, these
trends are undermining Scammon and Wattenberg's Real Majority. This was
especially noticeable in 2008, when John McCain performed well among
un-young, un-poor, and un-black voters -- and still lost. . . .
USA Today 10/28
1-year poll shows changed views on Obama
Shannon Norris thinks President Obama deserves more time to deliver on his
promises from last year's campaign. But not too much more. ... As the
anniversary of the election approaches, the tidal wave of hope that swept
Obama into office has ebbed and some perceptions of the president have
changed, the USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds. . . .
David Hill 10/28
Gallup says conservatism surging
... But where the Gallup report gets juiciest is in its more important
assertion that Americans are also shifting to the conservative perspective
on some specific issues, notably government regulation, the influence of
labor unions, gun laws, global warming, abortion and even "traditional
values." . . .
E.J. Dionne 10/28
Is America really becoming more conservative?
If I were a conservative, I would probably tout the new Gallup study
showing that conservatives now outnumber moderates, as Bill Kristol did in
his column on Tuesday. But I'd be wary of making too much of what is a
rather small shift in the ideological self-description of Americans. And
out of curiosity, I checked around with other pollsters to see what they
were finding. The results were mixed. . . .
Mark Mellman 10/28
Ironies of healthcare reform
In a republic such as ours, public policy is only loosely related to
public opinion. Nonetheless, it is ironic that the most controversial
element of healthcare reform with the public seems least controversial on
Capitol Hill, while what is most controversial there is least
controversial with voters. . . .
Democracy Corps
10/27
2010
Congressional Battleground
... A new survey from Democracy Corps conducted by Greenberg Quinlan
Rosner Research across the 75 most competitive congressional districts
suggests potential losses for the Democrats well within the normal
historical range. Their losses will be offset by some further Republican
losses and are unlikely to approach what it would take for Republicans to
regain congressional control. . .
Washington Post
10/27
The
Obama factor: Virginia edition
Virginia Democrats hope President Obama's campaign stop today in Norfolk
will boost Democratic gubernatorial candidate R. Creigh Deeds' standing
and improve turnout in the final days of the campaign, but most in a new
Washington Post poll say the president will not affect their vote next
Tuesday. . . .
Washington Post
10/27
McDonnell has double-digit lead in Va. governor's race
Republican Robert F. McDonnell carries a double-digit lead over Democrat
R. Creigh Deeds into the final week of the campaign for Virginia governor,
according to a new Washington Post poll. . . .
Gallup 10/26
Conservatives Maintain Edge as Top Ideological Group
Conservatives continue to outnumber moderates and liberals in the American
populace in 2009, confirming a finding that Gallup first noted in June. .
. .
Anti-Defamation League
10/26
American Support For Israel Remains Solid
The American people's strong support for Israel remains constant and their
support for action to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power has
substantially increased, according to a new nationwide survey released by
the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today. . . .
Patrick Murray
10/26
NJ: Understanding Unaffiliated Voters
It's time to clear up some confusion about unaffiliated and independent
voters. If you are a member of the media who reports on New Jersey
election polls or turnout, you should read this. . . .
Washington Post
10/25
Va.
GOP makes timely changes
... The changes in Virginia have mirrored shifts that have occurred
nationally, helping Democrats win elections by appealing to increasingly
diverse, moderate, well-educated and affluent suburban voters outside such
cities as Philadelphia, Denver and Minneapolis. ... National Republicans
think a victory by McDonnell, who has led in every poll since June, would
resonate well beyond Virginia because it would show that although many
new, suburban voters have backed Democrats in recent elections, they're
not wedded to the party. . . .
Patrick Egan & Joshua Tucker 10/25
Obama and the politics of an Afghanistan troop surge
President Obama faces an enormous political challenge in figuring out how
to respond to General Stanley McChrystal's request for more soldiers in
Afghanistan. ... No matter what choice Obama makes, he should not be
deluded into thinking that his rhetorical gifts can move public opinion on
this issue. According to research by Professor George Edwards of Texas A&M
University, recent presidents, no matter how golden-tongued, have had
virtually no power to change public opinion on foreign policy. . . .
USA Today 10/24
Hopes buoyed on race relations
While some of the soaring optimism of Election Day has tempered, more than
six in 10 Americans predict in a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll that Barack Obama's
presidency will improve race relations in the United States in the years
ahead. . . .
Kaiser (pdf)
10/23
Health tracking poll
In contrast to recent months, public opinion on health care reform
stabilized in October with no dramatic changes in support, opposition or
even public interest. A majority continues to say now is the time for
health care reform; several key proposals (individual mandate, public
plan) garner public support; opinion on policy specifics remains
malleable; partisans are poles apart; and a significant minority remains
concerned about their personal welfare if health care reform passes. . . .
Gallup 10/22
Half
See Own Costs Worsening Under Healthcare Bill
Compared with last month, Americans have become more likely to say the
costs their family pays for healthcare will get worse if a healthcare bill
passes. Forty-nine percent of Americans say this, up from 42% in
September. Meanwhile, the percentage who expect their costs to improve is
unchanged. . . .
Pew 10/22
Fewer See Solid Evidence of Global Warming
There has been a sharp decline over the past year in the percentage of
Americans who say there is solid evidence that global temperatures are
rising. And fewer also see global warming as a very serious problem 35%
say that today, down from 44% in April 2008. . . .
Rhodes Cook 10/22
Presidents and their party's primaries
On many of the great issues of the day, President Barack Obama has drawn
some criticism for a lack of decisive leadership. But he has shown little
hesitation in taking sides in some high-profile Democratic primaries that
could just as readily divide the party in 2010 as unite it. . . .
Washington Post
10/22
Despite H1N1 fears, many worry about vaccination
Americans have become increasingly alarmed about the swine flu, but many
are wary about getting vaccinated against the disease, according to a new
Washington Post-ABC News poll. . . .
Gallup 10/21
Obama Quarterly Approval Average Slips to 53%
In Gallup Daily tracking that spans Barack Obama's third quarter in office
(July 20 through Oct. 19), the president averaged a 53% job approval
rating. That is down sharply from his prior quarterly averages, which were
both above 60%. . . .
Harvard School of Public Health
10/21
MA: Physicians Support Continuing Health Reform Law
A study published in today's New England Journal of Medicine finds that a
large majority (70%) of practicing physicians in Massachusetts support
health reform three years after its passage in 2006. . . .
Washington Post
10/21
U.S. deeply split on troop increase for Afghan war
As President Obama and his war cabinet deliberate a new strategy for the
war in Afghanistan, Americans are evenly and deeply divided over whether
he should send 40,000 more troops there, and public approval of the
president's handling of the situation has tumbled, according to a new
Washington Post-ABC News poll. . . .
USA Today 10/21
Americans skittish over health changes
Americans are increasingly worried about the cost and quality of medical
care that could result from President Obama's effort to revamp health
care, but a majority still trust him more than Republicans to change the
system, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll shows. . . .
Mark Mellman 10/21
Thank heaven for Republicans
With Democrats allegedly on the ropes and voters concerned about rising
debt and reeling from growing unemployment, you might think Republicans
would be sitting pretty. They aren't -- the Republican brand is in tatters
-- and Democrats should be grateful for the GOP's political ineptitude. .
. .
ABC News 10/20
Pols,
Polls and Pushback
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich had some pretty harsh criticism of our
latest poll today, charging in a radio interview that it was "deliberately
rigged." He's entitled, of course, to his opinion. But not to a distortion
of the facts. . . .
Washington Post
10/19
Majority now supports public health insurance option
As
Democratic congressional leaders and White House officials work to shape
health care bills that will go to the House and Senate floors, a new
Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that support for a government-run
health plan to compete with private insurers has rebounded from its
summertime lows and now wins clear majority support from the public. . . .
Dan Balz 10/18
2010
Threat to Democrats Comes From Three Directions
Three forces threaten Democrats in the 2010 elections: populist anger on
the right, disaffection in the middle and potential disillusionment on the
left. . . .
Ronald Brownstein
10/17
Is
the American Dream a Myth?
One tenet that separates the United States from other countries is our
belief in upward mobility. ... But as Brookings Institution scholars Ron
Haskins and Isabel Sawhill demonstrate in a compelling new book, America's
record doesn't entirely justify this optimism. . . .
Democracy Corps
10/16
Conservative Republicans: A world apart
The self-identifying conservative Republicans who make up the base of the
Republican Party stand a world apart from the rest of America, according
to focus groups conducted by Democracy Corps. These base Republican voters
... identify themselves as part of a 'mocked' minority with a set of
shared beliefs and knowledge, and commitment to oppose Obama that sets
them apart from the majority in the country. . . .
Center for American Progress
10/16
Shriver Report: A Womans Nation Changes Everything
... This is a report about how women becoming half of workers changes
everything for men, women, and their families. The Rockefeller/Time
nationwide poll, conducted in early September as the chapters of the
report were being finalized, finds that the battle of the sexes is over
and is replaced by negotiations between the sexes about work, family,
household responsibilities, child care, and elder care. . . .
New York Times
10/16
Poll
Finds Little Faith in New Jersey's Candidates
In New Jersey, one of only two states with governor's races this year,
voters are gloomy about the future, upset about their own circumstances
and deeply unsettled by the economy. . . .
Andrew Kohut 10/15
But
What Do the Polls Show?
... Those who can back up their assertions by pointing to poll results
find the going easier than leaders who cannot. In turn, news organizations
cover policy initiatives differently when programs appear to have popular
support compared with when they do not. As a result, the public has become
a more important player in national affairs over the past three decades. .
. .
Christian Science Monitor
10/14
Americans want healthcare reform at no cost to them
Democrats in Washington are navigating treacherous electoral terrain as
they craft healthcare reform legislation, judging by new polls that show
Americans pulled by conflicting desires on healthcare. They are eager for
change but hesitant about paying for it. . . .
Gallup 10/12
Obama Job Approval at 56% After Nobel Win
Barack Obama appears to have gotten a slight bounce in support after he
was announced as the Nobel Peace Prize winner on Friday. His 56% job
approval rating for the last two Gallup Daily tracking updates is up from
a term-low 50% as recently as last week, and 53% in the three days before
the Nobel winner was announced. . . .
Ronald Brownstein
10/11
Paddling Alone On The Economic Rapids
... The
Allstate/National Journal poll's two central findings -- of a shared
conviction that average Americans can expect heightened economic
instability and a bitter divergence over the proper government response --
seem a recipe for intense political conflict. One final ingredient makes
the mix even more volatile: Most Americans say that the past year's tumult
has diminished their confidence in government, big companies, banks, and
Wall Street. . . .
Pew Research Center
10/9
Majority Continues to Support Civil Unions
A clear majority of Americans (57%) favors allowing gay and lesbian
couples to enter into legal agreements with each other that would give
them many of the same rights as married couples, a status commonly known
as civil unions. . . .
Washington Post
10/8
Poll
May Point to Democratic Worries Beyond Va.
The latest Washington Post poll of the Virginia gubernatorial race
represents more than bad news for Democratic nominee R. Creigh Deeds. The
findings paint a portrait of the electorate that, if replicated elsewhere,
stands as a warning sign for President Obama and Democrats who will be
running in next year's midterm elections. . . .
Brookings Institution / WorldPublicOpinion.org (pdf)
10/8
Health Care Reform: Battleground or Common Ground?
... Much polling has been conducted in recent months as the health care
debate has heated up. However, a large portion of it has focused on the
political dynamics. Support for reform has eroded. Views of the
administration have cooled, but views of the Republicans are worse. It is
not clear whether these tepid responses are to the actual content of
reforms proposed or if they are a reaction to the highly partisan
character of the debate. . . .
Pew
Research Center 10/8
Mixed Views of Economic Policies, Health Care Reform
... On the economy, most Americans remain optimistic that Barack Obama's
policies will help, but the public expresses mixed views of the steps he
has taken so far and sees no clear signs of recovery at this point.
Regarding health care reform, many of the key provisions remain popular
though support for the overall package has slipped. . . .
Mark Mellman 10/7
The
Jews and the Democrats
... Only three demographic groups gave margins of 50 points or more to
John Kerry: African-Americans, gays and Jews. Three groups also gave
margins of 50 points or better to Barack Obama: blacks, Jews and those who
identify with no religion. . . .
Gallup 10/6
Approval of Congress Falls to 21%
Americans' approval of the job Congress is doing is at 21% this month,
down significantly from last month's 31% and from the recent high of 39%
in March. ... The current drop in overall job approval to 21% particularly
reflects a substantial drop in approval among Democrats, whose 36% rating
this month is 18 points lower than last month's 54%, and the lowest since
January of this year. . . .
New America Media
10/6
Americans Largely Unaware of Stimulus Opportunities
Americans' opinions about the federal government's $787 billion stimulus
package and its impact on the mired economy vary sharply among racial and
ethnic groups, according to a survey released today, with ethnic Americans
more likely than whites to say it is a "good thing." . . .
ABC News 10/6
The
War in Afghanistan: Reassessment, Eight Years On
Significant public compunctions mark the eighth anniversary of the war in
Afghanistan more a gradual shift in Americans' attitudes than a sudden
change, but a reassessment nonetheless, one that in many ways reflects the
administration's own. . . .
Pew
Research Center 10/6
Most Would Use Force to Stop Iranian Nukes
The public approves of direct negotiations with Iran over its nuclear
program, although most Americans are not hopeful the talks will succeed.
And a strong majority 61% says that it is more important to prevent
Iran from developing nuclear weapons, even if it means taking military
action. . . .
Gallup 10/5
Opposition to Healthcare Legislation Drops Modestly
Americans' views on healthcare legislation have shifted modestly over the
past three weeks, with a slight plurality (40%) now supporting the passage
of a new healthcare bill, and with fewer (36%) saying they oppose a new
bill. . . .
Catholics for Choice (pdf)
10/5
National Opinion Survey of Catholic Voters
The fall 2009 Catholics for Choice/Belden Russonello & Stewart survey
shows health care reform is among the top issues for Catholic voters.
Catholic voters prove to be more progressive than U.S. Catholic Bishops,
and to some extent, President Obama, when considering reforms to health
care. . . .
Ronald Brownstein
10/3
A
Fleeting GOP Boost In 2010
From all indications, the face of the electorate will look very different
in 2010 from the way it did in 2008. That prospect presents an immediate
danger for Democrats. But it also represents a more subtle, long-term
threat for Republicans. . . .
New York Times
10/3
Polling Firm's Reprimand Rattles News Media
For Strategic Vision L.L.C., as for many polling companies, it was a
regular practice: for five years the company sent out the results of its
surveys on leading political races around the country, and they made their
way into blog posts, articles and national television coverage. . . .
Economic Policy Institute (pdf)
10/3
Economic Policy Institute
In a recession often described as deep and severe, we now have one more
adjective to add: personal. ... Because the pain of this recession is
striking so close to home, Americans strongly support continuing
government action to address unemployment. . . .
Harvard School of Public Health
10/2
40%
"Absolutely Certain" They Will Get H1N1 Vaccine
In a new survey, Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers found
that just 40% of adults are "absolutely certain" they will get the H1N1
vaccine for themselves, and 51% of parents are "absolutely certain" that
they will get the vaccine for their children. . . .
ABC News 10/2
Beyond Unemployment, the Damage Resonates
The employment numbers released today underscore what an ugly time it is
for the American workforce a reality that, as our polling shows,
resonates beyond the economy to the health care debate, politics and
public health alike. . . .
Gallup 10/1
More
Independents Lean GOP; Gap Smallest Since '05
In the third quarter of this year, 48% of Americans identified politically
as Democrats or said they were independent but leaned to the Democratic
Party. At the same time, 42% identified as Republicans or as independents
who leaned Republican. . . .
Alan Abramowitz
10/1
Ideology in the American Public
... There is no question that Barack Obama's victory in the 2008
presidential election and the Democratic gains in the 2006 and 2008
congressional elections dramatically changed the ideological make-up of
America's political leadership. ... But did this leftward shift among our
nation's political elite reflect a similar leftward shift among the
American public? . . .
ABC News
10/1
Abortion Support: A Trend Away?
The Pew Research Center's out today with poll results indicating a decline
in support for legal abortion this year. Consistency may be the hobgoblin
of little minds, as Emerson said, but I'd still like to see more of it
behind this argument. . . .
Pew Research Center
10/1
Support For Abortion Slips
... In Pew Research Center polls in 2007 and 2008, supporters of legal
abortion clearly outnumbered opponents; now Americans are evenly divided
on the question, and there have been modest increases in the numbers who
favor reducing abortions or making them harder to obtain. . . .
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