News Archive

Public Would Accept Tax Hikes in Debt Deal    Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Voters are more likely to embrace tax increases for households making $250,000 or more than cuts to Medicare or other domestic spending, according to the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. They are also more worried about cuts in entitlement programs than about tax hikes as a part of any deal that policymakers strike to fend off the sequester’s $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts at the start of next year. The public’s opinions are virtually unchanged from similar National Journal polling one year ago when a congressional super committee was facing the same dilemma—make a deal or face automatic cuts. The super committee failed. The cuts are still looming. The only difference between then and now is that the deal-making is slated to occur after the election, which theoretically will shield the negotiators from voter blame for at least two years. Then, as now, just over half of poll respondents (55 percent) said they think that tax rates for families with incomes above $250,000 should increase on Jan. 1 as part of expiring Bush tax cuts or that wealthier families should see a decrease in their itemized deductions (58 percent). Last year, those figures were 53 percent and 55 percent, respectively. About one-third of the most recent poll’s respondents (36 percent) said they are most worried that Medicare or Social Security will be cut as part of a deficit-reduction deal, a much higher percentage than those whose biggest concern is that their personal tax rates will go up (24 percent). Last year, those figures were a similar 38 percent and 23 percent. Women (42 percent) and African-Americans (43 percent) were more likely to be concerned about entitlement cuts than men (29 percent), whites overall (36 percent), or Hispanics (37 percent).The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted October 12-14, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,006 adults age 18 or older, including 401 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: Voters Divided Over Who Will Win Second Debate    Monday, October 15, 2012


Pew Poll: Public Less Negative About Economic News     Thursday, October 11, 2012


Pew Poll: Biden Viewed Unfavorably, Divided Opinions about Ryan    Wednesday, October 10, 2012


Pew Poll: Romney’s Strong Debate Performance Erases Obama’s Lead    Monday, October 08, 2012
Mitt Romney no longer trails Barack Obama in the Pew Research Center’s presidential election polling. By about three-to-one, voters say Romney did a better job than Obama in the Oct. 3 debate, and the Republican is now better regarded on most personal dimensions and on most issues than he was in September. Romney is seen as the candidate who has new ideas and is viewed as better able than Obama to improve the jobs situation and reduce the budget deficit. Fully 66% of registered voters say Romney did the better job in last Wednesday’s debate, compared with just 20% who say Obama did better. A majority (64%) of voters who watched the debate describe it as mostly informative; just 26% say it was mostly confusing. In turn, Romney has drawn even with Obama in the presidential race among registered voters (46% to 46%) after trailing by nine points (42% to 51%) in September. Among likely voters, Romney holds a slight 49% to 45% edge over Obama. He trailed by eight points among likely voters last month. The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, finds that 67% of Romney’s backers support him strongly, up from 56% last month. For the first time in the campaign, Romney draws as much strong support as does Obama. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted July 26-29, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,511 adults (605 on cell phones) age 18 or older, including 1,201 registered voters and 1,112 likely voters.

Study Finds Broad Wariness Over Online Tracking    Monday, October 08, 2012
As marketers, browser makers and government regulators spar over efforts to let consumers limit custom advertising online, a new study suggests that Americans are largely unaware of what that means and have a strong aversion to being tracked online. The majority of Americans surveyed by researchers at the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology, which is part of the law school at the University of California, Berkeley, do not want information collected at all about which Web sites they visit, according to the study, which is to be released at the Amsterdam Privacy Conference on Monday October 8th. Most of them said they did not find online advertisements useful. And nearly 90 percent said they had never heard of a proposal by the Federal Trade Commission, known as a “do not track” mechanism, that would let users opt out of having their personal data collected for the purposes of serving tailored advertisements. The digital advertising industry has resisted efforts to limit behavioral targeting, pointing out that the free content available on the Internet, including social networks, is powered precisely by that kind of advertising. Browser companies have introduced do-not-track icons for their users, and Microsoft has gone farthest by making it the default setting on its latest version of Internet Explorer. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted January 27 - February 12, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,203 adults age 18 or older, including 525 cell phone interviews.

Obama, Romney Tied Among Likely Voters    Wednesday, October 03, 2012


Pew Poll: Obama Expected to Win First Presidential Debate    Tuesday, October 02, 2012
Heading into Wednesday night’s first presidential debate, voters expect that Barack Obama will do a better job than Mitt Romney. A substantial majority of voters plan to watch the debate: 62% say they are very likely to watch, another 21% say they are somewhat likely. The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press finds that by a 51%-29% margin, more voters say Obama will do better than Romney in Wednesday’s debate. Nearly nine-in-ten Democrats (89%) expect Obama to do the better job in the debate. By contrast, Republicans are less confident in their candidate: 64% say Romney will do the better job, 16% say Obama. The balance of opinion among independent voters mirrors that of all voters: 44% say they expect Obama will do the better job, 28% say Romney. The survey finds that overall interest in the debate is comparable to levels in 2008 and 2004 and higher than in 2000 and in 1996. Currently, 66% of Republican and 64% of Democratic voters say they are very likely to watch the debate; slightly fewer independents (58%) say they are very likely to watch.The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted Sept, 27-30, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,005 adults age 18 or older, including 402 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: Romney's '47%' Comments Criticized, But Many Also Say Overcovered    Monday, October 01, 2012


Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: September 2012    Thursday, September 27, 2012


Pew Poll: Pluralities Say Press is Fair to Romney, Obama    Tuesday, September 25, 2012
There is no public consensus when it comes to how the presidential candidates are being covered by the news media. Nearly half (46%) say the coverage of Romney has been fair, while among those who see a bias as many say the press has been too easy on the GOP nominee (20%) as too tough on him (21%). The same percentage (46%) says coverage of Obama has also been fair. However, nearly twice as many say press coverage of the president has been too easy (28%) than too tough (15%). Four years ago, there was a larger disparity in impressions of how the press was covering the candidates. In October 2008 more thought the press was being too tough on McCain (23%) than too easy (15%). Nearly a third (31%) said the press was being too easy on Obama, while just 7% said it was being too tough. At that time, just 38% said coverage of Sarah Palin was fair; as many (38%) said coverage was too tough. Republicans generally are more critical of the press than are Democrats. The new survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press finds, 45% of Republicans think the press has been too tough on Mitt Romney – almost identical to the 44% who said this about coverage of McCain in October 2008. By comparison, 26% of Democrats think the press is too tough on Obama, though this has increased substantially from only 9% four years ago. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted September 20 – 23, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,005 adults age 18 or older, including 400 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: For Voters It's Still the Economy    Monday, September 24, 2012


Obama Leads Romney 52-45 In New Reason-Rupe Poll; In Three-Way Race Obama Leads Romney 49-42, Johnson Gets 6 Percent    Friday, September 21, 2012


No love for Mitt in Mass.    Thursday, September 20, 2012
Massachusetts voters have turned against Mitt Romney with a vengeance, leaving the former governor a political pariah in his own home state, according to a new UMass Lowell/Boston Herald poll. Sixty percent of Bay State voters now have an unfavorable view of Romney, and the GOP nominee is headed for a Bay State drubbing in the November election, the poll of 524 registered voters shows. Just 35 percent of voters say they plan to vote for the Romney/Ryan ticket, while 60 percent say they are backing President Obama. That margin is roughly the same as the 2008 election, when Obama trounced Arizona Sen. John McCain. Romney’s standing in Massachusetts has plummeted in just the last nine months, according to the poll. In a University of Massachusetts at Lowell/Herald poll last December, Romney was viewed favorably by 40 percent of Bay State voters and unfavorably by 48 percent. But the campaign apparently has taken a toll on the Republican nominee on his home turf. Obama’s popularity, meanwhile, has not changed in the past year, the poll shows. In the new survey, Obama is viewed favorably by 60 percent of voters, with just 34 percent viewing him unfavorably. Those numbers are virtually the same as the UMass Lowell poll last December.The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted September 16-19, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 687 adults age 18 or older, including 288 cell phone interviews.

Scott Brown in slight lead vs. Warren    Thursday, September 20, 2012
U.S. Sen. Scott Brown has moved into a narrow lead over rival Elizabeth Warren while his standing among Massachusetts voters has improved despite a year-long Democratic assault, a new UMass Lowell/Boston Herald poll shows. The GOP incumbent is beating Warren by a 50-44 percent margin among registered Bay State voters, a turnaround from the last University of Massachusetts Lowell/Herald poll nine months ago that had the Democratic challenger leading by seven points. Among likely voters, Brown is leading the Harvard Law professor by a 49-45 percent margin, just within the poll’s 5.5 percent margin of error. “I wasn’t too sure of him at first, but he’s been very independent,” said Jo Ann Dunnigan, a longtime Democrat and President Obama supporter from Fall River who participated in the poll. Brown and Warren face off Oct. 1 in a debate sponsored by the Herald and UMass Lowell. The poll shows nearly one in three Brown backers say they could change their mind before Election Day, compared to just 19 percent for Warren. But the poll, which started a week after the Democratic National Convention, finds no evidence of a “bounce” for Warren. There also is some troubling news for the well-financed Warren campaign. Despite spending millions of dollars to tarnish Brown’s image, the GOP incumbent’s popularity has actually increased in the past nine months. Brown is now viewed favorably by 57 percent of registered voters, up nine points from a UMass Lowell/Boston Herald poll conducted in December 2011. Brown’s unfavorable rating actually has dropped six points to 29 percent. He is also drawing 22 percent of voters who say they will vote for President Obama. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted September 16-19, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 687 adults age 18 or older, including 288 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: Obama Ahead with Stronger Support, Better Image and Lead on Most Issues    Wednesday, September 19, 2012


Pew Poll: Democrats Now More Positive on Campaign 2012    Wednesday, September 12, 2012


Americans Wary of Changes to Medicare    Tuesday, September 11, 2012


Pew Poll: Democratic Convention Highlights: Clinton Outshines Obama    Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Like Mitt Romney, Barack Obama was not the highlight of his party’s convention. Among those who watched at least a little coverage of the Democratic convention, 29% say the highlight was Bill Clinton’s speech, while 16% name Obama’s speech as the highlight. About as many (15%) say that first lady Michelle Obama’s speech was the highlight of the convention. The latest survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press finds that while Obama’s speech was not the highlight of the convention, it is evaluated more positively than Romney’s convention address. Six-in-ten (60%) of those who watched at least a little convention coverage rate Obama’s speech as excellent or good; that compares with 53% of GOP convention watchers who rated Romney’s speech positively. However, Obama’s speech was not viewed nearly as positively as his address at the convention four years ago: 73% said that speech was excellent or good. In 2008, 42% of convention watchers rated Obama’s speech as excellent, compared with 29% who rate it that highly today. While Obama’s speech was overshadowed by Clinton’s, Romney shared the spotlight with actor Clint Eastwood. About as many said Eastwood’s speech was the highlight of the GOP convention as mentioned Romney’s speech. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted September 7-9, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,012 adults age 18 or older, including 408 cell phone interviews.

Medicare Views Raise Warning Signs for Both Parties    Monday, September 10, 2012
With less than two months to go before Election Day, Americans are expressing concern about the viability of the Medicare system, a leading Republican plan to reform it, and whether President Obama’s health care plan will help them. This dour tableau affecting both parties is laid out in the latest edition of the United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. A full 68 percent of respondents strongly or somewhat agreed with the proposition that “the Medicare program is running out of money and will have to change if it is to survive.” Respondents were slightly more optimistic when asked if “Medicare will pay enough benefits when I get older to cover all or most of my health care needs.” Fifty percent agreed with that statement, while 46 percent did not, and 4 percent refused to answer.The survey revealed skepticism for the so-called Ryan plan to reform Medicare, crafted by Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan. Respondents were asked which comes closer to their own view on Medicare: whether it should “continue as it is today” with the government “providing health insurance and paying doctors and hospitals directly,” or whether it should it be a system where the government “provides seniors with a fixed sum that they could use either to purchase private health insurance or to pay the cost of remaining in the current Medicare plan.” A whopping 67 percent of respondents wanted to stick with the original Medicare program, while only 27 percent were sympathetic to the Ryan-style plan.The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted September 7-9, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,012 adults age 18 or older, including 408 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: Obama in a Word: From ‘Inexperienced’ and ‘Change’ to ‘Good’ and ‘Trying’    Thursday, September 06, 2012
Four years ago, voters’ descriptions of Barack Obama focused on his newness on the political scene. In September 2008, more voters used the word inexperienced to describe Obama than any other word, while change was the most frequently used positive term. Words like young, charismatic and new were also among the top descriptions. Today, the public’s one-word descriptions for Obama reflect the mixed views of his presidency. The top positive words are good and trying, while the most frequently used negative descriptions are failure and incompetent.  The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and the Washington Post finds that some perceptions of Obama have endured over the years. Four years ago, intelligent was among the most frequent descriptions. It has remained a constant in one-word surveys on Obama since then. Currently, 17 of respondents describe Obama as intelligent; two months before the 2008 election, 20 people said Obama was intelligent.  The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted August 31st to September 3rd, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,008 adults age 18 or older, including 402 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: Biden in a Word: ‘Good,’ ‘Idiot’    Wednesday, September 05, 2012


Pew Poll: RNC Highlights: Romney Shares Top Billing With Eastwood    Wednesday, September 05, 2012


Privacy and Data Management on Mobile Devices    Wednesday, September 05, 2012
More than half of mobile application users have uninstalled or avoided certain apps due to concerns about the way personal information is shared or collected by the app, according to a nationally representative telephone survey conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. The results reported here come from a nationwide survey of 2,254 adults (age 18 and older) between March 15-April 3, 2012, including interviews on landline and cell phones and conducted in English and Spanish.

Politics on Social Networking Sites    Tuesday, September 04, 2012

A portion of social networking site users say the sites are important for some of their political activities and the way they decide how to engage with campaigns and issues. At the same time, most users of the sites say they do not use the sites for political purposes or debates. This from a nationally representative phone survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project conducted from January 20-February 19, 2012 among 2,253 adults ages 18 and older. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.

Pew Poll: Romney in a Word: 'Honest,' 'Businessman,' 'Rich'    Thursday, August 30, 2012
As the American public has learned more about Mitt Romney over the course of the past year, his image has changed substantially. Last fall, the one word that came to mind most frequently when people were asked to describe Romney was Mormon. The same question this spring elicited the words rich and no more frequently than any other. While Romney’s wealth remains a defining feature, today it is joined by the words honest and businessman, two terms that were offered by relatively few as recently as March. The new national survey finds that while many people are now using different words to describe Romney, the words remain on balance more negative than positive. Romney elicits far more positive reactions from Republicans now than in the spring, but both Democrats and independents continue to say more negative than positive things about him. Overall, 42% of the words volunteered by respondents are clearly negative, most commonly liar, arrogant, crook, out of touch, distrust and fake. Fewer (28%) offer words that are clearly positive in tone, such as honest, good, leadership, and capable. The remaining 30% of words are more descriptive and neutral in their tone, including businessman, rich, conservative, and Republican. As the campaign progresses, fewer Americans are offering neutral descriptions of Romney, but people continue to have more negative than positive things to say about him.The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted July 23-26, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,010 adults age 18 or older, including 407 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: Paul Ryan in a Word: 'Conservative,' 'Intelligent'    Wednesday, August 29, 2012
As Paul Ryan prepares to accept his nomination as the GOP’s vice presidential candidate, the American public has a mixed impression of him. When asked what one word comes to mind when thinking about Ryan, the most frequent responses are conservative, intelligent, good, unknown, and young. In the latest national survey by the Pew Research Center and the Washington Postpeople offer a roughly equal number of positive and negative descriptions. Of those offering a word, 37% describe Ryan in clearly positive terms, using such words as intelligent, good, energetic , honest and smart. Another 35% of the words used are clearly negative in tone, such as idiot, extreme, phony and scary. The remaining 28% of the descriptions were not clearly positive or negative, such as conservative, unknown and young. Not surprisingly, most Republicans offer positive words in describing Ryan, while most Democrats volunteer negative words. Among Republicans who volunteered a description, 69% offer positive words, most commonly intelligent, good and honest. Another 27% of Republicans offer neutral words, including young and conservative, while just 4% offer a negative description. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted July 23-26, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,010 adults age 18 or older, including 407 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: More Interest in GOP Platform than Romney's Speech    Monday, August 27, 2012
As the Republican convention gets underway, more Americans express interest in learning about what’s in the GOP platform than in the speeches by either Mitt Romney or his running mate. About half of the public (52%) is interested in learning about the Republican Party’s platform, while 44% are interested in Romney’s acceptance speech and about the same percentage (46%) in Ryan’s convention speech. The latest survey finds overall interest in the Republican convention is comparable to the past two GOP conventions. More than four-in-ten (44%) say they are very or fairly interested in following what happens in Tampa over the next three days, compared with 48% on the eve of the 2008 GOP convention, and 46% in 2004. This is almost identical to the level of public interest in next week’s Democratic convention in Charlotte; 43% say they are interested in what happens at that convention. This is down significantly from the notably high interest in the Democratic convention four years ago, when 59% were very or fairly interested. In terms of advance interest in events at the Democratic convention, 55% say they are interested in learning about the Democratic platform, while nearly as many express interest in Barack Obama’s acceptance speech (51%) and Bill Clinton’s convention speech (52%). The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted August 23-26, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,010 adults age 18 or older, including 407 cell phone interviews.

Medicare Voucher Plan Remains Unpopular    Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Paul Ryan’s selection to the Republican ticket has put the issue of Medicare squarely on the 2012 campaign agenda. And the latest Pew Research Center survey continues to find the public is aware of a proposal to gradually shift Medicare to a system of vouchers and is, on balance, more opposed than supportive of the idea. The survey finds 72% have heard a lot or a little about a proposal to change Medicare into a program that would give future participants a credit toward purchasing private health insurance coverage. And among those who are aware, the idea remains unpopular; by a 49% to 34% margin more oppose than favor the idea. This is virtually unchanged from public reactions a little over a year ago, when Republicans in the House voted in favor of this proposal as part of the “Ryan plan.” More generally, while surveys consistently find that dealing with the deficit is a high priority for Americans, there is little support for doing so if it means entitlement cuts. When asked whether it is more important to reduce the budget deficit or to keep Social Security and Medicare benefits as they are, Americans continue to prioritize maintaining benefits.The public offers a relatively negative assessment of Mitt Romney’s selection of Ryan as his running mate. Nearly half (46%) say Ryan is an only fair or poor choice, while 28% say he is an excellent or good choice. By comparison, reactions to John Kerry’s selection of John Edwards in 2004, and Bill Clinton’s selection of Al Gore in 1992, were more positive than negative. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted August 16-19, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,005 adults age 18 or older, including 401 cell phone interviews.

As GOP Gears Up For Its National Convention, the Affordable Care Act Ranks Below Medicare, Cost of Care Among Top Health Care Priorities For Republicans    Thursday, August 16, 2012


Pew Poll: Further Decline in Credibility Ratings for Most News Organizations    Thursday, August 16, 2012
For the second time in a decade, the believability ratings for major news organizations have suffered broad-based declines. In the new survey, positive believability ratings have fallen significantly for nine of 13 news organizations tested. This follows a similar downturn in positive believability ratings that occurred between 2002 and 2004. The falloff in credibility affects news organizations in most sectors: national newspapers, such as the New York Times and USA Today, all three cable news outlets, as well as the broadcast TV networks and NPR. Across all 13 news organizations included in the survey, the average positive believability rating (3 or 4 on a 4-point scale) is 56%. In 2010, the average positive rating was 62%. A decade ago, the average rating for the news organizations tested was 71%. Since 2002, every news outlet’s believability rating has suffered a double-digit drop, except for local daily newspapers and local TV news. The New York Times was not included in this survey until 2004, but its believability rating has fallen by 13 points since then. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted July 19-22, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,001 adults age 18 or older, including 401 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: Eight-in-Ten Following Olympics on TV or Digitally    Monday, August 06, 2012
Large majorities of Americans are following coverage of the Olympic Games in London. Nearly eight-in-ten (78%) say they have watched or followed Olympic coverage either on television, online or on social networks. Television remains far-and-away the leading platform for Olympic coverage; 73% say they have watched coverage on television. Still, 17% say they have watched online or digitally and 12% report they have followed Olympic coverage on social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter. Most Olympic followers (68%) say they are watching events in the evening after they have already occurred. At the same time, almost a quarter (23%) say they are watching live during the day. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted Aug 2-5, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,005 adults age 18 or older, including 405 cell phone interviews.

Mobile Phone Problems    Thursday, August 02, 2012
Even though mobile technology often simplifies the completion of everyday tasks, cell phone owners can also encounter technical glitches and unwanted intrusions on their phones. In an April 2012 survey, the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project assessed the prevalence of four problems that cell owners might face. The results in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from March 15 to April 3, 2012, among a sample of 2,254 adults, age 18 and older. Telephone interviews were conducted in English and Spanish by landline and cell phone.

Pew Poll: Romney's Personal Image Remains Negative    Thursday, August 02, 2012
By a 52% to 37% margin, more voters say they have an unfavorable than favorable view of Mitt Romney. The poll, conducted prior to Romney’s recent overseas trip, represents the sixth consecutive survey over the past nine months in which his image has been in negative territory. While Romney’s personal favorability improved substantially between March and June – as Republican voters rallied behind him after the primary season ended– his image has again slipped over the past month. Barack Obama’s image remains, by comparison, more positive – 50% offer a favorable assessment of the president, 45% an unfavorable one. Even so, Obama’s personal ratings are lower than most presidential candidates in recent elections. A review of final pre-election surveys of voters since 1988 finds that all candidates enjoyed considerably higher personal ratings going into the final days of their campaigns than does Mitt Romney currently. In fact, only three, Michael Dukakis in 1988, George H.W. Bush in 1992 and Bob Dole in 1996, were not rated favorably by a majority of voters. Obama’s current ratings also are lower than the pre-election ratings of most other recent presidential candidates. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted July 16-26, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 2,508 adults age 18 or older, including 1,956 registered voters.

Pew Poll: Two-Thirds of Democrats Now Support Gay Marriage    Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Reports that the Democratic Party may add support for gay marriage to its party platform are in keeping with a significant shift of opinion on this issue among Democrats nationwide. Just four years ago, in 2008, only half (50%) of Democrats favored allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally, while 42% were opposed. Support for gay marriage among Democrats has jumped to 65% today, more than double the percentage that is opposed (29%). Independent support for gay marriage has grown substantially since 2008. More independents today favor (51%) than oppose (40%) gay marriage; four years ago independents were divided evenly (44% favor, 45% oppose). While President Obama’s endorsement of gay marriage earlier this year drew significant news coverage and public interest, its effect on public opinion has been limited. Two consecutive national surveys conducted since May 9, when Obama made his announcement, show 48% in favor of allowing gay marriage and 44% opposed. This is virtually unchanged from a survey conducted in April, before the president’s statement. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted June 28th to July 9th, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 2,973 adults age 18 or older.

Pew Poll: Views on Gun Laws Unchanged After Aurora Shooting    Monday, July 30, 2012
There has been no significant change in public views on the issue of gun control and gun rights following the July 20th shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. Currently, 47% say it is more important to control gun ownership, while 46% say it is more important to protect the rights of Americans to own guns. That is virtually unchanged from a survey earlier this year in April, when 45% prioritized gun control and 49% gun rights. Other recent major shootings also had little effect on public opinion about gun laws. There was no significant change in the balance of opinion about gun rights and gun control after the January, 2011 shooting in Tucson, Arizona in which Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was injured. Nor was there a spike in support for gun control following the shooting at Virginia Tech University in April, 2007. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted July 26-29, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,010 adults age 18 or older, including 401 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: Little Voter Discomfort with Romney’s Mormon Religion    Thursday, July 26, 2012
Most voters continue to say it is important for a president to have strong religious beliefs. But voters have limited awareness of the religious faiths of both Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. And there is little evidence to suggest that concerns about the candidates’ respective faiths will have a meaningful impact in the fall elections. The vast majority of those who are aware of Romney’s faith say it doesn’t concern them. Fully eight-in-ten voters who know Romney is Mormon say they are either comfortable with his faith (60%) or that it doesn’t matter to them (21%). Along religious lines, white evangelical Protestants and black Protestants, on the one hand, and atheists and agnostics on the other, are the most likely to say they are uncomfortable with Romney’s faith. Yet unease with Romney’s religion has little impact on voting preferences. Republicans and white evangelicals overwhelmingly back Romney irrespective of their views of his faith, and Democrats and seculars overwhelmingly oppose him regardless of their impression. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted June 28th to July 9th, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 2,373 adults age 18 or older, including 1,492 cell phone interview

Poll Shows Tough Landscape for Incumbents    Wednesday, July 25, 2012
A strong plurality of Americans are seeking members of Congress who are more willing to compromise, but that impulse, so far at least, has not redounded to the benefit of either Mitt Romney or President Obama, according to the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. When asked whether they would be more or less likely to vote for a congressional candidate who “would make compromises with people he or she disagrees with,” a full 43 percent of respondents said they would be more likely to vote for that candidate, while only 20 percent said they would be less likely. Some 34 percent said that it would make no difference. By contrast, back in May 2010, only 30 percent said that ability to compromise would make a difference in how they decided to vote. That’s a 13-percentage-point increase over the last two years. When asked about the presidential race and reaching agreement with members of the other party in Congress, Americans gave higher marks to Obama. Forty-three percent said he would do a better job reaching agreement with the other party, versus 33 percent for Romney.The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted July 19-22, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,001 adults age 18 or older, including 401 cell phone interviews.  

Many Families Struggle to Make Ends Meet, But Those With a Financial Plan Feel and Do Better    Tuesday, July 24, 2012
The recent recession has left many American families struggling to make ends meet and to save for the future, according to a 60-page report released today by Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board). At the same time, the survey shows that those who have prepared a personal financial plan feel more confident and report more success managing money, savings and investments than those who have not. Nearly two-fifths (38%) of the 1,508 household financial decision-makers surveyed said they live paycheck to paycheck, while less than one-third (30%) indicated they felt comfortable financially and only about one-third (34%) think they can afford to retire by age 65. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted May 7-20, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,508 adults age 18 or older, including 602 cell phone interviews.

Public to Congress: Bend, Don’t Break    Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Most Americans see conflict between the parties as the central reason Washington has not produced a more productive response to the persistent economic slowdown, but remain pessimistic that the two sides will reach effective agreements more often after the November election, according to the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. When it comes to compromise in Congress, it appears that absence has made Americans’ hearts grow fonder: Compared with 2010, the survey found a notable uptick in the share of Americans who said they prefer political leaders who “make compromises with people they disagree with” over those who “stick to their positions without compromising.” But the survey found that the public remains dubious that Congress will heed that advice: Only 27 percent of those polled said they believed that after the 2012 election “the two parties will come together more than they have in recent years to try to solve the most important problems facing the nation.” A resounding 63 percent instead predicted that “the two parties will mostly disagree and reach stalemate on the most important problems facing the nation, as they often have in recent years.” The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted July 19-22, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,001 adults age 18 or older, including 401 cell phone interviews.

The Rise of the “Connected Viewer”    Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Half of all adult cell phone owners now incorporate their mobile devices into their television watching experiences. These “connected viewers” used their cell phones for a wide range of activities during the 30 days preceding the Pew Internet Project's April 2012 survey. The results in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from March 15 to April 3, 2012, among a sample of 2,254 adults, age 18 and older. Telephone interviews were conducted in English and Spanish The results in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from March 15 to April 3, 2012, among a sample of 2,254 adults, age 18 and older. Telephone interviews were conducted in English and Spanish by landline and cell phone.

Family Caregivers Online    Thursday, July 12, 2012
Thirty percent of U.S. adults help a loved one with personal needs or household chores, managing finances, arranging for outside services, or visiting regularly to see how they are doing. Most are caring for an adult, such as a parent or spouse, but a small group cares for a child living with a disability or long-term health issue. This report is the result of collaboration between the Pew Internet Project and the California HealthCare Foundation. This report is the result of collaboration between the Pew Internet Project and the California HealthCare Foundation. All numerical results in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between August 9 and September 13, 2010, among a sample of 3,001 adults, age 18 and older. Interviews were conducted in English and SpanishAll numerical results in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between August 9 and September 13, 2010, among a sample of 3,001 adults, age 18 and older. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.

Pew Poll: Obama Holds Lead; Romney Trails on Most Issues    Thursday, July 12, 2012
Despite the stagnant economy and broad dissatisfaction with national conditions, Barack Obama holds a significant lead over Mitt Romney. Currently, Obama is favored by a 50% to 43% margin among registered voters nationwide. Obama has led by at least a slim margin in every poll this year, and there is no clear trend in either candidate’s support since Romney wrapped up the GOP nomination.The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the 2010 Affordable Care Act appears to have had little effect on the 2012 race. But the decision has had a substantial impact on views of the court itself. About half of Americans (51%) express a favorable opinion of the court, while 37% have an unfavorable view, up eight points since April and the highest percentage expressing an unfavorable opinion in a trend dating to 1985. The more negative view of the court is largely being driven by Republicans: Three months ago, Republicans viewed the Supreme Court favorably by a 56% to 25% margin. Today, they view the court unfavorably by a 51% to 38% margin. The presidential campaign’s dynamics have changed little in recent months, despite the court’s high-profile health care ruling, a series of subpar job reports and increased campaign activity on the part of both candidates. Independent voters remain evenly divided, 46% support Romney while 45% back Obama. Nearly identical majorities of Democrats (88%) and Republicans (89%) support their party’s candidate. Obama’s lead arises from the Democratic Party’s continuing advantage in party identification among registered voters. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted June 28th to July 9th, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 2,973 adults age 18 or older, including 1202 cell phone interviews.

Privacy Trumps Cybersecurity, Poll Shows    Wednesday, July 11, 2012


Americans Prefer Obama’s Tax Cut Plan    Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Americans think it is more important to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for families earning less than $250,000 a year, as President Obama proposed on Monday, than extending them for all taxpayers, as advocated by congressional Republicans and presumptive GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, according to a new United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. The public also favors Democrats’ plan to create jobs through additional spending on infrastructure and retaining public-sector employees over the Republican plan to cut taxes for businesses. Presented with a list of five legislative priorities, Americans continue to say that “new federal spending to try to create jobs by rehabilitating public schools, improving roads and mass transit, and preventing layoffs of teachers, police officers, and other first responders”—the spending proposal offered by the Obama administration and congressional Democrats to boost employment and the overall economy—is the most important thing Congress can do before the end of year. But the GOP proposals, such as business-tax cuts and repealing the 2010 health care law, also score fairly well with the public; roughly half say it is “very important” for Congress to reach agreement on those initiatives before the end of 2012. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted July 5-8, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,004 adults age 18 or older, including 403 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: Division, Uncertainty over Court's Health Care Ruling    Tuesday, July 03, 2012
The public has long been divided in its opinions about the 2010 health care law. There is now a similar division of opinion over last week’s Supreme Court decision to uphold the law – 40% say they disapprove of the decision, while 36% approve and nearly a quarter (24%) offer no opinion. Despite extensive public interest in the court’s ruling, just 55% of the public knows that the Supreme Court upheld most of the health care law’s provisions; 45% say either that the court rejected most provisions (15%) or do not know what the court did (30%). Among those aware that the court upheld most of the law, 50% approve of the decision while 42% disapprove. The persistent partisan divisions over the law are reflected in the public’s reactions to the court’s June 28 decision. Seven-in-ten Republicans disapprove of the Court’s decision, while 66% of Democrats approve of it. About four-in- ten (42%) independents disapprove of the ruling while 32% approve. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted May 17-20, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,006 adults age 18 or older, including 379 cell phone interviews.

Early Reaction to Supreme Court Decision on the ACA    Monday, July 02, 2012
This poll fielded following the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the heart of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) finds a majority of Americans (56 percent) now say they would like to see the law’s detractors stop their efforts to block its implementation and move on to other national problems. Democrats overwhelmingly say opponents should move on to other issues (82 percent), as do half (51 percent) of independents and a quarter (26 percent) of Republicans.  But, seven in ten Republicans (69 percent) say they want to see efforts to stop the law continue, a view shared by 41 percent of independents and 14 percent of Democrats. The public is also divided in its emotional reaction to the decision, with similar shares reporting being angry (17 percent) and enthusiastic (18 percent).  Negative emotions run highest among Republicans who support the Tea Party movement, with 49 percent of this group saying they are angry at the decision. Solid majorities of voters of every political stripe say the decision won’t impact whether or not they vote this November – though Republicans are more likely than Democrats (31 percent compared to 18 percent) to say the result makes them more likely to turn out. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted June 28-30, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,239 adults age 18 or older, including 527 cell phone interviews.

Cell Internet Use 2012    Tuesday, June 26, 2012

17% of cell phone owners do most of their online browsing on their phone, rather than a computer or other device. Most do so for convenience, but for some their phone is their only option for online access. Some 88% of U.S. adults own a cell phone of some kind as of April 2012, and more than half of these cell owners (55%) use their phone to go online. These individuals are called “cell internet users” throughout this report, and this represents a notable increase from the 31% of cell owners who said that they used their phone to go online as recently as April 2009.

Libraries, patrons, and e-books    Friday, June 22, 2012
12% of readers of e-books borrowed an e-book from the library in the past year. But a majority of Americans do not know that this service is provided by their local library. All the statistics in this report, including all specific data about various groups, comes from a series of nationally-representative phone surveys of Americans. They were conducted in English and Spanish, by landline and cell phone. The main survey, of 2,986 Americans ages 16 and older, was conducted on November 16-December 21, 2011, and extensively focused on the new terrain of e-reading and people’s habits and preferences. This work was underwritten by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. All the quantitative statistics in this report, including all specific data about various groups, comes from a series of nationally-representative phone surveys of Americans. They were conducted in English and Spanish, by landline and cell phone. The main survey, of 2,986 Americans ages 16 and older, was conducted on November 16-December 21, 2011, and extensively focused on the new terrain of e-reading and people’s habits and preferences. This work was underwritten by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The qualitative material in this report, including the extended quotes from individuals regarding e-books and library use, comes from two sets of online interviews that were conducted in May 2012.

Pew Poll: GOP Holds Early Turnout Edge, But Little Enthusiasm for Romney    Thursday, June 21, 2012
Less than five months before Election Day, voters are not as engaged with the presidential campaign as they were at this point four years ago, when interest in the campaign reached record levels. But voter engagement today generally equals or surpasses levels from the four campaigns prior to 2008, indicating that 2012 could be another relatively high turnout election. Two-thirds of registered voters say they are giving quite a lot of thought to the election, which is down slightly from 2008 but higher than in any campaign from 1992 through 2004. Interest in election news, also lower than four years ago, surpasses interest in all other campaigns since 1992. The percentage of registered voters who say they are more interested in politics than they were four years ago, which hit an all-time high in June 2008, is down sharply since then. Even so, the 48% who say they are now more interested in politics is identical to the number saying this in 2004 – and higher than the numbers expressing comparatively greater interest in politics than in 2000 and 1996. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted June 7-17, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 2,013 adults age 18 or older, including 886 cell phone interviews.

Poll Finds Public Backs EPA, Not GOP, on Mercury    Thursday, June 21, 2012


Don’t Extend Bush Cuts for Wealthy    Tuesday, June 19, 2012


Pew Poll: Any Court Health Care Decision Unlikely to Please    Monday, June 18, 2012
The public is unlikely to be satisfied with the Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling on the 2010 Affordable Care Act – no matter what the Court decides. Whether the Court decides to uphold the entire law, overturn the entire law, or reject the “individual mandate” while allowing the rest of the law to remain in place, fewer than half of Americans say they would be happy with the decision. The public’s expected reactions track along partisan lines. Most Democrats would be happy if the law is upheld, while most Republicans would be happy if it is thrown out.But the other widely discussed possibility – that the court could reject the part of the law that requires individuals to have health insurance while keeping the rest – does not satisfy either side. Among Democrats, 35% would be happy with this outcome, while 56% would be unhappy. Republicans, who have consistently opposed the individual mandate, are not much happier: 43% would be happy if the court strips only this provision, while 47% would be unhappy. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted June 7-17, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 2.013 adults age 18 or older, including 886 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: Global Opinion of Obama Slips, International Policies Faulted    Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Global approval of President Barack Obama’s policies has declined significantly since he first took office, while overall confidence in him and attitudes toward the U.S. have slipped modestly as a consequence. Europeans and Japanese remain largely confident in Obama, albeit somewhat less so than in 2009, while Muslim publics remain largely critical. A similar pattern characterizes overall ratings for the U.S. – in the EU and Japan, views are still positive, but the U.S. remains unpopular in nations such as Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and Pakistan. Meanwhile, support for Obama has waned significantly in China. Since 2009, confidence in the American president has declined by 24 percentage points and approval of his policies has fallen 30 points. Mexicans have also soured on his policies, and many fewer express confidence in him today. The Obama era has coincided with major changes in international perceptions of American power – especially U.S. economic power. The global financial crisis and the steady rise of China have led many to declare China the world’s economic leader, and this trend is especially strong among some of America’s major European allies. Today, solid majorities in Germany (62%), Britain (58%), France (57%) and Spain (57%) name China as the world’s top economic power.  The results are based on data collected from telephone and face to face interviews conducted in March and April of 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among national samples from the United States and twenty other countries of adults age 18 or older.

No Blame if Court Nixes Health Care Law    Wednesday, June 06, 2012
Even though President Obama fought for passage of the landmark 2010 health care law, very small minorities say their attitudes about him would change one way or the other should the Supreme Court strike down the law that is so often referred to as “Obamacare.” Two-thirds of those surveyed in a new public-opinion poll said that their respect for Obama would be unchanged if the Supreme Court struck down his signature legislative achievement. Fourteen percent said they would respect Obama more under such a scenario, while 15 percent said they would respect him less. That trend was consistent across the political spectrum—similar proportions of Republicans, Democrats, and independents said they would be unmoved, despite the pundits’ speculation that a Court decision declaring the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional in part or in its entirety might alter public opinion toward the president. The nonplussed attitude also held across nearly all age, income, regional, and racial categories, with at least 60 percent of each surveyed group saying that the ruling would have no impact on their view of the president. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted May 31-June 6, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,012 adults age 18 or older, including 409 cell phone interviews.

Mixed Views on Health Care, Farm Bill    Tuesday, June 05, 2012


Pew Poll: Partisan Polarization Surges in Bush, Obama Years    Monday, June 04, 2012
As Americans head to the polls this November, their values and basic beliefs are more polarized along partisan lines than at any point in the past 25 years. Unlike in 1987, when this series of surveys began, the values gap between Republicans and Democrats is now greater than gender, age, race or class divides. Overall, there has been much more stability than change across the 48 political values measures that the Pew Research Center has tracked since 1987. But the average partisan gap has nearly doubled over this 25-year period – from 10% in 1987 to 18% in the new study.Nearly all of the increases have occurred during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. During this period, both parties’ bases have often been critical of their parties for not standing up for their traditional positions. Currently, 71% of Republicans and 58% of Democrats say their parties have not done a good job in this regard.  The results for 2012 are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted April 4-15, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 3,008 adults age 18 or older, including 1,203 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: Public Sees Gas Prices Down A Little Across Much of Nation     Thursday, May 31, 2012


Public Wary of Sequestration, Not Clean Energy    Thursday, May 24, 2012
A large majority of Americans support a pair of congressional efforts to create an economy based on cleaner-energy sources, according to the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll.  Almost two-thirds- 64 percent- of those surveyed said that Congress should extend federal tax credits that encourage production of alternative-energy sources, such as wind, that are due to expire at year's end.  In a separate question, 64 percent of respondents said they support enactment of a clean-energy standard, which would require the country to produce a higher percentage of its electricity from cleaner sources of energy.  The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted May 17-20, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,004 adults age 18 or older, including 400 cell phone interviews.

2012 AAPOR Conference - The Tea Party and Perot Voters: Kindred Spirits    Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The Tea Party movement played a critical role in delivering the 2010 Congressional vote to the Republicans. Eighteen years earlier, another group fueled by anti-establishment, anti-Washington sentiment at a time of national economic turmoil played a key role in helping the GOP take control of the U.S. House in the 1994 midterm election - the Perot voters. While there are obvious differences between today's Tea Partiers and the Perotistas of the 1990s - one largely operating within the Republican Party, the other an independent group - survey data shows these two groups share certain demographic characteristics, economic attitudes, issue priorities and sociopolitical values. This paper, written by Princeton Survey Research Associates International and presented at the 2012 American Association for Public Opinion Research conference in Orlando, examines the similiarities and differences between Ross Perot's supporters in 1994-1996 and Americans who identify with the Tea Party movement in 2010-2012. Survey data has been used to check the accuracy of various common characterizations of these two groups made by political journalists and in the academic literature. Our objective was to determine just how close Tea Party supporters and Perot voters truly are in their political perspectives and how that helps us better understand how the political environment has changed over the past 20 years.

Kaiser Family Foundation: 2012 Survey of Americans on the U.S. Role in Global Health    Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Two-thirds of Americans say that the U.S. is spending too little or about the right amount on global health with one in five saying spending is too high, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation survey on the public's views of global health issues. Americans overall are divided on whether or not more spending by the U.S. and other major donors would lead to meaningful progress in improving health in developing countries -- 49% believe it would, while 47% believe it wouldn't make much difference. Analysis of the survey shows that those who believe more spending will lead to progress are far more likely to support increased aid than those who think it would not make a difference (42 percent, compared with 18 percent).Two-thirds of Americans say that the U.S. is spending too little or about the right amount on global health with one in five saying spending is too high, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation survey on the public's views of global health issues. Americans overall are divided on whether or not more spending by the U.S. and other major donors would lead to meaningful progress in improving health in developing countries -- 49% believe it would, while 47% believe it wouldn't make much difference. Analysis of the survey shows that those who believe more spending will lead to progress are far more likely to support increased aid than those who think it would not make a difference (42 percent, compared with 18 percent). The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,205 adults age 18 or older, including 505 cell phone interviews.

Public Opposes Gay Weddings at Military Facilities    Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Exactly half of Americans support the House-passed legislation to bar same-sex weddings at military facilities, but only a small minority would back further federal action to restrict gay rights, according to the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll.  By 50 percent to 40 percent, those surveyed endorsed the prohibition against gay weddings on military bases that the House approved last Friday in the annual defense authorization bill.  But only one-fourth backed congressional action either to block gay marriage nationwide or to restore the ban on gays serving openly in the military, the survey found.  The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted May 17-20, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,004 adults age 18 or older, including 400 cell phone interviews. 

Pew Poll: Assessing the Representativeness of Public Opinion Surveys    Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Public opinion surveys conducted by telephone have struggled with lower response rates in recent years, but they continue to provide accurate data on most political, social and economic measures. The inclusion of cell phones - necessitated by the rapid rise of households with cell phones but no landline - has contributed to the overall decline in response rates for telephone surveys. At the Pew Research Center, the response rate of a typical telephone survey was 36% in 1997 and is just 9% today. But a study, based on two national telephone surveys by the Pew Research  Center for the People & the Press and conducted by Princeton Survey Research  Associates International, yields findings similar to those obtained in high-response rate government surveys on basic demographics and household characteristics. Additionally, using information from two national databases that include nearly all U.S. households, the study finds few differences between responding and non-responding households when it comes to voter registration, party identification and financial characteristics. Also, a comparison of survey estimates obtained using Pew Research's standard methodology with those from a high-effort survey - taken over a longer field period that used additional techniques to increase participation - finds that in general the additional steps do not improve the survey's estimates.


Pew Poll: Half Say View of Obama Not Affected by Gay Marriage Decision    Monday, May 14, 2012
Roughly half of Americans (52%) say Barack Obama’s expression of support for gay marriage did not affect their opinion of the president. A quarter (25%) say they feel less favorably toward Obama because of this while 19% feel more favorably. There are wide partisan and age differences in reactions to Obama’s expression of support for gay marriage, according to the latest weekly survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. About half of Republicans (53%) say they feel less favorably toward Obama because of his support for gay marriage. By contrast, 60% of independents and 52% of Democrats say their view of Obama has not changed. Among independents, as many say they feel less favorably as more favorably toward Obama as a result of his gay marriage decision (19% each). Far more Democrats say they feel more favorably than less favorably toward Obama (32% vs. 13%). Among those 65 and older, 42% say they feel less favorably toward Obama, while just 15% feel more favorably; 38% say their opinion of Obama is unchanged as a result of his expression of support for gay marriage. Among younger age groups, half or more – including 62% of those under 30 – say they opinion of Obama was unaffected by his gay marriage announcement. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted  May 10-13, 2012 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 400 cell phone interviews.


Key Groups Support Student Loans, VAWA    Friday, May 11, 2012

The Obama administration and congressional Democrats have spent much of this spring criticizing Hill Republicans for what they say is the GOP’s opposition to legislative initiatives including the Violence Against Women Act, student-loan subsidies, and the Paycheck Fairness Act. A new United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll shows that Democrats enjoy popular support for these efforts, particularly from female and younger Americans, among whom the party seeks to enrich its electoral advantages heading into November. The poll shows that Americans largely favor the Democrats’ positions on these issues: Majorities favor provisions protecting gay and lesbian victims of domestic violence and making it easier for women to sue for wage discrimination. A plurality prefers Democrats’ plans to pay for student-loan subsidies by raising taxes on some businesses, as opposed to Republicans’ plans to shift money from a preventative-health fund created as part of the 2010 health care law. On all three issues, Democrats enjoy wider advantages among women and young Americans. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted May 3-6, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 999 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 400 cell phone interviews.

Public Split on Dream Act, Rubio Alternative    Friday, May 11, 2012

On immigration, most Americans favor the velvet glove—and the iron fist. The latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll found that a solid, if slightly diminishing, majority of Americans support key elements of Arizona’s anti-illegal-immigration law that the White House is seeking to overturn. But the survey also found that a preponderant majority of Americans reject the option of deporting all of the estimated 11 million immigrants here illegally, and an even larger percentage believe that young people brought to the U.S. illegally should be allowed to remain if they attend college or join the military. Presented with a Democratic proposal that would guarantee those young people a pathway to citizenship, and an emerging alternative from Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., that would not, a plurality said they prefer the Democratic version of the so-called Dream Act. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted May 3-6, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 999 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 400 cell phone interviews.

Diversity Now    Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Coming together and pulling apart. American race relations appear to be moving in both directions at once as the nation hurtles through its greatest demographic transformation since the melting-pot era a century ago. That's the overriding message of the initial University of Phoenix/National Journal Next American Poll, the first in a series of surveys of attitudes toward the demographic change that has swelled the minority share of the population past 36 percent (up from about 20 percent in 1980) and reshaped communities, schools, and workplaces around the country. In the months ahead, the Next America polls will measure the responses of whites and minorities to many dimensions of the economic, cultural and political changes unleashed by the rapid demographic change under way.


Poll Finds Public Skeptical, Leaning Slightly Democratic    Thursday, April 26, 2012

As the presidential and congressional election season rolls on, the political landscape seems somewhat more favorable for Democrats than for Republicans, but neither party has been able to overcome the deep distrust that Americans seem to have for Congress, and neither side can afford to be anything less than nervous come Election Day. The newest findings of the United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll show a public that’s predisposed to voting more Democratic. In a head-to-head race, President Obama bests Mitt Romney 47 percent to 39 percent, with 9 percent of respondents saying neither and 5 percent refusing or not knowing. Likewise, 50 percent of respondents wanted Democrats to keep control of the U.S. Senate, compared to 39 percent who favored a GOP majority. And by a 3 point margin, 46 percent to 43 percent, those surveyed said they wanted Democrats to take control of the House—down from a much sharper 11 percent lead as recently as January. Democrats found their strongest support among minorities and women. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted April 19-22, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,004 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 799 registered voters.

Pew Poll: More Support for Gun Rights, Gay Marriage Than in 2008 or 2004    Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Opinions about a pair of contentious social issues, gun control and gay marriage, have changed substantially since previous presidential campaigns. On gun control, Americans have become more conservative; on gay marriage, they have become more liberal. Currently, 49% of Americans say it is more important to protect the rights of Americans to own guns, while 45% say it is more important to control gun ownership. Opinion has been divided since early 2009, shortly after Barack Obama’s election. From 1993 through 2008, majorities had said it was more important to control gun ownership than to protect gun rights. The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted April 4-15, 2012, also finds that the public is divided over gay marriage:  47% favor allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally, while 43% are opposed. In 2008, 39% favored and 51% opposed gay marriage, based on an average of polls conducted that year. In 2004, just 31% supported gay marriage, while nearly twice as many (60%) were opposed. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 3,008 adults age 18 or older, including 1,203 cell phone interviews.


Kaiser Health Tracking Poll – April 2012    Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The increased public attention to the Affordable Care Act generated by the Supreme Court's consideration of the law did not meaningfully change the public's opinion of the law overall or of the specific provision at the heart of critics' legal case against it, the requirement that nearly everyone obtain health insurance.  Forty-two percent say they have a favorable opinion of the law this month and 43 percent have an unfavorable one, a division virtually unchanged from March.  Similarly, the individual mandate is as unpopular as it was in March, but not more so.  Seven in ten Americans oppose this provision, including 53 percent of the public who say they hold "very unfavorable" views of it. Overall, half of Americans (51%) believe the court should rule the mandate unconstitutional, identical to March.

Public Opinion Could Lead to Further Gridlock    Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Americans are fed up with Congress and a federal government perpetually frozen in conflict, but voters remain sharply split over how to ease the gridlock in the nation’s capital, according to a new United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. Even after more than a year of pointed disagreements between President Obama and House Republicans, a narrow plurality of voters said that Washington is “more likely to make progress” on the major issues facing the country if it has a divided government after the 2012 elections. Both parties are furiously trying to sell their vision to the nation, but wary voters, after three consecutive wave elections that saw at least 20 House seats change party hands, don’t appear ready to grant either side an unequivocal mandate. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted April 19-22, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,004 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 401 cell phone interviews.

Looking Ahead, Public Sees Little Getting Done on Hill    Monday, April 23, 2012

The American public is so doubtful about Congress’s ability to get things done that barely one in 10 of those surveyed for the latest edition of the United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll believe that it’s “very likely” it can reduce the federal budget deficit or address immigration policy and the nation’s energy needs. When it comes to addressing the nation’s still-disappointing job situation, the number who answered that it’s “very likely” went up, but only to 19 percent. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted April 12-15, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,002 adults age 18 or older, including 401 cell phone interviews.

Public Doubts Congress Can Get Jobs Policy Done    Monday, April 23, 2012

Most Americans think it is very important for Congress to address the nation’s job situation and reduce the federal budget deficit over the next year, but they remain pessimistic that President Obama and the legislative branch will agree on those issues, according to a new United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll that also reveals a pervading and continuing distrust of Washington since last summer’s debt-ceiling debacle. Although jobs and the deficit are the public’s two top priorities, the poll also shows that a clear majority would prefer that Obama and Congress agree to a plan to create more jobs, and Americans are more optimistic that the two branches will find agreement on that issue. But overall, the poll shows little confidence in the government’s ability to make progress on the most important problems facing the country. The public has less faith in Washington than it did before last summer’s debate over raising the federal debt limit, although its confidence in government has rebounded slightly since this winter’s payroll-tax showdown. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted April 12-15, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,002 adults age 18 or older, including 401 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: With Voters Focused on Economy, Obama Lead Narrows     Tuesday, April 17, 2012
With voters continuing to focus on economic issues, Barack Obama holds a slim 49% to 45% advantage over Mitt Romney in the latest Pew Research Center survey of nearly 2,400 registered voters nationwide. Obama’s lead has narrowed since last month, when he had a 12-point advantage, though it is comparable to margins from earlier this year. More than eight-in-ten voters say the economy (86%) and jobs (84%) are very important issues in deciding who to vote for this fall. The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted April 4-15, 2012 among 3,008 adults, including 2,373 registered voters, shows that Obama continues to owe his lead to support from women, college graduates, blacks, Latinos and lower income voters – all of whom support him over Romney by double-digits.

Pew Poll: 74% of Republicans Say Romney 'Definitely' the Nominee     Monday, April 09, 2012
Following primary victories in Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia last Tuesday, Mitt Romney is clearly seen as the inevitable GOP nominee, and Republicans now see continued primaries as bad for the party. In the latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, conducted April 5-8, 2012, roughly three-quarters (74%) of Republican and Republican-leaning voters say that Romney will definitely be the Republican Party’s nominee this fall. Only 21% believe a candidate other than Romney still has a chance to become the party’s nominee.

Pew Poll: Wide Racial, Partisan Gaps in Reactions to Trayvon Martin Coverage    Wednesday, April 04, 2012
The Trayvon Martin shooting is the public’s top story for the second consecutive week. But interest in the teenager’s death is deeply divided along partisan, as well as racial, lines. These differences also are apparent in reactions to news coverage of the incident: Far more Republicans (56%) than Democrats (25%) say there has been too much coverage of Martin’s death. The latest weekly News Interest Index survey, conducted March 29-April 1, finds that 30% say they followed Martin’s death more closely than any other story, little changed from a week ago (25%). The Supreme Court hearings on the 2010 health care law are a distant second; 15% say they followed the Court hearings most closely. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,000 adults age 18 or older, including 401 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: Hearings Hurt Public Regard for both Health Care Law and Supreme Court    Monday, April 02, 2012
While most Americans say last week’s Supreme Court hearings on the 2010 health care law did not change their views of the law or of the Court, they did more harm than good to the image of both. In the latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and The Washington Post, nearly two-thirds (63%) say what they saw and heard about the hearings did not change their opinion of the health care law, while 23% say they now have a less favorable opinion and just 7% a more favorable opinion of it. Similarly, 65% say their view of the Supreme Court remains unchanged after the hearings, but the number who say their view of the Court has grown more negative is three times the number who say it has grown more positive (21% vs. 7%). The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted March 29-April 1, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,000 adults age 18 or older, including 401 cell phone interviews.

Boehner Doesn't Draw Strong Opinions, but His Ideas do    Thursday, March 29, 2012

More than two years into his tenure as House speaker, John Boehner faces a public that is uncertain about who he is but has strong feelings—positive and negative—toward his policy initiatives, according to the latest findings of the United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. A plurality of those surveyed—39 percent—either had no opinion of the speaker or would not answer a question about his job performance. Among respondents who did express an opinion, 22 percent approved of Boehner’s performance and 38 percent disapproved. But if Boehner is an undefined figure for a substantial segment of the population, his ideas have traction. Earlier editions of the survey have shown substantial public support for building the Keystone XL oil pipeline, something the speaker has hammered at repeatedly and used as a battering ram against President Obama and congressional Democrats. This new survey shows that a less-well-known notion that Boehner has put forward—using some of the revenue from oil drilling to pay for the nation’s highways—was favored by 55 percent of those surveyed and opposed by 32 percent. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted March 22-25, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,003 adults age 18 or older, including 401 cell phone interviews.

Public Still Opposes Health Care Mandate    Thursday, March 29, 2012

Americans remain overwhelmingly against requiring individuals to purchase health insurance, but they divide in half about the health care law that President Obama signed in 2010, according to the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. The poll found sweeping opposition to the so-called individual mandate, whose constitutionality the Supreme Court is considering. But it also found the nation split along overlapping lines of partisanship and race when respondents were asked about the impact of Obama’s health reform law and its effort to expand coverage to the uninsured. At the same time, the Republican proposal to restructure Medicare into a premium-support or voucher system faces resistance as widespread as the individual mandate. The mandate on individuals to purchase insurance or pay a penalty, as in earlier national polls, remains an idea without any significant constituency. Overall, when asked if “the federal government should or should not be able to require all Americans to obtain health insurance or else pay a fine,” just 28 percent of those surveyed said they supported the mandate, while 66 percent opposed it. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted March 22-25, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,003 adults age 18 or older, including 401 cell phone interviews.

Pew Poll: Public Remains Split on Health Care Bill, Opposed to Mandate    Monday, March 26, 2012
As the 2010 Affordable Care Act comes before the U.S. Supreme Court this week, surveys show that the public remains divided over the basic law. However, majorities continue to oppose the key element of the bill before the Court this week – the requirement that all Americans buy health insurance or face a penalty. A review of recent polling finds that basic assessments of the law are as divided as they were when the law was passed two years ago. In the latest Pew Research Center survey conducted March 7-11, 47% of Americans approved of the health care legislation passed by Barack Obama and Congress, while 45% disapproved. This mirrors the balance of opinion in the weeks after the bill was passed. In April 2010, 40% approved and 44% disapproved of the law. Five other major surveys conducted over the past month find similar divisions of opinion, and with little change from two years ago.

Pew Poll: GOP Candidates in a Word    Thursday, March 22, 2012

When Americans are asked what one word comes to mind when thinking about Mitt Romney, no single term stands out. The most frequent responses are “no” or “no way,” along with “rich.”
That represents a shift from October and December 2011. In both of those surveys, far more mentioned the Republican presidential candidate’s Mormon faith than anything else.  The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and The Washington Post, conducted March 15-18 among 1,009 adults, finds that more people offer negative than positive assessments of Romney. This also is the case for Romney’s rivals for the GOP nomination– Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul. As was the case in December, roughly twice as many give negative one-word descriptions of Romney than positive terms (30% vs. 14%); 29% offer neutral terms.

More See "Too Much" Religious Talk by Politicians    Wednesday, March 21, 2012
A new survey finds signs of public uneasiness with the mixing of religion and politics. The number of people who say there has been too much religious talk by political leaders stands at an all-time high since the Pew Research Center began asking the question more than a decade ago. And most Americans continue to say that churches and other houses of worship should keep out of politics. Nearly four-in-ten Americans (38%) now say there has been too much expression of religious faith and prayer from political leaders, while 30% say there has been too little. In 2010, more said there was too little than too much religious expression from politicians (37% vs. 29%). The percentage saying there is too much expression of religious faith by politicians has increased across party lines, but this view remains far more widespread among Democrats than Republicans. The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion on Public Life finds that 54% think that churches and other houses of worship should keep out of political matters; 40% say they should express their views on social and political questions. That is largely unchanged over the past four years, but between 1996 and 2000 the balance of opinion on this question consistently tilted in the opposite direction. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted March 7-11, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,503 adults age 18 or older, including 603 cell phone interviews.


As Gas Prices Pinch, Support for Oil and Gas Production Grows    Monday, March 19, 2012
At a time of rising gas prices, the public's energy priorities have changed. More Americans continue to view the development of alternative energy sources as a higher priority than the increased production of oil, coal and natural gas, but the gap has narrowed considerably over the past year. Moreover, support for allowing more offshore oil and gas drilling in U.S. waters, which plummeted during the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, has recovered to pre-spill levels. Nearly two-thirds (65%) favor allowing increased offshore drilling, up from 57% a year ago and 44% in June 2010, during the Gulf spill. The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press finds that 52% say the more important priority for addressing the nation's energy supply is to develop alternative sources, such as wind, solar and hydrogen technology, while 39% see expanding the exploration and production of oil, coal and natural gas the greater priority. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted March 7-11, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,503 adults age 18 or older, including 603 cell phone interviews.


Little Support for U.S. Intervention in Syrian Conflict    Thursday, March 15, 2012
There is strong public sentiment against the United States intervening in the fighting in Syria between government forces and anti-government groups. Nearly two-thirds (64%) say the United States does not have a responsibility to do something about the conflict in Syria. Similar percentages oppose the U.S. and its allies bombing Syrian military forces to protect anti-government groups, as they did in Libya, and sending arms and military supplies to those fighting the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The public also continues to support withdrawing U.S. forces from Afghanistan as soon as possible. But when it comes to Iran’s nuclear program, there is greater concern that the United States will wait too long to act than that it will act too quickly. The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press finds that opposition to U.S. involvement in Syria crosses party lines. Majorities of Republicans and Democrats say the U.S. does not have a responsibility to get involved, and reject airstrikes or the shipment of arms to anti-government forces. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted March 7-11, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,503 adults age 18 or older, including 603 cell phone interviews.


Kaiser Health Tracking Poll -- March 2012    Wednesday, March 14, 2012

As the oral arguments on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) begin in two weeks before the Supreme Court, the March Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds that Americans' views on the case mirror their views on the health reform law and that they expect parts of the ACA to continue whatever the Court rules.

The poll finds that half of all Americans (51%) think the Court should rule the mandate unconstitutional and about the same number (53%) expect the justices to do so. Those views about what the Court should do reflect public opinion about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) more generally.  

Romney Leads GOP Contest, Trails in Matchup with Obama    Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Mitt Romney has retaken a significant lead nationally in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, even as he has fallen further behind Barack Obama in a general election matchup. Moreover, Obama's own job approval rating has reached 50% for the first time since last May, shortly after the killing of Osama bin Laden. The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among 1,503 adults, including 1,188 registered voters and 538 Republican and Republican-leaning voters, finds that  Romney leads Rick Santorum, 33% to 24%, in the GOP nomination contest. A month ago, the two men were in a virtual tie (28% Romney, 30% Santorum). But both GOP frontrunners are running well behind Obama in general election matchups. Among all voters, Obama leads Romney by 12 points (54% to 42%) and Santorum by 18 points (57% to 39%). Obama's advantage among women voters, while largely unchanged from a month ago, remains substantial -- 20 points over Romney and 26 points over Santorum.


Survey Reveals Nation Divided Over Energy Woes    Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Americans haven't reached a consensus on what is causing the most recent spike in energy prices or what to do about it, according to the latest edition of the United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. There is no majority -- only pluralities -- agreeing on what's causing the pain at the gas pump, according to the poll, which measures public attitudes toward issues facing Congress. And within those pluralities, divisions of class, race, and political affiliation were gaping. When asked what is most responsible for rising gasoline costs, 38 percent chalked it up to "the manipulation of prices by large energy companies." A less conspiratorial explanation -- "tension in the Middle East, particularly over Iran and nuclear weapons" -- was cited by 28 percent of respondents. A full 14 percent of respondents thought "the policies of President Obama" were to blame, while a much smaller number, 5 percent, blamed "the policies of Congressional Republicans." The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted March 8-11, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,005 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 403 cell phone interviews.


Poll Shows Public Supports Obama on Gas Prices    Tuesday, March 13, 2012
More Americans trust President Obama than congressional Republicans to make the right decisions to bring down the price of gasoline, according to a new poll, although neither side commands a majority. What's more, as prices continue to rise and the specter of $5-per-gallon gas for the summer driving season looms over the political landscape, the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll shows the public is slightly more supportive of the energy priorities of the Democrats and the president than those of the GOP. Forty-four percent of respondents trust Obama more to "make the right decisions to help bring down the price of gasoline," versus 32 percent for Republicans in Congress, according to the poll. Only 1 percent said both; 16 percent said neither and 7 percent didn't know or refused to answer. Americans put somewhat more stock in the Democrats' policy of conservation and development of alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar power, than they do in the Republicans' emphasis on greater domestic production of oil and gas. Fifty percent of respondents said that the Democratic approach "would do more to lower fuel prices," while 42 percent went with the GOP approach. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted March 8-11, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,005 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 403 cell phone interviews.


GOP Race is Rallying Democrats    Tuesday, March 06, 2012
The Republican nomination battle is rallying Democrats behind Barack Obama. Currently, 49% of Democrats say that as they learn more about the GOP candidates, their impression of Obama is getting better. Just 36% of Democrats expressed this view in December, before the Republican primaries began. In contrast, there has been virtually no change in Republicans' views of the GOP field during this period. According to the latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and The Washington Post, just 26% of Republicans say their impression of the GOP field has improved as they have learned more about the candidates. That is largely unchanged from December (30%). The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted March 1-4, 2012 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 406 cell phone interviews.


Despite Detroit Comeback, Public Opposes Bailout    Friday, March 02, 2012
A majority of Americans think the federal government should not have helped out U.S. automakers that were in financial trouble, but rather should have allowed them to go it alone, according to a new United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. Thirty-six percent of Americans think the government should have provided help, but 55 percent think "these companies should have been allowed to succeed or fail on their own," the poll shows. The results echo other surveys, including a May 2010 poll conducted by CBS News in which a third of respondents thought the government should have helped, while 61 percent thought they should not have. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted February 23-26, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,005 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 403 cell phone interviews.


Public Spreads Blame for Rising Gas Prices    Friday, March 02, 2012
The public spreads the blame for the recent rise in gasoline prices. While 18% say President Obama or his administration are most to blame, about as many (14%) volunteer the oil companies or domestic oil producers. Roughly one-in-ten (11%) mostly blame Iran, the upheaval in the Middle East or the threat of war in the region, 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 collected from telephone interviews conducted February 23-26, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,005 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 403 cell phone interviews.


Kaiser Health Tracking Poll -- February 2012     Thursday, March 01, 2012

In the midst of continuing debate on the future of the Medicare program, the February Kaiser Family Foundation Tracking Poll finds most Americans and most seniors favor the status quo, though arguments about the program’s solvency have the potential to sway opinion toward new proposals. The survey also gauges public opinion about the ongoing contraceptive coverage debate, views of the Affordable Care Act, and trust in the presidential candidates on health care issues.

Public Divided Over Birth-Control Coverage    Tuesday, February 28, 2012
On the docket of contraception-related issues dividing the parties, more Americans lean toward the positions held by President Obama and most Democrats, though in several cases only narrowly, according to the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll. Probing disputes over health insurance coverage for contraception and prenatal testing, federal funding for Planned Parenthood, and whether employers must provide coverage for procedures that violate their moral or religious convictions, the survey found that women tilt more toward the Democratic position than men, with the gap usually even more pronounced among whites. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted February 23-26, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,005 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 403 cell phone interviews.


Auto Bailout Now Backed, Stimulus Divisive    Thursday, February 23, 2012
Public support for government loans to major U.S. automakers has increased sharply since 2009. Opinions are far less positive, however, about two other major initiatives to bolster the economy – the 2008 bank bailout and the 2009 stimulus plan. Americans also are of two minds when it comes to government regulation of business. While regulations are viewed negatively in the abstract, large majorities want to maintain or even strengthen federal regulations in food production, environmental protection, automobile safety and other areas. The survey finds that 56% say the loans the government made to GM and Chrysler were mostly good for the economy, while 38% say the loans to the automakers were mostly bad for the economy.

Public More Optimistic about Economy, But Concerns Persist    Thursday, February 16, 2012
Optimism about the national economy, which sagged in 2011, has rebounded in the first two months of this year. Currently, 44% say they expect economic conditions to be better a year from now, up from 34% last month and 28% in December. Moreover, 54% say either that the economy is already recovering (25%) or that it will recover soon (29%). Last April, 44% said a recovery was already underway or would occur soon. Yet the public’s improved economic outlook is tempered by a number of factors. First, current views of the economy remain overwhelmingly negative: Just 11% say economic conditions today are excellent or good, a figure that has changed little over the past four years. Second, economic optimism has proven fragile in the past. From October 2008 through April 2010, 40% or more said they expected economic conditions to get better in the next year. But by last summer, the percentage expecting things to improve had fallen to around 30%.

Poll Shows Difficult Terrain for Both Parties    Wednesday, February 15, 2012
While President Obama is touting his federal budget for promoting “fairness,” the public sees the country’s economic problems in more subtle shades than the lawmakers who represent them. A new United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll shows a public divided in its concerns about the poor. In the survey, 53 percent of adults said they were most concerned that “the government taxes workers too much to fund programs for people who could get by without help,” but 38 percent cited as their greater worry that “federal programs don’t provide enough of a safety net for people who need help to get by.” By contrast, when respondents were asked why there was such a spike in the number of Americans receiving federal aid such as food stamps and housing vouchers, Americans seem more liberal in their views. Some 54 percent agreed that “high unemployment has left more people in need of government assistance,” while about 41 percent took a more conservative view that “government is providing benefits for too many people who don’t actually need them.” The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted February 9-12, 2012 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.


Poll: Americans Split on Concern for Very Poor    Tuesday, February 14, 2012
As the debate over the federal budget resumes, a new United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll shows that most Americans are concerned about growing dependency on federal entitlements, but still resist major spending cuts in programs benefiting the poor and the elderly. The survey captured a complex weave of attitudes surrounding the social safety net as President Obama and Congressional Republicans prepare for another year of combat over taxes and spending. Like many other surveys over the years, this poll found Americans simultaneously expressing philosophical concern about dependency and practical reluctance to significantly cut programs that support the economically vulnerable. After Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney stirred controversy recently by declaring on CNN that he "was not concerned about the very poor" because they had a safety net to shelter them from the economic storm, the poll found Americans closely divided on who has suffered most during the downturn. A slim 51 percent majority said the middle class "is suffering the most" during the economic slowdown, while 45 percent said the poor had absorbed the most pain. Just 1 percent picked the wealthy. The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted February 9-12, 2012 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.


Santorum Catches Romney in GOP Race    Monday, February 13, 2012
Rick Santorum’s support among Tea Party Republicans and white evangelicals is surging, and he now has pulled into a virtual tie with Mitt Romney in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. In polling conducted Feb. 8-12, 30% of Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters favor Santorum while 28% favor Romney. As recently as a month ago, Romney held a 31% to 14% advantage over Santorum among all GOP voters. Santorum is now the clear favorite of Republican and GOP-leaning voters who agree with the Tea Party, as well as white evangelical Republicans. Currently, 42% of Tea Party Republican voters favor Santorum, compared with just 23% who back Romney. Santorum holds an almost identical advantage among white evangelical Republican voters (41% to 23%). The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted February 8-12, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 1,501 U.S. adults age 18 or older, including 1,172 registered voters and 552 Republican and Republican-leaning voters.

Employment Rate for Young Adults Lowest in 60 Years, Study Says    Thursday, February 09, 2012
In a new Huffington Post article:
Are you young and looking for work? You're in good company.
Just 54 percent of Americans age 18 to 24 currently have jobs, according to a study released Thursday by the Pew Research  Center. That's the lowest employment rate for this age group since the government began keeping track in 1948. And it's a sharp drop from the 62 percent who had jobs in 2007 - suggesting the recession is crippling career prospects for a broad swatch of young people who were still in high school or college when the downturn began.
The results are based on data collected from telephone interviews conducted December 6-19, 2011 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among a national sample of 2,048 adults age 18 or older living in the continental U.S., including 1,279 cell phone interviews.


Cable Leads the Pack as Campaign News Source    Tuesday, February 07, 2012
With a contested primary in only one party this year, fewer Americans are closely following news about the presidential campaign than four years ago. As a consequence, long-term declines in the number of people getting campaign news from such sources as local TV and network news have steepened, and even the number gathering campaign news online, which had nearly tripled between 2000 and 2008, has leveled off in 2012. The one constant over the course of the past four elections is the reach of cable news. Currently, 36% of Americans say they are regularly learning about the candidates or campaign on cable news networks. That is virtually unchanged from previous campaigns, yet cable news is now the top regular source for campaign news. The cable networks also hosted most of the candidate debates, which stand out as a particularly interesting aspect of the campaign. Nearly half of Republicans (47%) have watched a GOP debate during this campaign, up from 32% at a comparable point four years ago. In contrast to cable, the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press' 2012 campaign news survey, conducted January 4-8, 2012 by Princeton Survey Research Associates International among 1,507 adults nationwide, finds broad declines in the numbers getting campaign news from newspapers, and local and network TV news.


Why most Facebook users get more than they give    Friday, February 03, 2012
Most Facebook users receive more from their Facebook friends than they give, according to a new study that for the first time combines server logs of Facebook activity with survey data to explore the structure of Facebook friendship networks and measures of social well-being. The survey results in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from October 20 to November 28, 2010, among a sample of 2,255 adults, age 18 and older. Interviews were conducted in English. A combination of landline and cellular random digit dial (RDD) samples was used to represent all adults in the continental United States who have access to either a landline or cellular telephone.

Poll Finds Americans Pumped for Oil Pipeline    Wednesday, February 01, 2012
The 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, 2012
According 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, 2012
Amid 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.


The rise of in-store mobile commerce    Monday, January 30, 2012
More than half of adult cell phone owners used their cell phones while they were in a store during the 2011 holiday season to seek help with purchasing decisions. Thirty-eight percent of cell owners used their phone to call a friend while they were in a store for advice about a purchase they were considering making. Twenty-four percent of cell owners used their phone to look up reviews of a product online while they were in a store. Twenty-five percent of adult cell owners used their phones to look up the price of a product online while they were in a store, to see if they could get a better price somewhere else. Taken together, just over half (52%) of all adult cell owners used their phone for at least one of these three reasons over the holiday shopping season and one third (33%) used their phone specifically for online information while inside a physical store—either product reviews or pricing information.

 

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll -- January 2012    Thursday, January 26, 2012

As the Supreme Court prepares to hear legal challenges to the health reform law in March, most Americans expect the Justices to base their ruling on their own ideological views rather than their interpretation of the law, according to the January Health Tracking Poll. Other key findings include:

The public doubts the Supreme Court renders judgments based solely on the law.  Three-quarters (75%) say they think that, in general, Justices let their own ideological views influence their decisions while 17 percent say they usually decide cases based on legal analysis without regard to politics and ideology.  Similarly, when asked specifically about the challenge to the individual mandate in the health reform law, six in ten (59%) Americans say they expect the Justices will take their own ideological views into account, while 28 percent think their decision will be based purely on legal analysis and interpretation.
As for the public's own views of the mandate, the January poll shows that the requirement that everyone obtain health insurance or pay a fine continues to be unpopular. This month's poll finds the public more than twice as likely to have an unfavorable rather than favorable view of the provision (67% to 30%), very much in line with findings of previous Kaiser polls. Reflecting this dislike for a mandate, 54 percent of Americans say the Court should rule the individual mandate unconstitutional, while just 17 percent say they think it should be found constitutional. Roughly mirroring public views on the mandate, 55 percent of the public say they expect the Justices to find the mandate unconstitutional and 29 percent expect the Justices to find it constitutional.

Poll Finds Voters Wary of Congressional GOP     Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Americans 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, 2012
As 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.


Tablet and E-book reader Ownership Nearly Double Over the Holiday Gift-Giving Period    Monday, January 23, 2012
The share of adults in the United States who own tablet computers nearly doubled from 10% to 19% between mid-December and early January and the same surge in growth also applied to e-book readers, which also jumped from 10% to 19% over the same time period. The number of Americans owning at least one of these digital reading devices jumped from 18% in December to 29% in January. These results come from ongoing surveys by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project aimed at tracking growth in the ownership of both devices.

Obama: Weak Job Ratings, but Positive Personal Image    Thursday, January 19, 2012
Barack 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, 2012
The 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 study


Real Time Charitable Giving    Thursday, January 12, 2012
Charitable donations from mobile phones have grown more common in recent years. Two thirds (64%) of American adults now use text messaging, and 9% have texted a charitable donation from their mobile phone. And these text donors are emerging as a new cohort of charitable givers. The first-ever, in-depth study on mobile donors—which analyzed the "Text to Haiti" campaign after the 2010 earthquake—finds that these contributions were often spur-of-the-moment decisions that spread virally through friend networks. Three quarters of these donors (73%) contributed using their phones on the same day they heard about the campaign, and a similar number (76%) say that they typically make text message donations without conducting much in-depth research beforehand.

GOP Voters Still Unenthused About 2012 Field    Monday, January 09, 2012
On 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, 2011
The 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, 2011
Public 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, 2011
Public 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, 2011
Americans 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, 2011
Across 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, 2011
Newt 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, 2011
As 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, 2011
A 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, 2011
Democrat 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, 2011
As 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, 2011
A 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, 2011
The 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, 2011
Since 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, 2011
Many 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, 2011
The 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, 2011
Few 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, 2011
With 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, 2011
With 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, 2011
The 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, 2011
The 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, 2011
Two-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, 2011
With 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, 2011
Social 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, 2011
With 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, 2011
Americans 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, 2011
Minnesotans 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, 2011
Not 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, 2011
Underscoring 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, 2011
The 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, 2011
Eleven 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, 2011
About 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, 2011
At 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, 2011
About 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, 2011
In 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, 2011
Americans 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, 2011
Most 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, 2011
A 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, 2011
According 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, 2011
Rep. 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, 2011
A 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, 2011
Democrat 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, 2011
As 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, 2011
According 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, 2011
As 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, 2011
Despite 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, 2011
This 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, 2011
When 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, 2011
The 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, 2011
The 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, 2011
Despite 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, 2011
More 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, 2011
Amidst 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, 2011
From 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, 2011
Health 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, 2011
The 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, 2011
Americans 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, 2011
As 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, 2011
On 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, 2011
The 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, 2011
Following 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, 2011
As 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, 2011
As 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, 2011
More 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, 2011
Most 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, 2011
The 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, 2011
The 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.

Twitter Update 2011    Wednesday, June 01, 2011

13% of online adults use the status update service Twitter, which represents a significant increase from the 8% of online adults who identified themselves as Twitter users in November 2010. 95% of Twitter users own a mobile phone, and half of these users access the service on their handheld device. These findings come from national survey findings from a poll conducted for the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project.

Internet phone calls    Monday, May 30, 2011

After years of modest activity, online phone calling has taken off as a quarter of American adult internet users (24%) have placed phone calls online. That amounts to 19% of all American adults. On any given day 5% of internet users are going online to place phone calls. Both figures are marked increases from previous readings in surveys by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.

May Health Tracking    Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Most 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, 2011
The 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, 2011
Public 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, 2011
A 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, 2011
While 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, 2011
Barack 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, 2011
With 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, 2011
As 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, 2011
Donald 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, 2011
The 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, 2011
As 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, 2011
With 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, 2011
With 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, 2011
Barack 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, 2011
Not 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, 2011
Little 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, 2011
54% 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, 2011
As 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, 2011
Local 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, 2011
The 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, 2011
The 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, 2011
Most 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, 2011
The 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.

More Side with Wisconsin Unions than Governor    Monday, February 28, 2011
By a modest margin, more say they back Wisconsin’s public employee unions rather than the state’s governor in their continuing dispute over collective bargaining rights. Roughly four-in-ten (42%) say they side more with the public employee unions, while 31% say they side more with the governor, Scott Walker. In Washington, meanwhile, prospects for an imminent government shutdown decreased as Republicans and Democrats neared a short-term budget deal

February Health Tracking    Thursday, February 24, 2011
In the wake of the health reform repeal vote in the U.S. House and the ongoing legal challenges over the individual mandate, nearly half the country either believes that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been repealed and is no longer law (22 percent) or doesn’t know enough to say whether it is still law (26 percent). Roughly half of Americans (52 percent) accurately report that the ACA is still the law of the land. Meanwhile, views on repeal continue to be very mixed: with four in ten backing repeal (but half of those hoping the law will be replaced with a Republican alternative), three in ten backing an expansion of the law, and two in ten hoping to see it implemented as is. And most Americans continue to report they want to keep many of the key provisions of the law. There is more agreement when it comes to the strategy of using the legislative budgeting process to stop implementation of the law: six in ten continue to oppose the idea.

Public Favors Tougher Border Controls and Path to Citizenship    Thursday, February 24, 2011
The public continues to favor tough measures to crack down on illegal immigration. Yet Americans see no contradiction in supporting both stepped-up border security and a way for people already in the United States illegally to gain citizenship. The idea of changing the constitution to bar the children of illegal immigrants from becoming citizens also remains unpopular. Nearly six-in-ten (57%) oppose changing the constitution for this purpose, a figure that has changed little since 2006.

Labor Unions Seen as Good for Workers, Not U.S. Competitiveness    Thursday, February 17, 2011
The favorability ratings for labor unions remain at nearly their lowest level in a quarter century with 45% expressing a positive view. Yet the public expresses similar opinions about business corporations – 47% have a favorable impression – and this rating is also near a historic low. Americans express mixed views of the impact of labor unions on salaries and working conditions, international competitiveness, job availability and productivity. About half (53%) say unions have had a positive effect on the salaries and benefits of union workers, while just 17% say they have had a negative effect. Views are similar about the impact of unions on working conditions for all workers (51% positive, 17% negative).

Public Remains Divided Over the Patriot Act    Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Public views of the Patriot Act, whose renewal is being debated by Congress, have changed little since the Bush administration. Currently, 42% say the Patriot Act is a necessary tool that helps the government find terrorists, while somewhat fewer (34%) say the Patriot Act goes too far and poses a threat to civil liberties. In 2006, the public divided evenly over the Patriot Act, with 39% saying it is a necessary tool and 38% saying it goes too far. In 2004, a slight plurality (39%) said it goes too far and threatens civil liberties.

Fewer Want Spending to Grow, But Most Cuts Remain Unpopular    Thursday, February 10, 2011
The public’s views about federal spending are beginning to change. Across a range of federal programs, Americans are no longer calling for increased spending, as they have for many years. For the most part, however, there is not a great deal of support for cutting spending, though in a few cases support for reductions has grown noticeably. The survey also shows that the public is reluctant to cut spending – or raise taxes – to balance state budgets.

No Consensus on How Egypt Protests Will Affect U.S.    Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Americans do not have a clear point of view on how the massive anti-government protests in Egypt will affect the United States. More than half (58%) say the protests will not have much of an effect (36%), or offer no response or are noncommittal (22%). Of the minority that thinks the protests will have an effect on the U.S., nearly twice as many say their impact will be negative rather than positive (28% vs. 15%). This lack of agreement notwithstanding, a majority (57%) says the Obama administration is handling the situation in Egypt about right, while much smaller numbers say the administration has shown too much support (12%) or too little support (12%) for the protestors.

22% of online Americans used social networking or Twitter for politics in 2010 campaign    Thursday, January 27, 2011
After first gaining prominence as tools for political engagement during the 2008 presidential election, social media became a regular part of the political environment for voters in the 2010 midyear elections. Some 22% of online adults used Twitter or social networking sites such as Facebook or MySpace in the months leading up to the November, 2010 elections to connect to the campaign or the election itself.

Most Intend to Watch Obama's State of the Union    Monday, January 24, 2011
Most Americans say they plan to watch President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night. Still, a sizable majority sees the speech to Congress as no more important than in previous years. Sixty-one percent say they plan to watch the State of the Union address, either on television (54%) or the internet (7%). About a third (35%) say they don’t think they will watch the State of the Union, Obama’s first since Republicans took control of the House in the 2010 elections. Nearly three-in-ten (28%) say this year’s speech is more important than addresses in past years, while 53% say it is about as important and 11% say it is less important.

Economy Dominates Public's Agenda, Dims Hopes for the Future    Thursday, January 20, 2011
The public’s policy agenda is again dominated by the economy and jobs with other major issues viewed as less important. Fully 87% say that strengthening the economy should be a top priority for the president and Congress and 84% rate improving the job situation as a top priority, by far the highest percentages among 22 issues tested. And with the economy continuing to struggle, optimism about the country’s long-term future has declined. Currently, 54% say they are optimistic about the long-term future of the United States, down from 61% last April. In 1999, 70% said they were optimistic about the country’s future.

No Shift Toward Gun Control After Tucson Shootings    Wednesday, January 19, 2011
In the wake of the Tucson shootings, there is no significant change in public views on the issue of gun control and gun rights. Currently, 49% of Americans say it is more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns, while 46% say it is more important to control gun ownership. In September 2010, 50% prioritized gun control, 46% gun rights. In this regard, there is no sign that the longer trend toward an emphasis on gun owners’ rights has abated.

The Social Side of the Internet    Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The internet is now deeply embedded in group and organizational life in America. A new national survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project has found that 75% of all American adults are active in some kind of voluntary group or organization and internet users are more likely than others to be active: 80% of internet users participate in groups, compared with 56% of non-internet users. Moreover, social media users are even more likely to be active: 82% of social network users and 85% of Twitter users are group participants. The results are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from November 23 to December 21, 2010, among a sample of 2,303 adults, age 18 and older. Telephone interviews were conducted in English and Spanish by landline (1,555) and cell phone (748).

Obama's Job Ratings, Personal Image Unchanged by Recent Washington Events    Thursday, January 13, 2011
The president’s approval ratings have been rock steady since late August and his personal image has changed very little since the middle of last year. Currently, 46% say they approve of how Obama is handling his job while 44% disapprove. The public is similarly divided on other general measures of his job performance. One-in-four (25%) think that in the long run, Obama will be a successful president, while about the same number (26%) believes that he will be unsuccessful. And 47% think that Obama’s accomplishments will be good for the country in the long run, compared with 42% who do not.

Strengthen Ties with China, But Get Tough on Trade    Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Americans increasingly see Asia as the region of the world that is most important to the United States. Nearly half (47%) say Asia is most important, compared with just 37% who say Europe, home to many of America’s closest traditional allies. Views on this issue have changed considerably over the last decade. In an early September 2001 poll, 44% said our political, economic and military ties to Europe were more important, while 34% prioritized our ties to Asia.

Internet Gains on Television as Public's Main News Source    Tuesday, January 04, 2011
The internet is slowly closing in on television as Americans’ main source of national and international news. Currently, 41% say they get most of their news about national and international news from the internet, which is little changed over the past two years but up 17 points since 2007. Television remains the most widely used source for national and international news – 66% of Americans say it is their main source of news – but that is down from 74% three years ago and 82% as recently as 2002.

65% of internet users have paid for online content    Thursday, December 30, 2010
Nearly two-thirds of internet users – 65% – have paid to download or access some kind of online content from the internet, ranging from music to games to news articles to adult material. Music, software, and apps are the most popular content that internet users have paid to access or download, although the range of paid online content is quite varied and widespread. The survey data reported here are from telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,003 adults living in the continental United States. Interviews were done in English by Princeton Data Source from October 28-November 1, 2010.

Politics Goes Mobile    Thursday, December 23, 2010
In a post-election nationwide survey of adults, the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project found that more than a quarter of American adults – 26% – used their cell phones to learn about or participate in the 2010 mid-term election campaign. The results reported here come from a survey of 2,257 adults conducted November 3 through November 24, 2010. Among them, 1,918 are cell phone users.

Generations 2010    Thursday, December 16, 2010
There are still notable differences by generation in online activities, but the dominance of the Millennial generation that we documented in our first “Generations” report in 2009 has slipped in many activities. The primary adult data in this report is based on the findings of a daily tracking survey on Americans'''' use of the Internet. The results in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between April 29 and May 30, 2010, among a sample of 2,252 adults ages 18 and older, including 744 reached on a cell phone. Interviews were conducted in English.

For Public, Tough Year Ends on a Down Note    Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Consistent with the mood of the nation all year, 2010 is closing on a down note. Fully 72% are dissatisfied with national conditions, 89% rate national economic conditions as only fair or poor, and majorities or pluralities think the country is losing ground on nine of 12 major issues. The public is especially bearish about the federal budget deficit, the cost of living, the financial condition of Social Security and the availability of good-paying jobs. At least six-in-ten say the country is losing ground in each of these areas. Smaller majorities say the nation is losing ground on the gap between rich and poor (58%), the ability to compete economically with other countries (55%) and the financial condition of Medicare (51%).

December Health Tracking Poll    Monday, December 13, 2010
As 2010 draws to a close, the latest tracking poll shows the public still divided in their views of the health reform law, a sentiment largely unchanged since the law’s enactment in March. Forty-two percent of Americans say they have a generally favorable view of the law, while 41 percent have a generally unfavorable view of it. Seniors, generally more critical of the law than younger people, seem to be softening in their opposition as the national discussion shifts to the federal budget and deficit. The share of those aged 65 and up holding unfavorable views of health reform dropped to 40 percent in December, the lowest since the passage of the law.

Tax Cuts Win Broad Bipartisan Support    Monday, December 13, 2010
The agreement between President Obama and congressional Republicans to extend tax cuts and unemployment benefits is getting strong bipartisan support. Overall, 60% approve of the agreement while just 22% disapprove. Nearly half (48%) say the agreement will help the economy, while just 29% think it will hurt the economy. Opinions are similar about the personal impact of the deal: Nearly twice as many say the agreement will help (47%) rather than hurt (25%) people like themselves.

8% of online Americans use Twitter    Thursday, December 09, 2010
This is the first-ever survey reading from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project that exclusively examines Twitter users. In previous surveys, the Project had asked internet users whether they “used Twitter or another service to share updates about yourself or to see updates about others?” Eight percent of the American adults who use the internet are Twitter users. This report contains data from several different sources. The data on overall Twitter usage and demographics comes from the Pew Internet Project’s November 2010 tracking survey, while the data on frequency of use and types of material posted by Twitter users comes from two Omnibus Surveys conducted in October 2010.

Deficit Solutions Meet With Public Skepticism    Thursday, December 09, 2010
In many respects, there is a broad public consensus when it comes to the federal budget deficit: seven-in-ten say it is a major problem that must be addressed right away, and roughly two-thirds say that the best way to reduce the deficit is through a combination of cutting major government programs and increasing taxes. Yet this general consensus evaporates when concrete deficit reduction proposals are tested.

Most Say WikiLeaks Release Harms Public Interest    Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Most Americans following news about the WikiLeaks website’s release of a huge trove of classified documents about U.S. diplomatic relations see the revelations – which have received extensive media coverage – doing more harm than good. Six-in-ten (60%) of those paying attention to the story say they believe the release of thousands of secret State Department communications harms the public interest. About half that number (31%) say the release serves the public interest.

Mixed Views on Tax Cuts, Support for START and Allowing Gays to Serve Openly    Tuesday, December 07, 2010
With the public giving subpar approval ratings to President Obama and continuing to express negative views of Congress and the political parties, it goes its own way on many of the remaining issues before the lame-duck Congress. In a survey conducted before Obama and GOP leaders agreed to temporarily extend all Bush-era tax cuts, most Americans (80%) favor preserving at least some of the tax cuts. However, just a third (33%) of Americans say they favor keeping all of the expiring tax cuts; 47% favor keeping just the tax cuts for income below $250,000, while just 11% want to end all of the tax cuts.

Despite Years of Terror Scares, Public's Concerns Remain Fairly Steady    Thursday, December 02, 2010
Since 9/11, in the United States there have been Orange Alerts and numerous near misses involving bombs smuggled aboard aircraft and in parked cars. But over the course of all of this, there is little evidence that close calls in this country or terrorist attacks overseas have led to a fundamental change in the public’s worries about terrorism. A recent survey finds that 59% say they are very (21%) or somewhat (38%) worried there will soon be another terrorist attack in the United States. This is little changed from July 2007 (20% very, 42% somewhat worried).

Most Continue to Favor Gays Serving Openly in Military    Monday, November 29, 2010
As the Pentagon prepares to release its highly anticipated survey of military personnel about the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, most Americans (58%) say they favor allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the armed forces. Fewer than half that number (27%) oppose allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly. These opinions have changed little in recent years. Since 2005 – including three surveys this year – roughly 60% have consistently favored permitting homosexuals to serve openly in the military.

Use of the internet in higher-income households    Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Those in higher-income households are different from other Americans in their tech ownership and use. Analysis of several recent surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Projects find that there are key differences between those who live in households making $75,000 or more relative to those in lower-income households.

The Growing Gap between Landline and Dual Frame Election Polls    Monday, November 22, 2010
The number of Americans who rely solely or mostly on a cell phone has been growing for several years, posing an increasing likelihood that public opinion polls conducted only by landline telephone will be biased. A new analysis of Pew Research Center pre-election surveys conducted this year finds that support for Republican candidates was significantly higher in samples based only on landlines than in dual frame samples that combined landline and cell phone interviews. The difference in the margin among likely voters this year is about twice as large as in 2008.

Public Knows Basic Facts about Politics, Economics, Struggles with Specifics    Thursday, November 18, 2010
Americans see the big picture when it comes to the changing balance of power in Washington, but is not sure which party controls which house of Congress or who the next speaker will be. Many have a good idea about the growth of the federal deficit, but the public struggles with questions about specifics of the budget, TARP and inflation.

The Decline of Marriage and Rise of New Families    Thursday, November 18, 2010
Americans today are less likely to be married than at any time in the nation’s history. Rates have declined for all groups, but they have fallen most sharply among the less-advantaged, who are more likely than others to say that economic security is an important reason to marry. Even as marriage shrinks, family remains the most important and most satisfying element in the lives of most Americans.

Mixed Reactions to Republican Midterm Win    Thursday, November 11, 2010
The public, voters and non-voters alike, has a subdued reaction to the Republican Party’s midterm election victory. Four years ago, the response to the Democrats regaining full control of Congress was far more positive, as it was in 1994 when the GOP won a historic victory. Fewer people today say they are happy about the Republican victory, approve of the GOP’s plans for the future, and far fewer believe Republicans will be successful in getting their programs passed into law.

November Health Tracking Poll    Tuesday, November 09, 2010
The November 2010 tracking poll was conducted in the days following the mid-term election that resulted in major gains for Republicans, including a shift in control of the House of Representatives. The survey attempts to gauge what role health reform played in voters’ decisions, and to measure the current public mood about the health reform law.

Public Support for Increased Trade, Except With South Korea and China    Tuesday, November 09, 2010
The public is of two minds when it comes to trade with other countries. Most Americans say that increased trade with Canada, Japan and European Union countries – as well as India, Brazil and Mexico – would be good for the United States. But reactions are mixed to increased trade with South Korea and China.

Location-based services    Thursday, November 04, 2010
In its first report on the use of “geosocial” or location-based services, the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life project finds that 4% of online adults use a service such as Foursquare or Gowalla that allows them to share their location with friends and to find others who are nearby. On any given day, 1% of internet users are using these services. This report is based on the results of a telephone survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project conducted between August 9 and September 13, 2010. The survey was administered to a sample of 3,001 adults, age 18 and older, using a combination of landline and cellular telephones. Interviews were conducted in English or Spanish.

Little Change in Opinions about Global Warming    Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Views about the existence and causes of global warming have changed little over the past year. A new poll finds that 59% of adults say there is solid evidence that the earth’s average temperature has been getting warmer over the past few decades. In October 2009, 57% said this. Roughly a third (34%) say that global warming is occurring mostly because of human activity, such as the burning of fossil fuels, which also is little changed from last year (36%).

Midterm Snapshot: Enthusiasm for Obama Reelection Bid Greater Than for Reagan in 1982    Monday, October 25, 2010
Two years ahead of the next presidential election, the public is divided over whether Barack Obama should run for a second term as president. About half (47%) say they would like to see Obama run again in 2012, while 42% say they would not. This is better than the outlook for Ronald Reagan in August 1982, when just 36% said they wanted to see him run for reelection.

Newsweek Poll: Congressional Elections / Marijuana    Friday, October 22, 2010
According to the latest NEWSWEEK poll, the race for Congress remains close. Among likely voters, Democratic candidates are preferred over Republican candidates by a statistically insignificant margin of 48% to 45%. While the GOP is running much stronger in this midterm election than the last one (2006), these results cast doubt on whether the predictions of a Republican wave will come true. At a time that California voters will vote on a ballot initiative that would legalize recreational use of marijuana, the NEWSWEEK poll finds a majority of U.S. adults saying they would not support such a measure if it were put to a vote in their state (52%) or at the national level (52%).

Ground War More Intense Than 2006, Early Voting More Prevalent    Thursday, October 21, 2010
As the 2010 midterm elections near, Republican engagement and enthusiasm continue at record levels, outpacing even improved Democratic showings on these indicators. The growing popularity of early voting -- about a quarter of voters nationally say they plan to vote before Election Day -- gives Democrats less time to make up ground and there is no indication that their voter mobilization efforts are outmatching Republican efforts.

Mobile Health 2010    Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The online health-information environment is going mobile. 17% of cell phone users have used their phone to look up health or medical information and 9% have software applications or "apps" on their phones that help them track or manage their health. The results in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between August 9 and September 13, 2010, among a sample of 3,001 adults, age 18 and older. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish and included 1,000 cell phone interviews.

October Health Tracking Poll    Monday, October 18, 2010
With the November midterm elections just weeks away, Americans remain chronically divided over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but most say that their feelings – pro and con – about the health reform law are not a dominant factor in how they will vote for Congress or whether they will go to the polls.

Americans and their gadgets    Thursday, October 14, 2010
In recent years the digital world has expanded far beyond the desktop, and consumers can now choose from an array of devices capable of satisfying their need for “anytime, anywhere” access to news, information, friends and entertainment. This report is based on the findings of a daily tracking survey on Americans'''' use of the Internet. The results in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between August 9 and September 13, 2010, among a sample of 3,001 adults, age 18 and older. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.

Newsweek Poll: Psychology of Voter Anger    Friday, October 01, 2010
At a time of widespread dissatisfaction with the direction of the country, a NEWSWEEK poll finds nearly one-quarter (23%) of the electorate describing themselves as “angry voters” based on their overall attitude toward the federal government. While this anti-government group overlaps with supporters of the Tea Party movement, they are not one and the same. Just over half (52%) of angry voters identify as Republicans, but close to a third (29%) prefer to call themselves Independents. Less than half (42%) of angry voters declare themselves to be Tea Party supporters, and one-third (34%) either oppose the Tea Party or have mixed opinions of it.

Online Product Research    Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The commercial use of the internet by American adults has grown since the mid-2000s, with 58% of Americans now reporting that they perform online research concerning the products and services that they are considering purchasing. That is an increase from 49% who said they conducted product or service research online in 2004. The re­sults are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between August 9 and September 13, 2010, among a sample of 3,001 adults, age 18 and older. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish.

Minnesota Poll: Dayton still has edge on Emmer    Monday, September 27, 2010
Five weeks before Minnesotans elect a new governor, DFL candidate Mark Dayton leads GOP rival Tom Emmer among likely voters, with Independence Party candidate Tom Horner gaining ground, a Star Tribune Minnesota Poll has found.  This survey was conducted September 20-23 by PSRAI for the Minneapolis Star Tribune among 949 likely voters.

Obama Viewed as Doing Better than GOP Leaders in Explaining Vision    Monday, September 27, 2010
With just over a month to go before the midterm elections, the public by a wide margin says Barack Obama has done a better job than Republican congressional leaders in explaining his plans and vision for the country. Half (50%) of the public says Obama has done a better job, compared with just 28% who say GOP leaders have done better in laying out their plans and vision. The poll also finds that the public remains highly critical of Congress, though they judge their own lawmaker’s performance less harshly. Obama’s job performance ratings remain better than those for Congress, but are little changed since June.

September Health Tracking Poll    Monday, September 27, 2010
Six months since the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and a month and a half before the midterm congressional elections, a new poll finds the public remains divided on the new law. Public confusion over the new health law has risen to its highest point since April.

Independents Oppose Party in Power ... Again    Thursday, September 23, 2010
For the third national election in a row, independent voters may be poised to vote out the party in power. The Republican Party holds a significant edge in preferences for the upcoming congressional election among likely voters, in large part because political independents now favor Republican candidates by about as large a margin as they backed Barack Obama in 2008 and congressional Democratic candidates four years ago.

Many Say Ending Tax Cuts for Wealthy Would Hurt Economy    Monday, September 20, 2010
Nearly four-in-ten Americans (39%) say that allowing Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy to expire at the end of this year would hurt the economy, while about a quarter each say this would help the economy (26%) or have no effect (26%).

Few Say Religion Shapes Immigration, Environment Views    Friday, September 17, 2010
Many Americans continue to say their religious beliefs have been highly influential in shaping their views about social issues, including abortion and same-sex marriage. But far fewer cite religion as a top influence on their opinions about several other social and political issues, including how the government should deal with immigration, the environment and poverty.

The Rise of Apps Culture    Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Some 35% of U.S. adults have software applications or “apps” on their phones, yet only 24% of adults use those apps. Many adults who have apps on their phones, particularly older adults, do not use them, and 11% of cell owners are not sure if their phone is equipped with apps. The re­sults are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between April 29 and May 30, 2010, among a sample of 2,252 adults, age 18 and older. Interviews were conducted in English.

Americans Spending More Time Following the News    Sunday, September 12, 2010
There are many more ways to get the news these days, and as a consequence Americans are spending more time with the news than over much of the past decade. Digital platforms are playing a larger role in news consumption, and they seem to be more than making up for modest declines in the audience for traditional platforms. As a result, the average time Americans spend with the news on a given day is as high as it was in the mid-1990s, when audiences for traditional news sources were much larger.

Cell phones and American adults    Thursday, September 02, 2010
Texting by American adults has increased substantially over the past year, but still does not approach the magnitude of text messages exchanged by adolescents. Some 72% of adult cell phone users send and receive text messages now, up from 65% in September 2009. Fully 87% of teen cell users text. Teens text 50 messages a day on average, five times more than the typical 10 text messages sent and received by adults per day. The re­sults are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between April 29 and May 30, 2010, among a sample of 2,252 adults, age 18 and older. Interviews were conducted in English.

August Health Tracking Poll    Monday, August 30, 2010
Support for health reform fell over the course of August, dipping from a 50 percent favorability rating in July to 43 percent, while 45 percent of the public reported unfavorable views. The dip in favorability returned public opinion on the new law to the even split last seen in May before a modest uptick in support in June and July.

Newsweek Poll: Obama and Muslims    Friday, August 27, 2010
With the midterm Congressional elections now less than two and one-half months away, a NEWSWEEK POLL shows Barack Obama’s approval rating remaining below the 50 percent mark. In the new poll, 47% of Americans say they approve of the job he is doing overall while 45% say they disapprove. In the midst of the controversy about the construction of a mosque and cultural center within a few blocks of the former WTC site in New York City, this most recent NEWSWEEK poll shows American opinion toward Muslim Americans is about as positive as it has ever been. Anti-Muslim attitudes seem to be concentrated among certain segments of the public and not widely held. In fact, nearly three-quarters (72%) of the public say it would be okay with them for a group of Muslim Americans to build a mosque in their local community.

Public Remains Conflicted Over Islam    Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The public continues to express conflicted views of Islam. Favorable opinions of Islam have declined since 2005, but there has been virtually no change over the past year in the proportion of Americans saying that Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence. As was the case a year ago, slightly more people say the Islamic religion does not encourage violence more than other religions (42%) than say that it does (35%).

Growing Number Say Obama is a Muslim    Thursday, August 19, 2010
A substantial and growing number of Americans say that Barack Obama is a Muslim, while the proportion saying he is a Christian has declined. More than a year and a half into his presidency, a plurality of the public says they do not know what religion Obama follows.

Home Broadband 2010    Thursday, August 12, 2010
After several consecutive years of modest but consistent growth, broadband adoption slowed dramatically in 2010. Two-thirds of American adults (66%) currently use a high-speed internet connection at home, a figure that is not statistically different from what The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project found at a similar point in 2009, when 63% of Americans were broadband adopters. The results in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International between April 29 and May 30, 2010, among a sample of 2,252 adults ages 18 and older, including 744 reached on a cell phone. Interviews were conducted in English.

Republicans Faring Better with Men, Whites, Independents and Seniors    Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The Republican Party’s prospects for the midterm elections look much better than they did four years ago at this time, while the Democrats’ look much worse. Voter preferences for the upcoming congressional elections remain closely divided (45% support the Democratic candidate or lean Democratic, while 44% favor the Republican or lean Republican). In polling conducted in August-September 2006, the Democrats held an 11-point advantage (50% to 39%).

Earmarks Could Help Candidates in Midterms    Monday, August 02, 2010
In the congressional elections this fall, candidates with a record of bringing government projects and money to their districts may have an edge. A majority of Americans (53%) say they are more likely to vote for a candidate with a record of delivering earmarks for their districts; just 12% say they would be less likely to vote for such a candidate. A third of the public (33%) says this would make no difference in their vote either way.

Minnesota Poll: Democrats hold lead over Emmer    Monday, August 02, 2010
In the race to become the next governor of Minnesota, DFL candidates Mark Dayton and Margaret Anderson Kelliher each appear to hold significant leads over Republican challenger Tom Emmer, a Star Tribune Minnesota Poll has found. A third DFLer, Matt Entenza, has a statistically insignificant lead over Emmer in the poll. This report is based on findings from a survey conducted July 26-29, 2010 by PSRAI for the Star Tribune among 902 Minnesota adults.

Health Tracking — July 2010    Friday, July 30, 2010
Overall public support for the health reform law is steady from June, while unfavorable views of the law have trended downward. Half the public (50%) now expresses a favorable view of the law, while 35 percent say they have an unfavorable opinion (down from 41% in June).



Obama's Policies Seen as Better than Bush's for Improving the Economy    Monday, July 26, 2010
While most Americans disapprove of Barack Obama’s handling of the economy, far more think his administration’s policies – rather than those of the Bush administration – would do more to improve economic conditions over the next few years. As Congress gears up for debate over the tax cuts passed when Bush was president, the public is divided, with roughly equal numbers in favor of keeping all of Bush’s tax cuts, repealing only those for wealthy Americans, or scrapping them entirely.

The Impact of Long-term Unemployment    Thursday, July 22, 2010
Long-term unemployment takes a much deeper toll than short-term unemployment on a person''''s finances, emotional well-being and career prospects, according to a new Pew Research Center survey that explores the attitudes and experiences of workers who have lost jobs during the Great Recession. Of those who have experienced an unemployment spell of at least six months, more than four-in-ten (44%) report that the recession has caused "major changes" in their lives. By comparison, fewer than a third (31%) of those who had been unemployed less than six months and 20% of adults who were not unemployed during the recession say they were similarly affected.

Newsweek Poll: How Much Is Beauty Worth at Work? (Business)    Monday, July 19, 2010
We’ve all heard the stories about how pretty people have it easy: babies smile more around good-looking parents; handsome kids get better grades and jobs, and earn more money; the list goes on. Still, we’d probably all like to think that we’ve earned our jobs on merit alone—and that, in this economy, it’s our skill that will get us back in the game. But if you believe the results of two new NEWSWEEK Polls, you’d better think again. NEWSWEEK conducted an online survey of 202 corporate hiring managers, from human-resource employees to senior-level VPs, as well as a telephone survey of a nationally representative sample of 964 members of the public, only to confirm what no qualified (or unqualified) employee wants to admit: that in all elements of the workplace, from hiring to politics to promotions, even, looks matter, and they matter hard.

Gov't Economic Policies Seen as Boon for Banks and Big Business, Not Middle Class or Poor    Monday, July 19, 2010
The public sees clear winners and losers from the economic policies the government has implemented since the recession of 2008. Most Americans say these policies have helped large banks, large corporations and the wealthy, while providing little or no help for the poor, the middle class or small businesses.

Newsweek Poll: How Much Is Beauty Worth at Work? (National)    Monday, July 19, 2010
We’ve all heard the stories about how pretty people have it easy: babies smile more around good-looking parents; handsome kids get better grades and jobs, and earn more money; the list goes on. Still, we’d probably all like to think that we’ve earned our jobs on merit alone—and that, in this economy, it’s our skill that will get us back in the game. But if you believe the results of two new NEWSWEEK Polls, you’d better think again. NEWSWEEK conducted an online survey of 202 corporate hiring managers, from human-resource employees to senior-level VPs, as well as a telephone survey of a nationally representative sample of 964 members of the public, only to confirm what no qualified (or unqualified) employee wants to admit: that in all elements of the workplace, from hiring to politics to promotions, even, looks matter, and they matter hard.

Political Knowledge Update    Thursday, July 15, 2010
An overwhelming proportion of Americans are familiar with Twitter, the online information-sharing network. Perhaps more surprisingly, a large majority also knows that children who are born to illegal immigrants in the United States are automatically U.S. citizens. Yet the public continues to struggle in identifying political figures, foreign leaders and even knowing facts about key government policies.

Public's Wish List for Congress - Jobs and Deficit Reduction    Monday, July 12, 2010
The public overwhelmingly views the job situation as a major priority for Congress during the coming months. Fully 80% say it is very important for Congress to pass legislation to address the job situation, which is virtually unchanged from May (81%).

Republicans Less Positive Toward Supreme Court    Friday, July 09, 2010
Republicans’ opinions of the Supreme Court have become less favorable during the Obama administration. As a result, more Democrats than Republicans now express a positive opinion of the Supreme Court – the first time this has occurred since the Clinton administration.

Mobile Access 2010    Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Cell phone and wireless laptop internet use have each grown more prevalent over the last year. Nearly half of all adults (47%) go online with a laptop using a Wi-Fi connection or mobile broadband card (up from the 39% who did so as of April 2009) while 40% of adults use the internet, email or instant messaging on a mobile phone (up from the 32% of Americans who did this in 2009). This means that 59% of adults now access the internet wirelessly using a laptop or cell phone—that is, they answered “yes” to at least one of these wireless access pathways. That adds up to an increase from the 51% who used a laptop or cell phone wirelessly in April 2009. This report is based on the findings of a daily tracking survey on Americans’ use of the Internet. The results in this report are based on data from telephone interviews conducted by PSRAI for the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project between April 29 and May 30, 2010, among a sample of 2,252 adults, age 18 and older. Interviews were conducted in English. To view more from this survey, click here.

The future of social relations    Friday, July 02, 2010
The social benefits of internet use will far outweigh the negatives over the next decade, according to experts who responded to a survey about the future of the internet. They say this is because email, social networks, and other online tools offer ‘low-friction’ opportunities to create, enhance, and rediscover social ties that make a difference in people’s lives. The internet lowers traditional communications constraints of cost, geography, and time; and it supports the type of open information sharing that brings people together. This survey was conducted December 2, 2009 – January 11, 2010 by PSRAI for the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project and the Imagining the Internet Center at Elon University among 895 internet experts and other internet users. To view more from this survey, click here.

Health Tracking — June 2010    Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The start of summer finds Americans remain divided on the health reform law, but favorable views of the new law increased seven percentage points over the past month to 48 percent, compared to 41 percent who have “generally unfavorable” views and 10 percent who have yet to make up their minds. 

 With four months remaining until the midterm congressional elections, an early look suggests that the contests could be impacted by a number of different issues, with the economy in the lead but health care also in the mix. 


Afghanistan War Hurting Obama's Support at Home    Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The troubled war in Afghanistan is a growing political problem for President Barack Obama. According to a new NEWSWEEK Poll, the lasting impact of his decision to fire Gen. Stanley McChrystal for mouthing off about his civilian bosses in a recent Rolling Stone article—a move most Americans support—has been to raise doubts about the war and undermine confidence in the commander in chief.  This survey was conducted June 23-24, 2010 by PSRAI for Newsweek among 964 adults.

Public Rejects Variety Of Options For Fixing State Budgets    Monday, June 28, 2010
Most Americans see the deteriorating budget situations in many states as a problem that the states themselves – rather than the federal government – should solve. But when it comes to specific proposals to balance state budgets, there is more opposition than support for each option asked about – particularly cuts in funding for education and public safety programs.

Public Sees a Future Full of Promise and Peril    Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Imagine a future in which cancer becomes a memory, ordinary people travel in space, and computers carry on conversations like humans. Now imagine a darker future – a world beset by war, rising temperatures and energy shortages, one where the United States faces a terrorist attack with nuclear weapons. Most Americans think that these developments and many others are likely to unfold over the next 40 years.

Public Uncertain About How to Improve Job Situation    Monday, June 21, 2010
A new poll reveals there is very little agreement about what the government should do now to deal with the nation’s biggest economic concern – the job situation. None of the options currently under discussion for dealing with the job situation are viewed as very helpful. In fact, fewer than four-in-ten say each of these proposals would help the job situation a lot: additional spending on public works (37%); cutting taxes for businesses (36%) or individuals (31%); budget cuts to reduce the deficit (34%); or providing money to state and local governments to help them avoid layoffs (33%).

Adults and Cell Phone Distractions    Friday, June 18, 2010
Adults are just as likely as teens to have texted while driving and are substantially more likely to have talked on the phone while driving. According to a new survey, one in four (27%) of American adults say they have texted while driving, the same proportion as the number of driving age teens (26%) who say they have texted while driving. Fully 61% of adults say they have talked on their cell phones while behind the wheel, considerably greater than the number of 16- and 17-year olds (43%) who have talked on their cells while driving. This survey was conducted between April 29 and May 30, 2010 by PSRAI for the Pew Internet & American Life Project among 2,252 adults.

Public Remains of Two Minds on Energy Policy    Monday, June 14, 2010
With the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico now nearly two months old, the public is sending mixed signals about U.S. energy policy. Despite the growing damage from the Gulf oil leak, the public generally favors continuing to drill for oil and gas in U.S. waters. And in setting priorities for energy legislation in Congress, fully 68% favor expanding exploration and development of coal, oil and gas in the United States.

Doubts About Obama's Economic Policies Rise    Monday, June 07, 2010
According to a new survey, the public increasingly sees Barack Obama’s policies as having an impact on economic conditions and, for the first time, slightly more say the impact has been negative rather than positive. About three-in-ten (29%) say Obama’s economic policies since taking office have made economic conditions worse; 23% say his policies have made conditions better. Nearly four-in-ten (38%) say they have had no effect so far or volunteer that it is too soon to tell.

Willingness to Compromise a Plus in Midterms    Monday, May 24, 2010
The public offers more positive than negative reactions to a candidate who is willing to make compromises. A substantial minority (42%) say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who will make compromises with people they disagree with; only about half as many (22%) say they would be less likely to back a candidate willing to compromise, while 29% say it will make no difference. But there is a wide partisan divide. More than twice as many Republicans (40%) as Democrats (19%) or independents (15%) say they would be less willing to favor a candidate willing to compromise.

Health Tracking — May 2010    Friday, May 21, 2010
Confusion over the new health reform law declined but remains widespread, with 44 percent of the public saying they were confused in May, compared to 55 percent in April. Moreover, more than a third of Americans (35%) say they do not understand what the impact of the law will be on themselves and their families, while 61 percent report feeling they do understand what that impact will be.

Public's Priorities for Congress    Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The public views tougher regulations on financial institutions as an important priority for Congress, but far more want Congress to take action on the job situation and energy policy. In thinking about financial regulation, as many say they worry that the government will go too far in regulating financial markets, making it harder for the economy to grow, as say they worry that the government will not go far enough, leaving the country at risk of another financial crisis.

Broad Approval For New Arizona Immigration Law    Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The public broadly supports a new Arizona law aimed at dealing with illegal immigration and the law’s provisions giving police increased powers to stop and detain people who are suspected of being in the country illegally.

Oil Spill Seen As Ecological Disaster    Tuesday, May 11, 2010
A majority of Americans see the massive oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico as a major environmental disaster, but nearly as many voice optimism that efforts to control the spill will succeed.

Pessimistic Public Doubts Effectiveness of Stimulus    Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The public remains doggedly downbeat about the condition of the national economy, even as many experts and economists see signs of recovery. As has been the case for most of the past two years, about nine-in-ten (88%) rate national economic conditions as only fair or poor, and over the past year there has been no decline in the percentage saying the economy will stay the same (36%) or get worse (19%) a year from now.

Health Tracking - April 2010    Thursday, April 22, 2010
A new poll fielded shortly after the passage of health reform finds that 8 in 10 Americans know that President Obama signed the legislation into law. But 55 percent say they are confused about the law and more than half (56%) say they don’t yet have enough information to understand how it will affect them personally.

Distrust, Discontent and the Government    Monday, April 19, 2010
By almost every conceivable measure Americans are less positive and more critical of government these days. A new Pew Research Center survey finds a perfect storm of conditions associated with distrust of government – a dismal economy, an unhappy public, bitter partisan-based backlash, and epic discontent with Congress and elected officials.

Broadband Consumer Survey    Friday, March 19, 2010
According to the Federal Communications Commission’s October-November 2009 survey, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of American adults use high-speed Internet connections to go online from home.  This survey was conducted October 19 to November 23, 2009 by PSRAI for the Federal Communications Commission among 5,005 adults.

Health Tracking - March 2010    Friday, March 19, 2010
Americans are still divided on health reform legislation, with 46 percent backing the reform proposals on Capitol Hill, 42 percent opposing them and 12 percent saying they aren''''t sure. Six in 10 Americans say they have heard little or nothing about budget reconciliation. And many people continue to struggle with health costs, with nearly one in five saying cost increases have caused them or their employer to switch to a less comprehensive health plan.

Americans Split on Health Care Reform Legislation    Tuesday, February 23, 2010
A new poll finds Americans are evenly split on health care reform legislation: 43 percent in favor and 43 percent opposed. However, the poll also finds that majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents support several provisions in the health reform proposals in Congress and most attribute delays in passing the legislation to political gamesmanship rather than policy disagreements.

Newsweek Poll: Obama and Health Care    Friday, February 19, 2010
Health care reform has lost a lot of momentum since the House and Senate passed their versions of reform legislation, and most recent polling has shown public support waning. The latest Newsweek poll, however, suggests that there is greater public support for some sort of House/Senate compromise bill than polls that do not scratch below the surface might indicate. The level of public support for the kind of plan supported by Barack Obama varies based on how much people know about it. After hearing its key features described many people initially inclined to view it negatively move into the favorable column.

Midterm Election Challenges for Both Parties    Friday, February 12, 2010
According to a new survey, nine months ahead of the midterm elections, voters have conflicted attitudes about both political parties. Opinions of the Republican Party have improved significantly, and for the first time in years the GOP’s favorable ratings nearly equal the Democratic Party’s. Voting intentions for the fall elections also remain closely divided. However, the Democratic Party is still better regarded in many respects than is the GOP and far more people continue to blame the Republicans than the Democrats for the current state of the economy. And despite frustrations with his stewardship of the economy, bottom-line opinions of Barack Obama have not changed in the past few months.  This survey was conducted Feb. 3-9, 2010 by PSRAI for the Pew Research Center among 1,383 adults.

Americans Become More Supportive of Health Reform When Told About Key Provisions    Friday, January 22, 2010
A new poll, conducted before the Massachusetts Senate vote, finds opinion is divided when it comes to the hotly debated legislation, with 42 percent supporting the proposals in the Congress, 41 percent opposing them and 16 percent withholding judgment. However, majorities reported feeling more favorable toward the proposed legislation after learning about many of the key elements, with the notable exceptions of the individual mandate and the overall price tag. Click the above link to get more details.

Haiti Dominates Public's Consciousness    Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Fully 70% say it is the story they are talking about with friends. Overall interest in news about the earthquake in Haiti is on par with interest in the tsunami that struck the Indian Ocean in December 2004. Fully 60% say they followed news about the earthquake very closely; about the same percentage (58%) said they followed news about the tsunami in the Indian Ocean very closely in January 2005. Somewhat more people paid very close attention to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 (70%). Click the link above to get more details.

Blacks Upbeat about Black Progress, Prospects    Thursday, January 14, 2010
Despite the bad economy, blacks'''' assessments about the state of black progress in America have improved more dramatically during the past two years than at any time in the past quarter century, according to a comprehensive new nationwide Pew Research Center survey on race.  Barack Obama''''s election as the nation''''s first black president appears to be the spur for this sharp rise in optimism among African Americans. It may also be reflected in an upbeat set of black views on a range of other matters, including race relations, local community satisfaction and expectations for future black progress.  This survey was conducted Oct. 28 to Nov. 30, 2009 by PSRAI for the Pew Research Center among 2,884 adults, including 812 blacks.

Current Decade Rates as Worst in 50 Years    Monday, December 21, 2009
According to a new survey, as the current decade draws to a close, relatively few Americans have positive things to say about it. By roughly two-to-one, more say they have a generally negative (50%) rather than a generally positive (27%) impression of the past 10 years. This stands in stark contrast to the public’s recollection of other decades in the past half-century. When asked to look back on the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, positive feelings outweigh negative in all cases.  This survey was conducted December 9-13, 2009 by PSRAI for the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press among 1,504 adults.

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll - December 2009    Friday, December 18, 2009
A new survey finds a dip on several measures of public opinion on health care reform. The number of Americans who say they personally will be better off if reform passes fell to 35 percent in December, down from 42 percent last month. Meanwhile, 27 percent say they will be worse off, and 32 percent said they don’t expect to see much of a difference. Similarly, 45 percent say the country would be better off if health care reform passes down from 54 percent in November. This compares to 31 percent who say the country will be worse off and 17 percent who see no impact.

Mixed Views of Obama at Year's End    Wednesday, December 16, 2009
According to a new survey, public opinion about President Barack Obama and his major polices continues to be divided as the year comes to a close. His overall approval rating is 49%, which is largely unchanged from November (51%). However, the percentage expressing at least a fair amount of confidence in Obama to do the right thing when it comes to fixing the economy has slipped from 59% in October to 52% currently. Smaller percentages express confidence in Obama on health care reform (44%) and reducing the budget deficit (41%).  This survey was conducted Dec. 9-13 by PSRAI for the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press among 1,504 adults.

 

Teens and Sexting    Tuesday, December 15, 2009
According to a new survey, as texting has become a centerpiece in teen social life, parents, educators and advocates have grown increasingly concerned about the role of cell phones in the sexual lives of teens and young adults. The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project found that 4% of cell-owning teens ages 12-17 say they have sent sexually suggestive nude or nearly nude images or videos of themselves to someone else via text messaging, a practice also known as “sexting”; 15% say they have received such images of someone they know via text message.  This survey was conducted June 26 and September 24, 2009 by PSRAI for the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project among 800 teens ages 12-17 and a parent or guardian

America's Place in the World    Thursday, December 03, 2009
As President Obama seeks to expand America’s global role on issues ranging from Afghanistan to climate change, the U.S. public is turning decidedly inward. For the first time in more than 40 years of polling, a plurality (49%) says the United States should “mind its own business internationally” and let other countries get along the best they can on their own.

Kaiser November Tracking Poll    Tuesday, November 24, 2009
A new poll shows little movement in measures of public opinion about health reform from recent months. Among the new findings is a ranking of the public''''s top priorities from among a list of elements of the legislation. There were both similarities and differences in priorities across partisan groups: while assuring the availability of affordable plans ranked in the top three priorities for Democrats, Republicans and independents, deficit neutrality ranked in the top three priorities for Republicans and independents and providing enough government financial help so as many uninsured people as possible can get health insurance ranked in the top three for Democrats. Creating a public option ranked near the bottom of this list among all three groups. Even so, when asked if they favor or oppose having a public plan to compete with private insurers, a substantial a majority of Americans (59%) say they support the idea.

Abortion Plays Small Role in Health Reform Opposition    Thursday, November 19, 2009
While most Americans oppose government funding of abortion, a new survey finds that concern about abortion funding plays only a small role in driving opposition to the health care reform legislation under consideration by Congress.  When health care opponents are asked in an open-ended question to describe their main reason for opposing the congressional proposals, just 3% raise the issue of abortion funding. This survey was conducted November 12-15 among 1,003 adults by PSRAI for the Pew Research Center and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

Views on the U.S. Role in Global Health Update    Thursday, November 12, 2009
The Kaiser Family Foundation Survey on the U.S. Role in Global Health Update builds on the Foundation''''s previous survey work in measuring Americans'''' attitudes toward U.S. global health investments and priorities. The survey tracks some questions that were asked earlier in 2009, and delves into some new questions about specific areas of global health spending and how aid should be distributed. Following President Obama''''s announcement of the Global Health Initiative, the survey also measures public perception of the current Administration and Congress with regards to global health efforts. As we found in March, the public continues to support maintaining or increasing spending on global health. Despite the continuing economic recession, two-thirds say the U.S. is spending too little (34 percent) or about the right amount (32 percent) on efforts to improve health for people in developing countries, while just a quarter say we are currently spending too much in this area. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Social Isolation and New Technology    Wednesday, November 04, 2009
This Pew Internet Personal Networks and Community survey finds that Americans are not as isolated as has been previously reported. People''''s use of the mobile phone and the internet is associated with larger and more diverse discussion networks. And, when we examine people''''s full personal network - their strong and weak ties - internet use in general and use of social networking services such as Facebook in particular are associated with more diverse social networks. This survey was conducted July 9, 2008 and August 10, 2008 by PSRAI for the Pew Internet & American Life Project among 2,512 adults. To view more from this survey, Click here.

End of Communism Cheered but Now with More Reservations    Monday, November 02, 2009
According to a new poll, 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. Majorities of people in most former Soviet republics and Eastern European countries endorse the emergence of multiparty systems and a free market economy. This survey was conducted Aug. 27 to Sept. 24, 2009 by PSRAI for the Pew Research Center among 14,760 adults in Britain, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine and the United States. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Americans Plan to Work During Retirement    Wednesday, October 07, 2009
According to a new survey, three-quarters of American workers expect to work throughout retirement. Four in 10 (39%) say it''s because they like to work, and one third (32%) say they plan to work because they''ll need the money. Interestingly, only 15 percent of today''s retirees actually work to supplement their income. To view more from this survey, click here.

CR poll: Many Americans are unsure about getting the swine flu vaccine    Monday, October 05, 2009
A majority of U.S. adults say they are either reluctant or unsure about whether they or their children will get vaccinated for the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu. And more than half of the people at high risk for flu complications don''t realize they are, according to a nationally representative survey of 1,502 adults conducted by the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center in the first week of September. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Contrary to what marketers say, Americans Reject Tailored Advertising    Friday, October 02, 2009
According to a new survey, contrary to what many marketers claim, most adult Americans (66%) do not want marketers to tailor advertisements to their interests. Moreover, when Americans are informed of three common ways that marketers gather data about people in order to tailor ads, even higher percentages--between 73% and 86%--say they would not want such advertising. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll - September 2009    Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The September Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds that public support for health reform ended its summer slide, reversed course and moved modestly upwards in September. The survey also finds initial majority support for taxing expensive health plans and imposing fees on insurers to pay for reform. Fifty-seven percent of Americans now believe that tackling health care reform is more important than ever - up from 53 percent in August. The proportion of Americans who think their families would be better off if health reform passes is up six percentage points (42% versus 36% in August), and the percentage who think that the country would be better off is up eight points (to 53% from 45% in August). To view more from this survey, Click here.

Minnesota Poll: Hints of optimism about economy, personal finances    Monday, September 28, 2009
Minnesotans are feeling slightly better about the economy and their finances. But many are still feeling the effects of the recession in their day-to-day lives, according to a Star Tribune Minnesota Poll. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Obama Approval Ratings Steady, Personal Image Remains Positive    Thursday, September 17, 2009
According to a new survey, following his nationally televised address to Congress, opinion of President Barack Obama has taken a more favorable turn. Obamas job approval ratings, which had declined in the summer, have remained essentially unchanged over the past month. And the balance of opinion regarding the health care reform proposals before Congress has become a bit more positive than it was in late August, though the public is about evenly divided over those proposals. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Press Accuracy Rating Hits Two Decade Low    Sunday, September 13, 2009
The public''s assessment of the accuracy of news stories is now at its lowest level in more than two decades of Pew Research surveys, and Americans'' views of media bias and independence now match previous lows. According to a new survey, just 29% of Americans say that news organizations generally get the facts straight, while 63% say that news stories are often inaccurate. In the initial survey in this series about the news media''s performance in 1985, 55% said news stories were accurate while 34% said they were inaccurate. That percentage had fallen sharply by the late 1990s and has remained low over the last decade. To view more from this survey, Click here.

The Internet as a Diversion    Thursday, September 10, 2009
Three-quarters of online economic users--those Americans who use the internet to keep up with news about the economic recession or their own personal finances--go online to relax and take their minds off of the recession, according to an April 2009 survey by the Pew Research Center''s Internet & American Life Project. Listening to music and watching online videos are among the most common of the activities we evaluated; roughly half of all online economic users have done each of these activities to relax. Approximately one-third of online economic users have played online games or chatted with friends (on a social networking site, listserv or other online group), while an additional 22% have taken their minds off of their economic or financial circumstances by creating or posting content online. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Congressional Favorability at 24-Year Low    Wednesday, September 02, 2009
According to a new survey, Americans are extremely displeased with Congress, and there are already some signs that this could take a toll on the Democrats in the 2010 midterm elections. Currently, 37% express a favorable opinion of Congress, while 52% hold an unfavorable view. At the same time, intentions to vote Democratic in the next midterm election are markedly lower than they have been over the past four years. To view more from this survey, click here.

The Internet and Civic Engagement    Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Political and civic involvement have long been dominated by those with high levels of income and education, leading some advocates to hope that internet-based engagement might alter this pattern. However, a new report by the Pew Research Center''s Internet & American Life Project shows that the internet is not changing the fundamental socio-economic character of civic engagement in America. When it comes to online activities such as contributing money, contacting a government official or signing an online petition, the wealthy and well-educated continue to lead the way. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll August 2009    Thursday, August 20, 2009
A slim majority of Americans continues to favor moving forward on health care reform now despite an intensifying ad war and a political climate of contentious town hall meetings that coincide with rising concerns about the reform effort, according to the August Kaiser Health Tracking Poll. Fifty-three percent of the public believes that tackling health reform is more important than ever, compared to 42 percent who say we cannot afford to take on health care reform right now. The gap between those points of view has narrowed in recent months as criticisms and doubts about reform plans seem to be registering. Sixty three percent of the public say they are "hopeful" about reform, 41 percent are "afraid" and 46 percent are simply "confused". To view more from this survey, Click here.

More See White House and GOP Leaders at Odds    Wednesday, August 19, 2009
According to a new survey, Americans are in an increasingly sour mood about Washington. Barack Obama''s approval ratings continue to inch downward and a growing proportion of Americans (63%) think that the president and Republican leaders are not working together to deal with important issues facing the nation; in June, 50% said the two sides were not cooperating. While more people continue to blame Republican leaders than blame Obama, the percentage saying the president is at fault (17%) is higher now than in June (12%) and much higher than in February (7%). To view more from this survey, Click here.

Forty Years After Woodstock, A Gentler Generation Gap    Wednesday, August 12, 2009
According to a new survey, forty years after the Woodstock music festival glorified and exacerbated the generational fractures in American life, the public today says there are big differences between younger and older adults in their values, use of technology, work ethic, and respect and tolerance for others. But this modern generation gap is a much more subdued affair than the one that raged in the 1960s, for relatively few Americans of any age see it as a source of conflict -- either in society at large or in their own families. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Budget Woes Take Toll on Views of State Governments    Tuesday, August 11, 2009
According to a new survey, with the economy wreaking havoc on state budgets, the favorability ratings of state governments have declined from a year ago. Overall, 50% of the public now holds a favorable opinion of their state government, down from 59% in April 2008. The falloff in positive views has been greater in states with large and moderate budget shortfalls than in states with smaller budget gaps. As positive ratings of state governments have declined, peoples ratings of their local governments have remained relatively stable. By nearly a two-to-one margin, Americans express a favorable opinion of their local governments (60% favorable, 32% unfavorable), which is largely unchanged from April 2008 (63% favorable). To view more from this survey, Click here.

Health Care Front-And-Center on Public's News Agenda    Thursday, July 30, 2009
According to a new survey, the public sharpened its focus on health care reform last week, following news about the debate in Washington more closely than any other story. Interest in health care reform has steadily increased in recent weeks as coverage -including a prime-time presidential news conference - has intensified. Nearly a third (31%) name the debate in Washington over health care reform as their top story, more than the share who cite the economy (19%) or the arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr. (17%). In addition, the latest weekly News Interest Index survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, finds that more than four-in-ten (44%) say they followed health care news very closely, up from 33% in the previous week and 24% two weeks prior. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll -- July 2009    Thursday, July 23, 2009
While Congress works through specific health reform proposals, the July Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds a majority of the public remains supportive of taking action on health reform now, though there is some softening of support as criticisms and doubts seem to be registering. As has been the case over the past ten months, a majority of the American people (56%) continue to believe that health reform is more important than ever despite the country''s economic problems, and the public believes by a two to one margin (51% versus 23%) that the country will be better rather than worse off if Congress and the president enact health reform. More Americans think they and their family will be better off (39%) than worse off (21%) if legislation passes, with roughly a third (32%) believing it will make no difference for them or their family. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Wireless Internet Use     Wednesday, July 22, 2009
An April 2009 survey by the Pew Research Centers Internet & American Life Project shows that 56% of adult Americans have accessed the internet by wireless means, such as using a laptop, mobile device, game console, or MP3 player. The most prevalent way people get online using a wireless network is with a laptop computer; 39% of adults have done this. To view more from this survey, Click here.

The Internet and the Recession    Wednesday, July 15, 2009
According to a new survey, some 69% of all Americans have used the internet to cope with the recession as they hunt for bargains, jobs, ways to upgrade their skills, better investment strategies, housing options, and government benefits. That amounts to 88% of internet users. The internet ranks high among sources of information and advice that people are seeking during hard times, especially when it comes to their personal finances and economic circumstances. Broadband users are particularly likely to use the internet more than some other sources. At the same time, broadcast media outpace the internet as sources of news about national economics and broadcast sources still overshadow the internet among all Americans for information and advice related to their personal financial circumstances. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Public Praises Science; Scientists Fault Public, Media    Thursday, July 09, 2009
According to a new survey, Americans like science. Overwhelming majorities say that science has had a positive effect on society and that science has made life easier for most people. Most also say that government investments in science, as well as engineering and technology, pay off in the long run. And scientists are very highly rated compared with members of other professions: Only members of the military and teachers are more likely to be viewed as contributing a lot to society''s well-being. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Newly Licensed Registered Nurses Study    Friday, June 26, 2009
The Newly Licensed Registered Nurses Study is a national study following the career changes among a cohort of registered nurses (RNs) who obtained their first license to practice as RNs between August 1, 2004 and July 31, 2005. With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation until 2016, we have the unique opportunity to study RN work careers for 10 years. Understanding the needs and challenges of newly licensed nurses is a priority to meet the goal of balancing the supply of and demand for RNs. This study aims to examine the work settings of newly licensed registered nurses (NLRNs) to learn what influences their employment choices. To learn more about this project, click here.

Obama's Ratings Still High Despite Policy Concerns & Public More Optimistic About the Economy, But Still Reluctant to Spend    Thursday, June 18, 2009
A solid majority of Americans (61%) continue to approve of Barack Obama''s job performance, although they express mixed views of several of his policies. An important positive sign for Obama is the public''s continued optimism that his policies will improve the economy - fully 65% express this view. A smaller majority (55%) is optimistic Obama will reduce the budget deficit over the long-term. Nonetheless, Obama''s job approval on the economy has declined from 60% in April to 52% currently. To view more from this survey, click here. Turning to the economy, the public is increasingly optimistic that the nation''s economy will improve in the next year, while a growing number also expect their personal finances to get better. But this has not caused people to open their wallets: The proportion saying they have cut back on personal spending remains as high as it was earlier this year. Nearly half of Americans (48%) say they expect economic conditions a year from now to be better than today, up from 40% in February. Over the same period, the percentage saying they expect their personal finances to improve at least some has risen from 54% to 63%. To view more from this section of the survey, click here.

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll - June 2009    Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The June Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds remarkable stability in public opinion on health reform as Congressional committees begin to hone in on the details of their health reform bills and debate intensifies. A solid majority of the American people continue to believe that health reform is more important than ever given the country''s economic problems. To view more from this survey, click here.

Americans Feel Secure in Their Jobs Despite Rises in Joblessness    Friday, June 05, 2009
A new survey shows that although two out of three Americans polled know someone who has been laid off, eight out of ten (79%) feel "very" or "somewhat" secure in their own jobs. Though older workers feel more insecure about their job with 32 percent of workers over 50 saying they feel "insecure" about their position compared to 13 percent of workers under age 34, they may be less at risk of losing their jobs. The poll reveals that in spite of the older workers'' increased concerns, middle-aged employees have been on the receiving end of pink slips most often, with 16 percent of workers between 35 and 49 having been laid off in the past year compared to only 12 percent of workers between 50 and 64. To view more from this survey, click here.

Online Classifieds    Friday, May 22, 2009
According to a new survey, the number of online adults who have used online classified ads has more than doubled in the past four years. Almost half (49%) of internet users say they have ever used online classified sites, compared with 22% of online adults who had done so in 2005. On any given day about a tenth of internet users (9%) visit online classified sites, up from 4% in 2005. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Trends in Political Values and Core Attitudes    Thursday, May 21, 2009
The long-term values study project has been tracking a broad range of beliefs and attitudes that shape public opinion and influence voting behavior. The project began in 1987 and has been updated 14 times over the past 22 years. As the Obama era begins, the survey finds that centrism has emerged as a dominant factor in public opinion. The political values and core attitudes of the American public show little overall ideological movement. The growing political middle is steadfastly mixed in its beliefs about government, the free market and other values that underlie views on contemporary issues and policies. To view more, click here.

Americans Want Government Branches to Work Together    Friday, May 08, 2009
Americans expect the three branches of government to work together to solve state problems such as prison overcrowding and caring for abused and neglected children, according to a new nationwide public opinion survey by the National Center for State Courts. The poll, conducted at a time when most states are reporting budget deficits and many state courts are cutting costs, is believed to be the first ever survey to measure the public''s perceptions of how the executive, legislative and judicial branches work together on public policy issues that affect the administration of justice. To view more from this survey, click here.

Minnesota Poll: Boosts to economy get a thumbs up    Tuesday, April 28, 2009
A new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll found strong support for Obama''s budget and economic stimulus policies, though respondents were more evenly split on the administration''s efforts to rescue the troubled auto and financial industries. To view more from this survey, Click here.

The 2009 Survey of Americans on HIV/AIDS    Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Less than a year after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recalculated the size of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and announced that there were 40 percent more new HIV infections each year than previously believed, a new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that Americans'' sense of urgency about HIV/AIDS as a national health problem has fallen dramatically and their concern about HIV as a personal risk has also declined, even among some groups at higher risk. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Faith in Flux: Changes in Religious Affiliation in the U.S.    Monday, April 27, 2009
Americans change religious affiliation early and often. In total, about half of American adults have changed religious affiliation at least once during their lives. Most people who change their religion leave their childhood faith before age 24, and many of those who change religion do so more than once. These are among the key findings of a new survey conducted by the Pew Research Center''s Forum on Religion & Public Life. The survey documents the fluidity of religious affiliation in the U.S. and describes in detail the patterns and reasons for change. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Minnesota Poll: Strong support for Obama as state's mood improves    Monday, April 27, 2009
Nearly 100 days into his presidency, Barack Obama has the approval of a strong majority of Minnesotans, amid an improving but fragile mood about the general direction of the nation. A new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll finds that 62 percent of adults in the state approve of the job Obama is doing as president, even as slightly more than half -- 51 percent -- say the country is off on the "wrong track." To view more from this survey, Click here.

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll - April 2009    Thursday, April 23, 2009
The April Kaiser Health Tracking Poll finds that six in ten Americans continues to say that they or a member of their household have delayed or skipped health care in the past year. A solid majority of the public believes health care reform is more important than ever because of current economic problems. The country''s overall economic problems have not dampened their interest in pursuing health care reform: a solid majority of the public (59%) believes health care reform is more important than ever compared with the thirty-seven percent who say we can''t afford health reform because of economic problems. To view more from this survey, click here.

Obama at 100 Days    Thursday, April 23, 2009
As he approaches the 100-day mark of his presidency, Barack Obama''s job approval ratings are higher than those of his most recent predecessors. However, the 44th president is even more distinguished by his strong personal popularity. Fully 73% of Americans - including as many as 46% of Republicans - hold a favorable view of Obama as a person. Fewer people held favorable impressions of George W. Bush (61%) and Bill Clinton (60%) early in their first years. To view more from this survey, click here.

Partisan Bickering Is Back, Says Public    Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Shortly before President Obama took office in January, the public was uncharacteristically optimistic that Republicans and Democrats would work together more to solve problems in the year ahead. Less than three months later, those expectations have faded and most see a return to partisan politics in Washington. According to a new survey, a majority (53%) currently says that Republicans and Democrats have been bickering and opposing each more than usual, while just a quarter (25%) say the two sides have been working together more. In January, twice as many (50%) said they expected Republicans and Democrats to work together more. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Newsweek Poll: One Nation Under God?    Tuesday, April 07, 2009
A Newsweek poll examines American''s attitudes toward religion, the role it plays in people''s personal lives, and opinions about religion''''s impact on U.S. politics. The new poll shows some shifts in public attitudes about the role religion plays in American society under new President Barack Obama. Two-thirds (68%) of the public now say that religion is "losing influence" in American society, while just 19% say religion''s influence is on the rise. The proportion of Americans who say religion "can answer all or most of today''s problems" is now at a historic low of 48%. During the Bush and Clinton years, that figure never dropped below 58 percent. To view more from this survey, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Mixed Review for Obama    Friday, April 03, 2009
Barack Obama''s job performance rating in the Newsweek poll is up a few points since the last poll of one month ago. Currently, 61% say they approve of the way Obama is handling his duties while 27% disapprove. An early March poll showed 58% approve, 26% disapprove. Obama''s ratings for his handling of many current issues fall significantly below his overall approval rating. To view more from this survey, click here.

Obama's Approval Rating Slips Amid Division Over Economic Proposals    Monday, March 16, 2009
According to a new survey, President Barack Obama''s approval rating has slipped, as a growing number of Americans see him listening more to his party''s liberals than to its moderates and many voice opposition to some of his key economic proposals. Obama''s job approval rating has slipped from 64% in February to 59% currently, while disapproval has jumped from 17% to 26% over this period. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Newsweek Poll: The Economy, the Republicans and Obama    Friday, March 06, 2009
In the first Newsweek poll conducted since he took office, Barack Obama scores a 58% approval rating overall. Seventy-two percent of Americans say they have a favorable opinion of him, a higher favorability rating than he received in the Newsweek poll as a presidential candidate during campaign year 2008. But the new president is having only slightly more success winning over rank-and-file Republicans than he has convincing Republican members of Congress to back his economic proposals. Only a third (33%) of self-identified Republicans, compared with nearly nine in 10 (86%) Democrats, say they approve of the way Obama is handling his job. About half (49%) of Republicans say they disapprove. To view more from this survey, click here.

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll - February 2009    Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The first Kaiser Health Tracking Poll of 2009 finds the public is increasingly worried about the affordability and availability of care, with many postponing or skipping treatments due to cost in the past year and a notable minority forced into serious financial straits due to medical bills. Slightly more than half (53%) of Americans say their household cut back on health care due to cost concerns in the past 12 months. The most common actions reported are relying on home remedies and over-the-counter drugs rather than visiting a doctor or skipping dental care. To view more from this survey, click here.

Obama Faces Familiar Divisions Over Anti-Terror Policies    Wednesday, February 18, 2009
According to a new survey, President Obama receives positive ratings for his handling of terrorism and most Americans say his administration''s policies will reduce the likelihood of another major attack on the United States. But as in recent years, the public remains deeply divided over how best to defend the nation against the threat of terrorism. Americans approve of Obama''s handling of the threat of terrorism by more than two-to-one (50% approve vs. 21% disapprove), while 29% offer no opinion. Yet opinion is much more closely divided over Obama''s decision to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in the next year. Fewer than half (46%) approve of the decision while 39% disapprove. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Support for Stimulus Plan Slips, But Obama Rides High    Monday, February 09, 2009
According to a new survery, after weeks of intense debate over President Obama''s economic stimulus plan, a narrow majority of Americans (51%) who have heard about the $800 billion plan say it is a good idea, while 34% say it is a bad idea. In January, the balance of opinion regarding the plan was more positive: 57% of those who had heard about the proposal viewed it positively, compared with just 22% who viewed it negatively. To view more from this survey, Click here.

For Nearly Half of America, Grass Is Greener Somewhere Else    Thursday, January 29, 2009
A new national survey by the Pew Research Center''s Social & Demographic Trends project finds that nearly half (46%) of the public would rather live in a different type of community from the one they''re living in now -- a sentiment that is most prevalent among city dwellers. When asked about specific metropolitan areas where they would like to live, respondents rank Denver, San Diego and Seattle at the top of a list of 30 cities, and Detroit, Cleveland and Cincinnati at the bottom. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Generations Online in 2009    Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Over half of the adult internet population is between 18 and 44 years old. But larger percentages of older generations are online now than in the past, and they are doing more activities online, according to surveys taken from 2006-2008. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Economy, Jobs Trump All Other Policy Priorities In 2009    Thursday, January 22, 2009
According to a new survey, as Barack Obama takes office, the public''s focus is overwhelmingly on domestic policy concerns particularly the economy. Strengthening the nation''s economy and improving the job situation stand at the top of the public''s list of domestic priorities for 2009. Meanwhile, the priority placed on issues such as the environment, crime, illegal immigration and even reducing health care costs has fallen off from a year ago. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Newsweek Poll: Yin and Yang    Friday, January 16, 2009
A recent Newsweek poll finds the public rallying around Barack Obama, just days away from his inauguration as this country''''s 44th president. Two-thirds (66%) of U.S. adults are optimistic that the new Obama administration will be able to improve the way things are going in this country. Despite some controversies about a few of his nominees, about seven in 10 (68%) continue to say they approve of Obama''''s choices for cabinet-level positions. Americans remain unhappy with the state of the nation. The impact of knowing Obama will soon replace George W. Bush in the oval office has been modest. Just 20% of adults say they are satisfied with the way things are going in the country. To view more from this survey, click here.

Modest Backing For Israel in Gaza Crisis    Tuesday, January 13, 2009
According to a new survey, Americans have a mixed view of the war in the Gaza Strip, and see it in much the same way as they viewed Israel''s conflict with Hezbollah in 2006. While continuing to express strong general support for Israel, the public offers limited approval of Israel''s decision to take military action in Gaza. However, Hamas is largely seen as primarily responsible for the outbreak of violence. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Post-Election Voter Engagement    Tuesday, December 30, 2008
According to a new survey, voters expect that the level of public engagement they experienced with Barack Obama during the campaign, much of it occurring online, will continue into the early period of his new administration. A majority of Obama voters expect to carry on efforts to support his policies and try to persuade others to back his initiatives in the coming year; a substantial number expect to hear directly from Obama and his team; and a notable cohort say they have followed the transition online. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Calling Cell Phones in 08 Pre-Election Polls    Thursday, December 18, 2008
According to a new study, public opinion polling faced many challenges during the 2008 presidential election. None was more daunting than the rising number of "cell phone only" voters who could not be reached over the landline telephones. The latest estimates from the National Health Interview Survey -- the most comprehensive measure available -- suggest that nearly 18% of households are wireless only, and the NEP Exit Polls conducted on Nov. 4 found 20% of Election Day voters saying they were cell only. To view more from this report, Click here.

The Future of the Internet III    Sunday, December 14, 2008
A new survey of internet leaders, activists and analysts shows they expect major tech advances as the phone becomes a primary device for online access, voice-recognition improves, artificial and virtual reality become more embedded in everyday life, and the architecture of the internet itself improves. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Americans Cut Back on Spending    Thursday, December 11, 2008
Americans continue to have a bleak outlook of the national economy as well as their own financial situations, according to a new poll. Ninety-two percent of the public rates the national economy as only fair or poor, and a substantial majority (61%) judges their personal finances that way. More consumers say they are cutting back on purchases or reconsidering their saving and retirement decisions. As a result of what''s been happening with the economy recently, 60% of Americans say they are changing the way their money is saved or invested, up from just 48% two months ago; 32% say they have adjusted their retirement plans. Substantial minorities also say they are either delaying or shelving plans to make major household purchases (45%) or buy a home or make major improvements (44%). And fully 73% say that they plan to cut back on holiday gifts this year. To view more from this survey, click here.

Adults and Video Games    Sunday, December 07, 2008
According to a new survey, more than half - 53% - of all American adults play video games of some kind, whether on a computer, on a gaming console, on a cell phone or other handheld device, on a portable gaming device, or online. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Newsweek Poll: Gay Marriage and President-Elect Obama    Friday, December 05, 2008
A national Newsweek poll finds majority public support (55%) for legally-sanctioned gay and lesbian unions or partnerships, but a much lower level of support (39%) for giving full-marriage rights to same-sex couples. Public opinion has become increasingly supportive of gay rights over the years, but many people who believe committed same-sex couples deserve the same rights as married heterosexual couples still oppose the idea of gay marriage. The latest poll finds broad public support for the way Barack Obama is handling his presidential transition. Seven in 10 adult Americans say they approve of the way he has handled things in general (72%) and the same number (72%) say they approve of his choices to fill Cabinet-level positions so far. To view more from this survey, click here.

Survey Reveals Women's Priorities for Obama    Sunday, November 23, 2008
According to a new survey, more than three-fourths of young women ages 18-29 and known as Generation Y want incoming President Barack Obama to make civil rights and racial justice top priorities of his administration. While Obama''s election as the nation''s first black president was interpreted by many as a sign of racial progress, findings in the survey suggest that much work still needs to be done. To view more from this survey, click here.

When Technology Fails    Sunday, November 16, 2008
According to a new survey, half (48%) of tech users need help from others in getting new devices and services to work, and many experience tech outages when there is a glitch with their home internet connection, computer, or cell phone. Coping with these failures is a hassle for many tech users and helps to distance them from technology use. To view more from this survey, Click here.

High Marks for the Campaign, a High Bar for Obama    Thursday, November 13, 2008
According to a new survey, a week after the election, voters are feeling good about themselves, the presidential campaign and Barack Obama. Looking ahead, they have high expectations for the Obama administration, with two-thirds predicting that he will have a successful first term. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Final Week Pre-Election Polls Cited for Accuracy    Friday, November 07, 2008
The two pre-election polls directed by PSRAI in the final week of the campaign both proved to be highly accurate in their estimates of the election outcome. The Pew Research Center''s final estimate of the popular vote was one of two national polls to hit the final results right on the nose (52% Obama, 46% McCain). To view more from this survey, Click here. Our final pre-election poll for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune showed Barack Obama leading by 11 points in the Gopher State. Official totals now put his margin of victory at 10 points. No other poll was more accurate in forecasting the outcome of the presidential and U.S. Senate races in Minnesota this year. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Minnesota Poll: Franken, Coleman are neck and neck    Sunday, November 02, 2008
The Minnesota U.S. Senate race remains a tossup on the final weekend of the campaign, with the outcome likely to be decided by who can snatch away the most voters from third-party contender Dean Barkley. A new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll shows DFLer Al Franken clinging to a slim lead over Republican Sen. Norm Coleman among likely voters, 42 percent to 38 percent. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Minnesota Poll: Obama's big lead solid at the stretch    Sunday, November 02, 2008
The presidential race in Minnesota appears to have stabilized, with Democrat Barack Obama continuing to hold a commanding lead over Republican John McCain, according to a new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll. The poll shows Obama leading McCain 53 percent to 42 percent among likely voters. That 11 percentage-point gap is unchanged from the previous Minnesota Poll, conducted two weeks ago. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Obama Leads McCain 52% to 46% in Campaign's Final Days    Sunday, November 02, 2008
Barack Obama holds a significant lead over John McCain in the final days of Campaign 2008. The Pew Research Center''s final pre-election poll of 2,587 likely voters, conducted Oct. 29-Nov. 1, finds 49% supporting or leaning to Obama, compared with 42% for McCain; minor party candidates draw 2%, and 7% are undecided. This is a smaller Obama lead than in previous Pew Research Center polls, reflecting some gains by McCain. Obama''s lead had been 52% to 36% among registered voters Oct. 23-26, but in the current poll it has slipped to 50% to 39%. McCain also is getting the boost that Republican candidates typically receive when the sample is narrowed from the base of 2,995 registered voters to those most likely to vote. To view more from this survey, Click here.

McCain Support Continues Downward Spiral    Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Barack Obama leads John McCain by a 52% to 36% margin according to a new national poll of 1,325 registered voters. This is the fourth consecutive survey that has found support for the Republican candidate edging down. In contrast, since early October weekly surveys have shown about the same number of respondents saying they back Obama. When the sample is narrowed to those most likely to vote, Obama leads by 53% to 38%. To view more from this survey, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Palin's Impact and Obama's Vulnerabilities    Friday, October 24, 2008
As the campaign moves toward its final week, a Newsweek poll finds Barack Obama leading John McCain by a 13-point margin (53%-40%) among all registered voters nationwide, and by 12 points among likely voters (53%-41%). This is the biggest lead for any presidential candidate in a late October Newsweek poll since 1984, when Ronald Reagan led Walter Mondale by 57%-40%, 17 points. That year, Reagan won by popular vote by 59%-41% and carried 49 states. However, it should be noted that big leads in presidential elections can be cut substantially in the final two weeks. The choice of Sarah Palin, which once gave McCain''s candidacy a lift, is now clearly a drag on the GOP ticket. Nearly one third (31%) of registered voters say the Palin pick makes them less likely to vote for McCain, more than the 19% who say she makes them more likely to support McCain. To view more from this survey, click here.

Growing Doubts About McCain's Judgment, Age and Campaign Conduct    Tuesday, October 21, 2008
According to a new poll, Barack Obama''s lead over John McCain has steadily increased since mid-September, when the race was essentially even. Shortly after the first presidential debate on Sept. 26, Obama moved to a 49% to 42% lead; that margin inched up to 50% to 40% in a poll taken just after the second debate. Currently, Obama enjoys his widest margin yet over McCain among registered voters, at 52% to 38%. When the sample of voters is narrowed to those most likely to vote, Obama leads by 53% to 39%. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Minnesota Poll: 3-way Senate race up for grabs    Tuesday, October 21, 2008
With two weeks to go until Election Day, the exceptionally volatile and closely watched U.S. Senate race in Minnesota has tightened up. The latest Star Tribune Minnesota Poll shows DFLer Al Franken at 39 percent to Republican Sen. Norm Coleman''s 36 percent. Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley was the choice of 18 percent of likely voters. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Minnesota Poll: Obama holds a wide lead over McCain    Monday, October 20, 2008
Democrat Barack Obama continues to hold a wide lead over Republican John McCain in Minnesota, largely because most likely voters believe Obama would do a better job with the economy, according to a new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Public Not Desperate About Economy or Personal Finances; Obama Clearer than McCain in Addressing Crisis    Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Americans are concerned about the nation''s economic problems almost to the exclusion of every other issue, and they register the lowest level of national satisfaction ever measured in a Pew Research Center survey. Just 11% say they are satisfied with the way things are going in the country down 14 points in the past month alone. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Newsweek Poll: Obama Has Double-Digit Lead    Friday, October 10, 2008
Barack Obama leads John McCain by an 11-point margin (52%-41%) among registered voters nationwide in a Newsweek poll conducted in the days following the second presidential debate. In the last Newsweek poll, conducted one month ago, both candidates were tied at 46%. In addition to gaining ground overall, Obama has also increased his strong support. He now leads by an identical 11-point margin among voters who declare themselves as strong supporters of a candidate (38%-27%). John McCain faces an uphill battle in the weeks ahead, with just one more presidential debate remaining. The Arizona Senator would have to win over about two-thirds of the voters still up for grabs - soft supporters and undecideds - in order to reach the 50% mark. To view more from this survey, click here.

Minnesota Poll: Obama leaps ahead of McCain    Sunday, October 05, 2008
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has opened up a commanding lead in Minnesota over Republican John McCain, according to a new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll. The poll, conducted last week, found that 55 percent support Obama, while 37 percent back McCain. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008 -- September 2008    Wednesday, October 01, 2008
The latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008 finds that health care has crept up in importance as an election issue in recent months among a key voting group: political independents, who ranked it as highly as Democrats did in this poll. Roughly one in four (26%) independents rank health care as one of the top issues they would "most like to hear the presidential candidates talk about." Health care''s importance has risen among independents by eight percentage points since April. At the same time, health care has dropped even further down Republicans'' priority list (now mentioned by 11%, a new low) and stayed roughly stable among Democrats (25%). To view more from this survey, Click here.

Obama Boosts Leadership Image and Regains Lead Over McCain    Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Barack Obama has achieved a significant lead over John McCain in the days following the first presidential debate. Pew''s new survey conducted Sept. 27-29 finds that Obama has moved to a 49% to 42% advantage among registered voters. The race was virtually even in mid-September and early August. Obama had not led McCain by a significant margin in a Pew survey since June. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Cell Phones and the 2008 Vote    Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Current polling in the 2008 presidential election shows a very tight race between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain. In part because of the strong support Obama is attracting among younger voters, and as the number of Americans who are reachable only by cell phones rises, interest continues to grow in the question of whether public opinion polls that do not include cell phones are accurately measuring the relative levels of support for the two candidates. To view more from this survey click here.

McCain Gains On Issues, But Stalls As Candidate Of Change    Thursday, September 18, 2008
With two eventful and closely followed political conventions now in their rearview mirror, voters'' views of Barack Obama and John McCain have changed in some ways, yet remain the same in others. What has not changed is that the race remains very close: a national survey of 2,509 voters interviewed Sept. 9-14 on both landline phones and cell phones finds that 46% support Obama, while 44% support John McCain. These results are almost identical to those in Pew''s pre-convention survey in early August, which had 46% backing Obama and 43% McCain. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Teens, Video Games, and Civics    Tuesday, September 16, 2008
According to a new survey, game playing is universal, with almost all teens playing games and at least half playing games on a given day. Game playing experiences are diverse, with the most popular games falling into the racing, puzzle, sports, action and adventure categories. Game playing is also social, with most teens playing games with others at least some of the time and can incorporate many aspects of civic and political life. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Minnesota Poll: Obama, McCain are dead even in state    Sunday, September 14, 2008
Minnesota has become a battleground in a presidential campaign that has dramatically tightened nationwide. A new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll shows that the race is now a dead heat between Barack Obama and John McCain, each supported by 45 percent of likely voters in the state. To view more from this survey, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Post Conventions    Friday, September 12, 2008
After the political conventions, the presidential race is deadlocked according to the latest Newsweek poll. Barack Obama and John McCain are each supported by 46% of registered voters nationwide. Obama had a marginal lead (44%-41%) in the last Newsweek poll conducted in July before the conventions. The contours of the race have changed, as McCain''s once soft support has firmed up. To view more from this survey, click here.

Use of Cloud Computing Applications and Services    Friday, September 12, 2008
Some 69% of online Americans use webmail services, store data online, or use software programs such as word processing applications whose functionality is located on the web. Online users who take advantage of cloud applications say they like the convenience of having access to data and applications from any Web-connected device. However, their message to providers of such services is: Let''s keep the data between us. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Voter Response to the Conventions in Perspective: McCain Gets Boost, Now the Hard Part     Thursday, September 11, 2008
According to a new survey, John McCain came out of the convention period surging in the polls, with an energized base of supporters after his bold choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Considering the negative political environment the GOP faces this year, that is no small achievement. But polling by Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI) during the convention period, and comparison data from Newsweek polls in previous elections, finds McCain in a less favorable position today than other recent incumbent party presidential candidates after their nominating conventions.

Podcast Downloading 2008    Thursday, August 28, 2008
According to a new survey, as gadgets with digital audio capability proliferate, podcast downloading continues to increase. Currently, 19% of all internet users say they have downloaded a podcast so they could listen to it or view it later. This most recent percentage is up from 12% of internet users who reported downloading podcasts in our August 2006 survey and 7% in our February-April 2006 survey. Still, podcasting has yet to become a fixture in the everyday lives of internet users, as very few internet users download podcasts on a typical day. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Men or Women: Who's the Better Leader?    Monday, August 25, 2008
Americans believe women have the right stuff to be political leaders. When it comes to honesty, intelligence and a handful of other character traits they value highly in leaders, the public rates women superior to men, according to a new nationwide Pew Research Center Social and Demographic Trends survey. To view more from this survey, click here.

National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) Campus Environment 2008: A National Report Card on Sustainability in Higher Education    Thursday, August 21, 2008
According to a new survey, a large majority of colleges and universities continue to say that environmental or sustainability programs fit the culture and values of their campus. Solid majorities again say environmental or sustainability programs are good public relations and are cost effective. A sizeable minority say their programs are helpful in recruiting students as well as faculty and staff. Notably, schools have grown more appreciative of these benefits since 2001. To view more from this survey, click here.

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008 -- August 2008    Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008 poll finds that one in four (24%) Americans continue to struggle with paying for health care. Health care ranks as a "serious problem" above paying for food (18%), problems with debt (16%), and paying the rent or mortgage (15%) and below paying for gas (37%) or getting a good paying job or raise in pay (26%). To view more from this survey, click here.

Inflation Staggers Public, Economy Still Seen as Fixable    Thursday, July 31, 2008
According to a new poll, the public continues to be extremely downbeat about the national economy. Just 10% say the economy is in good shape, while 72% say the economy is either in a recession (54%) or a depression (18%). On a personal level, concerns about rising prices have surged. Beyond widespread anxiety about energy costs, a growing number of Americans say it is difficult for them to afford food. To view more from this survey, Click here.

America's Four Middle Classes    Tuesday, July 29, 2008
There isn''t one American middle class; there are four. Each is different from the others in its attitudes, outlook and financial circumstance--sometimes in ways that defy traditional stereotypes of the middle class, according to an analysis of a recent national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center Social and Demographic Trends Project. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Newsweek Poll: Obama and God    Friday, July 11, 2008
The latest Newsweek poll finds Barack Obama leading John McCain by a margin of 44% to 41% among registered voters nationally. The current statistical tie is a significant change from last month''s poll, which showed the Illinois Senator with a double-digit lead, 51% to 36%. While some of this difference is likely explained by sampling error, the closer margin may also reflect more stable poll numbers as a "bounce" in support for Obama after his rival, Hillary Clinton, left the race and endorsed him has waned. To view more from this survey, click here.

Likely Rise in Voter Turnout Bodes Well for Democrats    Thursday, July 10, 2008
The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, finds greater public interest and engagement in the presidential election than during the five previous campaigns. Fully 72% say they are giving quite a lot of thought to this election - by far the highest percentage at this point in the campaign since 1988. The proportion saying they are more interested in politics this year than during the previous campaign is greater than it has been since 1992. And public interest in campaign news has been consistently higher than in recent elections. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Newsweek Poll: What Do Americans Know?    Saturday, June 28, 2008
The most recent Newsweek poll quizzed the public on a variety of topics, ranging from politics and government to foreign affairs, economics, science and health, and the arts. To view more from this survey, click here.

Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008 -- June 2008    Wednesday, June 25, 2008
The latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008 poll finds that the recent economic downturn continues to create serious financial problems for most Americans. When asked about the impact of recent economic changes, nearly six in 10 adults (59 percent) report having a "serious problem" with one of seven major financial issues, including one in four who cite paying for health care as a serious problem. To view more from this survey, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Obama Gaining Ground    Friday, June 20, 2008
A Newsweek poll shows Barack Obama has gained significant ground in the presidential race against John McCain. The Illinois Senator now has a double-digit lead, 51% to 36%, over his GOP rival among registered voters nationwide. In the previous Newsweek poll, completed in late May when Hillary Clinton was still fighting hard for the Democratic nomination, Obama managed no better than a 46%-46% tie with McCain. Obama is running much stronger at this point in the race than his two most recent predecessors, John Kerry and Al Gore, who both failed in their bids to win the White House. To view more from this survey, click here.

How Many Are Underinsured? Trends Among U.S. Adults, 2003 and 2007    Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The number of underinsured U.S. adults that is, people who have health coverage that does not adequately protect them from high medical expenses has risen dramatically, a Commonwealth Fund study finds. As of 2007, there were an estimated 25 million underinsured adults in the United States, up 60 percent from 2003. To view more from this survey, click here.

Democratic Party's Favorables Rise, Congress Still Unpopular    Tuesday, June 03, 2008
According to a new survey, the overall image of the Democratic Party has improved over the past year, although the Democratic-led Congress remains widely unpopular. A majority of Americans (57%) say they have a favorable view of the Democratic Party, up six points since July 2007 and 10 points since July 2006. Public attitudes toward Congress remain very negative. Currently, just 41% of the public expresses a favorable opinion of Congress, with 51% unfavorable; that is identical to opinions of Congress in July 2007. To view more from this survey, click here.

Rite of Passage? Why Young Adults Become Uninsured and How New Policies Can Help, 2008 Update    Friday, May 30, 2008
According to a new survey, young adults, ages 19 to 29, are one of the largest segments of the U.S. population without health insurance: 13.7 million lacked coverage in 2006. They often lose coverage at age 19 or upon high school or college graduation almost two of five (38%) high school graduates who do not enroll in college and one-third of college graduates are uninsured for a time during the first year after graduation. To view more from this survey, click here.

Obama and McCain in a General Election Matchup    Thursday, May 29, 2008
According to a new survey, Barack Obama is the clear favorite of Democratic voters for their party''s presidential nomination as the end of the primary season approaches. Obama currently holds a wide 54% to 41% lead over Hillary Clinton. But when the Illinois Democrat is tested against John McCain in a general election matchup, he now runs about even against the presumptive Republican nominee. Previously, Obama had led McCain by modest margins in three surveys conducted since late February. To view more from this survey, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Obama and the Race Factor    Friday, May 23, 2008
As he closes in on the Democratic nomination, Barack Obama faces a unique obstacle to victory over John McCain in November - his race. The results from a recent Newsweek poll suggest that Obama''s problems winning white support in some places - as seen in Hillary Clinton''s big wins in Kentucky and West Virginia - will make it more difficult for him to put together a winning coalition for the general election. In a political environment very favorable to the Democrats, Obama manages only a tie in a trial heat against McCain (46%-46%). By comparison, in party identification that Democrats have a 15-point advantage among registered voters nationally - 53% consider themselves Democrats or lean to the party, while 38% self-identify as Republicans or lean Republican. Meanwhile, Clinton remains competitive in the battle for voter support among Democrats and Democratic leaners nationally, even as her chances of victory dwindle. To view more from this survey, click here.

Opinion of Oprah More Politicized, Gore's Ratings Improve Favorability of Leading Figures    Wednesday, May 14, 2008
A new survey shows that Oprah Winfrey''s image has not recovered from last year, following a slip in her popularity after endorsing of Barack Obama. Long one of America''s best-known and best-liked media figures, opinions about the talk show host have become increasingly divided along partisan political lines. Currently, 68% of Americans say they have a favorable opinion of Winfrey, which is largely unchanged from a Gallup survey in October 2007 (66%). At that time, Gallup found that positive views of Winfrey had declined by eight points, from 74%, since January 2007. To view more from this survey, click here.

Pope Benedict's Image Improves Following U.S. Visit    Tuesday, May 06, 2008
According to a new survey, following his first visit to the United States as spiritual leader of the world''s Catholics, Pope Benedict XVI is viewed more favorably than he was a few weeks before his trip. Currently, 61% of Americans say they have a favorable impression of the pope, up from 52% in late March. To view more from this survey, click here.

2008 Financial Literacy Survey    Tuesday, April 29, 2008
According to a new survey, one in every 10 Americans with a mortgage or roughly 10 million adults report being late or missing a mortgage payment in the last year. Adding more stress to the current housing market, almost one-quarter of Americans say they do not know enough about owning a home to consider buying one. While a majority of the public report that they pay their bills on time and do not have any debts in collections, a notable minority has fallen behind and is struggling with seven percent or roughly 15 million adults either getting calls from collectors or seriously considering filing for bankruptcy. Higher income households and older Americans are more likely to stay on top of their bills. And whites and Latinos are more likely to pay their bills on time and stay clear of collections than blacks. Alarmingly, only 59 percent or roughly 23 million of the young adults in Generation Y, those ages 18-29, pay their bills on time every month. That translates into millions of tomorrows leaders, those who will drive the engine of our economy for years to come, who are not practicing a most basic financial principle. And the previous generation of consumers, those ages 30-49, also do not appear to be modeling good financial behavior. To view more from this survey, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Race, Class & Obama    Saturday, April 26, 2008
A new Newsweek poll shows Barack Obama losing ground on a number of key survey measures. The double-digit lead for Obama in preference for the nomination among registered Democrats and Democratic leaners has been reduced to seven points (48%-41%). Obama''s favorability rating has dropped further since last week''s poll. Four in 10 (40%) registered voters now say they have an unfavorable opinion of him. Only a week ago, the Illinois Senator was widely viewed as the Democratic candidate most likely to defeat John McCain. With another win in Pennsylvania, Clinton has cut into Obama''s advantage as the stronger candidate for the fall. Currently, 46% believe Obama is more electable while 38% give Clinton the edge. One week ago, Obama led on this measure by 55% to 33%. To view more click from this survey, click here.

Writing, Technology and Teens    Thursday, April 24, 2008
According to a new survey, teenagers lives are filled with writing. All teens write for school, and 93% of teens say they write for their own pleasure. Most notably, the vast majority of teens have eagerly embraced written communication with their peers as they share messages on their social network pages, in emails and instant messages online, and through fast-paced thumb choreography on their cell phones. Parents believe that their children write more as teens than they did at that age. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Newsweek Poll: Who's More Electable?    Friday, April 18, 2008
A Newsweek poll reveals Barack Obama has the momentum going into next Tuesday''s Pennsylvania Democratic primary. Obama now leads Hillary Clinton by double digits in the battle for support among registered Democrats and leaners nationwide, 54% to 35%. The previous Newsweek poll in March showed the two Democrats locked in a statistical tie (45% Obama-44% Clinton). The new poll shows Obama ahead among women as well as men, and voters age 60 and older as well as younger voters. A majority of registered voters see Clinton as dishonest and untrustworthy, suggesting that Clinton''s being caught telling a tall tale about landing in Bosnia under sniper fire has had a more negative impact with voters than the recent Obama controversies. Still, poll results indicate both Clinton and Obama have been harmed by the attacks they have directed at each other, as both candidates have seen a drop in favorabilty since March. To view more from this survey, click here.

Inside the Middle Class: Bad Times Hit the Good Life    Wednesday, April 09, 2008
According to a new survey, Americans feel stuck in their tracks. A majority of survey respondents say that in the past five years, they either haven''t moved forward in life (25%) or have fallen backwards (31%). This is the most downbeat short-term assessment of personal progress in nearly half a century of polling by the Pew Research Center and the Gallup organization. When asked to measure their progress over a longer time frame, Americans are more upbeat. Nearly two-thirds say they have a higher standard of living than their parents had when their parents were their age. To view more from this survey, Click here.

Obama Weathers the Wright Storm, Clinton Faces Credibility Problem    Thursday, March 27, 2008
According to a new survey, the videos of Rev. Jeremiah Wright''s controversial sermons and Barack Obama''s subsequent speech on race and politics have attracted more public attention than any events thus far in the 2008 presidential campaign. A majority of the public (51%) said they heard "a lot" about the videos, and an even larger percentage (54%) said they heard a lot about Obama''s speech, according to the weekly News Interest Index. Most voters aware of the sermons say they were personally offended by Wright''s comments, and a sizable minority (35%) says that their opinion of Obama has grown less favorable because of Wright''s statements. To view more from this survey, click here.

Financial Woes Now Overshadow All Other Concerns for Journalists    Monday, March 17, 2008
According to a new survey, the financial crisis facing news organizations is so grave that it is now overshadowing concerns about the quality of news coverage, the flagging credibility of the news media, and other problems that have been very much on the minds of journalists over the past decade. An ever larger majority of journalists at national media outlets -- 62% -- says that journalism is going in the wrong direction, an increase from the 51% who expressed this view in 2004. Half of internet journalists and about the same proportion of local journalists (49%) also take a negative view of the state of their profession. To view more from this survey, click here.

Newsweek Poll: The Democratic Presidential Race    Monday, March 10, 2008
After Hillary Clinton''s comeback primary victories in Ohio and Texas, the Democratic presidential race is a dead heat nationally. According to the latest Newsweek poll, Barack Obama has a statistically insignificant one-point lead (45%-44%) over Senator Clinton in support for the nomination among registered Democrats and Democratic leaners nationwide. Most national polling done prior to the March 4th primaries had shown Obama with a significant lead after a winning streak of 11 straight victories in primaries and caucuses. The basic structure of this race is much the same as it was a month ago. Obama is the change candidate and Clinton is the candidate who is seen as more experienced and tested. To view from this survey click here.

Economy Top Issue for Presidential Candidates to Discuss    Friday, March 07, 2008
A new survey reveals that economic worries have overcome health and Iraq as a campaign issue. Health care ranks third as the issue that people want presidential candidates to discuss during the campaign -- named by 28% of voters, behind the economy (45%) and Iraq (32%). Party differences exist, with health care ranking second for Democrats, third for independents, and fourth for Republicans. Overall, the share of registered voters picking the economy as the issue they want to hear the candidates talk about doubled since December. To view more from this survey, click here.

New York City Global Warming Survey    Tuesday, March 04, 2008
According to a new survey, a large majority of New York City residents say that they are personally convinced that global warming is happening (78%). Of those personally convinced, 82 percent believe that global warming is caused mainly by human activities (70%), or caused equally by humans and natural changes (12%), while only 15 percent believe it is caused mostly by natural changes in the environment. A majority of New Yorkers (60%) say they personally worry either a great deal (26%) or a fair amount (34%) about global warming, whereas 39 percent say they worry only a little (24%) or not at all (15%). Yet most New York City residents believe that global warming is a greater threat to species, people, and places relatively far away, than to themselves or other people in the city. To view more from this survey, click here.

Obama Leading    Thursday, February 28, 2008
According to a new survey, Barack Obama leads Hillary Clinton in the national Democratic primary contest as the March 4 primaries approach. He holds a 50%-43% lead over John McCain in a general election matchup. Yet, a solid majority of voters (56%) says Obama has not provided enough information about his plans and policies; in contrast, most voters say Clinton and McCain have disclosed enough information about their plans. In addition, 43% of voters say that Obama would not be "tough enough" in dealing with foreign policy and national security issues. To view more from this survey, click here.

Religious Affiliation in America Very Diverse    Monday, February 25, 2008
A new survey describes the religious affiliation of the American public and explores the shifts taking place in the U.S. religious landscape. The survey finds that religious affiliation in the U.S. is both very diverse and extremely fluid. More than one-quarter of American adults (28%) have left the faith in which they were raised in favor of another religion -- or no religion at all. If change in affiliation from one type of Protestantism to another is included, roughly 44% of adults have either switched religious affiliation, moved from being unaffiliated with any religion to being affiliated with a particular faith, or dropped any connection to a specific religious tradition altogether. To view more from this survey, click here.

Online Shopping    Wednesday, February 13, 2008
According to a new survey, most online Americans view online shopping as a way to save time and a convenient way to buy products. At the same time, most internet users express discomfort over a key step in online shopping -- sending personal or credit card information over the internet. To view more from this survey, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Post-Super Tuesday    Monday, February 11, 2008
After Super Tuesday, the NEWSWEEK poll shows Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton statistically tied for support among registered Democrats and Democratic leaners nationwide. Obama is the first choice of 42% of Democratic voters, while 41% prefer Hillary Clinton. A large number (17%) are undecided at this point. The co-frontrunners have different appeals: Obama is the choice of those looking for change and a more inspirational, unifying candidate; Clinton is the favorite of voters who see her as more experienced, a more effective leader, and someone who cares about their problems. On the Republican side, with Romney's withdrawal, John McCain is in a strong position to capture the nomination. There is less enthusiasm among GOP voters for McCain than there is among Democrats for Obama and Clinton. Nonetheless, three-quarters (76%) of all Republican voters and two-thirds (69%) of self-described conservatives say they are okay with McCain as the GOP nominee.

McCain's Support Soars, Democratic Race Tightens    Sunday, February 03, 2008
According to a new survey, Barack Obama and John McCain have made significant gains in support as the field of candidates has narrowed in both parties. John McCain now leads 42%-22% over Mitt Romney among Republican voters nationally. Support for McCain is up 13 points since mid-January, and he currently draws about twice as much support as either Romney or Mike Huckabee. To view more from this survey, click here.

The Impact Of "Cell-Onlys" On Public Opinion Polling    Thursday, January 31, 2008
According to two new surveys, the proportion of Americans who rely solely on a cell phone for their telephone service continues to grow, as does the share who still have a landline phone but do most of their calling on their cell phone. With these changes, there is an increased concern that polls conducted only on landline telephones may not accurately measure public opinion. A new Pew Research Center study finds that, while different demographically, Americans who mostly or exclusively rely on cell phones are not substantially different from the landline population in their basic political attitudes and preferences. To view more from this survey, click here.

COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION POLL 2007/2008    Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Approaching the one year anniversary of the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech, according to a new survey, Virginians are divided over whether any government or societal action can prevent similar shootings; 48% take the more optimistic view while 47% say that shootings like the one at Virginia Tech will happen again regardless of what action is taken by government and society. About seven in ten (69%) Virginians believe parents need to tell schools about any social and emotional problems their children are having in order to prevent school violence, while 18% say parents should be able to keep this information private. Further, 74% say parents should be required to provide schools with a childs history of social and emotional problems at enrollment. Two thirds of Virginians say this should be required for students entering college.

An Even More Partisan Agenda for 2008    Thursday, January 24, 2008
According to a new survey, with the economy slowing and the stock market reeling, there is greater agreement among Republicans and Democrats that strengthening the nation's economy should be a top priority for the president and Congress in the coming year. By contrast, partisan differences over the importance of other domestic issues such as dealing with global warming, helping the poor and providing health insurance to the uninsured have all increased substantially over the past year. As President Bush prepares for his final State of the Union address on Jan. 28, opinions about his administration's legacy, already fairly negative, have declined further. Fully 59% say the Bush administration's failures will outweigh its accomplishments, while just 28% believe the Bush administration will be remembered more for its accomplishments. A year ago, a smaller majority (53%) believed the administration's failures would be more enduring than its successes. To view more from this survey, click here.

In GOP Primaries: Three Victors, Three Constituencies    Wednesday, January 16, 2008
According to a new survey, the Republican nomination contest is being increasingly shaped by ideology and religion as it moves toward the Super Tuesday states on Feb. 5. John McCain has moved out to a solid lead nationally, increasing his support among Republican and GOP-leaning voters from 22% in late December to 29% currently. Mike Huckabee, at 20%, and Mitt Romney, with 17%, trail McCain. Rudy Giuliani is a distant fourth, polling just 13%. Giuliani's support has declined seven points since late December. To view more from this survey, click here.

Internet's Broader Role in Campaign 2008    Friday, January 11, 2008
According to a new survey, the internet is living up to its potential as a major source for news about the presidential campaign. Nearly a quarter of Americans (24%) say they regularly learn something about the campaign from the internet, almost double the percentage from a comparable point in the 2004 campaign (13%). Moreover, the internet has now become a leading source of campaign news for young people, and the role of social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook is a notable part of the story. Fully 42% of those ages 18 to 29 say they regularly learn about the campaign from the internet, the highest percentage for any news source. In January 2004, just 20% of young people said they routinely got campaign news from the internet. To view more from this survey, click here.

Increased use of video-sharing sites    Wednesday, January 09, 2008
According to a new survey, 48% of internet users said they had ever visited a video-sharing site such as YouTube. A year ago, in December 2006, 33% of internet users said they had ever visited such sites. That represents growth of more than 45% year-to-year. 15% of respondents said they had used a video-sharing site "yesterday" -- the day before they were contacted for our survey. A year ago, 8% had visited such a site "yesterday." Thus, on an average day, the number of users of video sites nearly doubled from the end of 2006 to the end of 2007. To view more from this survey, click here.

McCain and Huckabee Catch Up to Giuliani Nationwide    Wednesday, January 02, 2008
On the eve of the Iowa caucuses, Rudy Giuliani's once solid lead in nationwide polling of Republican voters has vanished. The latest nationwide survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press finds about equal levels of support for John McCain (22%), Rudy Giuliani (20%), and Mike Huckabee (17%). To view more from this survey, click here.

Information Searches That Solve Problems    Sunday, December 30, 2007
According to a new survey, for help with a variety of common problems, more people turn to the internet than consult experts or family members to provide information and resources. Another key insight is that members of Gen Y are the leading users of libraries for help solving problems and in more general patronage. To view more from this survey, click here.

Kaiser Poll Finds Iraq and Health Care Remain Top Issues for Presidential Candidates to Discuss, Though the Economy and Immigration Are Up    Thursday, December 20, 2007
With the first presidential primaries quickly approaching, the December Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Election 2008 finds that Iraq continues to top the list of issues the public wants to hear presidential candidates talk about, with more than a third (35 percent) naming the war as one of the top two issues in an open-ended question. Health care (30 percent) ranks second, followed by the economy (21 percent) and immigration (17 percent). To view more from this survey, click here.

Teens and Social Media    Wednesday, December 19, 2007
According to a new survey, content creation by teenagers continues to grow, with 64% of online teenagers ages 12 to 17 engaging in at least one type of content creation, up from 57% of online teens in 2004. Girls continue to dominate most elements of content creation. Some 35% of all teen girls blog, compared with 20% of online boys, and 54% of wired girls post photos online compared with 40% of online boys. Boys, however, do dominate one area - posting of video content online. Online teen boys are nearly twice as likely as online girls (19% vs. 10%) to have posted a video online somewhere where someone else could see it.To view more from this survey, click here.

Digital Footprints: Online identity management and search in the age of transparency    Sunday, December 16, 2007
According to a new survey, internet users are becoming more aware of their digital footprint; 47% have searched for information about themselves online, up from just 22% five years ago. However, few monitor their online presence with great regularity. Just 3% of self-searchers report that they make a regular habit of it and 74% have checked up on their digital footprints only once or twice. To view more from this survey, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Huckabee Surges, Obama Gains in Iowa    Friday, December 07, 2007
A Newsweek poll in Iowa shows Mike Huckabee is now the Republican frontrunner in Iowa. Mitt Romney is in second place, while support for Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson has dropped to single digits. Huckabee's ordained minister status seems to be doing more to help than hurt his prospects in Iowa. The same cannot be said of Mitt Romney's Mormon religion. Close to half of Iowa Republican voters think at least some of their fellow Republicans will not be willing to back Romney because he is a Mormon. To view more from this survey, click here.

Republicans in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina    Tuesday, December 04, 2007
According to a new survey, Republican voter sentiment in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina is highly fluid. Compared with Democratic voters, likely Republican voters in these three politically disparate states express less enthusiasm about their field of presidential candidates, and many Republicans voice only modest support for their choices. Mike Huckabee runs even with Mitt Romney in Iowa, but the former Massachusetts governor holds a wide lead over all of his rivals in neighboring New Hampshire. There is no frontrunner in South Carolina, where Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson have about as much support as Romney, closely followed by John McCain and Huckabee. To view more from this survey, click here.

Democrats in Iowa, New Hampshire & South Carolina     Monday, December 03, 2007
According to a new survey, Democrats enter the presidential primary campaign upbeat about their candidates and united in their views on major issues. Sen. Hillary Clinton is the clear frontrunner in New Hampshire and South Carolina, where she holds 19-point and 14-point leads, respectively. However in Iowa she is in a statistical tie with Barack Obama. Clinton has a clear advantage on the key issue of health care, and leads among Democratic women voters in all three states - where women constitute majorities of the likely caucus and primary electorates. Her lead is also particularly wide among older voters - voters over age 50 in all three states favor her over Obama by more than two-to-one. To view more from this survey, click here.

Journalists in Iraq    Wednesday, November 28, 2007
A new survey of journalists covering the war from Iraq reveals that after four years of war, the journalists reporting from Iraq give their coverage a mixed but generally positive assessment, but they believe they have done a better job of covering the American military and the insurgency than they have the lives of ordinary Iraqis. And they do not believe the coverage of Iraq over time has been too negative. If anything, many believe the situation over the course of the war has been worse than the American public has perceived. To view more from this survey conducted by PSRA for The Project for Excellence in Journalism, click here.

Optimism About Black Progress Declines    Tuesday, November 13, 2007
A new national poll finds that African Americans see a widening gulf between the values of middle class and poor blacks, and nearly four-in-ten say that because of the diversity within their community, blacks can no longer be thought of as a single race. Blacks are also less upbeat about the state of black progress now than at any time since 1983. Looking backward, just one-in-five blacks say things are better for blacks now than they were five years ago. Looking ahead, fewer than half of all blacks (44%) say they think life for blacks will get better in the future, down from the 57% who said so in a 1986 survey. To view more from this survey click here.

Clinton Favorite to Win the White House    Sunday, November 04, 2007
With the presidential election only a year away, the Newsweek poll shows Senator Hillary Clinton and the Democrats as the favorites to win the White House - if only by a small margin. Clinton gets 44% support from registered Democrats and leaners, followed by Barack Obama with 24% and John Edwards with 12%. Clinton appeals more to the core voters within her party. She is the first choice of 45% of self-identified Democrats, compared with 39% of Democratic leaners. Rudy Giuliani remains the frontrunner in the Republican race, but he too has failed to build any momentum since the summer. He leads the GOP field with 30% support among registered Republicans and leaners, the same support level he received in August. There is no clear second place Republican candidate. Fred Thompson gets 15%, John McCain 14%, and Mitt Romney 12%. To view more from this survey, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Election 2008 One Year Out    Saturday, November 03, 2007
With the presidential election only a year away, the Newsweek poll shows Senator Hillary Clinton and the Democrats as the favorites to win the White House. But Clinton's lead over the Democratic field for her party's nomination is not so wide at this point that she has a lock on the nomination. And a GOP frontrunner continues to give her a close race in a trial heat for the general election.

A Year Before the 2008 Election    Wednesday, October 31, 2007
A new national survey finds that while the 2008 presidential election is still a year away, most major national opinion trends favor the Democrats. Discontent with the state of the nation is noticeably greater than it was four years ago. President Bush's approval rating has fallen from 50% to 30% over this period. The public continues to express more confidence in the Democratic Party than in the Republican Party as being able to bring about needed change, to govern in an honest and ethical way and to manage the federal government. To view more from this survey, click here.

Real Estate Slump Felt in Wealthy Areas    Thursday, October 11, 2007
Americans are substantially less inclined than they were even a few months ago to say they expect home prices to increase over the next few years. A Pew Center Research poll shows that, overall, 53% of Americans think local housing prices will climb in the next few years, down from 62% in June, while the number expecting prices to fall has increased from 28% to 36%. People living in areas with the most expensive homes and middle-income Americans are particularly likely to say that future home prices will decline.

To learn more, click here.

Minnesota Poll: U.S. Senate race wild and wide open    Monday, October 01, 2007
According to a new poll of Minnesota adults, all three leading contenders in Minnesota's 2008 U.S. Senate race face obstacles in winning the favor of the public, suggesting a wide open, unpredictable contest in a campaign expected to attract intense national attention. To view more from this survey conducted by PSRAI for the Minneapolis Star Tribune click here.

Newsweek Poll: Iowa Caucuses    Saturday, September 29, 2007
A Newsweek poll in Iowa, measuring voter preferences prior to the January presidential caucuses, shows former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney as the top choice of one-quarter (24%) of likely GOP caucus goers, followed by Fred Thompson (16%), Rudy Giuliani (13%), and Mike Huckabee (12%). Romney also leads when GOP voters' second choice for the nomination is considered. He is the first or second choice of 45% of likely Republican caucus-goers, followed by Giuliani (34%) and Thompson (26%). The Democratic race is highly competitive, with Hillary Clinton not separating herself from the pack in Iowa. Among all Iowa Democratic voters she leads with 31% support over Barack Obama (25%) and John Edwards (21%). Among likely Democratic caucus-goers, however, Obama has a marginal lead with 28%, followed by Clinton at 24% and Edwards at 22%. Clinton has one clear advantage over her Democratic rivals - a majority (55%) of her support is strong, compared with less than half of Obama (41%) and Edwards (37%) support.

Clinton and Giuliani Linked with Strong Traits    Thursday, September 20, 2007
As many as 67% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters say Clinton is the Democratic candidate who first comes to mind when they hear the word tough and more than half (52%) associate Clinton with the word smart. No other candidate - Democrat or Republican - comes close to Clinton in being linked with each of these traits. GOP frontrunner Rudy Giuliani is the Republican candidate that GOP voters most closely associate with a number of positive personality traits, including energetic, compassionate and optimistic, as well as tough and smart. Roughly half (48%) say Giuliani is the candidate who first comes to mind when the word energetic is mentioned. To view more from this survey, click here.

Positive Reactions to Petraeus' Recommendations, But No Increase in War Support    Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Most Americans (57%) who heard at least something about General David Petraeus' report say they approve of his recommendations for troop withdrawals, which President Bush has endorsed. However, just 16% say Petraeus' statements have made them more optimistic about the war, while 67% say their views were unchanged by the general's report. The mostly stable opinions about the war and U.S. policies toward Iraq are consistent with this assessment. In the current survey, a 47% plurality says the United States will probably or definitely fail to achieve its goals in Iraq, which is largely unchanged from July (49%). To view more from this survey, click here.

The Political Fallout: Bush, Iraq, and the GOP    Saturday, September 15, 2007
In May 2007, Newsweek magazine reported that President George W. Bush's job approval rating had slipped to 28 percent, putting him below the 30 percent mark for the first time in the Newsweek poll. Within a matter of weeks, the results of other national media polls confirmed this finding. All presidents have ups and downs in popularity, but an approval rating below 30 percent is relatively uncommon. It has been fifteen years since a U.S. president was last held in such low esteem. To view more from this article, click here.

Fewer than a third of Americans know Supreme Court rulings are final    Thursday, September 13, 2007
Most Americans know little about the workings of the U.S. Supreme Court, including the fact that Supreme Court rulings are final, according to a national survey conducted for the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center.

The findings are being released today in advance of Constitution Day, Monday, September 17.

For other findings, click here.
To read the press release, click here.

Iraq and Health Care Remain Top Concerns    Thursday, August 30, 2007
A new poll in a tracking series finds that Iraq continues to be the biggest concern for the public, with 42% saying it is one of the most important problems for the government to address. Health care remains the second most mentioned issue, with 27% citing it as one of the most important problems for the government to address. The economy ranks third (16%) and immigration fourth (13%). To view the findings for this poll, conducted by PSRAI for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, please click here.

The Impact of the Movie "Sicko"    Monday, August 27, 2007
A new poll gauges public opinion of Michael Moore's documentary "Sicko." The survey finds that just 4% of adults say they have watched it, but nearly half (46%) had seen the movie or heard or read something about it a little over a month after its national release. Among those familiar with "Sicko," 45% said they have had a discussion with friends, co-workers, and family about the U.S. health system as a result of the movie; 43% said they were more likely to think there is a need to reform the health system. About equal numbers believe the movie accurately represents problems in the U.S. health system versus overstating them. To view more findings for this poll, conducted by PSRAI for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, please click here.

Newsweek Poll: Clinton v. Giuliani?    Friday, August 03, 2007
Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani continue to be the frontrunners in their respective presidential races, according to the latest Newsweek poll. Clinton leads Barack Obama by a 44%-23% margin among registered Democrats and Democratic leaners, no significant change from the 43%-27% advantage she had in a June Newsweek poll. John Edwards is in third place in the Democratic race with 14% and no other candidate gets as much as 5% support. In the GOP race, Giuliani leads the field with 30% support among registered Republican and Republican leaners. Former Illinois Senator Fred Thompson, yet to formally enter the GOP race, is second with 22%, followed by the fading John McCain (13%) and Mitt Romney (10%).

A Rising Tide Lifts Mood in the Developing World    Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The Pew Global Attitudes Project's 47-nation survey finds that measures of personal and economic satisfaction remain modest in the developing world when compared with measures for advanced nations, but this gap has narrowed. This increasing contentment was found to be correlated with sizable increases in per capita gross domestic product that, in most cases, far outpaced the rate of growth prior to 2002.

To view more of this survey, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Muslims in America    Friday, July 20, 2007
Over a third (36%) of adult Americans claim to personally know a Muslim living in the United States, according to a Newsweek poll. Most people seem to recognize that Muslim Americans are mostly immigrants rather than U.S.-born persons who converted to Islam. The survey results paint a mixed picture of public acceptance of Muslims in mainstream America. On one hand, close to two-thirds (64%) of Americans say they would have no objection to a son or a daughter dating a Muslim. A substantial majority (69%) also think Muslim students should be allowed to wear their traditional headscarves to class. On the other hand, close to half (46%) of Americans say they believe this country allows too many immigrants to come here from Muslim countries and people are split down the middle on whether or not they would vote for a qualified Muslim for political office.

What Makes a Successful Marriage?    Wednesday, July 18, 2007
According to a Pew Research Center survey of American adults, "sharing household chores" now ranks third in importance on a list of nine items often associated with successful marriages - well ahead of such staples as adequate income, good housing, common interests and shared religious beliefs. Sixty-two percent of adults say sharing household chores is very important to marital success, with virtually no difference of opinion between men and women, older adults and younger adults, or married people and singles.

To view more from this survey, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Iraq "Surge" Strategy Considered a Failure    Friday, July 13, 2007
A new Newsweek poll shows only 27% of adult Americans approving of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation in Iraq, two points below the 29% Bush receives for his job performance overall. Public unhappiness with the Iraq war and the way it has been conducted has played a major role in Bush's declining approval ratings since his re-election in 2004. The Newsweek poll trendline shows that public approval of the President's handling of the Iraq situation has remained below 30% since January 2007 when his "surge" plan for increasing troop levels in Iraq was announced. The current poll finds widespread public displeasure with Bush's current Iraq strategy. Almost two-thirds (64%) of Americans say Bush's surge plan has been a failure, and less than a quarter (22%) say it has been successful.

Fewer Mothers Prefer Full-time Work: 1997 to 2007    Thursday, July 12, 2007
In the span of the past decade, full-time work outside the home has lost some of its appeal to mothers, according to a Pew Research Center survey. Among working mothers with minor children (ages 17 and under), just one-in-five (21%) say full-time work is the ideal situation for them, down from the 32% who said this back in 1997. Fully six-in-ten (up from 48% in 1997) of today's working mothers say part-time work would be their ideal, and another one-in-five (19%) say she would prefer not working at all outside the home. There's been a similar shift in preferences among at-home mothers with minor children.

For more findings, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Obama and Race in America    Friday, July 06, 2007
According to a Newsweek poll, large majorities of Americans say that they would vote for a woman or for an African-American candidate for president, continuing a decade-long trend. But far fewer think America is ready to elect an African-American or a woman for president. Although 92% of adults say they would vote for an African-American candidate, just 59 percent think the country is ready for an African-American president. And while 86% say they would vote for a woman for president, only 58 percent believe the country is ready for one. Two-thirds (66%) of registered voters say there is at least some chance they would vote for Barack Obama, with about as many (62%) saying the same about Hillary Clinton. However, in a head-to-head match up, Clinton leads Obama 56 to 33 percent.

Home Broadband Adoption 2007    Tuesday, July 03, 2007
After exhibiting relatively strong growth between early 2005 and early 2006, home broadband adoption in 2006-2007 grew at its slowest rate in recent years. As of March 2007, 47% of adult Americans say they have a high-speed connection at home, up from 42% in early 2006. This 12% year-to-year growth rate is much lower than the 40% rate in the previous period.

To find out more, click here.

Cyberbullying and Online Teens    Wednesday, June 27, 2007
About one third (32%) of all teenagers who use the internet say they have been targets of a range of annoying and potentially menacing online activities - such as receiving threatening messages; having their private emails or text messages forwarded without consent; having an embarrassing picture posted without permission; or having rumors about them spread online. Several patterns are clear: girls are more likely than boys to be targets; and teens who share their identities and thoughts online are more likely to be targets than are those who lead less active online lives.

To read more, click here.

Global Unease With Major World Powers    Wednesday, June 27, 2007
A 47-nation survey finds global public opinion increasingly wary of the world's dominant nations and disapproving of their leaders. Anti-Americanism is extensive, as it has been for the past five years. At the same time, the image of China has slipped significantly among the publics of other major nations. Opinion about Russia is mixed, but confidence in its president, Vladimir Putin, has declined sharply. In fact, the Russian leader's negatives have soared to the point that they mirror the nearly worldwide lack of confidence in George W. Bush.

To view more click here.

Insurance and a Medical Home Improves Health Care for Minorities    Wednesday, June 27, 2007
A study conducted by The Commonwealth Fund found that providing minority patients a "medical home" in which they have a regular doctor or health professional who oversees and coordinates their care would help eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities and promote more health care equity. The 2006 survey of more than 2,830 adults found that linking minority patients with a health care setting that offers timely, well-organized care where they can routinely seek physicians and medical advice can help them better manage chronic conditions and obtain critical preventive care services.

To view more, click here.

Newsweek Poll: What You Need to Know    Sunday, June 24, 2007
The latest Newsweek poll quizzed the public on a variety of topics, ranging from politics and government to foreign affairs, business and technology and pop culture. The results show many gaps in people's knowledge, such as continuing misperceptions about Iraq's role in the 9/11 terrorist attacks and a very sketchy knowledge about other countries.

Newsweek Poll: Bloomberg for President?    Friday, June 22, 2007
How would New York City Michael Bloomberg impact the presidential race if he runs as an independent candidate for president? The latest Newsweek poll finds that many voters are critical of the two major parties and are open to alternatives, but Michael Bloomberg is not well positioned to take advantage of this situation - at least until he becomes better known. At the national level, two-thirds (68%) of registered voters say they know little or nothing about Bloomberg. When asked if they think the popular New York City mayor would make a good president, voters who have an opinion are about evenly divided - 29% see him as fit for the office but 30% take the opposite view.

Newsweek Poll: New Low for President Bush    Thursday, June 21, 2007
George W. Bush's overall approval rating has slipped further in the latest Newsweek poll. Currently only 26% of adults approve of his job performance, down a statistically insignificant two points from 28% in early May. The President's new low in approval puts him below Jimmy Carter's lowest rating on record in the Gallup poll (28% in 1979). The new poll also shows the President with his lowest rating on record for his handling of the situation in Iraq (23%). However, public dissatisfaction with Washington is not limited to the Bush Administration. Congress also takes its share of heat. Overall only 25% of Americans say they approve of the job Congress is doing, while 63% disapprove.

Iraq, Health Care, and Immigration Top Concerns    Wednesday, June 20, 2007
The second poll in a tracking series finds that Iraq continues to be the biggest concern for the public, with 43% saying it is one of the most important problems for the government to address. Health care follows with 28% citing it as one of the most important problems for the government to address. Gas prices (12%) and immigration (12%) emerge as greater concerns than in the first poll.

To view the findings for this poll, conducted by PSRAI for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, please click here.

Parents, Children & Media: A Kaiser Family Foundation Survey    Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Parents say they are gaining control of their children's exposure to sex and violence in the media, according to a national survey of parents by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Sixty-five percent of parents say they 'closely' monitor their children's media use, while just 18% say they 'should do more.' This may help to explain why since 1998 the proportion of parents who say they are 'very' concerned that their own children are exposed to inappropriate content - while still high - has dropped, from 67% to 51% for sexual content, from 62% to 46% for violence, and from 59% to 41% for adult language.

For more findings, click here.

Mixed Views on Immigration Bill    Thursday, June 07, 2007
The public is ambivalent about the immigration bill being debated by the Senate, according to a national poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. Just a third of those who have heard something about the bill favor it, while 41% are opposed, and a relatively large minority (26%) offers no opinion. Yet one of the bill's primary goals - to provide a way for people who are in this country illegally to gain legal citizenship under certain conditions - wins broad and bipartisan support. Overall, 63% of the public - and nearly identical numbers of Republicans, Democrats and independents - favor such an approach if illegal immigrants pass background checks, pay fines and have jobs.

To read on, click here.

Thompson Demonstrates Broad Potential Appeal    Monday, June 04, 2007
Former Sen. Fred Thompson has broad potential appeal among Republican voters even before his expected entrance into the presidential race. Thompson is not nearly as well known as other leading GOP candidates, but 37% of the Republican and Republican-leaning voters who have heard of Thompson say there is a "good chance" they will support him, according to a national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

For more findings, click here.

Spam 2007    Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Spam continues to plague the internet, according to a survey conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life project. More Americans than ever say they are getting more spam than in the past. But while American internet users report increasing volumes of spam, they also indicate that they are less bothered by it than before.

For more details, click here.

A Typology of Information and Communication Technology Users    Sunday, May 06, 2007
Fully 85% of American adults use the internet or cell phones - and most use both. Yet half of adults have a distant or non-existent relationship to modern information technology, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project's typology of information and communication technology users. Some of this diffidence is driven by concerns about information overload; some is related to a sense that gadgets have more capacity than users can master; some is connected to a lack of personal interest in activities like blogging; and some is rooted in an inability to afford or unwillingness to buy the gear associated with the digital age.

To read on, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Political Courage    Saturday, May 05, 2007
After his veto of an Iraq war funding bill with a timetable for withdrawal, George W. Bush's approval rating has slipped to 28% in the latest Newsweek poll, the lowest rating on record in the Newsweek poll. When Americans think about presidential courage - doing the right thing despite the political risks - they most often see it exemplified by Ronald Reagan (18%), Bill Clinton (18%), and John F. Kennedy (14%). Just 4% name George W. Bush as the U.S. president who has displayed the greatest political courage, and over half (55%) don't see Bush as politically courageous.

Both Sides Reject Compromise in Iraq Funding Fight    Thursday, April 26, 2007
With battle lines drawn over legislation funding the Iraq war, the public is showing little appetite for compromise, according to a national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. Overall, a solid majority of Americans (59%) continue to say they want their representative to support a bill calling for a U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq by August 2008, while just a third want their representative to vote against such legislation. Most supporters (54%) of a timeline for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq say they want Democratic leaders to insist on that position rather than work toward an agreement with President Bush. An identical percentage of opponents of a timetable (54%) want Bush to hold to his threat to veto legislation that includes a withdrawal timeline, rather than seeking compromise with the Democrats.

For more findings, click here.

Online Activities and Pursuits: Wikipedia Users    Tuesday, April 24, 2007
More than a third of American adult internet users (36%) consult the citizen-generated online encyclopedia Wikipedia, according to a nationwide survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. And on a typical day in the winter of 2007, 8% of online Americans consulted Wikipedia. Despite ongoing controversy about the reliability of articles on Wikipedia, the site is far more popular among the well-educated than it is among those with lower levels of education. For instance, 50% of those with at least a college degree consult the site, compared with 22% of those with a high school diploma .

To learn more, click here.

Little Boost for Gun Control or Agreement on Causes of the Va. Tech Shootings    Monday, April 23, 2007
Last week's shootings at Virginia Tech have had little immediate impact on public opinion about gun control, according to a nationally representative telephone survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. Six-in-ten Americans say it is more important to control gun ownership, while 32% say it is more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns. These numbers have changed little since 2004. At the same time, a 55% majority now opposes a ban on the sale of handguns, while just 37% favor such a ban. There was greater support for gun control in 2000, when the public was evenly split over a handgun ban (47% favor/47% opposed).

For more findings, click here.

Only A Minority of Americans Keep Close Track of Their Spending    Thursday, April 19, 2007
Financial experts generally agree that having a household budget is sound financial management. But only a minority of Americans keep close track of what they spend on typically monthly expenses. And although a majority of the public has at least a somewhat good idea of where their money goes each month, more than two in 10 keep little or no track at all. To view more from this survey, click here.

Teens, Privacy and Online Social Networks    Wednesday, April 18, 2007
According to a survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, the majority of teens actively manage their online profiles to keep the information they believe is most sensitive, such as their full name and phone number, away from the unwanted gaze of strangers, parents and other adults. At the same time, nearly two-thirds of teens with profiles (63%) believe that a motivated person could eventually identify them from the information they publicly provide on their profiles.

To learn more, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Religious Beliefs    Saturday, March 31, 2007
The Newsweek poll finds that belief in God and identification with a religion are very widespread in this country. Nine in 10 (91%) U.S. adults say they believe in God. Eighty-seven percent of Americans identify with a religion: 82% of adults call themselves Christians, and another 5% say they follow a non-Christian faith. Overall, the new poll finds one in 10 adults identify as having no religion, and 6% saying they do not believe in God. Just 3% of the public self-identifies as atheist. Close to half (47%) of Americans believe the country is more accepting of atheists today than it had been in the past, while only about one in 10 (9%) thinks atheists are less accepted today. Still, declaring oneself an atheist is clearly not the road to electoral success. Six in 10 (62%) registered voters say they would not vote for a political candidate who was an atheist.

Iraq and Health Care Top American's List of Concerns    Thursday, March 29, 2007
A new poll shows that Iraq continues to top the public's list of issues. Forty-four percent of adults say it is one of the most important problems for the government to address and the same share say they would like to hear presidential candidates talk about it. Health care ranks second, with 29% citing it as one of the most important problems for the government to address, followed by the economy at 13%.

To view the findings for this poll, conducted by PSRAI for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, please click here.

Solid Majority Favors Congressional Troop Deadline    Monday, March 26, 2007
A nationwide survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press finds that a solid majority of Americans (59%) say they want their congressional representative to support a bill calling for a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq by August 2008. Regarding the impact of President Bush's troop surge, 27% of Americans say that the troop increase is currently making things better in Iraq, though somewhat more (36%) think the surge will make things better in the long run. Opinions about the troop increase and a congressional troop deadline - like nearly all other issues relating to the war in Iraq - are deeply divided along partisan lines.

For more findings, click here.

Trends in Political Values and Core Attitudes: 1987-2007    Thursday, March 22, 2007
A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press explores trends in the social, political and economic values of the American public over the past ten years. Among the more dramatic findings is a shift in party identification since 2002, when 43% of Americans identified with the Republican Party or leaned to the GOP, while an identical proportion said they were Democrats. Today, half of the public (50%) either identifies as a Democrat or says they lean to the Democratic Party, compared with 35% who align with the GOP.

To read more, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Gonzales Has Weak Support    Saturday, March 17, 2007
Public opinion is divided on whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez should resign after reports of the possible White House involvement in the firings of eight federal prosecutors last year, according to a new Newsweek poll. While roughly a third (35%) of Americans want Gonzalez to step down, a similar number want him to stay on (32%), and another third (33%) are undecided. This poll also asked how the issue of marriage and divorce might affect the 2008 presidential race. The poll finds that Americans generally and Evangelical Republicans specifically take a decidedly realistic and nuanced view of marriage and divorce. People are willing to give divorced candidates quite a bit of leeway, but many admit that a candidate's current and past marital relationships do influence their chances of winning their support.

Aging in Asia and Oceania    Wednesday, March 14, 2007
A 2006 AARP survey of opinion leaders in the United States and in seven countries in Asia and Oceania shows that Asian leaders feel ill prepared to deal with the challenges of an aging population. The study examines issues such as the perceived importance of population aging, the types of challenges and opportunities societies are expected to face because of population aging, the degree to which different sectors of society are prepared for the changing demographics, the different ways in which societies address retirement security and quality of life issues in old age, and attitudes toward older people and their place in society. .

To view the complete report, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Giuliani and the GOP    Saturday, March 03, 2007
Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has moved ahead of Arizona Senator John McCain in the race for the Republican Party's presidential nomination, according to the latest Newsweek poll. In a head-to-head contest among registered Republicans and Republican leaners, Giuliani tops McCain by a whopping 59%-34% margin. In a late January poll, Giuliani's lead over McCain in the Newsweek poll was a statistically insignificant four points (48%/44%). Giuliani shows the potential to run strongly among Independents and attract a fair share of Democratic votes as the GOP presidential standard-bearer. When matched against Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton in a general election trial heat, Giuliani edges Clinton by one point (47%/46%), taking the Independent vote by a 49%-42% margin. Giuliani's moderate to liberal positions on social issues help him attract support from Democrats and Independents, but might cost him votes in GOP primaries, where voters tend to be more socially conservative.

Pennsylvanians Express High Levels of Confidence in State Elected Officials    Tuesday, February 27, 2007
According to an IssuesPA/Pew Benchmark and Legislator Survey, the public mood among Pennsylvanians is upbeat with regard to state elected officials and the direction of the state. Seventy-two percent of residents say they have a lot or some confidence in Governor Edward G. Rendell, and two-thirds (66 percent) of Pennsylvanians polled have a lot or some confidence in the legislature as a whole. This is up from 48 percent in November 2005 and may be a result of the election that swept in many new legislators who ran on a reform agenda.

For detailed findings, click here.

Internet Evolution: Wireless Internet Access    Sunday, February 25, 2007
Some 34% of internet users have logged onto the internet using a wireless connection either around the house, at their workplace, or some place else, according to a national survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. In other words, one-third of internet users, either with a laptop computer, a handheld personal digital assistant (PDA), or cell phone, have surfed the internet or checked email using means such as WiFi broadband or cell phone networks. Survey findings suggest that the "relentless connectivity" of wireless access lends a unique quality to the online behavior of those who use it.

For more details, click here.

Voters Remain in Neutral as Presidential Campaign Moves into High Gear    Friday, February 23, 2007
A national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press revealed that despite the early kickoff of the 2008 presidential campaign and the large number of candidates, much of the American public has taken little notice of the campaign. Americans are no more likely to say they have given the presidential campaign much thought than they did in December, and just small minorities can name a candidate they might support. The results of in-depth questions suggest that the images of even the well-known candidates are fairly thin.

Despite low interest in and knowledge of candidates, certain candidate traits and experiences, both positive and negative, have registered with the public and point both to challenges and opportunities for the leading contenders.

To read more, click here.

Americans and Social Trust: Who, Where, and Why    Thursday, February 22, 2007
Social trust is a belief in the honesty, integrity and reliability of others - a "faith in people." A nationally representative Pew Social Trends telephone survey asked 2,000 Americans three questions designed to measure social trust. Americans are closely divided in terms of their level of social trust; public opinion was split over the following question: "Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you can't be too careful in dealing with people?" Some 45% of respondents say the former, while 50% say the latter.

The survey results identified several demographic traits that are correlated with social trust, including race, income, marital status, age, and community type. For analyses of these demographic differences in social trust, read the full report here.

War Support Slips, Fewer Expect a Successful Outcome    Thursday, February 15, 2007
A nationwide survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press reveals increasingly negative public perceptions of the war in Iraq. Fully two-thirds of Americans (67%) say things are not going well with the U.S. military effort in Iraq. Additionally, confidence in a successful outcome in Iraq, which remained fairly high last year even as perceptions of the situation grew negative, has eroded. The public is now evenly divided over whether the U.S. is likely to achieve its goals in Iraq - 47% believe it will definitely or probably succeed, while 46% disagree. Three months ago, 53% saw success as at least probable and 41% disagreed.

For more findings, click here.

Online Activities and Pursuits: Tagging    Wednesday, January 31, 2007
The Pew Internet & American Life Project's first-ever survey data on the topic of tagging reveal that 28% of online Americans have tagged or organized online content such as photos, news stories or blog posts. On a typical day, 7% of internet users say they tag online content. Tagging, a revolutionary way to organize and categorize digital material, enables internet users to personalize the way they mark, store and retrieve web content.

To learn more, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Bush and 2008    Saturday, January 27, 2007
After his televised State of the Union address, there are no signs that George W. Bush has improved his standing with the public. In fact, the latest Newsweek poll, conducted in the days immediately following the speech, shows Bush's overall approval rating at 30%. That's the lowest approval figure for this president in the Newsweek poll so far. The unpopularity of George W. Bush and his policies seems to be having a negative impact on the GOP's prospects for retaining the White House in 2008. Registered voters nationwide now say they would prefer to see a Democrat elected in 2008 over a Republican by a lopsided margin of 49% to 28%.

Broad Support for Political Compromise in Washington    Monday, January 22, 2007
A large majority of the American public expresses a strong desire for political compromise. Fully three-quarters say they like political leaders who are willing to compromise, and roughly twice as many Americans (60% to 34%) like as dislike leaders who take a mix of conservative and liberal positions. At the same time, most Americans feels that the country is more polarized than in the past, and only about a quarter (28%) believes that relations between the two political parties will improve over the next year.

To find out more, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Bush's Iraq Plan    Saturday, January 20, 2007
After formally announcing his plan for additional troops in Iraq, George W. Bush's approval rating stands at 31% in the latest Newsweek poll, matching his previous low. In contrast, the poll shows opinion of the new Democratic-controlled Congress to be generally positive, at least among those who are paying attention. The poll also shows the President receiving his lowest ratings so far for his handling of the situation in Iraq (24%) and terrorism (41%). In fact, for the first time in the Newsweek poll, over half (53%) the public disapproves of the way Bush is handling terrorism.

Broad Opposition to Bush's Iraq Plan    Tuesday, January 16, 2007
The American public expressed widespread disapproval of President Bush's plan to send roughly 21,000 additional troops to Iraq, according to a Pew Research Center national survey. Opinion of Bush's initiative is split sharply along party lines, with 60% of Republicans and only 12% of Democrats favoring the plan.

To view more findings, click here.

Social Networking Websites and Teens: An Overview    Sunday, January 07, 2007
A social networking site is an online place where a user can create a profile and build a personal network that connects him or her to other users. In the past five years, such sites have rocketed from a niche activity into a phenomenon that engages tens of millions of internet users. More than half (55%) of all online American youths ages 12-17 use online social networking sites, according to a new national survey of teenagers conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

To learn more, click here

Americans Fairly Upbeat about Family Finances in 2007    Thursday, January 04, 2007
According to a survey, 57% of Americans are expecting some improvement in their financial situation in the coming year, and another 10% are expecting a lot of improvement.

To view more from the survey, click here.

Americans Divided Over Impact of Free Trade Agreements    Tuesday, December 19, 2006
The American public continues to have a mixed opinion about free trade agreements such as NAFTA and the WTO. On balance they are seen as a good thing for the country, but Americans are divided over the impact of free trade agreements on their own personal financial situations. About as many people think they are helped by them (35%) as believe they are hurt (36%).

To view more from this poll, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Hillary and Obama    Sunday, December 17, 2006
Gauging the prospects of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as presidential candidates, a Newsweek poll shows Clinton is preferred as the Democratic Party's 2008 presidential nominee by a 50%-32% margin among registered Democrats and Democratic leaners. Poll analysis suggests that Hillary Clinton's frontrunner status depends strongly on her name recognition advantage. But Obama is likely to be helped by voters' desire for a fresh face and rise in the polls as more get to know him. Both Democrats who are the early frontrunners would have to break precedent to go on to capture the White House in 2008. According to the poll, 86 percent of registered voters would vote for a qualified woman candidate for president if their party nominated one, and 93 percent say the same for a qualified African-American.

Luxury or Necessity?    Thursday, December 14, 2006
The number of things Americans say they can't live without has multiplied in the past decade, according to a survey that asks whether a broad array of everyday consumer products are luxuries or necessities.

To view more, click here.

Modest Public Interest of Baker-Hamilton Report    Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Despite deep public dissatisfaction with the Iraq war, the highly anticipated report by a bipartisan panel proposing policy options for Iraq did not register strongly with most Americans. Only about half say they heard even a little about the report released last week by the Iraq Study Group led by James Baker and Lee Hamilton, while nearly as many (47%) say they heard nothing at all about the group's recommendations.

Click here to view more findings.

Newsweek Poll: The Iraq Study Group    Saturday, December 09, 2006
According to a Newsweek poll, the public seems weary of the Iraq war and prepared to support anything that stabilizes Iraq and paves the way for a withdrawal of U.S. forces. Before being told about any of the Iraq Study group's specific recommendations, Americans polled said they generally agreed with the group's recommendations for changing policy in Iraq by a two-to-one margin (39% vs. 20% disagree). On the specifics, majority support is found for withholding support if the Iraqi government fails to meet certain benchmarks (65%), making a renewed and sustained effort to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (61%), and reaching out to Iraq and Syria for help (57%).

Online Activities and Pursuits: Podcast Downloading    Wednesday, November 22, 2006
According to a Pew Internet Project poll conducted in August of 2006, some 12% of internet users say they have downloaded a podcast so they can listen to it or view it at a later time. This finding compares to the 7% of internet users who reported podcast downloading in a survey conducted just a few months earlier in 2006, from February to April.

To find out more, click here.

Americans' Plans for Holiday Shopping    Monday, November 20, 2006
For most Americans, the heart of the holiday shopping season still lies ahead. According to a Pew Social Trends survey, fewer than 3 in 10 (27%) adults have started their holiday shopping. Once they start flooding the stores, more than half of all adults (56%) say they'll be working within a holiday shopping budget.

To view more from this survey, click here.

The Internet as a Resource for News and Information about Science    Monday, November 20, 2006
According to a poll by the Pew Internet Project, fully 87% of online users have at one time used the internet to carry out research on a scientific topic or concept and 40 million adults use the internet as their primary source of news and information about science.

To learn more, click here

Public Cheers Democratic Victory    Thursday, November 16, 2006
The Democrats' big win on Nov. 7 has gotten a highly favorable response from the public. Initial reactions to the Democratic victory are as positive as they were to the GOP's electoral sweep of Congress twelve years ago. Six-in-ten Americans say they are happy that the Democratic Party won control of Congress; in December 1994, roughly the same percentage (57%) expressed a positive opinion of the GOP's takeover.

To view more findings, click here.

ADB Deemed Effective, But Could Do Better, Survey Finds    Tuesday, November 14, 2006
The Asian Development Bank is viewed as effective and largely successful in its work, but there is room for improvement, according to the first ever independent ADB perceptions survey, conducted of more than 700 opinion leaders in 30 member countries. The survey found that the Manila-based multilateral development bank is acknowledged for its contribution to the development progress of the Asia and Pacific region. Many opinion leaders interviewed noted ADB's operational excellence particularly in infrastructure and regional cooperation and integration initiatives.

To view more of the findings, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Post-Election 2006    Saturday, November 11, 2006
After the Democratic takeover of Congress in Tuesday's elections, a Newsweek Poll shows President Bush's approval ratings falling to a new low. Just 31% of Americans now say they approve of the way George W. Bush is handling his job, while 63% disapprove. A Newsweek poll conducted in the final days of the midterm election campaign showed Bush's ratings at 35% approve/56% disapprove. The President is now more widely seen as a lame duck than he was before the election. Two-thirds (66%) of the public thinks Bush won't be able to get much done for the remainder of his second term, up from 56% in a mid-October poll.

Online Health Search 2006    Sunday, October 29, 2006
According to a survey by the Pew Internet Project, most internet users start at a search engine when looking for health information online. Very few check the source and date of the information they find.

To view more findings from this survey, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Controversial Political Ads    Saturday, October 28, 2006
With the battle for control of Congress moving toward the final week, a Newsweek poll shows some evidence of gains for George W. Bush and the Republicans. Bush approval is up a few points (37% vs. 35% last week and 33% three weeks ago), a larger number of Americans now say they are satisfied with the direction of the country (31% vs. 25% last week), and public opinion about the situation in Iraq is not quite as negative as it has been. The poll also asks a series of questions about recent ads for Republican and Democratic candidates running for the U.S. House and Senate; majorities of voters have seen these ads. Those aware of these ads are quite critical of them. Ads for Republican and Democratic candidates are about equally likely to be seen as too negative (63% and 61%, respectively) and misleading or distorted (65% and 63%). Less than a third (28%) of aware voters see the GOP ads and a third (32%) of aware voters see the Democratic ads as providing useful information.

Democrats Hold Lead in Competitive Districts    Thursday, October 26, 2006
With less than two weeks to go before the midterm elections, the Democrats not only continue to maintain a double-digit advantage nationally, but also lead by the same margin in the competitive districts that will determine which party controls the House of Representatives. Nationally, the Democrats hold a 49%-38% lead among registered voters, and a nearly identical 50%-39% lead among those voters most likely to cast ballots on Nov. 7.

To view the findings click here.

Health Care and the 2006 Elections    Monday, October 23, 2006
According to a poll, voters are increasingly worried about the rising costs of health care at a personal level, but the issue has not broken through as a voting priority in the upcoming Congressional elections.

To view the findings for this poll, conducted by PSRAI for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, please click here.

Newsweek Poll: Priorities for a Democratic Congress    Saturday, October 21, 2006
As Election Day draws near and voters begin to focus more on the race for Congress, a Newsweek poll shows the Democrats maintaining their double-digit lead over the Republicans in the generic trial heat. Overall, 51% of registered voters say they would vote for the Democratic candidate in their Congressional district if the election were held today, while 37% would vote for the Republican. In six Newsweek polls conducted over the course of 2006, the size of the Democratic lead has been remarkably consistent, ranging from 11 to 14 points.

Election Turnout May Be Higher Than Normal    Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Turnout in the 2006 midterm election may well be higher than normal, given the level of interest expressed by voters. In a poll conducted between September 21 and October 4, 2006, 51% of voters say they have given a lot of thought to this November's election, up from 45% at this point in 2002 and 42% in early October of 1998. Even in 1994 - a recent high in midterm election turnout - just 44% of voters had thought a lot about the election in early October.

To view the findings, click here.

Newsweek Poll: The Foley Fiasco    Saturday, October 07, 2006
The image of the Republican Party has suffered some fallout in the aftermath of the Mark Foley scandal, according to a Newsweek Poll. When presented with a list of eight key issues - including such issues as terrorism, immigration, and moral values where the GOP has typically had an edge - the public now trusts the Democrats more to handle every issue on the list. President Bush's approval rating is at a record low (33% approve/59% disapprove), and only 25% of Americans say they are satisfied with the direction of the country.

By a margin of 52% to 24%, the public is inclined to believe that House Speaker Dennis Hastert was aware of Foley's inappropriate conduct involving sexually graphic emails and tried to cover it up. However, the public is closely divided (43% yes vs. 36% no) on whether Hastert should have to step down as House Speaker due to the way he has handled this matter. The poll suggests the Democrats need to be careful in their response to the Foley scandal. Asked if the Democrats were going too far in trying to use the Foley matter for partisan advantage, 37% say they are, 43% say they are not, and 20% are not sure.

Iraq Central Issue of Midterm Elections    Thursday, October 05, 2006
A survey shows there is more dismay about how the U.S. military effort in Iraq is going than at any point since the war began more than three years ago. And the war is the dominant concern among the majority of voters who say they will be thinking about national issues, rather than local issues, when they cast their ballot for Congress this fall.

To view the results from this survey click here.

Spirit and Power: A 10-Country Survey of Pentecostals    Thursday, October 05, 2006
By all accounts, Pentecostalism and related charismatic movements represent one of the fastest-growing segments of global Christianity. According to the World Christian Database, at least a quarter of the world's 2 billion Christians are thought to be members of these lively, highly personal faiths, which emphasize such spiritually renewing "gifts of the Holy Spirit" as speaking in tongues, divine healing and prophesying. .

To view more of this survey, click here.

Americans Trust Courts but also Believe them Biased, Surveys Find    Thursday, September 28, 2006
Many Americans Lack Basic Understanding of the Judiciary

Americans consistently rank the Supreme Court as the most trusted branch of government and hold a similar level of trust in state courts. But many also believe that the nation's courts favor the wealthy and politically connected, that judges are motivated by political and personal biases, and are influenced by campaign fundraising.

To read the full release, click here.

To read a survey summary, click here.

Internet Revolution: The future of the Internet II    Sunday, September 24, 2006
A survey of technology thinkers and stakeholders shows they believe the internet will continue to spread in a "flattening" and improving world. There are many, though, who think major problems will accompany technology advances by 2020.

To read the full report, click here.

Publics of Asian Powers Hold Negative Views of One Another    Thursday, September 21, 2006
There is a good deal of dislike, if not outright hostility, in how the publics of major Asian countries view their neighbors. The deepest divides exist between traditional rivals - roughly seven-in-ten Japanese express an unfavorable view of China and an equal number of Chinese dislike Japan. Similarly, most Indians have an unfavorable view of Pakistan and most Pakistanis hold negative views about India. But there are other divisions as well. Both the Chinese and Japanese express generally unfavorable views of Pakistan, while the Chinese tend to feel negatively toward India as well.

To view more, click here.

E-Gov & E-Policy    Wednesday, September 20, 2006
26 million Americans were logging onto for news or information about the campaign on a typical day in August, the highest such figure recorded by the Pew Internet Project.

On a typical day in August, 26 million Americans were using the internet for news or information about politics and the upcoming mid-term elections. That corresponds to 19% of adult internet users, or 13% of all Americans over the age of 18.

To read the full report, click here.

Constitution Day: For Many Americans, It's Time for the Basics    Thursday, September 14, 2006
In observance of Constitution Day this year, millions of American students will interrupt their regular studies to learn more about the most important document in U.S. history.

Millions of American adults should be sitting right alongside them.

To view the press release, click here.

Crime and Punishment: Public Attitudes Toward Sentencing    Thursday, September 14, 2006
The climate of public opinion toward crime and punishment in this country has changed considerably over the past decade. As the national crime rate has declined, crime is less likely to be in the forefront of people's minds. A frequent polling topic 10 years ago, surveys about crime get much less attention today. A survey conducted by PSRAI for the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) examines the American public's views toward sentencing and related issues in an objective manner.

To read the executive summary, click here.
To read the full report, click here.

Strong Anti-Incumbent, Anti-Bush Sentiment    Thursday, September 14, 2006
As the congressional midterm campaign begins in earnest, voters are disappointed with Congress and disapproving of President Bush. Anti-incumbent sentiment, while a bit lower than a few months ago, is far more extensive than in the previous two midterms and remains close to 1994 levels. Many more voters see their vote as being against the president than at a comparable point in 1994, and a solid majority says party control of Congress will be a factor in their voting decision.

To view the results from this survey click here.

Pharmacists and Physicians See Real Benefits from Medicare Drug Law, But Most Think It Is Too Complicated     Thursday, September 07, 2006
Majorities of pharmacists (86%) and physicians (71%) believe the prescription drug law is helping people on Medicare save money on their medications. At the same time, pharmacists (91%) and doctors (92%) believe the law is too complicated. A majority in both professions say that Medicare beneficiaries who they see are encountering problems in getting their medications, sometimes with serious consequences.

To view the findings from two national surveys conducted by PSRAI for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, click here.

Diminished Public Appetite for Military Force and Mideast Oil    Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Five years later, Americans' views of the impact of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have changed little, but opinions about how best to protect against future attacks have shifted substantially. In particular, far more Americans say reducing America's overseas military presence, rather than expanding it, will have a greater effect in reducing the threat of terrorism.

To view the results from this survey click here.

Only 53%-58% of Americans Say President Must Follow a Supreme Court Ruling    Thursday, August 31, 2006
Only 53%-58% of Americans say the president must follow a Supreme Court ruling, and a large minority (38%) says the president can ignore the Supreme Court under some conditions, according to a survey conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center. The survey also shows that fully three-fourths reject presidential signing statements as a replacement for veto.

To read the full release, click here.

American Work Life is Worsening, But Most Workers Still Content    Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Americans believe that workers in this country are worse off now than a generation ago - toiling longer and harder for less in wages and benefits, for employers who aren't as loyal as they once were, in jobs that aren't as secure, and in a global economy that might very well send their work overseas.

Yet the public has generally taken in stride this perceived fraying of the social safety net at work, according to a Pew Research Center nationwide survey. Most people still have positive feelings about their own jobs, and even though many are troubled by the way the forces of modernization and globalization are affecting the American workplace, the level of public concern today is not substantially greater than it had been a decade or two ago.

To read the full report, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Split Remains    Saturday, August 26, 2006
A possibly revolutionary innovation in stem-cell research hasn't changed American opinions on the topic. Meanwhile, Bush's approval rating dips to 36 percent.

The announcement this week sounded momentous. Scientists said they had developed a new method of generating stem cells that, unlike previous techniques, wouldn't destroy human embryos. If the innovation stands up to scrutiny, it could eliminate the main rationale for objecting to such research. So in the wake of the news, you might think public opinion on the issue would shift. Not so. According to the Newsweek Poll, 48 percent of respondents favor federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research, while 40 percent oppose it. That's little different from the results of an October 2004 poll, taken in the heat of a presidential campaign, which found that 50 percent of registered voters favored the research and 36 percent opposed it.

Newsweek Poll: The Ripple Effect    Saturday, August 12, 2006
The foiled airline plot boosts President Bush's terror ratings, but this Newsweek Poll finds a lot for Democrats to cheer as the midterm elections approach.

Even after British officials revealed a terrorist plot to blow up as many as 10 jetliners traveling from the U.K. to the United States, using ordinary-looking liquid explosives smuggled into airplane cabins, a majority of Americans still aren't willing to part with their carry-ons.

So says this Newsweek Poll. Fifty-four percent of respondents oppose prohibiting all carry-on baggage "to better prevent terrorists from putting a bomb on a plane," according to the poll, conducted Thursday and Friday nights. Only 26 percent say they "definitely favor" such a move, and 18 percent say they would "probably favor" it.

Hispanic and African-American Adults Are Uninsured at Rates One-and-a Half to Three Times Higher Than White Adults    Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Hispanic and African-American working-age adults in the U.S. are at greater risk of experiencing gaps in insurance coverage, lacking access to health care, and facing medical debt than white working-age adults, according to a new report from The Commonwealth Fund. Sixty-two percent of Hispanic adults ages 19 to 64 - an estimated 15 million adults -were uninsured at some point during the year, a rate more than three times as high as than for white working-age adults (20%). Uninsured rates for working-age African-American adults are also high, with one-third (33%) - more than 6 million adults - uninsured or experiencing a gap in coverage during the year.

To view more click here.

Online Papers Modestly Boost Newspaper Readership    Sunday, July 30, 2006
A decade ago, just one-in-fifty Americans got the news with some regularity from the internet. Today, nearly one-in-three regularly get news online. But the growth of the online news audience has slowed considerably since 2000, particularly among the very young. For the most part, online news has evolved as a supplemental source that is used along with traditional news media outlets. It is valued most for headlines and convenience, not detailed, in-depth reporting.

To view the results from this survey click here.

Most Seniors Enrolled In Medicare Drug Plans Satisfied With Their Plans    Thursday, July 27, 2006
More than eight in 10 seniors who are enrolled in a Medicare drug plan are satisfied with their plan, although almost two in 10 say they encountered a major problem in using it, according to a survey of seniors' experiences under the new Medicare drug benefit.

To view the findings for this poll, conducted by PSRAI for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, please click here.

Bloggers: A Portrait of the Internet's New Storytellers    Wednesday, July 19, 2006
The ease and appeal of blogging is inspiring a new group of writers and creators to share their voices with the world.

A national phone survey of bloggers finds that most are focused on describing their personal experiences to a relatively small audience of readers and that only a small proportion focus their coverage on politics, media, government, or technology. Blogs, the survey finds, are as individual as the people who keep them. However, most bloggers are primarily interested in creative, personal expression -- documenting individual experiences, sharing practical knowledge, or just keeping in touch with friends and family.

Click here to learn more.

Muslims in Europe: Economic Worries Top Concerns About Religious and Cultural Identity    Thursday, July 06, 2006
Muslims in Europe worry about their future, but their concern is more economic than religious or cultural. And while there are some signs of tension between Europe's majority populations and its Muslim minorities, Muslims there do not generally believe that most Europeans are hostile toward people of their faith. Still, over a third of Muslims in France and one-in-four in Spain say they have had a bad experience as a result of their religion or ethnicity.

To view more, click here.

Democrats More Eager to Vote, But Unhappy with Party    Tuesday, June 27, 2006
With less than five months to go before Election Day, Democrats hold distinct advantages in the midterm campaign that they have not enjoyed for some time. Voters continue to say they favor the Democratic candidate in their district, by a 51% to 39% margin. And the level of enthusiasm about voting among Democrats is unusually high, and is atypically low among Republicans. In fact, Democrats now hold a voter enthusiasm advantage that is the mirror image of the GOP's edge in voter zeal leading up to the 1994 midterm election.

To view the findings click here.

The Great Divide: How Westerners and Muslims View Each Other    Thursday, June 22, 2006
After a year marked by riots over cartoon portrayals of Muhammad, a major terrorist attack in London, and continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, most Muslims and Westerners are convinced that relations between them are generally bad these days. Many in the West see Muslims as fanatical, violent, and as lacking tolerance. Meanwhile, Muslims in the Middle East and Asia generally see Westerners as selfish, immoral and greedy - as well as violent and fanatical. However, both Westerners and Muslims believe that Muslim nations should be more economically prosperous than they are today.

To view more click here.

Iraq Views Improve After Zarqawi's Death    Tuesday, June 20, 2006
A study from the Pew Research Center finds Americans are now more positive about the way things are going in Iraq than in the past few months, following the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and President Bush's brief visit to the country. Optimism about the U.S. achieving its goals in Iraq, which sagged in the spring, has rebounded. But this has resulted in only a slight boost in the president's overall approval ratings, and last week's congressional debate failed to engage the public or improve the GOP's standing on the issue.

To view the results from this survey click here.

Online Banking 2006: Surfing to the Bank    Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Online banking is holding steady as a mainstream internet activity, growing along with internet use generally, though not accelerating as have some other forms of online activities. Fully 43% of internet users, or about 63 million American adults, bank online.

Click here to learn more.

America's Image Slips, But Allies Share U.S. Concerns Over Iran, Hamas    Tuesday, June 13, 2006
America's global image has again slipped and support for the war on terrorism has declined even among close U.S. allies like Japan. Though a year ago, anti-Americanism had shown some signs of abating, favorable opinions of the United States have fallen in most of the 15 countries surveyed. Yet the survey shows that Americans and the publics of major U.S. allies share common concerns, not only over the possible nuclear threat posed by Iran, but also over the recent victory by the Hamas Party in Palestinian elections.

To view more click here.

Home Broadband Adoption 2006    Sunday, May 28, 2006
Adoption of high-speed internet at home grew twice as fast in the year prior to March 2006 than in the same time frame from 2004 to 2005. Middle-income Americans accounted for much of the increase, along with African Americans and new internet users coming online with broadband at home. At the end of March 2006, 42% of Americans had high-speed at home, up from 30% in March 2005, or a 40% increase. And 48 million Americans -- mostly those with high-speed at home -- have posted content to the internet.

To read the full report, click here.

Grief Issues Still Interfere With the Lives of Many 9/11 Survivors    Friday, May 26, 2006
Nearly five years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a survey of 1,500 adults directly affected by the attacks - including the families who lost loved ones and people who were seriously injured - found that although people are making progress in dealing with the emotional issues related to 9/11, grief is still a factor in their lives. Two-thirds (66%) of the 431 respondents who received mental health treatment said that grief issues still interfere to a large or moderate extent with their lives. Overall, 43 percent of respondents believe that they need additional services of some kind to help them or their families with their continuing recovery.

Study Shows How Kids' Media Use Helps Parents Cope    Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Electronic media is a central focus of many very young children's lives, used by parents to help manage busy schedules, keep the peace, and facilitate family routines such as eating, relaxing, and falling asleep, according to a national study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Many parents also express satisfaction with the educational benefits of TV and how it can teach positive behaviors. The report, The Media Family: Electronic Media in the Lives of Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Their Parents, is based on a national survey of 1,051 parents with children age 6 months to 6 years old and a series of focus groups across the country.

To read the full News Release, click here.

Gambling: As the Take Rises, So Does Public Concern    Tuesday, May 23, 2006
A study from the Pew Research Center finds a modest backlash in attitudes toward legalized gambling has taken hold among an American public that spends more money on more forms of legal gambling now than at any time in the nation's history.

To view the results from this survey click here.

How Prepared Are We, New York?    Monday, May 22, 2006
The results of a New York City-wide survey indicates that while most New York residents have taken important preparedness actions, there is still more work to be done. Of the households surveyed, 17-percent report that they are much more prepared than this time last year, 22-percent are somewhat more prepared, and 52-percent are about as well prepared. Only seven percent have become less prepared over the past year. Still, many have not taken tangible steps to prepare for emergencies. A majority claim to have preparedness plans, though nearly seven in ten households with plans report having never tested them. Half of respondents say they have put together emergency supply kits, but most of these kits are incomplete. Fortunately, many would like to become better prepared by receiving more preparedness information and training. The report concludes with recommendations on how to build on existing preparedness efforts, based on NewYorkers' preferred methods of receiving preparedness information and training.

To read the full report, click here.

To read Press Release, click here.

To read Report/Findings cited in the NY Times, click here.

Increasingly, Americans Prefer Watching Movies At Home    Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Three-quarters of all adults say they would prefer watching movies at home rather than in a theater, according to a Pew Research Center survey, up from 67% in 1994. The survey finds that more than seven-in-ten adults (71%) watch at least one movie a week, but the great bulk of this viewing occurs at home rather than in a theater.

Click here to view more results from this survey.

Newsweek Poll: Americans Wary of NSA Spying    Saturday, May 13, 2006
Has the Bush administration gone too far in expanding the powers of the President to fight terrorism? Yes, say a majority of Americans, following this week's revelation that the National Security Agency has been secretly collecting the phone records of U.S. citizens since the September 11 terrorist attacks. According to this Newsweek poll, 53 percent of Americans think the NSA's surveillance program "goes too far in invading people's privacy," while 41 percent see it as a necessary tool to combat terrorism.

National Survey on HIV/AIDS Finds Increased Support for U.S. Leadership to Fight the Epidemic Abroad and at Home    Monday, May 08, 2006
A survey finds that Americans increasingly believe the U.S. should be a global leader on HIV/AIDS, including spending more money to fight the epidemic abroad and at home, despite an American characteristic distaste for foreign aid and a growing budget deficit. Six in ten Americans agree that the U.S. is a global leader and has a responsibility to help fight HIV/AIDS in developing countries -- up from 44% in 2002.

To view results for this poll, conducted by PSRAI for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, please click here.

Gaps in Health Insurance: An All-American Problem    Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Gaps in health insurance coverage - a problem that has long afflicted lower-income U.S. families - is increasingly becoming an all-American problem. Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey show that, while lack of insurance continues to be highest among families with incomes under $20,000, uninsured rates for moderate- and middle-income earners and their families are rising, putting their health and financial security at risk. The survey finds that most of these individuals reside in working families: Of the estimated 48 million American adults who spent any time uninsured in the past year, 67 percent were in families where at least one person was working full time. In addition, survey respondents were asked about problems with medical bills and accrued medical debt; difficulties in accessing needed health care; problems managing chronic conditions; utilization of routine preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies; and coordination and efficiency of care.

To read the full report, click here.

Most Seniors Enrolled in Medicare Drug Plans Are Getting Drugs without Problems    Tuesday, April 25, 2006
A national poll finds that most seniors enrolled in a Medicare drug plan are satisfied with their plan and are not having trouble getting the drugs they need. Most seniors enrolled in plans reported filling at least one prescription, and the vast majority of them -- more than 8 in 10 -- reported no problems getting their prescriptions filled. But still, nearly 2 in 10 did report a problem getting their drugs. Future surveys will probe in greater depth the nature of the problems seniors experience filling their prescriptions.

To view the selected findings for this poll, conducted by PSRAI for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, please click here.

2006 Governor's Race Up For Grabs; Voters Say Issues Will Be Important    Friday, March 31, 2006
An IssuesPA/Pew poll shows one-third of Pennsylvania voters are not committed to voting for either candidate in the 2006 gubernatorial election. Three-in-ten (29 percent) said they were likely to vote for Governor Ed Rendell, a Democrat, and 35 percent likely to vote for presumptive Republican nominee Lynn Swann. Thirty-four percent of voters are categorized as swing voters who are open to voting for either candidate. According to 43 percent of voters, the candidates' positions on issues will be the key factor in determining who will recieve their vote.

Click here to view more details from the poll, conducted by PSRAI among 1,504 Pennsylvania adults statewide March 14-March 22.

For many home broadband users, the internet is a primary news source    Wednesday, March 22, 2006
By the end of 2005, 50 million Americans got news online on a typical day, a sizable increase since 2002. Much of that growth has been fueled by the rise in home broadband connections over the last four years. For a group of "high-powered" online users - early adopters of home broadband who are the heaviest internet users - the internet is their primary news source on the average day.

To read the full report, click here.

Newsweek Poll: President Bush's Numbers Dropping to New Lows    Saturday, March 18, 2006
George W. Bush's approval rating now stands at 36% in the NEWSWEEK poll, matching the low point is his presidency recorded last November. While President Bush could once count on his image as an effective leader in the war on terrorism to keep his ratings up, that is no longer the case. Today, fewer than half (44%) the public approves of the way he is dealing with terrorism and homeland security. Approval of his handling of the situation in Iraq has also sunk to 29%.

For details, read about this Newsweek Poll conducted by PSRAI. This poll also includes questions on Sigmund Freud's "talking cure", and whether people's dreams reflect their unconscious desires.

To view more, click here.

Newsweek Poll: President Bush's Numbers Dropping to New Lows    Saturday, March 18, 2006
George W. Bush's approval rating now stands at 36% in the NEWSWEEK poll, matching the low point is his presidency recorded last November. While President Bush could once count on his image as an effective leader in the war on terrorism to keep his ratings up, that is no longer the case. Today, fewer than half (44%) the public approves of the way he is dealing with terrorism and homeland security. Approval of his handling of the situation in Iraq has also sunk to 29%.

For details, read about this Newsweek Poll conducted by PSRAI. This poll also includes questions on Sigmund Freud's "talking cure", and whether people's dreams reflect their unconscious desires.

To view more, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Gonzales Has Weak Support    Friday, March 17, 2006
Public opinion is divided on whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez should resign after reports of the possible White House involvement in the firings of eight federal prosecutors last year, according to a Newsweek poll. While roughly a third (35%) of Americans want Gonzalez to step down, a similar number want him to stay on (32%), and another third (33%) are undecided. This poll also asked how the issue of marriage and divorce might affect the 2008 presidential race. The poll finds that Americans generally and Evangelical Republicans specifically take a decidedly realistic and nuanced view of marriage and divorce. People are willing to give divorced candidates quite a bit of leeway, but many admit that a candidate's current and past marital relationships do influence their chances of winning their support.

Bush Approval Falls, Congress Gets Praise on Ports Deal    Wednesday, March 15, 2006
In the aftermath of the Dubai ports deal, President Bush's approval rating has hit a new low of 33%, and his image for honesty and effectiveness has been damaged. Yet the public uncharacteristically has good things to say about the role that Congress played in this high-profile Washington controversy.

To view the findings, please click here.

A report in PDF format is also available here.

Bush Approval Falls, Congress Gets Praise on Ports Deal    Wednesday, March 15, 2006
In the aftermath of the Dubai ports deal, President Bush's approval rating has hit a new low of 33%, and his image for honesty and effectiveness has been damaged. Yet the public uncharacteristically has good things to say about the role that Congress played in this high-profile Washington controversy.

To view the findings, please click here.

A report in PDF format is also available here.

Online Dating    Sunday, March 05, 2006
There is now relatively broad public contact with the online dating world. Yet, dating sites are just one of many online avenues that facilitate romantic connections.

To read the full report, click here.

Home Broadband Adoption in Rural America    Sunday, February 26, 2006
Rural Americans are less likely to log on to the internet at home with high-speed internet connections than people living in other parts of the country. By the end of 2005, 24% of adult rural Americans went online at home with high-speed internet connections compared with 39% of adults in urban and suburban areas.

Click here to learn more.

Survey Gauges American's Impression of New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit    Friday, February 17, 2006
Thirty percent of Americans say they understand the new Medicare prescription drug benefit very well or somewhat well. However, seven in ten (68%) say they do not understand the new benefit. Just 28 percent have a favorable impression of the prescription drug benefit, while 61 percent have either an unfavorable impression or a neutral opinion.

To view the topline results for this poll, conducted by PSRAI for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, please click here.

Are Parents and Students Ready for More Math and Science?    Wednesday, February 15, 2006
The first of a series of Reality Check reports finds that while parents generally support proposals to make high schools globally competitive, parents start from a different mindset than leaders. In fact, parents' concern about math and science achievement has actually declined since the mid-1990s. Most parents also say the material their children are learning is more challenging than the lessons they had to learn in school.

To read the full report, conducted by PSRAI for Public Agenda, click here.

Most Americans Not Aware of Health Savings Accounts    Wednesday, February 15, 2006
A new national survey looks at what the public has taken away from President Bush's State of the Union address in terms of health care. Forty-one percent of people say they watched or listened to the speech, and almost half say the President's emphasis on health care costs in the health segment of the speech came through to them. But seven in ten (71%) people say they have not heard of the term "health savings account" or don't know what it means, despite news coverage before and after the speech about proposals for expanding their use.

To view the topline results for this poll, conducted by PSRAI for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, please click here.

Surfing for Fun    Wednesday, February 15, 2006
More Americans are turning to the internet as a place to hang out.

Nearly a third of internet users go online on a typical day for no particular reason, just for fun or to pass the time.

Two-thirds of all internet users have tried surfing the Web just to pass the time, according to a survey we conducted in December 2005. Some 40 million people said they were surfing for fun on a typical day during the month. This number is up from 25 million people who were browsing for no particular reason in November 2004, the most recent time when this question was asked by the Pew Internet Project.

Click here to learn more.

The Strength of Internet Ties    Wednesday, January 25, 2006
The internet helps maintain people's social networks, and connects them to members of their social network when they need help. 60 million Americans have turned to the internet for help with major life decisions.

Click here to learn more.

Generations Online    Sunday, January 22, 2006
Internet users ages 12 to 28 years old have embraced the online applications that enable communicative, creative, and social uses. Older users are more likely to engage in online activities that require some capital: travel reservations and online banking. Tables comparing how different generations' use the internet are included in this data memo.

To read the full report, click here.

Americans Taking Abramoff, Alito and Domestic Spying in Stride    Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Just 18% are paying very close attention to news reports about disgraced Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff's admission that he bribed members of Congress. As many as 81% of Americans say that lobbyists bribing lawmakers is common behavior in Congress. But the survey finds little political fallout so far from these disclosures.

Click here to view the findings. A report in PDF format is also available here.

Americans Taking Abramoff, Alito and Domestic Spying in Stride    Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Just 18% are paying very close attention to news reports about disgraced Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff's admission that he bribed members of Congress. As many as 81% of Americans say that lobbyists bribing lawmakers is common behavior in Congress. But the survey finds little political fallout so far from these disclosures.

Click here to view the findings. A report in PDF format is also available here.

Strong Public Support for Right to Die    Thursday, January 05, 2006
A new Pew Research Center poll about end-of-life issues finds overwhelming support (84%) for laws giving patients the right to decide whether they want to be kept alive through medical treatment. And by a 70% to 22% margin, the public says there are circumstances when patients should be allowed to die rather than doing everything medically possible to save a patient.

To view the findings, please click here. A report in PDF format is also available here.

Strong Public Support for Right to Die    Thursday, January 05, 2006
A new Pew Research Center poll about end-of-life issues finds overwhelming support (84%) for laws giving patients the right to decide whether they want to be kept alive through medical treatment. And by a 70% to 22% margin, the public says there are circumstances when patients should be allowed to die rather than doing everything medically possible to save a patient.

To view the findings, please click here. A report in PDF format is also available here.

How Women and Men Use the Internet    Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Women are catching up to men in most measures of online life. Men like the internet for the experiences it offers, while women like it for the human connections it promotes.

To read the full report, click here.

How Women and Men Use the Internet    Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Women are catching up to men in most measures of online life. Men like the internet for the experiences it offers, while women like it for the human connections it promotes.

To read the full report, click here.

Baby Boomers Approach 60    Thursday, December 08, 2005
As the oldest of the nation's 75 million baby boomers approach the age of 60, a major new Pew Research Center survey finds many are looking ahead to their own retirement while balancing a full plate of family responsibilities - either raising minor children or providing financial or other forms of support to adult children or aging parents. Detailed information, including the full report "From the Age of Aquarius to the Age of Responsibility" is available here.

Baby Boomers Approach 60    Thursday, December 08, 2005
As the oldest of the nation's 75 million baby boomers approach the age of 60, a major new Pew Research Center survey finds many are looking ahead to their own retirement while balancing a full plate of family responsibilities - either raising minor children or providing financial or other forms of support to adult children or aging parents. Detailed information, including the full report "From the Age of Aquarius to the Age of Responsibility" is available here.

Pennsylvanians Less Pleased with Direction of State, Property Taxes    Thursday, December 08, 2005
The 2005 IssuesPA/Pew benchmark poll shows a continuing downward trend in Pennsylvanians' satisfaction with the direction of their state over the past year. Only 44% of those surveyed describe themselves as satisfied, compared to 50% a year ago. Citizens' declining faith in the state's leadership and uneasiness with taxes highlighted concerns, although other economic insecurity issues such as their ability to afford health care, finance retirement and pay energy costs were also mentioned.

To read about this poll, conducted by PSRAI, click here.

Massachusetts Baby Boomers Redefining Retirement    Friday, December 02, 2005
Baby boomers in Massachusetts are planning to delay retirement and continue working even after they retire, according to a new poll conducted by PSRAI for MassINC, an independent, non-partisan organization working to improve life in Massachusetts. The survey explored issues surrounding a generation in transition, including their expectations for work, retirement, housing, family responsibilities, personal health, and civic life. The survey is based on 1,000 interviews with Massachusetts adults ages 40 to 58, conducted between June 23-July 23, 2005.

To view the report, please click here.

To view the survey results, please click here.

Massachusetts Baby Boomers Redefining Retirement    Friday, December 02, 2005
Baby boomers in Massachusetts are planning to delay retirement and continue working even after they retire, according to a new poll conducted by PSRAI for MassINC, an independent, non-partisan organization working to improve life in Massachusetts. The survey explored issues surrounding a generation in transition, including their expectations for work, retirement, housing, family responsibilities, personal health, and civic life. The survey is based on 1,000 interviews with Massachusetts adults ages 40 to 58, conducted between June 23-July 23, 2005.

To view the report, please click here.

To view the survey results, please click here.

Americans Concerned About HIV/AIDS Despite Progress    Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Four in ten Americans feel the U.S. is making progress in dealing with the problem of HIV/AIDS today, while one quarter say the problem is about the same as it has been in the past. However, another quarter feel the country is losing ground in this area.

To view the topline results for this poll, conducted by PSRAI for The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, please click here.

About 25 million people have used the internet to sell something    Sunday, November 27, 2005
Some 17% of online American adults have used the internet to sell things. That amounts to approximately 25 million Americans. In addition, internet traffic data show that visits to classified ad web sites has grown 80% in the past year. Almost everything imaginable is currently for sale or has been for sale by individuals on various auction or classified ad sites. Tangible items like pink plastic Christmas trees, collectible coins, wedding dresses, automobiles, books, or CDs share web space with a myriad of intangibles including virtual weaponry and characters from online games (sold for real money) and services including everything from finding a French tutor, a personal trainer or someone to clean your aquarium. Demographically, online sellers have an "early adopter" profile and they are relatively intense users of the internet.

To read the full report, click here.

13 million Americans made donations online after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita    Thursday, November 24, 2005
In the aftermath of the Gulf Coast Hurricanes, 13 million Americans made donations to relief efforts online and 7 million set up their own hurricane relief efforts using the internet. In addition to using the internet to respond directly to the crisis, 50% of online users sought out news and information online.

To read the full report, click here.

Foreign Policy Views of Opinion Leaders and Public Turn Cautious    Monday, November 21, 2005
A quadrennial poll on foreign policy issues finds both the public and U.S. opinion leaders taking a decidedly cautious view of America's place in the world, reflecting concerns about the war abroad and growing problems at home. The survey, a collaborative effort between the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and the Council on Foreign Relations, finds a revival of isolationist sentiment among the general public, and a decline in support from opinion leaders for the United States playing a "first among equals" role among the world's leading nations.

The findings of the America's Place in the World 2005 Survey are based on interviews conducted between September 5-October 31, 2005. To read more about it, click here.

Foreign Policy Views of Opinion Leaders and Public Turn Cautious    Monday, November 21, 2005
A quadrennial poll on foreign policy issues finds both the public and U.S. opinion leaders taking a decidedly cautious view of America's place in the world, reflecting concerns about the war abroad and growing problems at home. The survey, a collaborative effort between the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and the Council on Foreign Relations, finds a revival of isolationist sentiment among the general public, and a decline in support from opinion leaders for the United States playing a "first among equals" role among the world's leading nations.

The findings of the America's Place in the World 2005 Survey are based on interviews conducted between September 5-October 31, 2005. To read more about it, click here.

Search engine use shoots up in the past year and edges towards email as the primary internet application    Sunday, November 20, 2005
Washington -- Search engines have become an increasingly important part of the online experience of American internet users. These findings from Pew Internet & American Life tracking surveys and consumer behavior trends from the comScore Media Metrix consumer panel show that about 60 million American adults are using search engines on a typical day.

To read the full report, click here.

Search engine use shoots up in the past year and edges towards email as the primary internet application    Sunday, November 20, 2005
Washington -- Search engines have become an increasingly important part of the online experience of American internet users. These findings from Pew Internet & American Life tracking surveys and consumer behavior trends from the comScore Media Metrix consumer panel show that about 60 million American adults are using search engines on a typical day.

To read the full report, click here.

Storms Had Little Impact on Readiness, Study Finds    Friday, November 18, 2005
Most Americans are no better prepared for a disaster than they were before hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast and are generally unaware of local response plans for disasters, according to a study by New York University.

Most Americans No Better Prepared For Disasters After Katrina, Poll Shows    Thursday, November 17, 2005
A majority of Americans say they are no better prepared for a disaster than they were before Hurricane Katrina and have less confidence in their government to protect them. Yet most people will keep relying on state and local officials in the immediate aftermath of a terrorist attack or natural disaster, according to two polls and an accompanying analysis by New York University's Center for Catastrophe Preparedness and Response. The research was obtained Thursday by The Associated Press...

Newsweek Poll: Serious Trouble for President Bush    Monday, November 14, 2005
George W. Bush's approval rating has fallen to 36 percent in the aftermath of the Scooter Libby indictment and the withdrawal of the Harriet Miers Supreme Court nomination. Two-thirds (68%) of Americans are unhappy with the direction of the country - the highest level of public dissatisfaction seen in a decade. Just a year after winning re-election, President Bush is now regarded as "honest and ethical" by less than half of the public (42%).

For details, read about the Newsweek Poll conducted by PSRAI.

Teen Content Creators and Consumers    Wednesday, November 02, 2005
American teenagers today are utilizing the interactive capabilities of the internet as they create and share their own media creations. Fully half of all teens and 57% of teens who use the internet could be considered Content Creators. They have created a blog or webpage, posted original artwork, photography, stories or videos online or remixed online content into their own new creations.

To read the full report, click here.

Leap of Faith: Using the Internet Despite the Dangers    Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Web users are demanding more of Web sites while becoming less trustful of them. They are adjusting their behavior in response to what they see as real threats online. In fact, almost a third say they are cutting back their Web use, according to a survey of Internet users by Consumer Reports WebWatch.

For the full report, click here.

Public Sours on Government AND Business    Tuesday, October 25, 2005
The public's ratings of the federal government and Congress have dropped sharply in the past year. But public discontent with the state of the nation is not reserved for Washington institutions alone. Favorable opinions of business corporations are at their lowest point in two decades, according to a national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.

For more details, click here.

How to Bridge America's Economic Divides Post-Katrina    Tuesday, October 18, 2005
The survey indicates that even after Katrina, Americans across income levels share many of the same hopes and aspirations for the future. However, most Americans agree that the gap between the rich and poor is very big. The majority of respondents supported a broad range of measures to help with poverty, such as increased wages, health insurance, education, job training and tax credits. Among the top reasons cited for poverty are low minimum wage, benefit cuts, too many part-time jobs and jobs being exported to other countries.

Pennsylvanians Losing Confidence in State Government    Thursday, October 13, 2005
After voting themselves a pay raise this past summer, Pennsylvania state legislators are viewed less favorably by state residents. At least for now, Governor Ed Rendell has managed to avoid the pay raise fallout.

To read more about this IssuesPA/Pew Poll conducted by PSRAI, click here.

Newsweek Poll: Bush Approval Slide Stopped    Monday, October 03, 2005
George W. Bush's approval rating is up a few points from the record low recorded in early September, despite the indictment of House Speaker Tom Delay. Americans believe the President has done a better job responding to Hurricane Rita and her aftermath than he after Katrina.

For details, read about this in a Newsweek Poll conducted by PSRAI.

Newsweek Poll: President's Image Also Suffers Hurricane Damage    Monday, September 12, 2005
George W. Bush's popularity and approval ratings have dropped across the board in Katrina's wake, according to a Newsweek Poll conducted by PSRAI.

Two-In-Three Critical Of Bush's Hurricane Relief Work    Thursday, September 08, 2005
The American public is highly critical of President Bush's handling of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. And there is a huge racial divide over Katrina and its consequences, according to a national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

To read the full report, click here.

Religion: A Strength And Weakness For Both Parties     Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Both major political parties have a problem with their approach toward religion, in the eyes of many Americans, according to a national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

To learn more, click here

Teens Leading Transition to Mobile Nation    Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Today, American teens live in a world enveloped by communications technologies; the internet and cell phones have become a central force that fuels the rhythm of daily life, according to a Pew Internet and American Life survey.

Click here for more details.

Public Confident, Lawyers Not, that President Bush will Make Good Choice in Supreme Court Nomination     Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Nearly six in ten of Americans say that they are confident the President will make good choices in his nominations to replace Supreme Court justices, while six in ten lawyers do not have faith in Bush's ability to choose the best candidate for lifetime appointment in the highest court.

To read the release, click here.

Islamic Extremism: Common Concern for Muslims    Thursday, July 14, 2005
Concerns over Islamic extremism, extensive in the West even before this month's terrorist attacks in London, are shared to a considerable degree by the publics in several predominantly Muslim nations surveyed by the Pew Global Attitudes Project.

Click here to learn more.

Islamic Extremism: Common Concern for Muslims    Thursday, July 14, 2005
Concerns over Islamic extremism, extensive in the West even before this month's terrorist attacks in London, are shared to a considerable degree by the publics in several predominantly Muslim nations surveyed by the Pew Global Attitudes Project.

Click here to learn more.

Women and Health Care: A National Profile    Thursday, July 07, 2005
A new national survey of women on their health by the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that a substantial percentage of women cannot afford to go to the doctor or get prescriptions filled. Although a majority of women are in good health and satisfied with their health care, many have health problems and do not get adequate levels of preventive care, according to the survey conducted by PSRAI.

For a detailed report, click here.

Spyware is changing the internet    Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Spyware and the threat of unwanted programs being secretly loaded onto computers are becoming serious threats online, according to a Pew Internet and American Life survey.

To find out more, click here.

U.S. Image Up Slightly, But Still Negative    Thursday, June 23, 2005
Anti-Americanism in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, which surged as a result of the U.S. war in Iraq, shows modest signs of abating. But the United States remains broadly disliked in most countries surveyed, and the opinion of the American people is not as positive as it once was, according to a 16-nation Pew Global Attitudes survey.

To view the detailed findings, click here.

Baby Boomers Want to Work and Help in Retirement    Thursday, June 16, 2005
A recent PSRAI poll for Civic Ventures finds that leading-edge Baby Boomers as well as Americans age 60 to 70 are ready now, and in retirement, to shift to jobs that give back to their communities

Click here to check out the New Face of Work.

One American in Four Considers Rush Limbaugh a Journalist    Monday, June 13, 2005
About as many Americans consider Rush Limbaugh, the conservative radio talk show star, to be a journalist as say the same of Bob Woodward, the Washington Post assistant managing editor who broke the Watergate story with Carl Bernstein, according to a national survey conducted for the University of Pennsylvania Annenberg Public Policy Center.

For the full press release, click here.

Party Identification and Election 2004    Monday, May 16, 2005
2005 AAPOR Conference Paper

2004 Presidential Approval Ratings in Perspective    Saturday, May 15, 2004
2004 AAPOR Conference Paper


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