I’ve seen more than a few election cycles, but I’m not certain I have seen many that are more confusing than the one we are now in. Which “rules” of handicapping still hold in the current environment, and which fell by the wayside as our parties changed, our political institutions […] Read more »
People in Republican Counties Have Higher Death Rates Than Those in Democratic Counties
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the link between politics and health became glaringly obvious. Democrat-leaning “blue” states were more likely to enact mask requirements and vaccine and social distancing mandates. Republican-leaning “red” states were much more resistant to health measures. The consequences of those differences emerged by the end of 2020, […] Read more »
Here’s what the post-Roe polling says about voters’ top issue
Few individual news events have the power to singlehandedly rearrange voters’ electoral priorities. But if anything held that possibility, it might have been the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. … What voters care about, and how those priorities influence their decisions, is too complicated to be fully […] Read more »
Q&A: Author Elliott Morris on Public Opinion Polling in the United States and Its Role in Our Democracy
Data journalist Elliott Morris, U.S. correspondent for The Economist, talked about the history of political polling in the United States going back to the 19th century and the development and use of polling since then. He is the author of Strength in Numbers: How Polls Work and Why We Need […] Read more »
Biden’s age isn’t his problem
At 79, Joe Biden is the oldest president in American history. Eighteen months into his term, the burdens of governing have staggered him. And to hear recent political chatter, you might consider those two facts directly related. Adversaries cast Biden as too feeble for the demands of the Oval Office; […] Read more »
Voters of color are backing the GOP at historic levels
… All you have to do is turn on the political news to see that we are a country where political tribalism is high. Political science tells us that congressional polarization, for instance, is at its highest level since the 19th century. But while Democrats and Republicans may be further […] Read more »