The Midterms Are Coming. Here’s How to Cover Polling

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… As news outlets prepare for the 2022 midterms and beyond, many are grappling with how to best cover polls as part of an accurate and balanced news diet. The question remains: How can we get the most useful information out of polling — and convey that information well — while avoiding pitfalls of small sample sizes, leading questions, and the narrowness of horserace coverage? CONTINUED

Celeste Katz Marston, Nieman Reports

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Most Americans don’t like Biden’s Ukraine response and worry about inflation

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Americans are watching the war in Ukraine closely, and most do not like how the U.S. is responding. A new NPR/Ipsos poll finds that a majority of Americans think President Biden has not done a good job in his handling of the war. Many say the president has been too cautious, even as a majority say they’re wary of sparking a broader conflict. CONTINUED

Joel Rose, NPR News

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Fox News Poll: Biden’s inflation troubles persist as voters cite high gas prices, spending woes

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… Biden’s overall job rating is upside-down by 9 points: 45% approve vs. 54% disapprove. Last month, it was 43%-56%.

That could be the bright spot in the survey for the administration.

The president’s marks are underwater by 21 points for his handling of the economy (38% approve, 59% disapprove) and a staggering 35 points on inflation (31% approve, 66% disapprove). That two-thirds disapproving on inflation consists of 39% of Democrats, 74% of independents, and 89% of Republicans. …

Voters continue to say the economy is in bad shape, with 74% rating it negatively (32% only fair, 42% poor). That’s nearly three times as many as rate it positively (6% excellent, 20% good). These ratings have largely held steady since October. CONTINUED

Dana Blanton, Fox News

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Republicans More Likely Than Democrats To Say Partisan Control of Congress ‘Really Matters’

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With the midterm congressional elections still more than seven months away, registered voters are evenly divided between the two major parties in their election preferences. At the same time, Republican voters are more likely than Democratic voters to say it “really matters” which party gains control of Congress in this fall’s midterms.

At this early stage of the campaign, President Joe Biden is much more of a motivating factor for Republican than Democratic voters: 71% of Republican and Republican-leaning voters say they think of their vote as being “against” Biden; far fewer Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters (46%) view their vote as a vote “for” the president. CONTINUED

Pew Research Center

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Americans don’t think Biden is being tough enough on Russia

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There is widespread public support for sanctions imposed by the United States on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, including a ban on importing Russian oil. However, President Biden has yet to see praise for his efforts to isolate Russia and aid Ukraine. Fifty-six percent of Americans think Biden’s response has not been tough enough.

With the crisis in Ukraine escalating, few Americans have a high degree of confidence in Joe Biden’s ability to effectively handle a crisis, effectively manage the military, or promote the standing of the United States in the world.

Fifty-six percent of Americans feel that Biden’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has not been tough enough. Few believe his response has been too tough and only 36% say his response has been about right. CONTINUED

AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research

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46% of Americans Want No-fly Zone over Ukraine even if it Risks Nuclear War

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Just under half of U.S. adults surveyed (46%) favor creating a no-fly zone in Ukraine airspace, increasing U.S. involvement with the risk of possible nuclear war, according to a new national poll released today by the Center for Public Opinion at UMass Lowell.

Conducted over the past week, the poll surveyed U.S. adults’ attitudes about the war in Ukraine as well as domestic issues including the appetite for political reform, political leaders’ favorability ratings, and the federal government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. …

Respondents were more evenly split on Biden’s handling of the war in Ukraine with 48% saying they approve of how the president has handled the crisis and 52% saying they disapprove. Those numbers somewhat mirrored the president’s job rating as 57% of respondents disapprove of Biden’s performance while 43% approve. CONTINUED

Center for Public Opinion, University of Massachusetts Lowell

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