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 […] Read more »
Heading into conventions, Obama has four-point lead
After Mitt Romney selected his vice presidential running mate, and just days before the political conventions kick off next week, President Barack Obama maintains his advantage in the race for the White House, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. [cont.] Mark Murray, NBC News Read more »
Independents favor cooperation, are dissatisfied with political system
… Independent voters are not a monolithic bloc. Nor are many of them truly independent in their voting patterns, according to a new study by The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation. Nearly two-thirds of Americans who describe themselves as independents act very much like partisan Republicans or partisan Democrats. […] Read more »
Ryan’s budget approach challenges bishops, at odds with Catholics
Mitt Romney’s decision to include Catholic congressman Paul Ryan on the Republican ticket presents a challenge for the U.S. Catholic bishops. And, equally importantly, it has the potential to open up a new “religion problem” for the Romney campaign among rank-and-file Catholics. At the heart of this tension is Ryan’s […] Read more »
Swing-State Voters Say They Are No Better Off Than in 2008
A majority of voters in key 2012 election swing states say they are not better off than they were four years ago; 40% say they are better off. Swing-state voters’ assessments of their situation compared with 2008 have varied little since last fall. [cont.] Jeffrey M. Jones, Gallup Read more »
An Elusive Vein of Obama Support
… A fascinating poll released last week by Suffolk University in Boston dug into the thinking of the 40% or so eligible voters who say they’ll probably sit out this election. … Asked to list reasons why they may not vote this year, responses ranged from “don’t like either candidate” […] Read more »