… Mr. Trump blurs the left/right ideological divide, combining extreme views on issues like immigration with more moderate positions on others like Social Security and Medicare. He’s pulled this off by bypassing the American party system (with few exceptions, the G.O.P. establishment has not supported Mr. Trump) and substituting a […] Read more »
Hillary Clinton’s Toughness
When voters look at equally experienced male and female politicians, “the man will still be seen as more capable on issues of national security and defense,” Meredith Conroy, a professor of political science at California State University, San Bernardino, wrote me in response to my inquiry about the current election. […] Read more »
Voters, Worried About Terrorism, Look for Leaders at Home on Silver Screen
… With the Islamic State suddenly rivaling the economy as their top concern in recent polls, many voters are looking for wartime strategies from the 2016 presidential candidates. But after seven years of a cerebral President Obama, there is no denying that some also want a leader who radiates gutsiness […] Read more »
After Paris, we must keep unreasonable fears in check
… A CBS poll last week found that 69% of Americans think a terrorist attack is likely in the United States over the next few months, up from 44% in April. Over time, that number is likely to recede if similar attacks don’t occur soon, according to John Mueller of […] Read more »
What fuels Trump’s rise? Anger and fear
… A month ago, Trump’s standing among Republican presidential candidates appeared to be eroding, especially in Iowa, where Ben Carson was gaining support. But since the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, Trump has seized the center of the GOP’s stage and bolstered his lead in both national and state […] Read more »
Paris and the Presidential Election
The Paris attacks — as well as developments in Brussels, Egypt and Mali — may have improved Republican prospects in 2016. Daily surveys conducted by Reuters/Ispos ask voters to identify the “most important problem facing the United States today.” The accompanying chart covers the period from Nov. 7 to Nov. […] Read more »