… The gulf between the two parties on socially fraught issues like abortion, immigration, same-sex marriage and voting rights remains vast. On economic issues, however, the Democratic Party has inched closer to the policy positions of conservatives, stepping back from championing the needs of working men and women, of the […] Read more »
Role of U.S. Gov’t Remains Key Source of Party Differences
Democrats and Republicans have almost precisely opposite views of the purpose of government in today’s society. Fifty-seven percent of Democrats tend to believe the government should take active steps to try to improve the lives of its citizens. The same percentage of Republicans tilt toward the belief that the government […] Read more »
Getting America to Rewrite the Rules of the Economy
… After hearing a candidate’s pointed message attacking trickle down economics and promising to level the playing field for the middle class and America, the disengaged get more engaged and voters get more supportive of that leader. But that campaign context understates the possible moment and opportunity. The public is […] Read more »
The GOP’s Culture War
… The NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, conducted jointly by Fred Yang of the Democratic polling firm of Hart Research and Republican Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies, is one of my favorites. One thing that jumped out of their latest survey spells bad news for Republicans—and it’s only bound […] Read more »
Support for Planned Parenthood is down, but support for its federal funding is not
Planned Parenthood was once extremely popular. In 1989, A Gallup poll found that 82 percent Americans who had heard of the group viewed it in a favorable light, while only 11 percent viewed it unfavorably. In polling terms, that’s basically a consensus. But those days are long gone, and the […] Read more »
Fewer in U.S. Want Government to Promote Traditional Values
More Americans say the government should not promote any set of values (51%) than say it should promote traditional values (43%). This is the second time in the past four years Americans have tilted toward saying the government should be neutral on values. CONT. Jeffrey M. Jones, Gallup Read more »