American leaders often speak as if our country is the world’s prime exemplar, and prime proponent, of democracy. The public differs. Today, in the minds of our citizens (ignoring, for the moment, our government’s actions), America suffers from a democratic deficit. … In a survey our firm conducted this summer, […] Read more »
Mike Pence avoided Roe v. Wade in Wednesday’s debate. Here’s why.
… Pence is a smart political operator — he could have articulated a strong, reasonably popular position if the question was framed around, say, late-term abortions. But Americans are risk-averse — even some who oppose abortion are skittish about sudden massive changes to existing policy such as overturning Roe. That […] Read more »
CNN Poll: Americans are divided over Amy Coney Barrett
Americans are split on Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, with 46% saying they do not want the Senate to send her to the high court and 42% saying the Senate should confirm her in a new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS. … Initial reactions to Barrett are among the […] Read more »
How conservative Catholics became supreme on GOP’s court
President Donald Trump’s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett continues the GOP’s remarkable streak of selecting Catholic jurists for the Supreme Court and underscores the enduring impact of the alliance between conservative Catholics and evangelical Protestants, which has transformed the Republican coalition. If the Senate confirms Barrett to replace the late […] Read more »
How Trump’s base appeals have backfired
… Trump’s 2020 campaign and, indeed, his entire presidency has been about rallying the Republican base. Thanks to Trump’s messaging, the percentage of voters who see him as conservative has jumped during his presidency compared to where it was during the 2016 campaign. The problem for Trump is that in […] Read more »
Democrats Regain Favorability Edge Over GOP
Americans’ opinions of the Republican Party have soured since January but are similar to what they were a year ago. Meanwhile, Americans’ favorability ratings of the Democratic Party (47%) have been stable and again surpass those of the GOP (42%). CONT. Jeffrey M. Jones, Gallup The OPINION TODAY email newsletter is a […] Read more »