Despite some signals of optimism, the public remains largely dissatisfied with the economy and the direction of the country

Two months ahead of the midterm elections, President Biden’s approval ratings and perceptions of the economy have improved, although both are still largely negative. On the heels of several policy successes for the president, 45% of Americans approve of his job performance, up from his lowest rating of 36% in […] Read more »

Changing fundamentals boost Democrats

Democrats’ electoral prospects improved in recent months as a function of several developments, including the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization abortion decision and Democratic legislative successes. Some have taken the improvement as a sign that “fundamentals” no longer count. A careful sifting of the evidence suggests, on […] Read more »

Southern Focus Survey

Three-fourths of residents in 11 Southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia) believe a woman should be able to obtain a legal abortion if the pregnancy threatens the woman’s life or health, according to the latest Southern Focus Survey, an initiative […] Read more »

Polls show Republicans may not get red wave they hoped for in midterms

Historical trends and months of polling previously predicted that Democrats will face trouble in the midterms. But recent data shows that a red wave may not be the tsunami that Republicans were hoping for. Democratic strategist Joel Benenson and Republican pollster Neil Newhouse join Amna Nawaz to discuss what they’re […] Read more »