Unexpectedly, the 2020 presidential campaign is drilling down on petty crime and homelessness. Donald Trump and his Republican allies are reviving law-and-order themes similar to those used effectively by Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew in the late 1960s and early 1970s to demonize racial minorities. To this end, Republicans seek […] Read more »
Which Group Represents the Political Views of the Average American—Nones or White Evangelicals?
… Two things I want to accomplish here. First, I wanted to see if two religious groups are as polarized as the parties. Second, I wanted to take it a step further and ask which of those two religious groups is closer to the average American. This exercise was helpful […] Read more »
Five myths about rural America that muddle the political realities
In political, media and academic circles, the Trump era has sparked renewed interest in rural America — the supposedly “forgotten” areas of the country where white, non-college-educated voters gave the president the electoral edge he needed to prevail in 2016. The near-singular focus on Donald Trump has yielded a body […] Read more »
Trump courts Latinos in Miami as part of launch of evangelical coalition
In a 75-minute rally-style address — but with more religious overtones — Trump touted his record on social issues and noted that the evangelical vote helped power his improbable victory in 2016, proclaiming: “We’re gonna blow those numbers away in 2020.” “Evangelicals . . . have never had a greater champion, not […] Read more »
Want to know what will happen in 2020? Look to state polls for the answer
Before an election the media closely follows polls. Rob Crandall/Shutterstock.com Daniel R. Birdsong, University of Dayton Public opinion polls are ingrained in American politics. It seems like every day there is a new poll about the presidential election or impeachment or whether the public feels that the United States is […] Read more »
Poll: White evangelicals distinct on abortion, LGBT policy
White evangelical Protestants stand noticeably apart from other religious people on abortion restrictions and LGBT discrimination protections, two of the most politically divisive issues at play in the 2020 presidential election, according to a new poll. The findings point to an evangelical Protestant constituency that’s more firmly aligned with President […] Read more »