Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson has moved into a dominant position in Iowa, surpassing former front-runner Donald Trump as evangelical Christians begin to coalesce around him in the state that will cast the first 2016 nomination ballots. CONT. John McCormick, Bloomberg Politics Read more »
Favorable Ratings of Pope Up After U.S. Visit
Pope Francis enjoyed a double-digit boost to his favorability after his September visit to the U.S. Seventy percent of Americans now view him favorably — up from 59% in July. The latest rating is closer to the 76% measured in early 2014. CONT. Justin McCarthy, Gallup Read more »
Democracy and the Demagogue
… Liberal democratic rhetoric is supposed to unify citizens with diverse perspectives and backgrounds, and make visible previously discounted perspectives (for example, the perspective of women during the struggle for women’s right to vote). Trump’s and Carson’s comments are explicitly antidemocratic. The fact that they seem to have been rewarded […] Read more »
Positive Impact of Pope Francis on Views of the Church, Especially Among Democrats and Liberals
In the wake of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that the pope has generated goodwill toward the Roman Catholic Church among many people across the political spectrum. Ideological liberals and moderates, along with Democrats, are especially likely to say Francis has […] Read more »
Shocked at evangelicals’ flocking to Trump? Blame it on Reagan
Among the more bizarre developments of the campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination is Donald Trump’s apparent popularity among evangelicals. Several polls show Trump garnering a plurality — though not a majority — of evangelical votes. Pundits, religious and otherwise, have been shaking their heads about this. Some evangelicals […] Read more »
GOP Candidates Culturally Out of Step with Most Americans
Republicans have many reasons for optimism about the 2016 presidential election, but the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released this week shows again that social issues may be their biggest obstacle in recapturing the White House next year. CONT. Ronald Brownstein, National Journal Read more »