When Private Lives Become Public
Generally, the issues matter most in voters’ judgments about presidential candidates, but personality, character and values are not far behind — and especially so in primary elections.
Most Say Homosexuality Should Be Accepted By Society
While the public is divided over same-sex marriage, a majority of Americans (58%) say that homosexuality should be accepted, rather than discouraged, by society. But there are wide political and religious differences in opinions on this measure.
Bush Lost Battle Over the Surplus, But Won Tax Cut War
Ten years ago this month Congress approved President Bush’ first round of tax cuts. A look back at polling history examines what the public thought the cuts, the deficit and the economy a decade ago.
The Deficit Debate: Where the Public Stands
In a number of surveys over the past several months, the Pew Research Center has shown where the public stands on the budget deficit — the seriousness of the problem, views of competing policy proposals, and its confidence in the policymakers.
Tea Party: Better Known, Less Popular
As the Tea Party has evolved from a grassroots movement into a major force on Capitol Hill, public views of the movement have grown more negative. Slightly more disagree than agree with the Tea Party — a reversal in public evaluations from a year ago.
The Elusive 90% Solution
This week, fully 90% of the public said that they were hearing mostly bad news about gas prices. Reaching the 90% threshold is a rare occurrence in polls, in part, because surveys focus on current issues with considerable disagreement. So what do 90% of Americans agree on?
Who’s Winning the Fight Over Public-Employee Unions?
In its Topic A feature, the Washington Post asked several experts — among them the Pew Research Center’s Director of Survey Research Scott Keeter — who’s winning and who’s losing in the fight over public-employee unions.
In Showdown with Air Traffic Controllers, the Public Sided with Reagan
The bitter fight over union rights in Wisconsin calls to mind a labor battle that helped define the first year of Ronald Reagan’s presidency.
Tea Party’s Hard Line on Spending Divides GOP
Across a wide range of issues — including entitlements, education, agriculture and energy — Tea Party Republicans take a much harder line on cutting federal spending than do non-Tea Party Republicans, who are far more in sync with Democrats.
Historically, Public Has Given Low Priority to Promoting Democracy Overseas
Americans like the idea of their government promoting democracy in other nations. But democracy promotion has historically lagged far behind other objectives among the public’s long-term foreign policy goals.
