Conventions Still Draw Sizable Audience, Boost Campaign Interest
Despite limited prime-time coverage, the Republican and Democratic conventions still give the parties a chance to define their presidential candidates and spark public interest in the campaign.
Medicare Voucher Plan Remains Unpopular
A proposal to shift Medicare to a voucher system, part of a Paul Ryan plan approved by the House last year, remains unpopular. Both Ryan and Democrat Joe Biden get negative marks as vice presidential candidates.
Further Decline in Credibility Ratings for Most News Organizations
For the second time in a decade, the believability ratings for major news organizations have suffered broad-based declines. In the new survey, the ratings have fallen significantly for nine of 13 news organizations tested. The falloff affects organizations in most sectors: national newspapers, such as the New York Times and USA Today, all three cable news outlets, the broadcast TV networks and NPR.
Older Americans Have Been Highly Resistant to Medicare Changes
Older Americans are wary of changes to Medicare than are younger people. They are more positive about the way the program operates, less apt to think that changes are needed and far less disposed towards Paul Ryan’s proposal to reshape Medicare.
Public Continues to Hear Mixed Economic News
Public views of economic news—both overall and across most sectors—are little changed in recent months.
Eight-in-Ten Following Olympics on TV or Digitally
Large majorities of Americans are following coverage of the Olympic Games in London. Nearly eight-in-ten (78%) say they have watched or followed Olympic coverage either on television, online or on social networks.
Party Affiliation and Election Polls
In every campaign cycle, pollwatchers pay close attention to the details of every election survey. And well they should. But focusing on the partisan balance of surveys is, in almost every circumstance, the wrong place to look.
Little Public Awareness of Outside Campaign Spending Boom
The public is hearing little about increased spending by outside groups in the 2012 election. Just 25% have heard a lot about outside spending by groups not associated with the candidates or campaigns. Three-quarters are hearing a little or nothing at all about this. And just 40% can correctly identify the term “Super PAC.”
Romney’s Personal Image Remains Negative
By a 52% to 37% margin, more voters say they have an unfavorable than favorable view of Mitt Romney. Barack Obama’s image is, by comparison, more positive, though both face lower favorability ratings than most presidential candidates in recent elections. Obama continues to hold a sizable lead over Romney among registered voters, though his edge is narrower in battleground states
Colorado Rampage Tops News Interest for July
In the final two weeks of July, Americans kept a close watch on news about a deadly shooting rampage at a Colorado movie theater, but they also closely tracked news about two long-running stories – the condition of the nation’s economy and the 2012 presidential campaign.
