39% Think Cain Allegations True, 24% False
Americans who have heard about the sexual harassment allegations against Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, on balance, think they are true rather than false. At the same time, a plurality thinks that recent coverage of Cain has been fair.
The Generation Gap and the 2012 Election
In the last four national elections, generation has mattered more in American elections than it has in decades. This continues to be true as voters look ahead toward the 2012 general election. In a contest between President Obama and Mitt Romney, there is a 20-point gap in support for Obama between Millennials and the over-65 Silent generation.
Public Divided Over Occupy Wall Street Movement
About four-in-ten Americans say they support the Occupy Wall Street movement (39%), while nearly as many (35%) say they oppose the movement launched last month in New York’s financial district.
Top One-Word Reaction to Cain is a Number: 9-9-9
When Americans are asked to come up with a one-word description of the three leading Republican presidential candidates, they most frequently describe Herman Cain with numbers: “9-9-9.” But many struggle to come up with a word for Cain, Mitt Romney and Rick Perry.
A Third in GOP Have Seen a Presidential Debate
About a quarter of the public (27%) says they have watched one or more of the Republican presidential debates so far this year.
Obama Motivates Supporters, Opponents in Early 2012 Matchups
President Obama is running about even in hypothetical matchups against Mitt Romney and Rick Perry. In the race for the GOP presidential nomination, Mitt Romney continues to hold a slim lead, with Rick Perry placing second and Herman Cain moving up to third.
GOP Candidates Hardly Household Names
Smaller percentages of Americans can name, without being prompted, the leading candidates in this year’s Republican presidential race than in previous GOP races. At this stage of the campaign in the 1996, 2000 and 2008 campaigns, significantly more Americans could name Bob Dole, George W. Bush, and Rudolph Giuliani than they could for Mitt Romney or Rick Perry.
No Consensus About Whether Nation Is Divided Into ‘Haves’ and ‘Have-Nots’
The public is divided on the question of whether the U.S. has become a society of economic ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots,” with 52% saying it is incorrect to think of the country this way while 45% say such a division exists.
Obama Draws More Confidence than GOP Leaders on Deficit
As the nation prepares for another round of deficit reduction debates, the public’s confidence in congressional leaders, particularly Republican leaders in Congress, has plummeted.
More Now See GOP as Very Conservative
An increasing number of voters see the Republican Party as very conservative, while slightly fewer see the Democratic Party as very liberal compared to 2010.
