Perceptions of Economic News Turn More Negative
The public’s perceptions of economic news have taken a turn for the worse. That could be bad news for Barack Obama, who held a lead over Mitt Romney in polling conducted mostly before disappointing jobs report and stock market slide during the week of May 31-June 3.
Partisan Polarization Surges in Bush, Obama Years
Americans values and basic beliefs are more polarized along partisan lines than at any point in the past 25 years. Party has now become the single largest fissure in American society, with the values gap between Republicans and Democrats greater than gender, age, race or class divides.
Public Sees Gas Prices Down Across Much of Nation
About half of Americans say the price of gasoline has gone down over the past month. Those in West Coast states, however, are much more likely to see gasoline prices going up.
A Global “No” To a Nuclear-Armed Iran
A 21-nation Pew Global Attitudes survey finds widespread opposition to Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. In most countries — with China and Russia notable exceptions — there is majority support among opponents of a nuclear-armed Iran for international economic sanctions to try to stop Tehran’s weapons program.
Public Yawns at European Economic Woes
The European debt crisis has attracted minimal interest or concern among the U.S. public, despite warnings from economists that Europe’s problems may threaten this country’s fragile recovery.
Assessing the Representativeness of Public Opinion Surveys
Half Say View of Obama Not Affected by Gay Marriage Decision
Roughly half of Americans (52%) say Barack Obama’s expression of support for gay marriage did not affect their opinion of the president.
Supreme Court Favorability Reaches New Low
Public assessments of the Supreme Court have reached a quarter-century low.
Growing Gap in Favorable Views of Federal, State Governments
The gap between favorable ratings of the federal government and state and local governments is wider than ever. Just a third of Americans have a favorable opinion of the federal government, the lowest positive rating in 15 years.
More Support for Gun Rights, Gay Marriage than in 2008 or 2004
Opinions about a pair of contentious social issues, gun control and gay marriage, have changed substantially since previous presidential campaigns. On gun control, Americans have become more conservative; on gay marriage, they have become more liberal.
