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
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.”
Catholics Share Bishops’ Concerns about Religious Liberty
Catholics who are aware of U.S. bishops’ concerns about restrictions on religious liberty generally agree with the bishops’ concerns, according to a new report. Yet there are no significant differences in presidential vote preferences between Catholic voters who have heard and those who have not heard about the bishops’ protests against government policies they see as restrictive of religious liberty.
Two-Thirds of Democrats Now Support Gay Marriage
Reports that the Democratic Party may add support for gay marriage to its party platform are in keeping with a significant shift of opinion on this issue among Democrats nationwide. A new report finds that support for same-sex marriage among Democrats has jumped from 50% in 2008 to 65% today.
Views on Gun Laws Unchanged After Aurora Shooting
There has been no significant change in public views on the issue of gun control and gun rights following the July 20th shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. Other recent major shootings also had little effect on public opinion about gun laws.
Most Say They Already Know Enough about the Candidates
With more than three months to go before Election Day, most voters already feel that there’s little left to learn about the presidential candidates.
Raising Taxes on Rich Seen as Good for Economy, Fairness
By two-to-one (44% to 22%), the public says that raising taxes on incomes above $250,000 would help the economy rather than hurt it, while 24% say this would not make a difference. Moreover, an identical percentage (44%) says a tax increase on higher incomes would make the tax system more fair, while just 21% say it would make the system less fair.
Obama Holds Lead; Romney Trails on Most Issues
Despite the stagnant economy and broad dissatisfaction with national conditions, Barack Obama holds a significant lead over Mitt Romney. Obama is favored by a 50% to 43% margin among registered voters. Romney loses ground on issue of which candidate can best improve the economy.
Partisans Agree: Presidential Election Will Be Exhausting
Republicans and Democrats find little to agree on these days, but they have some similar reactions to the 2012 presidential campaign.
Division, Uncertainty Over Court’s Health Care Ruling
The American public is divided over the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision upholding the 2010 health care law – 40% disapprove of the decision, while 36% approve. Nearly a quarter (24%) offer no opinion. And despite extensive public interest in the ruling, just 55% know that the Supreme Court upheld most of the law’s provisions.
