Politics Archives

short readsMay 20, 2014

More Republicans than Democrats see military service as asset for presidential candidates

As the 2016 presidential campaign ramps up, Republicans and Democrats have different wish lists when it comes to what traits they want in a candidate.
short readsMay 20, 2014

News interest: Conservatives big on Benghazi, liberals follow Nigeria kidnappings and Sterling

There was a sharp partisan divide last week on which stories most interested liberals and conservatives: Liberals tracked most closely the kidnappings in Nigeria and the Donald Sterling controversy, while conservatives were most interested in Benghazi.
reportMay 19, 2014

For 2016 Hopefuls, Washington Experience Could Do More Harm than Good

Survey Report As the 2016 presidential campaign begins to take shape, Washington experience has become less of a potential asset for those seeking the White House. A new national survey testing candidate traits finds that 30% would be less likely to support a candidate with “many years” of experience as an elected official in Washington, […]
short readsMay 14, 2014

More than a decade later, 9/11 attacks continue to resonate with Americans

As the National September 11 Memorial Museum prepares to open, a look at how Americans view the 2001 attacks and their legacy for the country.
short readsMay 9, 2014

Obama job ratings higher than Bush, but pale next to Bill Clinton

Obama’s job approval rating stands at 44% while Bush’s was 35% at the same point in the 2006 midterm year. Clinton’s approval rating was a solid 62% at this point in 1998.
reportMay 6, 2014

About the Survey

The analysis in this report is based on telephone interviews conducted April 23-27, 2014 among a national sample of 1,501 adults, 18 years of age or older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia (600 respondents were interviewed on a landline telephone, and 901 were interviewed on a cell phone, including […]
reportMay 6, 2014

Supreme Court Favorability Rebounds

Survey Report Favorable views of the Supreme Court are back above 50%, having rebounded from historic lows reached in the summer of 2013. However, the court still has several major decisions pending that could impact the public’s views, including rulings on challenges to the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that employers include contraceptive coverage in their […]
short readsMay 6, 2014

Americans still sour on the economy despite falling unemployment

Americans’ assessment of the economy appears to be at odds with official unemployment statistics. But looking more deeply at job openings, hires and quits can help explain the disconnect.
short readsMay 6, 2014

Democrats find themselves divided on Keystone pipeline

Some Democratic senators may join with Republicans to vote for building the Keystone XL pipeline. It’s an issue that divides Democrats, a Pew Research survey found in March.
reportMay 5, 2014

Midterm Election Indicators Daunting for Democrats

With the midterm elections six months away, Democrats are burdened by an uneven economic recovery and a stubbornly unpopular health care law. Perhaps equally important, Barack Obama’s political standing is in some respects weaker than it was at a comparable point in the 2010 campaign, which ended with the Republicans gaining a majority in the […]