Politics

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 […]
reportMay 1, 2014

Is Attacking Obama’s Foreign Policy a Winning Strategy?

Some Republicans see foreign policy as a winning campaign theme given President Obama’s handling of recent international crises. But surveys suggest that may not be the case.
short readsApr 30, 2014

Botched execution in Oklahoma renews death-penalty debate

Oklahoma’s botched execution of Clayton Lockett has renewed debate about how, and whether, the U.S. should impose the death penalty.
reportApr 29, 2014

Public Divided over Whether Israel, Independent Palestinian State Can Coexist

Survey Report Amid the breakdown of peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, the public is divided over whether a way can be found for a peaceful two-state solution in the Middle East. Overall, 46% say an independent Palestinian state can coexist peacefully with Israel, 44% do not think this can happen. A year ago, […]