By roughly two-to-one (61% to 31%) most Americans offer a favorable assessment of their local government. In comparison, just 33% have a favorable view of the federal government.

About one-in-four (23%) of registered voters today are swing voters, compared to 33% in 2008.

Three-in-ten (30%) female veterans say they have served in a combat or war zone since 9/11; that compares to 57% of male veterans say they have done so.

Although it has been a contentious issue in many states, just 28% of voters view gay marriage as a very important issue.

Between 2009 and 2011, foreign-born workers experienced a 5.2% increase in employment, from 21.5 million to 22.6 million. In comparison, native-born workers experienced just a 1.8% increase over this same period.

About half (48%) of students who took out college loans say that paying them back has made it harder to make ends meet after they left school.

Three-quarters of U.S. Hispanics prefer a big government which provides more services to a small one providing fewer services. This figure is significally lower among the public at large.