Barack Obama’s job approval rating has changed little in the past month, despite a series of recent controversies. In part, Obama is benefiting from improving views of the economy – the share rating the nation’s economy as excellent or good has doubled over the past year.
Young people are more likely than other age groups to think that the NSA leak serves the public interest and are divided over whether Snowden should be prosecuted.
56% of Americans say the NSA’s monitoring of the phone records of millions of Americans is an acceptable anti-terror tactic. Americans have supported government efforts to investigate terrorist threats, even at the expense of personal privacy, since 2006.
So far, public interest in a trio of controversies connected to the Obama administration remains limited. Republicans are following the stories much more closely.
Nearly three-quarters of U.S. Catholics say they are happy with the selection of Pope Francis. But they are divided over how big a change he represents for the church.
U.S. Catholics see sex abuse as the church’s most important problem and charity as its most important contribution.
Three-quarters of American Catholics have a favorable view of Pope Benedict XVI, but many also express a desire for change.
Mitt Romney is clearly the candidate the public says they are hearing the most news about, while mentions of Sarah Palin have plummeted over the past two weeks.
A 57%-majority says elected officials just get caught more often because they are under greater scrutiny. About two-in-ten (19%), on the other hand, say elected officials have lower moral standards than ordinary Americans.
Anthony Weiner's media coverage was more than double the attention devoted to President Obama.
