Latest findings in Politics

(Week of 5/12/2012)  With President Obama’s announcement of support for gay marriage, the Presidential campaign roared into the headlines, but the contest has hardly begun to captivate Americans according to the latest Economist/YouGov poll.  Overall, barely one-in-three (35%) are following news about the 2012 Presidential election campaign very closely.  Disinterest ...
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(Week of 5/12/2012) Presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney continues to trail incumbent President Barack Obama on many character-related measures in the current Economist/YouGov poll, but that personality gap may be narrowing overall as Romney establishes himself with voters.  Meanwhile, Obama is trading some soft perceptions (honest and sincere, not ...
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(Week of 5/12/2012)  President Obama enjoyed the advantage incumbents have when the other party is engaged in a spirited nomination contest early in 2012, and it showed in his approval ratings overall and on specific issues.  There is no issue on which Obama’s standing in the current week’s mid-May Economist/YouGov ...
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(Week of 5/12/2012)  In this week’s Economist/YouGov Poll, respondents were asked how strongly they agree or disagree with a series of statements about the way American democracy functions. On most of these questions, respondents gave views that suggested strong negative feelings about America’s political class. For example, only 27% agree ...
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(Week of 5/12/2012)  This week’s Economist/YouGov poll shows Mitt Romney jumping to a small lead over Barack Obama. The former Massachusetts Governor leads the President 46%-42%. The race is close in all age groups, among independents and with both men and women (though Obama has a slight lead with women, ...
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(Week of 5/12/2012)  The President’s new support of same-sex marriage may have helped him with his base, without adding to the numbers who oppose him. Last week, only 32% in the Economist/YouGov Poll said they approved of the way the President was handling the issue of gay rights. This week, ...
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(Week of 5/12/2012)  President Barack Obama’s new-found support of same-sex marriage changed the minds of few Americans on the question. Last week, 44% said they were in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage, and 46% opposed it; this week’s Economist/YouGov Poll finds little difference in overall opinion: 43% are in favor, ...
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(Week of 5/5/2012)  Major Congressional action this week centered on negotiations in a conference committee with members from the Senate and House aiming to iron out differences in the versions of the transportation bill passed by each chamber.  A key point of disagreement is the Keystone XL oil pipeline and ...
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(Week of 5/5/2012)  When it comes to the personal characteristics Americans ascribe to each candidate in the race for President, the usual roles are reversed. Even after nearly three and a half years as President, Obama is rated as experienced by 20%, not experienced by 33% (net -13).  By comparison, ...
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YouGov has been tracking approval of President Obama on the issue of gay rights since 2009. Below is a chart that shows how Obama approval on gay rights has changed since he took office. Importantly, the last data point on the chart is from May 5-7, before the President officially ...
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