11/30: Voters Divide Over “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Registered voters nationwide divide about the future of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.  48% do not think the current Democratic Congress should repeal the law so that gay men and women can openly serve in the U.S. military while 47% do.  Just 5% of registered voters are unsure.

“If you’re surprised by the controversy, look no further than the national poll numbers to see how polarized the electorate is on this issue,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.

Opinions divide along party lines.  A majority of Democrats — 56% — want the law repealed so that gay men and women can openly serve their country in the military while six in ten Republicans — 60% — believe the current law should remain in effect.  Among independent voters, 49% want the current Congress to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”  46% do not.

There is an age gap on this question.  A majority of voters under the age of 45 — 51% — want the law repealed.  In contrast, nearly half of those 45 and older — 49% — do not think Congress should change the current law.

Table: “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

McClatchy-Marist Poll Methodology

Related Stories from McClatchy:
Poll: Obama’s looking weak for re-election in 2012

11/29: Voters Want Compromise Across the Aisle, But Doubt It Will Happen

Now that Republicans have won control of the U.S. House of Representatives, more than seven in ten registered voters in the U.S. — 72% — think Republicans should work with Democrats and President Barack Obama to get things done while 25% say the GOP should stand firm on their positions even if things don’t get done.  Three percent are unsure.

Click Here for Complete USA McClatchy-Marist Poll Release and Tables

Not surprisingly, most Democrats — 94% — think the Republicans should cooperate with the president and the Democrats in Congress to make progress on key issues, and 71% of independent voters agree.  Republicans divide about what they think should happen.  Among Republicans, 49% say the two sides should reach common ground while 47% report they should stand firm in their beliefs even if it causes political gridlock.

Although a majority of Tea Party supporters — 51% — want Republicans to stand firm, 45% think the GOP should work with the president and Democrats.  Four percent are unsure.

However, when it comes to what they think will happen, just 28% of voters think the Republicans in Congress will negotiate with the president and the Democrats.  Instead, 64% of registered voters believe the Republicans will hold fast to their positions.  Seven percent are unsure.

Here, a majority of Republicans — 55% — think their GOP allies will stand firm while 37% say they will compromise.  Seven percent are unsure.  Among Democrats, 69% say the Republicans in Congress will stand against their colleagues across the aisle while 25% report they will work with them.  Five percent are unsure.  Similarly, 67% of independents state House Republicans will hold their ground compared with 26% who believe they will negotiate with the president and the Democrats.  Seven percent are unsure.

Nearly six in ten Tea Party supporters — 58% — think the Republicans will remain steadfast  while about one-third — 34% — say they will work with the Democrats to get things done.  Eight percent are unsure.

Table: House Control – Should Republicans Compromise?
Table: House Control – Will Republicans Compromise?

McClatchy-Marist Poll Methodology

11/29: Tax Cuts OK, But Not for the Wealthy

President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet with Congressional leaders tomorrow.  A key item on the agenda — whether to extend the Bush-era tax cuts.  Where do voters stand on the issue?  According to this McClatchy-Marist Poll, a majority of registered voters nationally — 51% — think the tax cuts should be extended only for the middle class but not for the top two percent, households earning $250,000 or more.  45% believe the tax breaks should be applied to everyone including the top two percent, and 4% are unsure.

Click Here for Complete USA McClatchy-Marist Poll Release and Tables

When McClatchy-Marist last asked this question in September, 49% said the Bush-era tax cuts should be extended for just the middle class while 48% reported they should be extended to everyone.  Three percent were unsure.

“This represents the first post-midterm election test of the nation’s political leadership,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.  ”It comes on the crucial issue of finances and the economy.”

Partisan differences still exist on this question with 68% of Democrats saying the tax breaks should be extended to just the middle class and 62% of Republicans reporting they should be extended to everyone.  Independents divide.  49% of these voters want the cuts applied only to the middle class while 48% think they should be extended for everyone.  McClatchy-Marist found a similar partisan divide in its September poll.

Table: Extension of Bush Era Tax Cuts

Call for Compromise

As the debate between President Barack Obama and Republicans continues over the Bush-era tax cuts, a majority of voters want the two to find common ground.  53% want them to resolve their differences now while 42% think they should extend the current tax policy for two years.  Five percent are unsure.

Democrats are more likely to think the issue should be resolved now with the Democratic Congress than are Republicans.  67% of Democrats think they should resolve their differences now while 57% of Republicans want the current policy extended for two years.  A majority of independents — 54% — align with the Democrats on this question.

Table: Debate Between President and Republicans

More Still View Economic Conditions as Inherited

President Obama continues to avoid blame for the country’s economic conditions.  65% of registered voters currently believe he inherited today’s economic conditions while 28% think they are a result of the president’s own policies.  Eight percent are unsure.  In McClatchy-Marist’s late October survey, 60% viewed the nation’s economic issues as inherited, 30% blamed the president’s policies, and 10% were unsure.

Table: Current Economic Conditions Inherited
Table: Current Economic Conditions Inherited Over Time

Half Full or Half Empty: Voters Divide About Future of U.S. Economy

When thinking about the future of the U.S. economy, 49% of registered voters think the worst is yet to come while 46% say the worst is behind us.  Four percent are unsure.  In McClatchy-Marist’s late October survey, 45% were pessimistic while 47% said the worst was over.  Eight percent, at the time, were unsure.

Among residents, a majority — 51% — think there is more bad news on the economic horizon while 45% believe better days are ahead.  Five percent are unsure.  In that previous survey, 47% thought the worst is ahead, 45% said the worst is over, and 8% were unsure.

Table: U.S. Economy – Will It Get Worse?

McClatchy-Marist Poll Methodology

11/29: Voters Not Satisfied with Health Care Law

It has been eight months since President Barack Obama signed the health care reform bill into law.  But, most voters aren’t completely satisfied with it.  Surprisingly, however, about as many registered voters in the United States — 35% — want Congress to amend the 2010 Health Care Law so that it does more as those who want the law to be repealed — 33%. 11% want it changed so that it does less while 16% think the law should stand in its current form.  Five percent are unsure.

Click Here for Complete USA McClatchy-Marist Poll Release and Tables

It’s a partisan divide with independent voters squarely in the middle.  A majority of Democrats — 52% — want the law changed so that it does more, and 27% want Congress to let it stand as it exists.  Just 8% want it repealed, and 6% would like to see it changed so that it does less.  Seven percent are unsure.  Among Republicans, 58% want the law repealed, and 16% want it to do less.  18% would like it changed so that it does more, and only 5% want it to stand.  Three percent are unsure.  Looking at independent voters, 36% want the 2010 Health Care Law repealed, 12% would like it to do less, 34% would like it to do more, and 14% want it to stand.  Four percent are unsure.

“This is a classic case of public opinion flying in the face of the conventional wisdom,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.  ”Sure, most voters are not satisfied with the health care bill, but that doesn’t automatically translate into support for its repeal.”

Table: 2010 Health Care Law
Table: 2010 Health Care Law (Categories Combined)

Mandate to Buy Health Insurance Viewed as Unconstitutional

Nearly two-thirds of registered voters — 65% — think it is unconstitutional to require Americans to buy health insurance.  29% believe residents should be required to purchase coverage, and 7% are unsure.

79% of Republicans say the mandate is unconstitutional while 18% do not.  Even a plurality of Democrats — 48% — believe requiring all residents to purchase health insurance goes against the Constitution.  On the other hand, 41% of Democrats think Americans should be required to buy it.  Among independents, more than two-thirds — 68% — believe it is unconstitutional while 27% say it should be a requirement for all Americans to buy health insurance.

Table: Mandate to Buy Health Insurance

Getting Specific: Voters’ Views on Aspects of 2010 Health Care Law

While 65% of voters think it is unconstitutional to require residents to buy health insurance, voters have a more positive attitude toward other aspects of the law.  When it comes to the part of the law that allows children up to age 26 to remain on their parents’ health insurance, 68% think it should remain law while 29% say that dimension should be repealed.  Three percent are unsure.

Almost six in ten voters — 59% — report the part of the health care law that prevents insurance companies from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions should remain law while 36% want it repealed.  Five percent are unsure.

And, 57% think the aspect of health care reform which closes the so-called “donut hole” in Medicare prescription drug coverage by providing assistance to pay for costs should remain in effect while 32% say it should be repealed.  11% are unsure.

Table: Remaining on Parents’ Health Plan
Table: Pre-existing Conditions
Table: Closing the “Donut Hole”

McClatchy-Marist Poll Methodology

11/24: Looking to 2012: 48% Plan to Vote Against Obama

If the 2012 presidential election were held today, President Barack Obama would have his work cut out for him.  48% of registered voters nationwide report they plan to definitely vote against Mr. Obama while 36% say they will definitely vote for him.  16% are undecided.

Click Here for Complete USA McClatchy-Marist Poll Release and Tables

The president needs to make inroads with independent voters.  Half — 50% — report they definitely will not support him in his re-election bid.  Three in ten say they definitely plan to vote for him, and 20% are undecided.

“As the electoral page turns from the mids to 2012, President Obama starts off, not surprisingly, in a somewhat tenuous position,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.

Table: Definitely Vote For or Against President Obama in 2012

Dems Divide Over 2012 Primary Challenge for Obama

There have been rumblings in the political sphere about another Democrat challenging President Obama for the party’s nomination in 2012.  And, in fact, Democrats and Democratic leaning independent voters divide about the idea.  46% do not want such a challenge to occur, but 45% do.  Nine percent are unsure.

• 40% of Democrats and Democratic leaning independents prefer a more conservative challenger while 39% want one who is more liberal.  22% are unsure.
• Interestingly, a plurality of Democrats — 42% — would like to see a more liberal challenger while half of Democratic leaning independents — 50% — would like to see a more conservative one.

Table: Challenge to Obama in 2012 Primaries
Table: Ideology of Potential 2012 Democratic Challenger

Plurality Support Obama in Hypothetical Three-Way 2012 Matchup

If President Obama were to face off against Republican Sarah Palin and independent New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2012, 45% of registered voters nationally say they would vote for Obama, 31% would support Palin, and 15% would cast their ballot for Bloomberg.  Nine percent are undecided.

Table: 2012 Hypothetical Presidential Matchup: Obama/Palin/Bloomberg

But, What Are Palin’s Odds of Receiving the GOP Nomination?

Looking at the contest for the 2012 Republican nominee for president, there is no clear front-runner.  If the Republican presidential primary were held today, 20% of Republicans and Republican leaning independents say they would support former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney while former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee receives 16% of the vote.  Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin garners 13%, and former Georgia Congressman Newt Gingrich is buoyed by the support of 10% of Republicans and Republican leaning independents.  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Texas Governor Rick Perry get 9% and 5%, respectively.  Four percent report they would vote for Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels while Indiana Congressman Mike Pence is favored by 3%.  Former New York State Governor George Pataki, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour round out the possible field with 3%, 2%, and 1%, respectively.  14% are undecided.

Even among Republicans and Republican leaning independent voters who support the Tea Party, the GOP field is open.

Table: 2012 Republican Presidential Primary

61% of Voters Say, “No,” to a President Bloomberg

About six in ten registered voters nationally — 61% — do not want New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to run for president.  12% would like Bloomberg to take to the national stage while 27% are unsure.

Table: Bloomberg for President

McClatchy-Marist Poll Methodology

Related Story:
Voters Divide Over Obama’s Approval Rating

11/24: Voters Divide Over Obama’s Approval Rating

Among registered voters nationally, 45% approve of President Barack Obama’s job performance while 48% disapprove.  Seven percent are unsure.

When McClatchy-Marist last asked this question in late October, 48% approved of the president’s job performance, 43% disapproved, and 9% were unsure.

Click Here for Complete USA McClatchy-Marist Poll Release and Tables

Independent voters are responsible for the change.  Currently, 38% of these voters approve of the job the president is doing in office, 54% disapprove, and 9% are unsure.  Late last month, 48% approved of the president’s job performance, 43% disapproved, and 10% were unsure.

• 42% of registered voters approve of how President Obama is handling the economy while 55% disapprove.  Four percent are unsure.  In McClatchy-Marist’s September 21st poll, 41% approved, 56% disapproved, and 3% were unsure.
• President Obama receives mixed reviews when it comes to his handling of foreign policy.  44% approve of his management while 47% of voters disapprove.  Nine percent are unsure.

“The national electorate remains largely split over President Obama.  Independents, so important in ’08 and ’10, hold the key to his political future,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “Right now, he’s hurting with these voters.”

Table: Obama Approval Rating
Table: Obama Approval Rating Over Time

Table: Handling of the Economy
Table: Handling of the Economy Over Time

Table: Handling Foreign Policy

Obama’s Favorability at Lowest Point Since Taking Oath of Office

47% of registered voters have a favorable perception of President Obama, 49% view him unfavorably, and 4% are unsure.  The president’s current favorability rating is the lowest one he has received since assuming the role of President of the United States.  Most recently, in McClatchy-Marist’s late October survey, a majority — 54% — held the president in high esteem, 41% had a less than stellar impression of him, and 5% were unsure.

Table: Obama Favorability
Table: Obama Favorability Over Time

Majority of Voters Disappointed by President

A majority of registered voters — 51% — believe President Obama has fallen below their expectations.  39%, though, report he has met their expectations, and 7% say he has exceeded them.  Three percent are unsure.  Little has changed on this question since Marist-McClatchy last asked it.  In October, half said the president had fallen short, 38% thought Mr. Obama met their expectations, and 9% said he surpassed them.  Three percent were unsure.

Table: Obama Meeting Expectations
Table: Obama Meeting Expectations Over Time

Turn the Nation Around

A majority of U.S. residents — 53% — think the nation is headed in the wrong direction.  41%, on the other hand, say it is moving along the right path.  Six percent are unsure.  Little has changed on this question since McClatchy-Marist last asked it in late October when 52% viewed the nation as being on the wrong road, 38% saw it as moving on the correct track, and 10% were unsure.

Table: Right or Wrong Direction of the Country

McClatchy-Marist Poll Methodology

Related Story:
Looking to 2012: 48% Plan to Vote Against Obama

11/23: McClatchy-Marist Poll

Do voters plan to support President Barack Obama in his re-election bid in 2012?  Do Democrats want someone to challenge him in the primaries? Who do Republicans want to face off against the president?  Find out in the latest national McClatchy-Marist Poll.

To read the complete McClatchy article, click here.

Complete Tables for McClatchy-Marist Poll of the United States

11/23: Thanksgiving Trivia

Since family and friends will gather around the dining room table this Thanksgiving, we at The Marist Poll thought we’d ask Americans by whom the first Thanksgiving was celebrated?  And, school teachers will be happy to hear that most — 86% — said the pilgrims and Native Americans.  Just 6% said it was celebrated by others, and 7% were unsure.

Table: The First Thanksgiving

Family Time Favored by Americans on Thanksgiving

Which holiday activity is preferred by Americans on Thanksgiving?  Most — 84% — say spending time with family and friends tops their list.  10% prefer to get down to the feast and eat, and 5% report watching football is their favorite pastime on the holiday followed by 2% who tune into the Thanksgiving Day parade.

Table: Favorite Thanksgiving Activity

Marist Poll Methodology

11/23: Helmet-to-Helmet Hits: Football Fans Define the Penalty

The NFL has been cracking down on players who commit illegal helmet-to-helmet hits with fines and suspensions.  But, what do football fans think the punishment should be for this type of player conduct?  More than one-fifth — 27% — believe these players should be, both, fined and suspended.  An additional 31% say they should be only fined while 22% believe they should just be suspended.  One-fifth — 20% — believe neither punishment should be used.

Younger football fans are more tolerant of helmet-to-helmet hits. 27% of those younger than 30 years old don’t think any punishment should be imposed compared with 14% of fans 60 and older.

There is also a gender gap on this question. More men — 26% — compared with women — 11% — don’t think players should be penalized at all for these hard hits.

As for the number of U.S. residents who are professional football fans, 68% of residents report they watch the sport, at least, a little. There has been no change on this question since Marist’s October survey.

Table: Punishment for Helmet-to-Helmet Hits
Table: Professional Football Fans

Marist Poll Methodology

Related Story:
Interview: Verne Lundquist Discusses Hard Hits on the Gridiron

11/23: Hard Hits on the Gridiron

What should be done to reduce the number of head injuries in, both, the NFL and college football?  The Marist Poll’s John Sparks took up the topic with Marist Poll Analyst and CBS Sports Play-By-Play Broadcaster Verne Lundquist.

Listen to the interview or read the transcript below.

John Sparks
Verne, there’s been more talk about football and head injuries this season than any other that I can recall in quite some time.  What’s the reason?

Listen to Part 1 of the Interview:

Verne Lundquist
Well, I think it’s the growing awareness that there’s been trauma because of head injuries, not only in the National Football League, but also in college and on down to high school.  It just seems to me that the more science explores the impact of football and head injuries, the more they learn and the greater the safety precautions need to become, and so, I think that there’s just a heightened awareness about all of it.

John Sparks
You know even Congress has gotten in on the act.  There’ve been hearings.  You think there’s an answer on how we can reduce or eliminate concussions suffered on the gridiron?

Verne Lundquist
I don’t know, John, unless it’s in the increased safety level and increasing technology in the development of the helmet.  It is and always will be a contact sport as long as football is played with the current rules.  I think you can change some of the rules too to — but you can’t change the nature of the game. I think it’s all going to be dependent upon technology and an increase in the safety of the helmet.

John Sparks
You know hard shell helmets, as we know them, were developed in the late ’40s to prevent fractured skulls, and some say that the helmets actually encourage players to hit harder and with more force because they feel they’re so protected.  Do you think that’s true?

Verne Lundquist
Well, I think for years the technique was taught to lead with the helmet. I think it was a coaching technique, and kids, probably not in junior high but in high school and certainly in college, were taught that technique and then perfected the — not the art of it, but the technique of it as they advanced into the higher levels of the sport. And, this goes back to the increasing awareness of the damage of helmet, not only helmet-to-helmet hits but helmet-to-body part hits.  I just… I think that the technique…  Well, not the technique, the coaching aspects of it need to change, and I think they are.  I… You know the NFL is cracking down now on helmet-to-helmet hits.  The college game is.  We had an example in a recent big time game, Georgia and Auburn, where one of the Auburn defensive players was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. He used his helmet to spear the opposing quarterback in the small of the back long after the ball had been released and was gone. He was flagged for unsportsmanlike, but that was a potentially serious injury, a potential serious injury, and there’s a school of thought that he should’ve been suspended for a game, and the more suspension…  I did see somewhere someone was suspended just this past weekend in college, and I think we need to have more of that.

John Sparks
So, in the NFL, for instance, a player who commits an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit, think they ought to be fined or suspended then?

Listen to Part 2:

Verne Lundquist
Well, I think suspension works better than fines because it’s so — it’s such an incidental part of their financial compensation package.  For these multimillionaire athletes, I think suspension without pay is much, much more effective than strictly a fine.  It’s a pittance for most of them.  It sounds great to the average American, you know $25,000.  That’s a salary — a yearly salary for some folks, and at least a half yearly salary for most people.  But, for a guy who’s making $3 million a year, it’s the cost of doing business.  So, I’d rather see them suspended without pay for a game or two.

John Sparks
There’s been a suggestion by some folks that we just do away with helmets; we slow down the game; we change it. That would ease parents fears who worry about injuries to their kid.  Do you think we’d ever seen anything like that happen?

Verne Lundquist
Well, we have a sport; it’s called rugby, and it’s as violent as football is except it’s played with no pads and no helmets, so I don’t see it happening.  I think the sport is so popular that they’re not going to do away with helmets in the game.  At the base of the attraction of football for most of us is the anticipation.  It’s not anything we should be proud of, but I think there’s an attraction to… not the violence of the game, but the aggressive nature of the sport.  I think that is part of what makes it attractive to fans and players, so, you’re not going to completely get away with that — get away from it rather.

John Sparks
I didn’t realize it, but I’m not surprised, there is an organization called the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment.  Now, that’s a mouthful.  But, one of its board members who is a…

Listen to Part 3:

Verne Lundquist
I didn’t know that either.

John Sparks
One of its board members, he’s a neurosurgeon up in Massachusetts, and he says you can prevent concussions, but to do that, the helmets would have to be much larger and the padding much larger.  And, he add that other than making players look like aliens from another planet, the hit of your helmets would be more likely to cause neck injuries.  So, here we again.  Do you see that we might get to this stage where we drastically reformat/redesign the current paraphernalia that we wear?

Verne Lundquist
No, I don’t think so.  Remember there was a kid — a kid, a young man from Buffalo Bills, I want to say his name was Mark Kelso, and he had his helmet designed with the padding on the outside of it, and so his helmet was much larger than most.  And, God bless him, he did look a little like an alien, and he paid a price every week in the taunting that he received from the opposition, and I just think the innate  narcissism of most athletes is that they’re not going to go for anything that makes them look less attractive, and that certainly would.

John Sparks
I guess the bottom line is that really football wouldn’t be football if you changed the game, and everything I sense is that it’s the most popular game in the country.  I know you’re preparing for the current CBS Game of the Week. I presume that ratings are as high as ever.

Verne Lundquist
Well controversy helps, doesn’t it, John?  And, we’re in the midst of this Cam Newton scandal or non-scandal, depending on your perspective, and so last week we had Georgia/Auburn game featuring Cam Newton: Will he play?  Won’t he play?  And, we had our highest rating of the year.  So, I mean we all know that.  P.T. Barnum taught us all that 125 years ago that if you can get them into the tent, keep them entertained, and it’s kind of sad.  It’s not a grateful — gracious commentary on the fan base, but it’s true, and we know it.  And, it goes back to the point I made: I think the element of violence is part of the attraction of the sport of football. I really… I’m not proud to say that, but I think it’s true.

John Sparks
Hey, I appreciate your time, Verne. It’s always a pleasure talking with you.  Good luck with the broadcast this weekend.

Verne Lundquist
Thank you, John. I’ll talk to you down the road.

Related Story:
Poll: Helmet-to-Helmet Hits — Football Fans Define the Penalty

Next Page »