12/28: Majority Not Likely to Make New Year’s Resolutions
December 28, 2010 by Marist Poll
Filed under Celebrations, Celebrations Polls, Featured, Living
Will Americans vow to make a change heading into 2011? A majority of U.S. residents — 56% — think it is not likely at all that they will make a New Year’s resolution this year while 44% believe it is at least somewhat likely that they will.
©istockphoto.com/alexsl
Click Here for Complete December 28, 2010 USA Poll Release and Tables
When Marist asked the same question last December, 52% did not plan to make a resolution for 2010 while 48% did.
Younger Americans are still among those who are most likely to make a resolution. 58% of those under the age of 45 say they will vow to improve an aspect of their life compared with 34% of those 45 and older. Last year, those proportions stood at 60% and 40%, respectively.
Men and women are currently on equal footing here. 44% of men and the same proportion of women — 44% — resolve to make a change.
Table: Likelihood of Making Resolution
Table: Likelihood of Making Resolution (Over Time)
Click on the table to enlarge the image.
Kicking the Smoking Habit Tops List of Resolutions… Losing Weight Follows
Among Americans who are likely to make a resolution, 17% say they want to quit smoking. 16% want to lose weight while 13% want to spend less money and save more. 10% plan to be a better person, and 8% say they are going to exercise more. 36% resolve to make another type of change.
Last year, weight loss topped the list of resolutions with 19%, and quitting smoking took the second place spot with 12%. Rounding out last year’s top five were exercising more which received 10%, being a better person with 9%, and getting a better job with 8%. Spending less came in seventh with 6%.
Men and women have different resolutions in mind this year. 22% of men who are likely to make a resolution plan to stop smoking while weight loss and spending less top the list for women who expect to make a resolution, each receiving 16%.
Age also comes into play. More than a quarter of those under the age of 30 — 27% — say they want to stop smoking. Weight loss (21%) and kicking the smoking habit (17%) top the list for those 30 to 44 years old. Those age 45 to 59 are on the same wavelength. 16% say they want to lose weight while 14% plan to stop smoking. Losing weight is also on the minds of 20% of those 60 and older.
Table: Top New Year’s Resolutions
Table: Complete List of New Year’s Resolutions
True to Their Word?
But, will they keep their pledge? Of those who made a resolution last year, 60% report they kept their resolution for at least part of the year while 40% did not.
Table: Kept 2010 Resolution?
Table: Kept Resolution? (Over Time)
Click on the graph to enlarge the image.
Six in Ten Optimistic About the Future
Americans maintain their optimism going into 2011. 60% are more optimistic about the world in 2011 while 38% are more pessimistic. Just 2% are unsure. In Marist’s December 2009 survey, 63% were more optimistic while 34% were more pessimistic. Three percent, at the time, were unsure.
Younger Americans are more optimistic about the future than are their older counterparts. 71% of those under 45 have a positive outlook compared with 53% of those 45 and older who share this view.
Table: Optimism for the Future
12/21: No Consensus on Favorite Holiday Film
December 21, 2010 by Marist Poll
Filed under Entertainment, Entertainment Center, Featured, Living
There’s a battle going on this holiday season – the battle for favorite holiday film. Among Americans, It’s a Wonderful Life is preferred by 24% while Ralphie’s quest for his dream Christmas gift in A Christmas Story receives 23%, and the heartwarming Miracle on 34th Street takes top honors from 22%. A Christmas Carol is the favorite of 13%, and White Christmas dances into the hearts of 12%. Five percent are unsure.
©istockphoto.com/YvanDube
In Marist’s 2009 holiday survey, It’s a Wonderful Life broke away from the pack. 26% called Capra’s classic their favorite holiday movie followed by 21% who thought the same about A Christmas Story. Miracle on 34th Street received 18% while White Christmas and A Christmas Carol each garnered 14%. Seven percent were unsure.
Age does play a role here. Americans 18 to 29 (38%) and those 30 to 44 (33%) rate A Christmas Story as their favorite. However, It’s a Wonderful Life is the pick of 32% of residents 45 to 59. Residents 60 and older divide. 24% favor It’s a Wonderful Life. The same proportion — 24% — hold Miracle on 34th Street dear, and 22% in this age group give their vote to White Christmas.
A Christmas Story takes the top spot in the minds of 26% of men while 26% of women favor It’s a Wonderful Life.
Rudolph and Charlie Brown Tie for Favorite Animated Holiday Movie
For the second year, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas tie for the top spot as Americans’ favorite animated holiday movie. The film about Santa’s “co-pilot” is favored by 26% of Americans, and the same proportion — 26% — say it wouldn’t be Christmas time without A Charlie Brown Christmas. How the Grinch Stole Christmas receives 25%. Frosty the Snowman is the favorite for 9%, and Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town rounds out the list with 8%. Just 5% are unsure.
What little difference a year makes! In Marist’s 2009 holiday survey, Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas also tied for top honors. At that time, each received 26%. How the Grinch Stole Christmas was preferred by 25% while Frosty the Snowman skated into fourth place with 11%. Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town received 6%, and 6% percent were unsure.
Table: Favorite Animated Holiday Movie
Chill Pill Needed for Nearly Six in Ten
But, does the holiday season conjure warm and fuzzy feelings for Americans, or does stress keep them from enjoying the season? 59% say the holidays are more stressful while 38% consider the festivities more fun. Only 3% are unsure.
Table: Holiday Season – Fun or Stressful?
Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?
When it comes to holiday greetings, about six in ten Americans want to throw political correctness out the window. 61% of adults nationally think people should be wished a “Merry Christmas” in December while 35% believe “Happy Holidays” is the appropriate salutation. Just 5% are unsure.
Table: “Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy Holidays”
12/20: Majority Says, “No,” to Credit Card Use During Holidays
December 20, 2010 by Marist Poll
Filed under Family Finances, Featured, Money, Money Vault
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is well underway, and as cash registers nationwide ring up all of those holiday purchases, there is one thing missing — plastic. 56% of U.S. adults who spend money on holiday shopping say they are not using credit cards while purchasing their holiday presents. 26% are buying some of their gifts on credit while 9% are using their credit cards for most of them. An additional 9% are charging all of their holiday purchases.
©istockphoto.com/NWphotoguy
Income does play a role here. 66% of those who earn less than $50,000 annually do not plan to use their credit cards for any holiday gifts while less than half — 47% — of those who earn $50,000 or more say the same.
Younger Americans are more likely to put the plastic away. 70% of those 18 to 29 are not using credit cards when buying their holiday gifts. This compares with 57% of residents 30 to 44, 56% of those 45 to 59, and 48% of those 60 and older.
Table: Credit Card Use During the Holidays
Table: Credit Card Use During the Holidays (Over Time)
Click on the graph to enlarge the image.
Online Shopping Up for the Holidays
More holiday shoppers in the United States are making their purchases online. 42% are buying some of their gifts online while 11% are purchasing all or most of them electronically. 47% are not using the web at all for their holiday shopping.
When Marist last asked this question in 2007, more Americans are making at least some of their holiday purchases online. Three years ago, 37% bought some of their presents this way while 4% logged on to buy all or most of them. A majority — 58% — did not use the internet at all for this purpose.
Currently, those who make less annually are less likely to buy online than are those who earn more. 61% of those who make less than $50,000 a year are not using the internet for any of their holiday gifts. This compares with 31% of those who earn $50,000 or more.
Table: Online Holiday Shopping
Table: Online Holiday Shopping (Over Time)
Click on the graph to enlarge the image.
Scrooge or Santa? Majority Plan to Spend About the Same on Holiday Gifts
When it comes to their holiday shopping habits, 51% of adults who buy holiday gifts are spending about the same amount of money they did last year. 40% are shelling out less while just 9% are spending more.
While nearly six in ten – 58% — of those who earn $50,000 or more annually report they are going to spend the same as last year, 44% of those who make less say the same. An additional 44% in this income bracket plan to spend less compared with 35% whose annual salary is $50,000 or more.
Currently, Americans 18 to 29 (23%) are more likely to spend more this year than are those 30 to 44 (7%), those 45 to 59 (4%), and those 60 and older (6%). Women (43%) are more likely than men (37%) to spend less.
Table: Holiday Spending Habits
Table: Holiday Spending Habits (Over Time)
Click on the graph to enlarge the image.
12/20: At What Age Should Children Have Cell Phones?
December 20, 2010 by Marist Poll
Filed under Featured, Mobile Devices, Science & Tech, Tech Box
If the youngster in your life is begging you for a cell phone this holiday season, try this one on for size. The average age Americans believe is appropriate for a child to acquire his or her first cell phone is approximately 14 years old.
©istockphoto.com/manley099
Regardless of age, region, gender, or whether one has children or not, there is consensus on this question.
A plurality of U.S. adults — 43% — think 15 to 18 years old is the appropriate age for a child to begin carrying a cell phone.
Table: Age of First Cell Phone (Average)
Table: Age of First Cell Phone
12/20: Kids and Cell Phones
December 20, 2010 by John Sparks
Filed under Carol Anne Riddell
When should a child be given his/her own cell phone? Who is the phone really for — the parent or the child? What rules and restrictions should be placed on the phone’s use?
Carol Anne Riddell
The Marist Poll’s John Sparks speaks with Marist Poll Contributor Carol Ann Riddell about the plusses and minuses of equipping your child with a wireless phone.
Listen to the interview below.
John Sparks
Carol Anne, let’s talk about cell phones. Specifically at what age do you think a child should have his or her own cell phone?
Listen to Part 1:
Well, I think that it’s a very individual decision, like so many things in parenting, you have to make the decision is that right for your own family. In my case, my children are young. My daughter is seven years old and has a cell phone. Now before everyone would jump up and down and say that’s completely inappropriate, I would point out that because her father and I are divorced, she’s traveling with a sitter back and forth between my home and school and her father’s home, and I want her — I want both my kids to know that they can reach me whenever they want to. Now that said, nine and seven years old are probably too young for phones in many people’s opinions, but I had to make a decision based on what I felt was appropriate to my specific situation. Now there have been some pitfalls with it. I do think that my children are still at an age where there really a bit too young to be fully responsible for something as valuable as a cell phone, so it ends up that I’m the one finding the phone, making sure it’s charged, that sort of situation. But again, because of our specific family situation, I think the benefit of being able to be in touch outweighed the downside for me, at least at this point. For most people, they think about cell phones older, more to the point of, you know tweens, I would say 10/11 years old is a more typical time to do it.
John Sparks
What are some other reasons you might give a child a cell phone?
Carol Anne
Well, I think there’s a lot of reasons, but for most parents it has to all do with security, with convenience, and with piece of mind for all of us. My children are too young to be traveling on their own, but there still are times where they may want or need to call me, and I want them to have the security of knowing that they can reach me. I want to have the security of knowing that I can reach them. There are things like day to day logistics, a piano lesson gets cancelled, a soccer game goes late, and I don’t want to be an alarmist, but you know you can’t ignore the potential for crisis situations in which we would want to be able to reach our kids first and foremost. When you think of things like school shootings, what we all went through here in New York on 9/11, the potential for natural disasters, those are all times when we, as parents, have to be able to get to our kids immediately and first and foremost.
John Sparks
So, who does the cell phone benefit most, the parent or the child?
Carol Anne
I think both. I admit that getting my kids cell phones was very much also about me. As I said, as a divorced parent, I really want to be able to contact my kids even when they’re not with me, and a cell phone gives me that access. But there’s also a very big benefit for them because they feel connected. They feel connected to me emotionally, and that’s really important to me. I think that there is another piece of this for kids which has to do with sort of the status symbol of having a cell phone, and that can be very counterproductive for kids.
Listen to Part 2:
John Sparks
What kind of rules or restrictions do you place on the use of the phone by your child?
Carol Anne
As many as I can come up with, John, and I think that that’s generally a good rule to follow, at least in the beginning. There’s lots of options that you can consider when you look at a cell phone for your child, like a prepaid plan. You can look at restricting what the phone can actually do, like Internet browsing and texting. We also have a habit of really looking very closely at the bill every month because I don’t want the kids downloading tons of games and ringtones. The point is that the phone is not a toy. It’s a way for us to stay in touch. Now, so far we haven’t had issues with the kids downloading expensive, unnecessary stuff, but we do have to keep a close eye on that because I think that that comes with the territory eventually. Another thing that we thought about it, and I think it’s an important thing to remember as parents go through this, is really thinking about limiting who your kids can talk to on the cell phone. Behold, don’t talk to strangers policy applies to the wireless world too and there are options with phones where you can specifically program who they can speak to, and I think that that’s a really good option for people to consider. Phone cameras, that’s another area you have to be really careful in. Kids can end up taking or receiving really inappropriate pictures, and that’s something you’d want to think about when buying a phone. I’m a big fan of going with sort of the most basic phone you can possibly get for kids. I think it’s more than enough and plenty.
John Sparks
You know in the classroom, teachers usually have rules about the phones being turned off. Do you run into problems there in equipping your kids with their cell phones?
Carol Anne
Yeah, we certainly talk to them about it. My kids will stick their cell phones in their backpacks, but they remained turned off until they get out of school and they need to call me. I think parents have to be really very aware of that. You’ll probably remember in New York City there was a lot of controversy around this issue because of the policy not allowing cell phones in the classroom and kids not knowing what to do with them when they got to school, but there are some very valid arguments for why they don’t want them in the classroom that are very obvious too. There… A cell… A ringing cell phone is disruptive to everyone in the class. So in addition to the rules about I think who kids can talk to and what they can download, you really have to have rules about when they can use the phone, and the school day is absolutely off limits.
Listen to Part 3:
Carol Anne, are these phones addictive? Do they keep your child from doing homework, taking care of the chores, keeping focus on school?
Carol Anne
I don’t think that we can say that yes, phones are bad, phones are addictive or video games are bad, video games are addictive, but I do think that when parents allow kids to use cell phones inappropriately, yes, they can be bad and, yes, they probably can be addictive in some sense of the word. I think distraction is a very serious issue. We have to have strict rules about when the phones can be turned on and they can be used, but I think that this is all through the same way that you monitor things like video games and TV watching, common sense applies, and when the rules get broken, there are consequences for that. In our case, the phone gets taken away for a period of time. There is a real downside I think to kids using the phones constantly to communicate rather than sort of walking to the next room and speaking to the person in it, and I think that’s something we want to avoid.
John Sparks
You know, I was going to ask you if all this texting and tweeting and telephoning kept them from developing their social skills and makes them want to avoid face-to-face contact. What do you think about that?
Carol Anne
It’s such a fascinating topic, and I think we have to as parents, really consider how technology is affecting this generation of children because, as we know, it is a completely wireless generation. They are always connected, and we just didn’t have that as part of our experience growing up. I do think there’s a risk when kids spend too much time communicating via text and email that they lose out as far as building those face-to-face communication skills, and I think that we — there’s evidence of that. We’ve seen that, and we’ve heard that talked about a lot. On the other hand, we can’t ignore that this is our reality. Technology is here. It’s not going away. What we try to do is sort of manage screen time generally in our house, and by screen time, I mean computers and TV and iPods and phones, the whole thing, anything that has a screen. Play a game of cards or Uno instead. But I have… And we do have to remember that you can’t turn back time, and I don’t think we would want to either.
John Sparks
I agree there. Is a cell phone a necessity for my child?
Carol Anne
Ah, you know that is a very interesting question. I think it really depends on the individual family, and I think in many, many cases parents would say, “Yes,” particularly for an older child. For example, a child in New York City who is traveling alone to and from school and may be taking the bus or may be taking the subway and that parent really feels that it is an absolute necessity to check in with that child when he or she gets off the subway or gets off the bus. I think there are certainly situations where parents and kids would say, “It is absolutely a necessity.” I think there are also situations where parents are simply indulging kids like they do with any other luxury item, having the coolest, newest, fastest thing, and cell phones can fall into that category because they have become a real status symbol for children. I think that the cell phone conversation is a great chance to talk to kids about some of these things. For starters, what you just mentioned, John, what is a want versus what is a need? And what does it mean to be responsible for something that’s really valuable because a cell phone costs money. There’s real value to do that. And what’s the repercussion if you do lose that item? We have… In our house, we have this three-month replacement policy for all those types of valuable items, things like an iPod or a Nintendo DS or phone, and we’ve had to use that. That is an extremely hard lesson because 12 weeks feels like a lifetime to a child, but it’s a really valuable lesson, and you know the hard, sad, last thing I would say on that also is that don’t think that giving your kids a phone means that they’re always going to be available to talk to you because it’s amazing how often they’re too busy to pick up.
Part 4:
Well, that’s what I was going to ask. Say you get in a spat with your child, your child gets in a huff and won’t take your calls anymore, it’s kind of a power play.
Carol Anne
It can be, and I think that it’s absolutely true and sad to say, but I think in those situations what we always have to remember, right, is that we’re the parent, and you have to then reserve the right to take that phone away. If my call keeps getting declined, and that hasn’t happened to me yet, but if it does, I’ll be the first one to be putting that phone in the top dresser drawer for awhile.
John Sparks
Anything else you’d like to add, Carol Anne?
Carol Anne
You know, there’s just one other thought that I had about some of this as we were talking and that is when we think about things like the texting and the e-mailing and the sort of digital shorthand that kids have, one thing that I’ve noticed, and I’ve done some stories about this in the past as well, is that kids use so much shorthand now because of the language of texting that I think sometimes things like spelling and handwriting can suffer. I’ve interviewed teachers before who have complained about even older students really having terrible spelling skills because they haven’t really learned appropriate ways to spell, and they have a computer correct it for them so it’s not part of their knowledge base, or they will use text shorthand in a formal paper, and I think that that’s something also that as parents, we have to really watch for as kids use this kind of technology, particularly at very young ages. They’re just developing these skills to write and speak and read fluently, and when they’re young and they sort of fall into the habits of texting shorthand, I think it can be disruptive to those skills. So, I think it’s just another thing that I’ve noticed, and I’m keeping an eye on myself.
John Sparks
Certainly I’ve noticed that, or I’ve been told rather that kids no longer write nor can they read or decipher cursive because of this.
Carol Anne
I think that’s a very common thing. I think cursive is not as widely taught as it once was, and I think kids really have their own shorthand language that is part of a digital world that we just didn’t — you know we didn’t have anything like that growing up, and you know again, I think there is something to moving forward, and we can’t turn back time. We don’t want to turn back progress, and we don’t want to turn back technology, but there are some very basic skills that are not debatable in terms of their value, and I think like learning to write clearly and spell well, and I think that to the degree that texting and that kind of shorthand interrupts that is a real problem.
John Sparks
Thank you, Carol Anne. It’s always a pleasure talking with you.
Carol Anne
Thanks, John. I appreciate it.
12/16: Majority of Americans See More Economic Hardships Ahead
December 16, 2010 by Marist Poll
Filed under Featured, Money, Money Vault, State of the Economy
When thinking about the future of the U.S. economy, a majority of national adults — 53% — think the worst is yet to come. However, 39% are more optimistic and report that the worst is behind us. Eight percent are unsure. In Marist’s November 29th survey, 51% said the worst was ahead while 45% thought it was behind us. At that time, 5% were unsure. The results are similar among registered voters, as well.
©istockphoto.com/Kativ
Click Here for Complete December 16, 2010 USA Marist Poll Release and Tables
In fact, nearly eight in ten residents — 79% — think the U.S. is in a recession. However, 19% do not, and 2% are unsure. Similar proportions held these views in late September when 80% of Americans thought we were in a recession, 18% said we were not, and 2% were unsure.
“The public clearly does not think we’ve turned the economic corner,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “Their frustration over financial matters continues.”
Table: U.S. Economy – Will It Get Worse?
Table: U.S. in a Recession
Personal Finances Considered Status Quo By Majority of Americans
A majority of Americans — 52% — believe their personal family finances will stay about the same in the coming year. Nearly three in ten — 29% — report they expect their family finances to get better in the next twelve months while 19% think they will get worse.
Little has changed since Marist last asked this question in its September 21st survey. Three months ago, 52% believed their family finances would be status quo, 30% thought their personal financial situation would take a turn for the better, and 18% expected it to get worse.
Americans who think the worst of the nation’s economic problems are behind us are more optimistic than are those who believe the worst is yet to come. Among those who are more positive, 44% expect their family finances to improve. However, just 18% of those who say the worst of the country’s economic conditions are ahead of us believe their money matters will get better. In Marist’s previous survey, 39% who thought the worst was over predicted their financial circumstances would improve compared with just 22% who reported the worst was still to come.
Table: Your Personal Finances – Better, Worse, or the Same?
The Marist Poll’s Barbara Carvalho discusses how Americans view the economic situation:
12/14: “Whatever” Retains Title of “Most Annoying Word or Phrase”
December 14, 2010 by Marist Poll
Filed under Featured, Living, Odds and Ends, Odds and Ends Polls
It’s “like” “whatever!”
©istockphoto.com/christiangrass
According to The Marist Poll, “whatever” remains the most annoying word or phrase in conversation today. 39% of Americans despise the often tossed about term. The uber-filler “like” is deemed the most irritating by 28%. “You know what I mean” is considered the biggest verbal gaffe by 15% of the population. “To tell you the truth” grates the most on 10% while “actually” receives the dubious distinction from 5%. Three percent are unsure.
In October 2009, “whatever” was crowned king with 47%. Other annoying words and phrases included in that survey were: “you know” (25%), “it is what it is” (11%), “anyway” (7%), and “at the end of the day” (2%). Eight percent were unsure.
Younger Americans, those 18 to 29, currently have a different take. 44% of these residents wouldn’t mind if “like” is abolished in everyday conversation. Their older counterparts disagree. Among those 30 to 44, 37% say “whatever” gets on their nerves the most. 46% of Americans 45 to 59 and 40% of those 60 and older agree.
Table: Most Annoying Conversational Word or Phrase
The Marist Poll’s Mary Azzoli discusses our latest “annoying words” poll:
12/13: Obama Approval Rating Lowest Since Taking Office
December 13, 2010 by Marist Poll
Filed under Featured, McClatchy-Marist, National, National Poll Archive, Politics
According to this national McClatchy-Marist Poll, President Barack Obama’s approval rating has dipped to its lowest point since taking office. Currently, 42% of registered voters approve of the job the president is doing while half — 50% — disapprove. Eight percent are unsure. When McClatchy-Marist last asked this question in its November 24th survey, 45% thought his performance was on the mark while 48% thought it was subpar, and 7% were unsure. Prior to this survey, voters gave Mr. Obama his lowest approval rating in early October. At that time, 43% of registered voters thought he was performing well in office.
whitehouse.gov
Click Here for Complete December 2010 USA McClatchy-Marist Poll Results and Tables
The change has occurred among members of the president’s own party. 74% of Democrats think Obama is performing well in office while 21% do not, and 5% are unsure. Late last month, those proportions stood at 83%, 11%, and 6%, respectively. Among Republicans, most — 87% — disapprove of Mr. Obama’s job performance while 7% approve. Six percent are unsure. Similar proportions of Republicans held these views late last month when 84% disapproved, 11% approved, and 5% were unsure. There has also been little movement among independent voters. Currently, 52% disapprove, 39% approve, and 9% are unsure. Late last month, those proportions were 54%, 38%, and 9%, respectively.
“President Obama’s recent criticism of both Democrats and Republicans and his attempts to move to the center haven’t exactly endeared him with independents,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “Instead, it’s ended up costing him support with his Democratic base.”
Table: Obama Approval Rating Over Time
Obama Beats Out Palin in 2012 Tossup … Race Close Against Romney and Huckabee
Looking ahead to the 2012 presidential election, President Obama has the advantage over former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin but faces greater competition against other prominent Republicans.
In a hypothetical tossup between Obama and Palin, a majority of registered voters — 52% — say they would support the president in 2012 while 40% report they would cast their ballot for Palin. Nine percent are undecided.
Not surprisingly, there are wide partisan differences in support for the candidates between Democrats and Republicans. Against Palin, Obama has the advantage among independent voters. The president receives majority support among these all-important voters with 52% saying they would back Obama and 35% declaring Palin would be their candidate. 12% are undecided.
However, the president faces a much different reality when he is paired against former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney or former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Against Romney, a plurality — 46% — say they would vote for Romney while 44% would support the president. One-tenth — 10% — are unsure.
When asked to choose between President Obama and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, 47% say they would back the president, 43% would tout Huckabee, and 11% are undecided.
In both contests, independent voters are the key. In the matchup between Obama and Romney, nearly half of independents — 47% — would support Romney while almost four in ten — 39% — say they would vote for Obama. 14% are undecided. Huckabee holds his own against Obama among independents. 40% back Huckabee, and 42% support the president. 18% are undecided.
Table: 2012 Hypothetical Presidential Tossup: Obama/Palin
Table: 2012 Hypothetical Presidential Tossup: Obama/Romney
Table: 2012 Hypothetical Presidential Tossup: Obama/Huckabee
Lessons Learned from the Midterm Elections
Most voters think President Obama learned at least a little from this year’s midterm elections. A plurality of registered voters — 44% — think President Obama learned a lot from this year’s midterm elections, and 30% report he learned a little. 22% believe he learned nothing at all, and only 4% are unsure.
Table: Lessons Learned from Midterm Elections — Obama
More Americans View Nation as Moving in the Wrong Direction
Nearly six in ten U.S. residents — 58% — believe the country is moving in the wrong direction while 34% say it is moving along the correct path, and 8% are unsure. When McClatchy-Marist last asked this question in late November, 53% thought the country needed to be re-directed, 41% said it was headed on the right path, and 6% were unsure.
Table: Right or Wrong Direction of the Country
Table: Right or Wrong Direction of the Country (Over Time)
Click on the graph to enlarge the image.
McClatchy-Marist Poll Methodology
The Marist Poll’s Lee Miringoff discusses Obama’s future:
12/13: Cutting the Deficit Should Be Next Session’s Main Concern
December 13, 2010 by Marist Poll
Filed under Featured, National, National Poll Archive, Politics
Regardless of the current focus on the Bush-era tax cuts, voters do not want taxes to be the top priority of the next Congress. According to 47% of voters, reducing the deficit should be the first item on their agenda. Maintaining services and benefits is viewed by nearly three in ten voters — 28% — as the key item on the next Congress’ list while 22% think cutting taxes should be their priority. Only 3% are unsure.
Click Here for Complete December 2010 USA McClatchy-Marist Poll Release and Tables
Although majorities of Republicans — 55% — and independents — 55% — want Congress to focus on reducing the deficit, a plurality of Democrats — 42% — think they should concentrate on maintaining services and benefits.
There is an age gap on this question. Older voters are much more concerned with cutting the deficit than are those between the ages of 18 to 29. 50% of those 45 and older think Congress should put its energies toward cutting the deficit while 38% of those younger than 30 agree.
Table: Next Congress’ Top Priority
Voters to Blame Congress if Decision on Bush-Era Tax Cuts Not Reached
If Congress and President Obama do not reach a final agreement and let the Bush-era tax cuts expire at year’s end, many registered voters nationwide will point a finger at Congress. According to this McClatchy-Marist Poll, 33% say Republicans in Congress will be mostly at fault while 29% say most of the blame rests on Congressional Democrats. About one in five — 19% — will hold President Obama accountable. 10% think all will share in the blame. Nine percent are unsure.
While nearly six in ten Democrats — 58% — will point a finger at Congressional Republicans, fewer than half of Republicans — 47% — will blame the Democrats in Congress. A notable 31% of Republicans will find the president at fault. Among independents, 32% will put the onus on the Republicans in Congress while 30% will blame the Democrats in Congress. 16% will point a finger at the president, and 11% blame all of them.
“Despite the expected passage of the tax cut issue, voters think there’s plenty of blame to go around,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. “There are many disgruntled feelings, not the least of which is that Congressional priorities are out of sync with public desires.”
Table: Bush-Era Tax Cuts – Blame
“Same old, Congress,” Say Voters
The new Congress will be seated in January, but how do voters think the current Congress is doing in the wake of this year’s midterm elections? Six in ten voters — 60% — say they are doing about the same. Almost one in five — 19% — think they are doing worse, and 16% report they are doing better. Just 5% are unsure.
And, so it’s probably no surprise, then, that many voters don’t believe Congress has learned a lot from this year’s midterm elections. Looking at Republicans in Congress, nearly four in ten voters — 37% — think Congressional Republicans have learned a little from this year’s midterm elections and an additional 22% believe they have learned nothing at all. 35%, however, say they have learned a lot, and 6% are unsure.
Democrats don’t fare better in the minds of voters. 35% think Congressional Democrats have taken away a little from the elections while 26% take it a step further and report Democrats learned nothing. 35%, though, say they have been enlightened, and 4% are unsure.
Table: Status of the Current Congress
Table: Lessons Learned from the Midterm Elections – Congressional Republicans
Table: Lessons Learned from the Midterm Elections – Congressional Democrats
McClatchy-Marist Poll Methodology
12/13: WikiLeaks: Prosecution Warranted … Does More Harm than Good, Say Americans
December 13, 2010 by Marist Poll
Filed under Featured, National, National Poll Archive, Politics
The WikiLeaks scandal has renewed debate over the scope of the First Amendment. Should those who publish confidential or secret U.S. government documents be prosecuted, or are they protected by the First Amendment’s guarantee of a free press? According to this national McClatchy-Marist Poll, nearly six in ten U.S. adult residents — 59% — think the publication of top secret documents is cause for prosecution while 31% say publishers are protected by their First Amendment rights. One in ten — 10% — are unsure.
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Older Americans are more likely than younger Americans to say that individuals who publish confidential documents should be prosecuted. While the majority of younger Americans believe they should be protected, 66% of residents 45 and older believe that prosecution is warranted against WikiLeaks. 52% of those under 30 believe they should be protected under the First Amendment.
Click Here for Complete December 2010 USA McClatchy Poll Release and Tables
70% of Americans think WikiLeaks is doing more harm than good by allowing enemies of the U.S. to see confidential and secret information about foreign policy. This includes 64% of those under 30 years of age. 22% believe WikiLeaks is doing more good than harm by promoting transparency and accountability in the nation’s foreign policy. Eight percent are unsure.
Table: WikiLeaks: First Amendment vs. Prosecution
Table: WikiLeaks: More Good Than Harm?
Almost Half Aware of WikiLeaks Controversy
49% of residents nationally have heard, at least, a good amount about the WikiLeaks scandal. In contrast, 50% know little, nothing at all, or are unsure about it.
Again, age and gender are factors. Those 45 and older — 58% — and men — 56% — are more likely to have some knowledge of the issue than are those younger than 45 — 37% — and women — 44%.
