A generic Republican candidate now holds a four-point lead over President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election matchup. It's the fifth week in a row that the GOP candidate has been ahead and the widest gap between the candidates to date.
Most voters continue to believe U.S. society is generally fair and decent, but they aren’t quite as convinced that President Obama shares their views.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the only holdover from the Cabinet of President George W. Bush, is stepping down from his post this week with his favorables largely the same as they were when President Obama decided to keep him two-and-a-half years ago.
Voters are closely divided over whether increasing taxes or raising the eligibility age is the best way to keep the government’s retirement programs financially afloat.
Less than half of adults nationwide believe the U.S. system of justice is fair to most Americans. But far more think the problem with the system is not that the innocent are treated unfairly but that the guilty go free.
Voters are more willing than ever to elect a woman president, and most think there’s a good chance a woman will win the White House in the next 10 years.
Most voters consider it essential for taxes to fund all promised Social Security and Medicare benefits and understand that the current level of taxation is not enough to keep those promises. But they're not overly sure they need to pay more taxes to keep those programs going.
Nearly one-half (48%) of Likely U.S. Voters think the al Qaeda terrorist organization is weaker today than it was before the September 11, 2001 attacks on America.
Nearly half of U.S. voters give President Obama poor marks for his handling of the economy, but he continues to earn higher respect for his performance in the area of national security.
Americans appear more pessimistic about the economy than they have been in months and also express little confidence that their elected leaders will do anything about it.
Voters appear less concerned these days with protecting individual rights when it comes to national security and public safety.
President Obama this week announced that the United States will withdraw 10,000 troops from Afghanistan this year and will bring another 23,000 home by the end of next summer. But most voters don't think the president has gone far enough.
Medicare and Social Security are big helps to most retired Americans, but one-third of voters don’t care much for either of the long-standing government programs.
Most voters are still angry at the media, but they’re less convinced that the majority of reporters are biased in favor of President Obama.
Voters still think most reporters are politically biased and tend to view them as more liberal than they are.
Though voters nationwide place more importance on jobs than environmental protection, just one in four thinks the Environmental Protection Agency should be abolished.
Alabama this month became the latest state to authorize routine police checks of immigration status and to require employers to verify that those they hire are in this country legally. Voters continue to strongly support tougher enforcement in both areas.
Voter perceptions of President Obama’s leadership skills remain relatively stable.
Just a few days after the House of Representatives passed a bill that slashes spending on food safety and nutrition programs, most Americans say reducing the deficit is more important than increasing food safety inspections. Either way, Americans are mostly confident their food is safe.
Protecting the environment is a concept most Americans embrace, but they’re not so sure about the agency set up to handle that mission.
