Short Reads

About half (52%) of adults who self-identify as middle class say they believe Barack Obama’s policies in a second term would help the middle class compared to 42% who say that of Mitt Romney, a 10-point difference.

In the two years since the end of the recession, median household income has fallen by 4.1%, decreasing by about as much as it did during the recession itself.

Just over four-in-ten (43%) Americans believe the government should help more needy people, even if it means going deeper in debt. Support for the social safety net has declined among Republicans and independents.

Nearly half (45%) of the nation’s Hispanic population lives in just 10 metropolitan areas.

Going into the first of three presidential debates on Oct. 3, the number of registered voters who regard Barack Obama favorably is 10 points higher than it is for Mitt Romney.

As Egypt’s new president comes to New York to speak at the UN, few in his country say Obama has been fair in dealings with Israelis and Palestinians

Only 22% of registered voters could be classified as true swing voters as of mid-September, less than in previous presidential years

Muslims in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Tunisia are unanimous in their belief in only one God and the Prophet Muhammad

While most Democrats say upper-income people pay too little in federal taxes, just a third of Republicans agree

In 2006, two-thirds of French adults aware of the controversy over a Danish newspaper publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad said Muslim intolerance was most to blame