Fully 52% of the public say it is “absolutely essential” that a political leader be honest and an additional 44% say it is a “very important” quality, making it the most sought after trait in political leaders. Women are more likely than men to say honesty is absolutely essential in a political leader (55% vs. 49%) and it is somewhat more valued by Republicans (59% say it is essential) than by Democrats (50%) or independents (52%). Read More
Russell Heimlich is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.
