report | Sep 27, 2010

The Environment, Religion and the 2010 Elections

Candidates in Illinois and Florida, as well as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, have raised the environment as an issue during this election season, sometimes framing the topic in religious or moral terms. One candidate prioritizing the environment is Democrat Ben Lowe, who is challenging incumbent Republican Peter Roskam in the race to represent […]

report | Sep 23, 2010

Independents Oppose Party in Power…Again

Overview For the third national election in a row, independent voters may be poised to vote out the party in power. The Republican Party holds a significant edge in preferences for the upcoming congressional election among likely voters, in large part because political independents now favor Republican candidates by about as large a margin as […]

report | Sep 22, 2010

2010 Vote Seen as More Important Than Most

Summary of Findings About two-thirds of the public sees coverage of this year’s elections as focused primarily on strategy and conflict rather than candidate positions, while a comparable percentage says the 2010 congressional elections are more important than most. Nearly six-in-ten (58%) say news coverage of politics makes them angry. Still, few (36%) say election […]

report | Sep 17, 2010

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the 2010 Elections

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” – the 17-year-old policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military – has become a heated issue in elections in Nevada, Missouri and Florida. The issue gained prominence in late May, when the Senate Armed Services Committee and the full House of Representatives voted to allow the Department of […]

report | Sep 17, 2010

Few Say Religion Shapes Immigration, Environment Views

Many Americans continue to say their religious beliefs have been highly influential in shaping their views about social issues, including abortion and same-sex marriage. But far fewer cite religion as a top influence on their opinions about several other social and political issues, including how the government should deal with immigration, the environment and poverty. […]

report | Sep 9, 2010

Arizona Politics Get ‘Dirty’: Ben Quayle’s Website Controversy

Politics in Arizona’s 3rd congressional district sure are getting “Dirty.” Jon Hulburd, the Democratic candidate in the district, recently released a radio spot on three Christian radio stations and a conservative talk radio station accusing his Republican opponent, Ben Quayle, of contributing to TheDirty.com, a racy website about Arizona nightlife, according to Politico.  In the […]

report | Sep 2, 2010

Candidates and Their Supporters Use YouTube Videos to Appeal to Religious Voters

Some subtle references to religion have cropped up in YouTube videos posted by or on behalf of several candidates this election season. James Lankford, a first-time candidate for office who ran a Baptist youth camp for 13 years, won the Republican nomination for Oklahoma’s 5th congressional district after the primary runoff on Aug. 24, as […]

report | Aug 19, 2010

Growing Number of Americans Say Obama is a Muslim

Overview A substantial and growing number of Americans say that Barack Obama is a Muslim, while the proportion saying he is a Christian has declined. More than a year and a half into his presidency, a plurality of the public says they do not know what religion Obama follows. A new national survey by the […]

report | Aug 18, 2010

Abortion: Primary Hot-Button Issue

Abortion has been a hot-button issue in the primaries this summer, fueling negative campaigning in several races. Prior to losing the U.S. Senate Republican primary in Kansas to Rep. Jerry Moran on Aug. 3, fellow GOP Rep. Todd Tiahrt criticized Moran for votes he cast on abortion legislation as a state senator two decades ago, […]

report | Aug 11, 2010

Much Hope, Modest Change for Democrats

The Democratic Party made a concerted effort to court religious voters in the 2008 presidential election that pitted Democrat Barack Obama against Republican John McCain.1 Led by Obama himself and aided by progressive religious activists, the Democrats reached out to numerous religious groups in hopes of narrowing the “God gap,” a media catchphrase for a […]

Refine Your Results