Most Americans say the presidential campaign has been too long and dull (56% each), while 53% say it has been too negative. At the same time, an overwhelming majority (79%) views the campaign as important.

Even though partisans generally find little to agree on these days, comparable percentages of Republicans, Democrats and independents say that the campaign has been too long and too negative. In addition, more than eight-in-ten Republicans (85%) and Democrats (83%) say the campaign is important, as do 77% of independents.

However, there are partisan differences in views of campaign 2012. Currently, 33% of Republicans say the presidential campaign is interesting, down from 52% in late March before Mitt Romney had effectively secured the GOP nomination. The share of Republicans describing this year’s campaign as dull has spiked from 42% to 60% since then.

By contrast, Democrats are finding the campaign increasingly interesting as the general election gets underway. Currently, 45% say it is interesting, up from 36% in March; 46% see the campaign as dull, down from 55% in March. Among independents, 65% in the most recent survey see the campaign as dull, up from 56% in March. Read More

Russell Heimlich  is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.