All Publications on Election '08

A Look at Religious Voters in the 2008 Election
10 Feb 09Two experts examine the role that religion played in the 2008 presidential election and discuss implications for the future.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Calling Cell Phones In '08 Pre-Election Polls
18 Dec 08The latest study of Pew Research Center election surveys analyzes the effects of conducting both landline and cell phone interviews. While the addition of cell phones had at most a modest effect on estimates of candidate support in individual surveys, when looked at in the aggregate clear patterns emerge.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Some Final Thoughts on Campaign '08
8 Dec 08 A wrap-up of possibly overlooked polling trends and end-of-campaign happenings.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Winds of Political Change Haven’t Shifted Public’s Ideology Balance
25 Nov 08Still, ideological labels don’t always predict policy opinions; e.g.,about half of self-described conservatives say that all or some of the Bush tax cuts should be repealed while many liberals support off-shore drilling.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

How the Media Covered Religion
Obama Gets Most Coverage, Much of It on False Rumor He Is a Muslim
20 Nov 08Religion played a much more significant role in press treatment of Obama than of McCain during the 2008 campaign, but much of the coverage related to false yet persistent rumors that Obama is a Muslim.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Never-Ending Story: Palin and Hillary Still Making News
18 Nov 08The country’s weakened economy rivaled the presidential transition as top story of the week while much coverage focused on two women who ran losing campaigns for the executive branch.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

High Hopes
14 Nov 08Barack Obama won only 53% of the vote on Election Day, but he is getting a landslide greeting from the American public with voters giving Obama better grades for his conduct during the campaign than any presidential candidate since 1988.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Post-Election Perspectives
13 Nov 08In remarks at a dinner at the Newseum hosted by the Roper Center, Pew Research Center President Andrew Kohut analyzed the voter preferences revealed in exit and post-election polls and their implications for the incoming administration.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Gay Marriage at the Ballot Box
13 Nov 08Prior to Massachusetts becoming the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2003, only three states had passed constitutional amendments prohibiting the practice. With amendments in California, Arizona and Florida passing this November, the number of states now stands at 29. A graphic charts the recent history of voter-approved state bans on gay marriage.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Global Media Celebrate Obama Victory -- But Cautious Too
A Changed View of American Democracy
13 Nov 08"GOBAMA!" gushed Britain's Daily Mirror the day after Barack Obama's electoral victory. Other newspapers around the world were scarcely less enthusiastic but notes of concern and discord were also registered.
Pew Global Attitudes Project

High Marks for Campaign, High Bar for Obama
13 Nov 08A week after the election, voters are feeling good about themselves, the presidential campaign and Barack Obama. Looking ahead, they have high expectations for the Obama administration, with two-thirds predicting that he will have a successful first term.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Young Voters in the 2008 Election
12 Nov 08This year, 66% of those under age 30 voted for Barack Obama making the disparity between young voters and other age groups larger than in any presidential election since exit polling began in 1972.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Few Will Miss Campaign News
Public's Favorite -- and Least Favorite -- Campaign Journalists
12 Nov 08The 2008 campaign set records for interest and will long be remembered (in fact, 23% of Americans are saving a post-election newspaper), but fully 82% of Americans will have no problem taking election news out of their lives. Also, Bill O’Reilly comes in as American’s favorite -- and least favorite -- campaign commentator.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

States Made History on November 4, Too
11 Nov 08Barack Obama wasn't the only one to make history on Election Day 2008. Statehouses also broke ground on several fronts.
Special to the Pew Research Center

Media Moment: History, Trends and Transition Dominate News Coverage
11 Nov 08When the campaign was finally over, the media almost immediately viewed Barack Obama's victory as a transformational event, and a subject that had been in some ways taboo moved front and center - race.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

A Roundup of State Ballot Measures
6 Nov 08Gay marriage bans were among the most closely watched of the 153 measures on 36 states' ballots this year, a list that included scores of politically explosive social and fiscal issues including abortion, doctor-assisted suicide and various efforts to roll back state taxes.
Special to the Pew Research Center

Election Weekend News Interest Hits 20-Year High
Top Events of Campaign 2008
6 Nov 08Fully 60% of voters followed campaign news very closely this weekend, the highest level of interest on the eve of an election since the Pew Research Center began tracking campaign news interest in 1988. Throughout the campaign, Americans said they were hearing more about Obama than about McCain, although analysis shows news coverage became closely balanced between the two candidates.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

How Hispanics Voted in the 2008 Election
5 Nov 08Hispanics voted for Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden over Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin by a margin of more than two-to-one according to an analysis by the Pew Hispanic Center of exit polls, with Latino youth supporting the Democratic ticket by an even wider margin.
Pew Hispanic Center

Inside Obama's Sweeping Victory
5 Nov 08Barack Obama captured the White House on the strength of a substantial electoral shift toward the Democratic Party and by winning a number of key groups in the middle of the electorate. In particular, the overwhelming backing of younger voters was a critical factor in Obama's victory, according to an analysis of National Election Pool exit poll data.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Voting Religiously
5 Nov 08President-elect Barack Obama made a concerted effort to reach out to people of faith during the 2008 presidential campaign, and early exit polls show that this outreach may have paid off on Election Day.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Strategy Session: Media Focused on Polls and Maps in Final Week
4 Nov 08If ever there is a time when campaigns are horse races, it is in the final days, and coverage was indeed largely about the contest itself.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Obama Leads McCain 52% to 46% in Campaign's Final Days
McCain Narrows Gap
2 Nov 08The Pew Research Center's final pre-election poll of 2,587 likely voters finds 49% supporting or leaning to Obama, 42% for McCain; 2% for minor party candidates and 7% undecided. When the undecided vote is allocated, Obama holds a 52% to 46% lead over McCain. The survey was conducted from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Democrats Post Gains in Affiliation Across Age Cohorts
31 Oct 08The proportion of voters identifying with the Democratic Party has grown significantly since the 2004 election, and the shift has been particularly dramatic among younger voters.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Internet Now Major Source of Campaign News
Continuing Partisan Divide in Cable TV News Audiences
31 Oct 08Television remains the dominant source, but the percent of people who say they get most of their campaign news from the internet has tripled since 2004.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Will Obama Win the White Catholic Vote?
31 Oct 08White Catholics have traditionally been swing voters but their recent apparent shift from support for McCain to Obama was both sharp and swift. What explains it?
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Democrats Hold Party ID Edge Across Political Battleground
30 Oct 08As shown in a series of charts, the Democratic Party now holds an advantage in several swing states, has increased its advantage in several "blue" states and cut into the GOP's lead in some "red" states since the last presidential campaign.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

The Element of Surprise
30 Oct 08As recently as a month ago, this analyst and the American public itself were throwing up our hands and saying we can't figure this one out -- too many intangibles. No more.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Palin Fatigue Now Rivals Obama Fatigue
SNL Appearance, Wardrobe Flap Register Widely
30 Oct 08Sarah Palin's new wardrobe caught the public's eye but media coverage focused far more on the presidential candidates. Still, more Americans say they've been hearing too much about Palin than say they've heard too much about Obama.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Exit Poll Preview
An Interview with Joe Lenski
29 Oct 08In an exclusive interview, Joe Lenski, co-founder and Executive Vice President of Edison Media Research discusses his organization's plans for conducting exit polls on November 4, given this year's special challenges.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

The Color Of News: How Different Media Have Covered the General Election
29 Oct 08When it comes to coverage of the campaign for president 2008, where one goes for news makes a difference, according to a new study.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Among Florida's Hispanics, Voter Registration Swings Democratic
29 Oct 08Unlike in the rest of the country, the Latino vote in the Sunshine State has tended to be heavily Republican; but changing politics and demographics have produced a substantial shift in electoral rolls.
Pew Hispanic Center

Swing States Sway Campaign Media
28 Oct 08In the final days of the race for president, seemingly nothing but the algebra of the electoral map appears to have staying power.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

McCain Support Continues Downward Spiral
Obama Leads by 19 Among Those Who Have Already Voted
28 Oct 08A breakdown of voting intentions by demographic groups shows that since mid- September, McCain's support has declined significantly across most voting blocs.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Republicans: Still Happy Campers
23 Oct 08Despite the imploding stock market, the looming recession, the unpopular president and discouraging political polls, a new Social Trends survey finds GOP adherents still beat Democrats on the happiness scale.
Social & Demographic Trends

Liberal Democrats Top Conservative Republicans in Donations, Activism
More Than a Quarter of Voters Read Political Blogs
23 Oct 08With less than two weeks to go before Election Day, voters remain riveted to the presidential campaign. But liberal Democrats are engaging in far more activism than other partisan and ideological groups.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Most Voters Say News Media Wants Obama to Win
"Joe the Plumber" a Top Campaign Story
22 Oct 08By a margin of 70%-9%, voters say most journalists want to see Obama, not McCain, win on Nov. 4. Since 1992, voters have consistently believed the media favor the Democratic candidate, but this year's margin is especially wide.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Canvassing Campaign Media: An Analysis of Time, Tone and Topics
22 Oct 08Coverage of the presidential race has not so much cast Obama in a favorable light as it has portrayed McCain in a substantially negative one, according to a new study of the media.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Doubts Grow About McCain's Judgment, Age and Campaign
Obama's Lead Widens: 52%-38%
21 Oct 08Obama is inspiring more confidence on several key issues, including Iraq and terrorism, than he did before the debates, and his margin over McCain as the candidate best able to improve economic conditions has grown.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Polls and Plumbers Drive Narrative
21 Oct 08Campaign coverage increasingly focused on tactics -- including McCain's invocation of an Ohio plumber to represent the working man - as well as fights in battleground states and the parade of polls.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Poll Power
17 Oct 08Though by no means a perfect instrument, polls make it possible for more opinions, held by a broader and more representative range of citizens, to be known to the government and thus, potentially, heeded.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Campaign Tactics and Tone Trump Economy in Media Narratives
15 Oct 08For the first time in a month, the election generated more coverage than the financial crisis and almost one-third of that coverage was connected to the increasingly harsh tone of the campaign.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Public Worried But Not Panicked About Economy
Obama Clearer than McCain in Addressing Crisis, Holds Sizeable Lead in Matchup
15 Oct 08Americans are concerned about the nation’s economic problems and they register the lowest level of national satisfaction ever measured in a Pew survey. But there is little indication that the nation’s financial crisis has triggered public panic or despair.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Beat the Press: Many Say Press has Been Too Tough on Sarah Palin
Positive Ratings for Coverage of Financial Crisis
9 Oct 08While strong majorities feel the press has been fair to John McCain, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, as many people say the press has been too tough on the governor of Alaska (38%) as say it has been fair (38%). Republicans overwhelmingly believe the press has been too hard on Palin (63%).
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Did Campaign Coverage Move off the Economy? You Betcha!
7 Oct 08Though the economic crisis dominated general news coverage, the vice presidential debate drove the campaign narrative as Sarah Palin received the most attention of the four candidates.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Post-Debate: Palin Still Seen as Unqualified, a Bump for Biden
6 Oct 08Impressions of Sarah Palin have changed little since her debate with Joe Biden according to a special re-interview of voters this weekend, but opinions of Joe Biden rose substantially.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Middle Class, By the Numbers
6 Oct 08The plight of Middle Americans has been much invoked by candidates from both parties this election year. Who are these folk? Here's a self-portrait painted in statistics.
Social & Demographic Trends

A Word about Debate Impressions
4 Oct 08View "word clouds" of voters' impressions of the performances of John McCain and Barack Obama in their first presidential debate based on one-word descriptions from a recent Pew survey.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Will the Culture War Matter on Election Day?
2 Oct 08Leading experts discuss the history of cultural divisions in American politics and what role, if any, they will play in the outcome of the November election.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

The Religious Vote: Much like 2004, but Economic Concerns Now Top Social Issues
2 Oct 08A national survey finds remarkable stability in the candidate preferences of major religious groups compared with the last presidential campaign. But issue priorities among all religious groups have changed with possible implications in November.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Interest in Economic News Surges
VP Debate Highly Anticipated
1 Oct 08Attention to news about the economy skyrocketed last week, with 70% of Americans following developments very closely, up from 56% the previous week. Interest in the campaign also saw a new high for the cycle, and more Americans (64%) say they are very likely to watch the VP debate than said so about last week’s presidential debate (58%).
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Obama Boosts Leadership Image and Gains Significant Lead Over McCain
Growing Concerns About Palin's Qualifications
1 Oct 08The Illinois senator, helped by the debate, has been able to erase concerns about his ability to lead, to widen his advantage on economic issues and to move to a significant lead in swing states. There has been a broad-based decline in the number of voters who view Palin as qualified to become president.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Coverage Centers on Volatility in Economy and McCain Campaign
Week's Drama Highlighted Uneasy Mix between National Crisis and Politics
30 Sep 08The week drama's suggested that a national crisis and campaign for president do not easily mix and the candidate who tried harder to seize the moment may have had the tougher week.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Assessing the Debate: A Media/Public Disconnect?
30 Sep 08Political pundits, seeing no knockout punch, scored a tie. But viewers awarded the win to Obama.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Small Plurality Backs Bailout Plan
Support Declines as Anger Runs High
30 Sep 08There is little partisan difference in views of the overall plan. Republicans, however, are less concerned about protecting homeowners although they are not particularly worried about excessive government involvement in the nation's financial markets.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Both McCain and Obama Favor Expanding Faith-Based Initiatives
29 Sep 08Two experts discuss how and why partnerships between governments and religious social service groups are likely to continue to grow no matter which party controls the White House.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Uncertain Times
25 Sep 08In every recent election the public has accurately picked the winner by this time in the cycle. But not this year.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

McCain's Image Falls as Economic Worries Rise; Public Awaits Debate
25 Sep 08Independents' views of McCain have become significantly less favorable in the last few days, but they still expect him to win the coming foreign policy debate.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

The Candidates: In a Word
25 Sep 08View "word clouds" of voters' impressions of the candidates based on one-word descriptions from a recent Pew survey.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Support for Global Engagement Declines
Even as Optimism About Iraq Surges
24 Sep 08The public's top long-term foreign policy goals are decidedly America-centric. Defending the country against terrorism, protecting U.S. jobs, and weaning the country from imported energy all draw extensive bipartisan support.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Cell Phones and the 2008 Vote: An Update
23 Sep 08As in two preceding tests, a new survey shows that including cell phone interviews results in slightly more support for Obama and slightly less for McCain.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Most Approve of Wall Street Bailout and See Obama as Better Able to Address Crisis
Interest in the Economy Highest in Nearly 20 Years
23 Sep 08With public interest in the economy at a 20-year high, by a margin of almost two-to-one Americans think the government is doing the right thing in investing billions of dollars to try to keep financial institutions and markets secure.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

How the Media Has Handled Palin's Faith
22 Sep 08Coverage of her religious background and beliefs has often been a peripheral element in the story.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Views of Palin Fluid as Spotlight Remains on GOP Ticket
Public Sees Obama Ads Getting More Negative
18 Sep 08Sarah Palin continued to be a dominant factor in presidential campaign coverage last week, but her impact on the race remains unclear and her public image is very much in flux.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

McCain Gains on Issues, But Stalls as Candidate of Change
Presidential Race Remains Even
18 Sep 08The race remains close as enthusiasm for McCain increases among GOP base. Somewhat more swing voters (46%) say their greater concern is that McCain will govern too much like President Bush, rather than that Obama lacks experience (37%).
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Slight but Steady Majority Favors Keeping Abortion Legal
Most Also Favor Restrictions
16 Sep 08A recent Pew survey finds U.S. opinion on this perennial campaign issue remains in line with the historical pattern.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Palin Comparison: Half of Campaign Storylines Revolve around GOP VP
16 Sep 08For the second week in a row, the GOP vice presidential hopeful got more coverage than the man atop the ticket, John McCain. Yet this measure does not fully convey the Palin-centric nature of the news coverage.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

JohnMcCain.com v. BarackObama.com
15 Sep 08With roughly seven weeks left until Election Day, which candidate has the edge online, and how so? A new study by the Project for Excellence in Journalism finds both campaigns' official sites are now quite advanced.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Revisiting the Mommy Wars After Palin: Politics, Gender and Parenthood
15 Sep 08A new Pew survey, like others before it, found Republicans far more troubled than Democrats by the long term trend toward mothers of young children working outside the home. But these surveys were conducted before Sarah Palin entered the political scene. The especially enthusiatic initial reponse to her vice presidential candidacy contrasts sharply with these findings.
Social & Demographic Trends

Palin Nomination Puts Spotlight on Pentecostalism
12 Sep 08From the time she was a teenager until 2002, Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin attended a Pentecostal church , a denomination that emphasizes such practices as speaking in tongues, prophesying, divine healing and other miraculous signs of the Holy Spirit.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

The Bounce Effect
11 Sep 08There is little doubt that the fall campaign begins in earnest with McCain having gained the momentum. How good an indicator is this of where the electorate is headed on Nov. 4?
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

McCain's Image Improves - With Big Assist From Palin
Palin Press Coverage: Fair and Important
10 Sep 08While the GOP ticket leader's speech received only modest reviews, his running mate's address was viewed as the highlight of the Republican convention and helped boost McCain's public image overall. However, many in the public still question Palin's qualifications.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Northern Exposure: Palin Dominates Campaign Coverage
McCain Finally Gets More Coverage Than Obama, But Couldn't Top His VP
9 Sep 08For the first time since the general election campaign began, John McCain generated more coverage than Barack Obama. But he was still outshone by another newsmaker -- his own running mate.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

After Busy Week, Views of Both Candidates Improve
High Marks for Obama's Speech
3 Sep 08As attention to the campaign increased substantially last week, the images of both Barack Obama and John McCain improved. Reviews of Obama's acceptance speech were overwhelmingly positive. Among those who could rate it, nearly half (48%) rated the speech excellent and another 36% rated it good.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Denver and Palin Fuel Biggest Campaign Week Yet
3 Sep 08Campaign coverage filled 69% of the overall newshole last week, by far the most media attention the 2008 election has received since PEJ began tracking it in January 2007. The Democratic convention dominated news early, but McCain's unexpected VP pick abruptly changed the subject. In just two days of tracking, Sarah Palin became the third biggest campaign story of the week.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Convention Buzz: A Split Decision
28 Aug 08An examination of political websites shows the Clinton team and the Obama team sharing equal billing in online chatter about the Democratic National Convention.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Obama's Background Better Known Than His Issue Positions
Biden Pick a Top Campaign Event
27 Aug 08As Obama accepts the Democratic Party's nomination for president in Denver, more than six-in-ten Americans say they know a lot or a fair amount about his background, but only about half are familiar with his policies.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

It's All Veepstakes All the Time
26 Aug 08In a week that culminated with Senator Joe Biden's selection as Barack Obama's running mate, the veepstakes dominated the campaign narrative, shunting other storylines -- particularly policy differences -- to the sidelines.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Obama's Challenge
25 Aug 08As Democrats gather in Denver, many may be wondering why the presidential race has tightened. An analysis of polling data shows that that while voters are unhappy with the state of the nation and give low ratings to President Bush, the GOP base has started to solidify around McCain. Polling also finds that Obama's extensive media coverage may be a mixed blessing.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Men or Women: Who's the Better Leader?
A Paradox in Public Attitudes
25 Aug 08Americans believe women have the right stuff to be political leaders. When it comes to honesty, intelligence and other traits they value highly in leaders, the public rates women superior to men. But only 6% say women make better political leaders than men. A new Pew survey explores this paradox.
Social & Demographic Trends

A Closer Look at the Parties in 2008
Convention Backgrounder
22 Aug 08As the 2008 conventions approach, the Democratic Party’s advantage in party identification remains as large as it has been over the past two decades, and the Democratic Party’s image remains substantially more positive than the GOP’s.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Party Time: Democrats Primed To Tune Into Convention
21 Aug 08More Americans are interested in following the Democratic Convention (59%) than the Republican Convention (48%). An overwhelming majority of Democrats (79%) plan to follow their party’s convention. However, those who favored Hillary Clinton express only modest interest in Obama’s speech and strong interest in her address.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public Support Falls for Religion’s Role in Politics
Some Social Conservative Disillusionment
21 Aug 08A new Pew Research survey finds a decline in the share of Americans who want churches and other houses of worship to be involved in political matters. Most of the drop in the past four years has come among political conservatives.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

War in Georgia is Bigger News than the Campaign
19 Aug 08Last week marked the first time in nine months that the most covered news story was not the presidential campaign. The Russian-Georgian war led the news and also generated positive coverage for McCain and his aggressive approach to the crisis.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

The Purpose Driven Campaign: The Candidates' Forum with Rick Warren
14 Aug 08McCain and Obama will make their first joint appearance of the general election campaign at an event moderated by Pastor Rick Warren at his 22,000-member Saddleback Church. John Green discusses what the candidates stand to gain from speaking with Warren and the challenges that Warren will face as he attempts to broaden evangelicals’ political agenda.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Presidential Race Draws Even
GOP Base Getting Behind McCain
13 Aug 08With fewer than two weeks to go before the start of the presidential nominating conventions, McCain has solidified his support among Republicans and white evangelicals, especially in the South, while Obama lags in attracting Clinton supporters.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Comeback Kids: Clintons Return to Campaign Coverage
12 Aug 08Last week's major story lines turned more to discord among Democrats, energy policy and the search for vice presidents.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Obama Fatigue - 48% Hearing Too Much About Him
McCain's Ads Seen As Negative, Obama's as Positive
6 Aug 08While John McCain closed the gap in campaign news coverage last week, Barack Obama still enjoyed much more visibility in the eye of the public. But 48% say they've heard too much about the Democratic nominee and a plurality say they've heard too little about his opponent.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Spears and Hilton Raise McCain Coverage Even With Obama
5 Aug 08A spasm of introspection by the media, amid a wave of accusations that they were being unfair to the GOP standard bearer combined with a controversial ad to generate equal coverage of the two candidates.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Obama's Trip a Top Campaign Event for Public
42% Say Campaign Coverage Biased in Favor of Obama
31 Jul 08Despite a high level of public attention to the Democratic candidate's weeklong tour abroad, most said they learned very little of his foreign policy views as a result of the trip.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

The Power of the Protest Vote
29 Jul 08Don't be surprised if third or fourth party presidential candidates garner enough votes in November to make a difference
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Obama's Trip Consumes Coverage
But not all of the coverage was flattering
29 Jul 08While many media outlets credited Obama with a stylistically successful and largely gaffe-less trip, some questioned whether it actually benefited the candidate.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Democrats Highly Critical of New Yorker Cover, Republicans Say It Was Okay
Public Closely Tracking Business News
24 Jul 08Fully four-in-ten Americans heard a lot about a satirical cartoon on the cover of the New Yorker magazine. A majority of those who saw it found it offensive (54%) and few found it funny (27%).
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Latinos Overwhelmingly Support Obama and Democrats in 2008
Obama is doing better among Hispanics who supported Clinton than he is among non-Hispanic white Clinton supporters.
24 Jul 08A new Pew Hispanic Center survey finds the presumptive Democratic nominee now has a strong lead among Hispanics, a sharp reversal from the primaries when Obama lost the Latino vote to Hillary Clinton by a nearly two-to-one ratio.
Pew Hispanic Center

McCain's Lead Among Evangelicals Smaller than Bush's in '04
Religiously Unaffiliated Voters Strongly Favor Democratic Candidate
17 Jul 08Many white evangelicals remain undecided and Obama has made few inroads into this key constituency. But the Democratic candidate enjoys strong support among the religiously unaffiliated.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Should Women Worry Obama?
17 Jul 08Obama is doing better among young and independent women than either of the last two Democratic nominees, but many older Democratic women remain undecided.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Cell Phones and the 2008 Vote: An Update
17 Jul 08The latest Pew Research Center national survey, including a sample of 503 adults on a cell phone, finds that the overall estimate of voter presidential preference is modestly affected by whether or not the cell phone respondents are included.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Obamamania Abroad: The Candidate Can Expect a Warm Welcome in Europe, Not So in the Middle East
16 Jul 08By all accounts, Barack Obama will be enthusiastically greeted when he travels to Europe. But his trip will take him into less friendly territory in the Middle East where Muslims remain skeptical about the future of U.S. foreign policy, regardless of who is elected in November.
Pew Global Attitudes Project

Candidates' Policy Positions Still Not Widely Known
16 Jul 08Despite extensive media attention to the presidential campaign, relatively few Americans are familiar with either Obama's or McCain's foreign and domestic policy positions.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Belief that Obama is Muslim is Durable, Bipartisan – but Most Likely to Sway Democratic Votes
15 Jul 08The New Yorker magazine’s controversial cover has renewed focus on persistent public misperceptions of Sen. Barack Obama’s faith.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Gaffe Coverage: Jackson Tops Gramm
15 Jul 08Statements by two non-candidates steered the campaign narrative last week, but Jesse Jackson’s derogatory remarks about Obama drew more media attention than did Phil Gramm’s remarks about whiny America.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Obama's Black Audience
What Surveys Show About the Attitudes and Priorities of African Americans
14 Jul 08Are critics like Jesse Jackson more -- or less -- in touch with the African American public? A look at what survey data tell us about black attitudes and priorities.
Pew Research Center

The Faith Factor in the Media's Primary Campaign Coverage
10 Jul 08Despite attention to Obama's former pastor, questions about McCain's relationship with the conservative religious base, interest in Romney's Mormon faith and Baptist preacher Huckabee's strong showing, only 2% of campaign stories directly focused on religion; still that was more than the attention devoted to race and gender combined.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Likely Rise In Voter Turnout Bodes Well For Democrats
Obama's Support is More Committed than McCain's but Many Remain Undecided
10 Jul 08Even with a partisan enthusiasm gap, voter interest is already as high as in November of recent elections, two trends that may significantly alter the composition of the eventual electorate in the Democrats' favor. The proportion of swing voters is also up compared with four years ago. Nearly half of independents (47%) are undecided or may change their minds, up from 28% in June 2004.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

McCain's Interest Gap
9 Jul 08While Obama and McCain received similar levels of media coverage, Obama remained by far the most visible candidate. Only 11% of Americans cited McCain as the candidate they had heard the most about, while more than seven-in-ten (71%) named Obama.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Media Heat Wave
9 Jul 08A week of negative election storylines was led by the shake-up in the McCain campaign, Gen. Wesley Clark's comments and questions of patriotism. Thanks in part to his staffing reshuffle, McCain was competitive with Obama in coverage for the first time since Obama clinched his nomination.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

For Public, Oil Prices and Economic News Overshadow Campaign
McCain Remains Much Less Visible than Obama
2 Jul 08Last week marked the largest partisan gap in campaign interest since the start of the presidential race in early 2007. Democrats were almost twice as likely as Republicans to say they followed the campaign very closely (52% vs. 28%).
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Summer Rerun: Media Returns to Coverage of Divided Democrats
Hillary and Bill Clinton combined media coverage equaled McCain's total
1 Jul 08While differences between Barack Obama and John McCain over energy policy played a major role, most of the campaign narrative focused on Democrats' efforts to reunite the party.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

The Spouse and the President Get Their Media Close-ups
24 Jun 08A key narrative in last week's campaign focused not on Barack Obama and John McCain themselves, but on two people whose public roles reflect crucial challenges facing the candidates--Michelle Obama and George Bush.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Gas Prices Dominate the Public's Economic News Agenda
Fewer Following Midwest Floods than in 1993
19 Jun 08As economic news continues to register at an almost record level with the public, no other issue gets close to the level of attention accorded the price of oil and gas. Fully 72% of Americans say it is the economic or fiscal problem they've heard the most about.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Coverage Turns To Issues
18 Jun 08In a relatively light week of campaign coverage, attention focused on policy differences. Still, a fair amount of attention was also paid to some controversies and gaffes.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

More Hear Negative News About Michelle Obama Than Cindy McCain
Coverage of the Candidates’ Wives
18 Jun 08While opinions about both potential First Ladies are mostly positive, Mrs. Obama has emerged as a more high profile and controversial spouse than Mrs. McCain.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

More See America's Loss Of Global Respect As Major Problem
A majority of Republicans now say U.S. is less respected, up 12 points since August 2006
16 Jun 08Seven-in-ten Americans -- now including a majority of Republicans -- see the loss of international respect for the nation as a major problem.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Politics Goes Viral Online
15 Jun 08Already in this campaign season, more Americans -- 46% -- have gone online to get political news and campaign information than in all of 2004.
Pew Internet & American Life Project

Global Economic Gloom -- China and India Notable Exceptions
But Many Publics Expect U.S. Foreign Policy to Improve Under Next President
12 Jun 08Although views of the U.S. remain negative, and many now worry about the US economy's impact on their nations, the U.S.'s favorable ratings have increased modestly since 2007 in 10 of 21 countries with comparative data. People around the world are following the U.S. election closely - and in most places surveyed, express greater confidence in Obama than in McCain.
Pew Global Attitudes Project

Most Americans See a Black Nominee as Important for Country
Partisan and Racial Divisions Over Significance of Obama's Win
11 Jun 08A solid majority say the nomination of an African American for president is important to the country, but racial and partisan divisions exist on the significance of Obama’s historical achievement.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Clinton Question Drives Coverage
Themes around “what does Hillary want” alone accounted for 29% coverage.
10 Jun 08While Obama’s primary win gave him the edge in quantity of coverage, Clinton was the driving force in a media narrative that focused largely on what she would do next.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

States Aim to End the Electoral College
9 Jun 08A movement is bubbling at the state level to ensure that future presidents are the candidates who get the most votes nationwide.
Stateline.org

Assessing a More Prominent 'Religious Left'
5 Jun 08Questions and answers about the various groups that make up the religious left movement and the implications for the “religious right” in the coming elections.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Many Say Coverage is Biased in Favor of Obama
Primary Wrapup: Even As Obama Controversies Widely Registered
5 Jun 08More of the public heard about controversies related to Obama than other campaign events. Even so, far more Americans believe press coverage has favored him than think it has favored Clinton.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Obama Backers Cool to Clinton as Running Mate
But "Dream Ticket" Draws Support From Key Democratic Blocs
4 Jun 08While a majority of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters (53%) favor a so-called "Dream Ticket," fully 54% of Obama supporters do not want Clinton chosen as his running mate.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Democratic Party's Favorables Rise, Congress Still Unpopular
Conservatives' Ratings of GOP Slip
3 Jun 08While opinion of the Republican Party (39% favorable) remains at a historic low, favorable views of the Democratic Party have risen to 57%. Attitudes toward the Democratic-led Congress, however, remain very negative.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Media Pivot to November, Iraq Debate
3 Jun 08Campaign coverage was split time last week between the dramatic Democratic primary endgame and the developing general election debate between McCain and Obama on the war in Iraq.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

The Iraq Challenge
2 Jun 08Soaring concern about the economy has displaced the Iraq War as the top priority issue among voters. Ambivalent and contradictory public opinions further complicate the role that the conflict will play in the November election.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Hispanics in the 2008 Election: Puerto Rico
29 May 08On Sunday, Puerto Rico holds one of the final Democratic primary contests. A new Pew Hispanic Center fact sheet provides key demographic information on eligible voters in Puerto Rico and compares them with eligible Latino voters and all eligible voters in the U.S.
Pew Hispanic Center

Character and the Primaries of 2008
What Were the Media Master Narratives about the Candidates During the Primary Season?
29 May 08A new analysis of media coverage during the first ten weeks of the 2008 primary season finds the dominant personal narratives about Obama and Clinton were almost identical in tone, and were both twice as positive as negative. The coverage of McCain's character was less positive than that of either Democratic candidate.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

In Tight General Election, McCain's Negatives Mostly Political, Obama's More Personal
Clinton Backers Cool to Obama - White Female Support in Question
29 May 08While Obama has opened up a wide lead in the Democratic primary, he now runs about even against McCain. The tightening general election shows some sullying of Obama's personal image over the past three months, which is in some measure a negative reaction from frustrated Clinton supporters. McCain's image has also become more negative since February, however, unlike Obama, those who disapprove cite his political beliefs.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Greater Coverage of McCain, But Public Still Focused on Obama
Most Expect Gas Prices To Reach $5 a Gallon or More
28 May 08Fully half of the public said Obama was the candidate they had heard the most about in the news, while only 8% said the same of McCain despite a significant increase in news coverage of his candidacy.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Mac's Back in Media Spotlight
The Arizona senator had his highest level of press coverage since week of Super Tuesday
28 May 08After largely being treated as a bystander to the Democrats' contest, the GOP nominee emerged as a featured player in campaign coverage. But that exposure is not always wanted or positive attention.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Cable's Constant Campaign Coverage Out of Sync With Public News Interest
22 May 08While much of the public focused on international events, cable news focused on the campaign almost to the exclusion of other top news stories. Also, though well covered, awareness of John Edwards' endorsement of Obama was relatively low.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Religion and Progressive Politics in 2008
20 May 08Directors of two progressive religious organizations and a political science professor discuss the origins of the "religious left" movement and how it might influence this year's election.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Edwards Rewrites the Election Story Line
Almost 40% of coverage reinforced the idea that the Democratic race was over.
20 May 08In embracing Obama less than 24 hours after Clinton’s big win in West Virginia, Edwards diverted media attention away from discussion of renewed Clinton momentum and helped refocused the narrative on Obama’s apparent inevitability.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Oregon: The Vote is in the Mail
19 May 08The state's election officials' biggest concern in this year's May 20 primary was whether voters would remember that the price of a stamp went up a penny on May 12, just as they began mailing back their ballots.
Stateline.org

Public Says Press Should Not Declare Obama the Winner
14 May 08Fully 72% of the public - including comparable percentages of Democrats, Republicans and independents - say that journalists should not be anointing Obama as the Democratic nominee at this stage in the race.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Media Know Who It's "Gonna Be"
Clinton generated her highest level of coverage this year with calls for her to drop out.
13 May 08In a campaign with more twists than a Twilight Zone episode, the media all but officially pronounced Obama the Democratic nominee last week.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

The Widening Gap
9 May 08While Barack Obama's appeal to the young coincides with their increasing Democratic alignment, older voters do not show the greater allegiance to the GOP that might explain their relative reluctance to support him.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

The Race Factor Redux
8 May 08While the outcome of the North Carolina primary fit into a racial pattern observed in earlier primaries this year, Clinton’s showing in Indiana was less strong than would have been expected.
Pew Research Center

Pocketbooks Top Politics
8 May 08The presidential campaign once again was the most heavily covered story of the week, accounting for 38% of all news coverage. The public, however, was more interested in rising gas prices and the economy, both topics that received far less media coverage.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Will States Fix the 2012 Primary Process?
6 May 08Not a moment too soon, party insiders and state election officials are in informal talks to improve procedures for the next contest for the White House.
Stateline.org

The Wright Stuff: Obama's Pastor Corrals Campaign Coverage
6 May 08Last week, as Obama's controversial minister re-emerged into full public view, the controversy he generated made more news than either Hillary Clinton or John McCain.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Democratic Campaign Taking a Toll on Both Obama and Clinton
McCain Stays Under the Radar
1 May 08In four separate surveys conducted since March 20, when asked about each of the Democratic candidates, between 25%-31% of the public has said their opinions have recently become less favorable.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Obama's Lead Over Clinton Disappears; Unfavorables Rise for Both Candidates
More Democrats See Unresolved Contest As Problem for Party
1 May 08Barack Obama's slipping support for the Democratic nomination reflects a modest decline in his personal image rather than improved impressions of Hillary Clinton. Both retain advantage over McCain as economy tops public's concerns.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Justices' OK for Indiana's Voter ID May Prompt Other States to Follow Suit
29 Apr 08With bills pending in state legislatures across the country, more states may move to require photo identification for voters in November.
Stateline.org

Democrats Division Unites Media
Post-Pennsylvania Spin Drowns Out McCain
29 Apr 08The week of the Pennsylvania primary ended with the prospect of a longer, tougher contest and with the volatile issue of race again occupying a prominent place in the media narrative.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Gen Dems: The Party's Advantage Among Young Voters Widens
28 Apr 08Trends in the opinions of America's youngest voters are often a barometer of shifting political winds. And that appears to be the case in 2008. Use the interactive tool to track generational differences in party affiliation over time.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Obama's Catholic Voter Problem?
25 Apr 08Hillary Clinton won the Catholic vote in Pennsylvania's Democratic primary by more than a two-to-one margin, repeating a pattern among religious voters similar to those seen in other states. Does this have implications for the May 6 contests in Indiana and North Carolina?
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

More Americans View Campaign As Too Negative
Obama's "Bitter" Comment Registers Widely
24 Apr 08Barack Obama's 'bitter' comment registered widely but just 29% of Americans say they paid very close attention to news about the presidential campaign last week, the lowest percentage recorded since December 2007.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Debatable Campaign Coverage
22 Apr 08Last week, a major part of the media narrative about the 2008 campaign involved the media themselves -- specifically ABC’s moderators for the April 16 debate in Philadelphia.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Less News is Good News for McCain
49% Say Network News Anchors Are All About the Same
17 Apr 08While McCain has been consistently less visible to the public, far more Americans say the news they have been hearing about him is generally positive than say the same about coverage of Obama or Clinton.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

No Clear Advantage
17 Apr 08Electability is an issue, and one that both Obama and Clinton are likely to use to woo the superdelegates. But our polling suggests that neither candidate has a demonstrable advantage to tout.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

McCain Doesn't Get Most Exposure, But Can't Be "Bitter" About Media
15 Apr 08Renewed attention to Iraq benefited the GOP candidate, while Democrats seemed caught up in a game of gaffe ping-pong, with the media eagerly keeping score.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Religious Voters in Pennsylvania
11 Apr 08Connections that Clinton, Obama and McCain make -- or fail to make -- with the state's religious voters could have major consequences on April 22 and November 4.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Campaign News Interest Dips
Awareness of U.S. War Fatalities Rebounds
10 Apr 08With the campaign in a lull, interest, which had consistently surpassed previous presidential contests, is now comparable to the level measured in April 2004.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Clinton Punches, Obama Bowls, McCain Reminisces
8 Apr 08Obama attracted the most coverage, McCain's bio tour earned him headlines, but Clinton generated the clearest story line with her "Rocky" reference.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

That's What I Like About Me
7 Apr 08Obama's high favorable ratings are more influenced by how he makes voters feel than by specific characteristics they attributed to him. Clinton's image, in contrast, is driven by opinions about her own qualities.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Clinton Controversy Heavily Covered but Obama Maintains Visibility Edge
Many Say Economic Reporting Too Negative
3 Apr 08While her Bosnia flap made Clinton the newsmaker of the week, she continues to lag behind Obama in terms of public visibility. Both candidates, despite recent negative news, have seen little change in their favorability.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Robo-Calls Now Top Type Of Campaign Outreach
Wealthy Democratic Donors Now Outnumber Wealthy GOP Donors
3 Apr 08About two-in-five voters now say they have received a pre-recorded call about the campaign. Meanwhile, Democrats are far more engaged in campaign activities than are Republcians -- including donating money to a candidate.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Clinton's Turn in Bad News is Big News
Bosnia Gaffe Makes Her Top Newsmaker After a Week of Dominant Obama Coverage
1 Apr 08In recent campaign media narratives, bad news is big news. Hillary Clinton's oft-repeated story about encountering sniper fire in Bosnia made her last week's top newsmaker.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Talk Show Hosts Agree Obama Speech Was Boffo Theater but Some See the Script as Unconvincing
28 Mar 08The usually fractious fraternity of talking heads agreed on one thing -- Obama's ability to put words together. They were less unanimous about the content.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Obama Weathers the Wright Storm, Clinton Faces Credibility Problem
27 Mar 08Obama's personal image remains more favorable than Clinton's - and he retains a 10-point advantage over her in the race for the nomination. But certain beliefs and attitudes among older, white, working-class Democrats are associated with his lower levels of support among this group.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Obama Speech on Race Arguably Biggest Event of Campaign
27 Mar 08Fully 85% of Americans say they heard about Obama's speech, and 70% have heard more about him in the last week than any other candidate. The impact of events on Obama's image appears to be mixed.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

A Complex Speech Challenges the Media
25 Mar 08For an entire week, political prognosticators and pundits grappled to come to grips with Barack Obama’s sophisticated and mulitlayered address on race relations
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Fewer Voters Identify as Republicans
Democrats Now Have the Advantage in "Swing" States
20 Mar 08The balance of party identification in the U.S. electorate now favors the Democratic Party by a decidedly larger margin than in either of the two previous presidential election cycles including in some key swing states.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Political Water Cooler Conversation Features Ferraro, Rev. Wright
Spitzer Scandal: Heavy Coverage, Moderate Interest
20 Mar 08Not only are Americans closely following news about Obama's preacher and Clinton surrogates, but an overwhelming majority (84%) are talking about the campaign with family and friends.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Racial Tensions Roil Democrats' Media Narrative
But 'Client 9' Dominated Front Page Coverage
18 Mar 08Maybe the good news for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama last week was that the problems of another Democrat -- Eliot Spitzer -- generated almost as much media attention as they did.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

What Foreign Policy Agenda?
14 Mar 08Presidential challengers -- and the ultimate winner -- will face a public that is disillusioned, downbeat and partisan about foreign affairs but far from clear about what it wants done.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Tracking the Race Factor
14 Mar 08This week's primaries show that, results in Wisconsin aside, pre-primary polls may either over- or underestimate support for Obama depending on state racial demographics.
Pew Research Center

Rumors and Red Phones Capture The Public's Political Attention
38% Have Heard a Lot about "Obama's a Muslim" Rumors
13 Mar 08Americans are paying close attention to all aspects of the election this year, but the most widely recognized item involves rumors that Obama is a Muslim.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Presidential Calendar Boosts '08 Govs' Races
12 Mar 08Voters in the Tar Heel and Hoosier states will be the first to consider gubernatorial contenders at the same time they make their presidential preferences.
Stateline.org

Clinton Gets Media to Turn Back the Clock
Even in a strong week for Hillary, the narrative turned on questions about Obama.
11 Mar 08In a strong week for Hillary, the narrative turned on questions about Obama’s toughness.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Hispanics Give Clinton Crucial Wins
7 Mar 08Latino voters lopsided support for Hillary Clinton more than accounted for her margin of victory in Texas, California and New Mexico.
Pew Hispanic Center

Voting Religiously
7 Mar 08Pew Forum's John Green discusses the role that religious and unaffiliated voters played on March 4 and could play in coming Democratic primaries and whether false rumors about Obama’s faith could hurt his chances.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Public Sees Fair Fight
6 Mar 08Every week since November, 2007, the most covered news story has been the election, and the public has taken notice. Almost half of Americans (47%) listed it as the single news story they were following more closely than any other, up from 10% last November.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Combative Clinton Gets Media to Cover Itself
When Reporters Weren't Vetting Obama, They Were Questioning Their Own Treatment of Him
4 Mar 08
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Getting to Know Them
3 Mar 08If they turn out to be their party's nominees, both Barack Obama and John McCain need to educate voters about themselves in some pretty basic, and challenging, ways.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Obama Has the Lead, but Potential Problems Too
Public's Attitudes Toward Progress in Iraq Turn More Favorable
28 Feb 08Obama has moved out to a broad-based advantage over Clinton in the national Democratic primary contest. Public attitudes about the war in Iraq have turned more positive, a favorable development for McCain.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

NY Times' McCain Story Draws Public Interest - And Disapproval
Beef Recall and Failing Satellite Attract Attention
27 Feb 08By a nearly two-to-one margin those familiar with the Times' article on the Arizona senator's ties to a lobbyist think the paper was wrong to publish it.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Democrats Dominate Media on Single Theme: Is Clinton Done?
Controversial New York Times Story Drives Almost All McCain Coverage
26 Feb 08While Obama's apparent frontrunner status claimed most coverage early in the week, the controversial New York Times story put McCain back in the news.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

In November, Will Age Matter?
25 Feb 08John McCain's age has remained notably absent as a campaign issue, but earlier polling data suggest it could become a big issue for the Arizona senator come November.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

The Hispanic Vote in the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primaries
21 Feb 08As the Democratic nomination contest heads for a showdown in Texas on March 4, Latinos may be a pivotal constituency in a state where they make up a quarter of the electorate.
Pew Hispanic Center

Campaign Seen as Less Negative than 2004 Contest
Gore, Edwards Endorsements Would Have Modest Impact
21 Feb 08The public remains highly engaged in the election, with no increase in campaign fatigue. Also, with the Democratic race still in question, a Gore endorsement would be more influential than one from Edwards.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Obama and Clinton Tie for Coverage, But Barack Wins on Tone
Democratic Race Dominates Presidential Campaign Coverage
20 Feb 08The media narrative for the Democratic presidential race shifted dramatically last week, anointing a definite frontrunner and an underdog.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Obama Inspiring but Inexperienced, Clinton Prepared to Lead but "Hard to Like"
13 Feb 08While Democrats and independents who lean Democratic believe Clinton is prepared to lead, Obama has a clear lead on three positive campaign themes: inspiration, change, and honesty.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Evolving Media Expectations Plaguing All Remaining Candidates
12 Feb 08The presidential campaign again dominated news coverage but the journalistic narratives were not really the ones for which any of the remaining candidates were were probably hoping.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Young Voters in the 2008 Presidential Primaries
11 Feb 08Beyond the vote, the exit polls point to interesting differences -- and similarities -- between younger and older Democratic voters.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Does McCain Need Evangelical Voters?
Clinton Faces Challenge with Black Protestants; Obama Not Connecting With Jews
8 Feb 08Sizeable numbers of white evangelical Protestants are already part of McCain’s coalition despite opposition from some religious conservatives. On the Democratic side, Clinton will need to mobilize black Protestants while Obama has not connected with Jewish voters.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Patterns of Distinction
8 Feb 08Super Tuesday revealed distinct – and somewhat suprising -- voting patterns across the nation that may shape the course ahead in the closely contested Democratic race.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Super Tuesday Results Suggest Race Card May Be A Joker in the Primary Deck
7 Feb 08Race still plays a role in U.S. politics but it showed up in surprising ways in tallies from Democratic primary elections so far this year.
Pew Research Center

McCain Wins the Coverage Battle as Media Move to Anoint Him
4 Feb 08By generating more coverage than any other candidate last week, and easily outdistancing his GOP rivals, Sen. John McCain rode a media narrative of near inevitability last week. Plus, Sen. Ted Kennedy becomes a major newsmaker.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

The Faith Factor at the Polls
Virtually every religious community is important in at least one of the states with a Super Tuesday election.
4 Feb 08John Green: “Virtually every religious community one can think of is important in at least one of the states with an election on Super Tuesday.”
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

McCain’s Support Soars, Democratic Race Tightens
4 Feb 08Both Barack Obama and John McCain have gained considerable popularity in recent weeks with Obama’s gains concentrated among white, middle-income and moderate Democrats.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Independent Voters Vexed at Polls?
1 Feb 08Some 4.5 million independent voters in six states (Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Oklahoma and Utah) will be completely locked out of their states’ presidential primaries on Feb. 5.
Stateline.org

A Portrait of the Latino Vote in Eight "Super Tuesday" States
1 Feb 08Hispanic voters could be crucial to the outcome of several of this week's primaries and caucuses. Here are fact sheets describing the socioeconomic characteristics of eligible Latino voters in each of the eight states with sizeable Hispanic populations.
Pew Hispanic Center

A Look at the Numbers
1 Feb 08So far, the 2008 primaries and caucuses have been anything but predictable -- comebacks, fallbacks, not to mention surprised pollsters. But a closer look reveals some common themes that have emerged.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

The Impact of "Cell-Onlys" on Public Opinion Polls
Ways of Coping with a Growing Population Segment
31 Jan 08A new Pew study finds that on key political measures such as presidential approval, Iraq policy, presidential primary voter preference and party affiliation, respondents reached on cell phones hold attitudes very similar to those reached on landline telephones.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Do Blacks and Hispanics Get Along?
Yes, but Not Always, and Not about Everything
31 Jan 08In general the nation's two largest minorities think well of each other, but there are some important differences, a Pew survey finds.
Social & Demographic Trends

GOP Debate's Economic Focus Mirrors Country's Growing Concern
31 Jan 08But candidates' perceptions on economic growth and tax cuts diverge from overall public priorities.
Pew Research Center

Are States Prepared for Problems When Voters Go to the Polls in 2008?
30 Jan 08Do the glitches reported during the Florida primary show that many states aren't ready for election day? Two experts debate the question.
Stateline.org

Clinton Finishes Third in Battle for Campaign Coverage (But it's Bill!!!)
29 Jan 08Although Obama's landslide win in South Carolina made him leading newsmaker of the week, he was certainly outdone in the race for media exposure by the Clinton tag team.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

The South Carolina Democratic Primary in Black and White
28 Jan 08This time, the pre-election polls understated Barack Obama's support among both white and black voters.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

'Present' votes defended by Illinois lawmakers
25 Jan 08Obama's former colleagues in the state legislature say that attacks on his 'present votes' show that either his opponents don't understand how things work in Springfield or they are deliberately distorting his record.
Stateline.org

Raising McCain
25 Jan 08Nearly lost in the blizzard of recent poll reports were the findings of a Gallup survey that the current GOP frontrunner, John McCain, might well give each of the two Democratic frontrunners a run for their money.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Will Evangelical Voters Rally Around a Single Candidate in 2008?
24 Jan 08As voting patterns and preferences among evangelicals have become more fluid, their electoral impact may extend beyond the primaries and affect both parties in November. Two experts from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life discuss this critical voting bloc.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Election-Year Economic Ratings Lowest Since '92
An Even More Partisan Agenda Greets Bush's Final State of the Union
24 Jan 08Republicans and Democrats agree the economy should be a top priority for the president and Congress, but they differ more than ever on the importance of other domestic issues -- such as global warming and health insurance for the uninsured.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Clinton and Obama Lead Pack Again in Tight Battle for Media Attention
23 Jan 08But, thanks to press fascination with Mike Huckabee, Republicans overall generated more press than Democrats last week.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Mind the Gender Gap
18 Jan 08Does Hilary Clinton have a problem with male voters or does Barack Obama simply appeal more to men?
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Top Conservative Talkers Rap Huckabee and McCain
18 Jan 08The most popular conservative voices in talk radio last week seemed to take sides in the crowded Republican presidential field.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Race, Ethnicity and Campaign ’08
People…Can We All Get Along?
17 Jan 08Race, ethnicity and politics can sometimes make for a volatile mix, but a poll finds that race relations in this country are on a pretty even keel.
Social & Demographic Trends

In GOP Primaries: Three Victors, Three Constituencies
Romney Gains Among Non-Evangelical Conservatives
16 Jan 08The Republican nomination contest is being increasingly shaped by ideology and religion, while the dynamics of the Democratic race are more heavily influenced by class, race and gender.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Clinton is the Big Winner Last Week in the Race for Coverage
15 Jan 08The resurrection in New Hampshire of John McCain's once-dead campaign did not translate into similar largesse of media attention.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

The GOP's Unanswered Question
11 Jan 08Thursday night's Republican debate in South Carolina in the wake of John McCain's comeback victory in New Hampshire and Mike Huckabee's surprising win in Iowa raised more questions than it answered.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

The Internet's Broader Role in Campaign 2008
11 Jan 08The internet is living up to its potential as a major source for news about the presidential races. Nearly a quarter of Americans say they regularly learn something about the campaign from the internet, almost double the percentage at a comparable point in 2004.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Only Half of Public Can Name Both Iowa Winners, but Many Complain of Too Much Media Coverage
10 Jan 08In the wake of his Iowa victory, Barack Obama for the first time supplanted Hillary Clinton as the most visible presidential candidate.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Getting It Wrong
10 Jan 08Several factors deserve exploration, but one should not ignore the possibility of the longstanding pattern of pre-election polls overstating support for black candidates among white voters, particularly white voters who are poor.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

New Hampshire Teaches News Media a Lesson
10 Jan 08It wasn't quite "Dewey Defeats Truman," but after the Jan. 8 Granite State primary confounded many pollsters and pundits, a key story in coverage of the McCain and Clinton victories was the media's proclivity to predict and pre-analyze the results.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

With Focus on the Presidential Race, Stakes are High at the State Level Too
10 Jan 08While attention is focused on this year's presidential election, races with equal or even greater power to impact folks' everyday lives will be decided at the state level, including 11 governors' contests, key legislative races and numerous ballot initiatives.
Stateline.org

22 Governors Weigh in on Presidential Race
8 Jan 08Candidates covet endorsements by state chief executives, and so far 22 governors have announced their choices.
Stateline.org

The Public’s Not-So-Happy New Year
4 Jan 08Americans begin 2008 with a highly negative view of national conditions and President Bush, and with tempered expectations for the coming year. More Democrats look forward to elections, but Republicans are more optimistic about the year ahead.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

At the Start of the Primary Season, Republicans Run Neck and Neck Nationally, Clinton Clings to Solid Lead
2 Jan 08On the eve of the Iowa caucuses, Giuliani's once solid lead in nationwide polls has vanished; religion has become a larger factor for GOP voters as Huckabee has become better known. The Democratic contest remains largely stable nationwide despite close state races.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Primary Preview: Dynamics Differ for the Two Parties in Early Races
Personal and Tactical Factors Matter Most for Democratic Candidates, Ideological Divides for Republican Candidates
19 Dec 07For Democratic candidates, the decisive factors in Iowa and New Hampshire are personal and tactical; for GOP contestants, however, the ultimate outcome may be decided by the relative strength of newly combative ideological elements.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Primary Problems: How Exit Pollsters Plan to Cope with a Super-Crowded Election Season
14 Dec 07From holiday distractions to winter weather, the people who will be measuring voters' preferences in primaries and caucuses around the nation will be dealing with unprecedented problems. Here's how they plan to do it.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Oprah Boosts Obama's Visibility; Republicans Applaud Romney Speech
13 Dec 07Awareness of Winfrey's support for Obama was equally high across parties, genders and racial groups; leading GOP candidates still lag behind Obama and Clinton in public visibility.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

The Courting of Iowa and New Hampshire: Many are Robo-Called but Fewer Are Listening
7 Dec 07Voters, especially Democrats, in two early primary states are being inundated with phone calls, mail and other campaign contacts; but so far there are few signs of campaign fatigue.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Hispanics and the 2008 Election: A Swing Vote?
6 Dec 07Earlier Republican Party gains among Latinos have dissipated in the past year, a new Pew Hispanic Center survey finds. Hispanics also comprise a sizable share of voters in four "swing states" that President Bush narrowly carried in 2004.
Pew Hispanic Center

Public Still Getting To Know Leading GOP Candidates
Many Republicans Unaware of Romney's Religion
5 Dec 07While 86% of the public can name Rudy Giuliani as the former NYC mayor, only about half as many correctly identified Mitt Romney as a Mormon and even fewer knew that he was a former Mass. governor.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

GOP Race Unsettled in Politically Diverse Early States
4 Dec 07Likely Republican voters in the three politically disparate early primary states express less enthusiasm about their field of presidential candidates, and many voice only modest support for their choices.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public Opinion About Mormons
Mitt Romney Discusses His Religion
4 Dec 07Mitt Romney's speech discussing the role of religion in American politics addressed a public among which many harbor doubts about his Mormon faith.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Clinton Pressed in Iowa, But Holds Solid Leads Elsewhere
3 Dec 07Democrats enter the presidential primary campaign upbeat about their candidates and united in their views on major issues. Sen. Hillary Clinton is the Democratic frontrunner in three key early primary states, holding a slim five-point edge in Iowa and more substantial 19-point and 14-point leads in New Hampshire and South Carolina, respectively.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Immigration Takes Center Stage at GOP YouTube Debate
Public Says It Prefers Questions From "Regular" People
29 Nov 07In a format the public says it prefers -- "regular people," not journalists, posing the questions -- immigration emerged as the hot-button issue. Were the candidates' answers in sync with GOP voters' opinions?
Pew Research Center

The View from the Other Side
How Republicans Rate the Democratic Candidates, and Democrats Rate the Republicans
19 Nov 07A survey finds no evidence that a significant number of voters are considering crossing party lines -- or voting strategically for the other party's weakest candidate.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Religious Groups' Presidential Candidate Preferences
7 Nov 07A new analysis of recent surveys show Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani as the preferred candidates among key religious groups. Giuliani, though, garners considerably less support from white evangelical Protestants than he does from white mainline Protestants and white Catholics.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

A Year Ahead, Republicans Face Tough Political Terrain
31 Oct 07A year before the 2008 presidential election, most major national opinion trends decidedly favor the Democrats and discontent with the state of the nation is markedly greater than it was four years ago. Also, Republicans have become less likely to say that their party is doing a good job standing up for its traditional positions.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

The Invisible Primary - Invisible No Longer
A First Look at Coverage of the 2008 Presidential Campaign
29 Oct 07In the early months of the 2008 campaign, the media had essentially winnowed the race to a handful of candidates and offered Americans relatively little information about their records or what they would do if elected.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Modest Interest in 2008 Campaign News
Democratic Candidates Better Known, Even Among Republicans
23 Oct 07Many more Republicans are able to recall unprompted the names of Democratic frontrunners Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama than can name Rudy Giuliani and other leading GOP candidates.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

A Portrait of Republican Social-Issue Voters
Though Much Courted by GOP candidates, Their Impact on the Nominating Process Is Still Unclear
15 Oct 07Though much courted by GOP candidates, the impact of this voting bloc on the presidential nominating process remains unclear.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Thompson Stands with GOP Rank and File during First Debate
The Former Senator Stuck to Traditional -- and Popular -- Positions Among Republican Voters
10 Oct 07In his first appearance on a debate stage with his rivals for the Republican nomination, the former Tennessee senator stuck to very traditional -- and very popular -- positions among his party's voters.
Pew Research Center

Dems Debate Iraq Withdrawal Timetable
27 Sep 07When debate moderator Tim Russert asked the Democratic presidential candidates if they would pledge to have all U.S. troops out of Iraq by the end of their first term, the leading candidates all declined to make a firm pledge. Are they in sync -- or out of sync -- with the views of Democratic voters on the question of an Iraq war withdrawal timetable?
Pew Research Center

Voters Assess the '08 Hopefuls: Clinton Seen as 'Tough,' Giuliani Viewed as 'Energetic'
20 Sep 07The public is no more engaged by the presidential campaign than in the spring, but the perceived strengths of some leading candidates are coming into focus.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

The Oprah Factor in Campaign '08
Do Political Endorsements Matter?
20 Sep 07Do political endorsements matter? Generally they have little impact on voter preferences, but there's no telling whether Oprah Winfrey can do for Obama what she has done for countless books and products.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Case the Candidates for '08
The Pew Forum Database Covers Presidential Contenders' Positions on Issues of Special Religious Significance and Other Domestic and Foreign Policies
17 Sep 07The Pew Forum database covers presidential contenders' positions on issues of special religious significance as well as their stands on other domestic and foreign policies.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

"First of the Fall" GOP Debate
6 Sep 07On Wednesday evening, eight Republican presidential candidates met in a debate at the University of New Hampshire. How did candidate views compare with public opinion on the topics discussed?
Pew Research Center

Religion in Campaign '08
Clinton and Guiliani Seen as Not Highly Religious; Romney's Religion Raises Concerns
6 Sep 07Religion is not currently proving to be a clear-cut positive in the 2008 presidential race. Candidates viewed by voters as the least religious are the current frontrunners for the Democratic and Republican nominations – Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani, respectively. And the candidate seen as far and away the most religious – Mitt Romney – appears handicapped by this perception because of voter concerns about Mormonism.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Fred Thompson's Online Campaign Is in Full Swing
At his website, I'mwithFred.com, the candidate-to-be is already busy reaching out to supporters
4 Sep 07When he formally enters the 2008 race this week, former Sen. Fred Thompson can behave in all ways like a presidential candidate. But on his "testing the waters" website, I'mwithFred.com, he's already been busy reaching out to supporters.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Black Enthusiasm for Clinton and Obama Leaves Little Room for Edwards
Clinton's Image Up among Liberals, Down among Conservatives; Obama Scores Best among College Educated
30 Aug 07The popularity of the two top contenders among key segments of the Democratic electorate may help explain why Edwards's populist platform has not drawn wider support so far.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

A Study in Contrasts: Clinton and Guiliani
Hillary Scores High with Democrats, Less So with the General Public; Rudy Has Broad Appeal but Weaker GOP Support
23 Aug 07Sen. Hillary Clinton is by far the most popular presidential candidate among her own party's voters, but among the general public, she has one of the lowest favorable ratings of the leading candidates. In sharp contrast, the front-running Republican candidate, Rudy Giuliani, evokes relatively modest enthusiasm from the GOP base, but is as broadly popular with all voters as any candidate in either party.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Religion and the Presidential Vote: A Tale of Two Gaps
21 Aug 07An analysis of national exit polls from 2004 shows there is not one but two religion gaps -- one based on religious affiliation and the other based on frequency of attendance at worship services. How did the gaps manifest themselves in the 2004 election and what are the possible implications for 2008?
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Democrats Debate in Iowa
20 Aug 07Sunday morning all eight Democratic candidates for president met at Drake University in Iowa. How did their views on issues ranging from Iraq to money in politics match up with public opinion data?
Pew Research Center

Presidential Campaign Isn't Making a Good First Impression
Older Men, Better Educated More Likely to Be Critical
15 Aug 07The 2008 presidential campaign already seems to be wearing out its welcome with many Americans. A 52% majority of the public offers a negative assessment of the early-blooming campaign and just one-in-five has a kind thing to say.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Democrats Address Gay Community
10 Aug 07On Thursday night six Democratic presidential candidates came together for a debate on issues important to the gay community. Candidates took on issues from gay marriage to "don't ask don't tell" and addressed a party whose rank-and-file hold ambivalent positions on some issues of concern to gays.
Pew Research Center

Democratic Candidates Labor to Win Union Support
Union Label
8 Aug 07Seven Democratic candidates met on Soldier Field in Chicago on Tuesday to address a predominantly union audience at a candidate forum sponsored by the AFL-CIO. How did candidate views stack up with public opinion?
Pew Research Center

Republicans Preach to the Base in Sunday Morning Debate
But Views Differ from Those of Political Independents, Democrats
6 Aug 07Less than a week before the Iowa straw poll, the nine Republican presidential candidates squared off in Des Moines. Candidate views generally mirrored those of the Republican rank-and-file, but were often at odds with the opinions of the general public.
Pew Research Center

A Summer of Discontent with Washington
Clinton Widens Lead, Giuliani Slips
2 Aug 07All three branches of the federal government are under fire from the American public. Just 29% approve of President Bush's job performance while the proportion with a favorable view of Congress has declined 12 percentage points since January. Even favorable opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court have fallen, from 72% in January to 57% currently.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Hillary Clinton Most Visible Presidential Candidate
Republicans Say Campaign is Being Over-Covered
26 Jul 07Hillary Clinton leads all Democrats with 42% of the public saying they have heard the most about her in the news lately.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Uploading Democracy: Candidates Field YouTube Questions
24 Jul 07Tuesday night's Democratic debate was widely anticipated for its groundbreaking format. Candidates took on a host of issues asked by citizens via YouTube videos; what follows is an analysis of the format and major themes of the debate as compared with public opinion data.
Pew Research Center

Campaign Internet Videos: "Sopranos" Spoof vs. "Obama Girl"
Made for the Web but Viewed More on TV than Online
12 Jul 07They originate on the internet, but more people are viewing them on TV than online.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Are Candidate Web Sites Propaganda or News?
12 Jul 07Through their official websites, the campaigns themselves are challenging the press as a destination for news.
Project for Excellence in Journalism

Democrats Go Domestic: Analyzing the 6-28 Debate
A Comparison of the Candidates' Views with Those of the Public
29 Jun 07Before a predominantly black audience at Howard University, the eight candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination focused on issues of special interests to minorities including health care, education, taxes and racial discrimination.
Pew Research Center

Religious Republicans: Hanging Tough with Bush
GOP Presidential Candidates May Still Need Strong Backing from Church-Going Conservatives
22 Jun 07A dilemma for GOP Presidential Candidates: They're distancing themselves from Bush, but may still need strong backing from his faithful church-going supporters.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Bloomberg Well Known, But of Limited Appeal for Now
20 Jun 07Michael Bloomberg has created some excitement in the political world about a possible run for the presidency by dropping his Republican affiliation. But a recent nationwide Pew voter survey found that while the New York mayor is relatively well known, his appeal is very modest at this point.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Support for '08 Presidential Candidates among Religious Groups
18 Jun 07The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life examines the support for the 2008 presidential candidates among some religious groups, including white evangelical Protestants, white mainline Protestants and non-Hispanic Catholics.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

The 6-5-07 Republican Debate: Comparing Candidate Views with Public Opinion
6 Jun 07Ten candidates for the 2008 Republican nomination for president squared off last night in a debate held in New Hampshire. Here is a run-down of how their views on key issues stacked up against the attitudes of the general public and of self-identified Republicans, Democrats and independents, as measured by recent Pew Research Center surveys.
Pew Research Center

The 6-3-07 Democratic Debate: Comparing Candidate Views with Public Opinion
4 Jun 07Eight candidates for the 2008 Democratic nomination for president squared off Sunday night in New Hampshire. Here is a run-down of how their views on key issues stacked up against the attitudes of the general public and of self-identified Democrats, Republicans and independents.
Pew Research Center

Political Divide in Views of Campaign Coverage
Public Wants More Coverage on Issues, Less on Fundraising
1 Jun 07About half the public believes that press coverage of 2008 presidential candidates has been fair, but there are partisan differences in these evaluations. A plurality of Republicans say the press has been too easy on Democratic candidates.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Florida's Fast Break Accelerates Presidential Primary Stampede
23 May 07The state's leapfrog move further complicates an already chaotic presidential primary process.
Stateline.org

Deconstructing the Debate 5/15/07
How Well Did the GOP Candidates' Views Match Those of Their Party's Members and of the General Public?
16 May 07A review of recent polling reveals that on most -- though not all issues -- the candidates are in tune with the majority of Republicans, but somewhat at odds with the broader public.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Presidential Politics and Mormon Faith
16 May 07Surveys show strong public misgivings about the religion and some 30% of the public say they are less likely to support a Mormon presidential candidate.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Are Americans Ready to Elect a Female President?
Past Statewide Elections Suggest Gender Is Not an Obstacle -- at Least for Democratic Candidates
9 May 07When evaluating Sen. Hillary Clinton's 2008 prospects, one question remains inescapable: Are American voters ready to pick a female president? A review of exit polls in statewide elections suggests that, at least for Democratic candidates, being a woman is not an obstacle.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

The GOP's Invisible Men
Democratic Candidates Dominate the News
2 May 07Heading into their first debate Thursday evening, what Republican candidates for the presidency need most is to gain visibility. The latest News Interest Index survey finds Clinton and Obama are far more visible, even to Republicans.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

The Republicans Can't Possibly Win in '08...or Can They?
2 May 07Indicators of voter sentiment suggest most of the public wants change and may likely vote Democratic next year. Are aspirants for the GOP nomination wasting their time? Don't be too sure.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Campaign '08: Analysis of Key Voter Groups
Solid Majority Favors Troop Withdrawal, But Both Sides Reject Compromise over Iraq Funding
26 Apr 07Who's most inspiring? Who's most electable? Find out how liberals and conservatives, war supporters and opponents and other segments of the electorate rate the presidential candidates. Also, a solid majority of the public favors troop withdrawal, but both sides reject compromise over Iraq funding.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Giuliani, McCain Lead Among Evangelical Republicans
23% Still Undecided
2 Apr 07The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life debuts its newly redesigned website with an early look at white evangelical Republicans and their candidate preferences for the 2008 presidential campaign. White evangelicals who are Republicans or Republican leaners divide their support between Rudolph Giuliani and John McCain.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Voters Remain In Neutral As Presidential Campaign Moves Into High Gear
Republicans Lag in Engagement and Enthusiasm for Candidates
23 Feb 07Latest Pew poll finds Republicans lagging Democrats in attention to the race and enthusiasm for candidates. Clinton is Democrats' strongest choice but Obama leads among independents; Giuliani tops McCain in popularity among Republicans and independents.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

How Reliable Are the Early Presidential Polls?
14 Feb 07As the number of declared presidential candidates grows, followers of early poll readings should bear in mind some caveats. Early frontrunners for the Republican nomination in most of the past seven open contests have gone on to win the nomination, but this year there are two GOP frontrunners instead of one clear leader. On the Democratic side, even when there is a clear frontrunner as there is this year with Sen. Hillary Clinton, the early polls have been less reliable in predicting who will capture the nomination.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Primary Scramble Prompts Calls to Slow Down
12 Feb 07The scramble among states to move up their presidential primaries next year has renewed calls from a number of the nation's chief election officers to end the helter-skelter and move to a slower nominating process, such as by staging four regional primaries.
Stateline.org

Can You Trust What Polls Say about Obama's Electoral Prospects?
Two Important Trends Suggest Americans May Now Be Ready to Elect an African American President
7 Feb 07The strong showing of Democrat Barack Obama in early trial heat polls for the 2008 presidential election raises anew the question of whether the American public is ready to support an African American candidate for president. Recent polling points to two significant shifts on this question.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Public to '08 Contenders - It's Too Early
Favorable Ratings Are Mixed for Pelosi, Reid
14 Dec 06Politicians and political reporters are scrambling to book flights for New Hampshire and other presidential primary states, but the public is far from engaged in the jockeying for 2008.
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press