Political Report May 2010: AEI's Monthly Poll Compilation

8/7/2019 Political Report May 2010: AEI's Monthly Poll Compilation

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Volume 6, Issue 5 May 2010

1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202 .862.5800 www.aei.org

T H E E C O N O M Y

Recession EffectsIn this issue ofPolitical Report, we look at opinions about the Supreme Court, oil companies, immigration, and more. All

of these issues are attracting substantial public attention, but worries about the economy are still dominating concerns

on Main Street. There is substantial anxiety about a variety of day-to-day concerns such as having enough money to pay

normal monthly bills and being able to pay the rent or mortgage. More people are saying that they will delay their retire-

ment past age 65, and more are saying that they will have to rely on Social Security and not private sources of retirement

income. We also look at the pain of prolonged unemployment.

Q: What do you think is . . . ?

The most important problem facing this country today

(Top 5, volunteered responses)

May 2010 May 2009

Economy in general 26% 47%

Unemployment 22 14Poor health care/hospitals;

high cost of health care 15 9

Dissatisfaction with government/

Congress/politicians; Poor leadership;

corruption; Abuse of power 12 8

Immigration/illegal aliens 10 2

Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of May 2010.

Q: Do you think . . . ?

The nations economy is getting better 49%

Getting worse 37

Staying about the same (vol.) 11

Note: The University of Michigans survey of consumer confidenceshows a preliminary May 2010 rating of 72.2, up from 68.7 in May 2009.Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, May 2010.

Q: For you and your family, does it . . . ?

Feels like the economy is getting better

for you and your family 36%

Getting worse 38

Staying the same (vol.) 24

Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, May 2010.

Q: Thinking of the last six monthsthat is, since November

of last yearhave . . . ?

I or someone in my family has lost a job

in the last six months as a result ofeconomic conditions 29%

Has not 69

Note: In May 2009, those responses were 28 and 70 percent,respectively.Source: AP-GfK/Roper, latest that of May 2010.

Q: And thinking of the last six monthsthat is, since

November of last yearhas . . . ?

Someone I know personally

other than a family memberhas lost a job in the last six months 63%

Has not 36

Note: In May 2009, those responses were 60 and 39 percent,respectively.Source: AP-GfK/Roper, latest that of May 2010.

(continued on the next page)
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Q: Which one of the following items do you think . . . ?

Most important for the federal government

to be working on right now

The economy and jobs 47%

The deficit and government spending 15

Terrorism and national security 8

Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan 7

Immigration 5


(continued from the previous page)

Obama and the Economy

Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy? (CBS/New York Times, Quinnip-iac, Gallup/USA Today)

Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling the economy? (ABC/Washington Post)

Q: And please tell me if you approve, disapprove or neither approve nor disapprove of the way Barack Obama is han-dling each of the following issues. How about the economy? (AP-GfK/Roper)

Q: Do you generally approve or disapprove of the job that Barack Obama is doing in handling the economy? (NBC/Wall

Street Journal)

Approve Disapprove

CBS/New York Times

February 2009 55% 24%AprilMay 2010 48 47

ABC/Washington Post

February 2009 60% 34%

April 2010 49 49

Quinnipiac

FebruaryMarch 2009 57% 33%

April 2010 40 55

Approve Disapprove

AP-GfK/Roper

April 2009 58% 35%May 2010 45 52

NBC/Wall Street Journal

February 2009 56% 31%

May 2010* 48 46

Note: *Asked of a half sample.

Karlyn Bowman, Senior Fellow; John Fortier, Research

Fellow; Norman Ornstein, Resident Scholar;

Michael Barone, Resident Fellow.

Research Assistants: Jennifer Marsico, Editor; Andrew

Rugg, Editor.

AEI POLITICAL REPORT CONTRIBUTORS



Anxieties about the EconomyPeople are more worried about a variety of economic factors than they were in 2001. In 2001 for example, a third were

worried about not being able to pay normal monthly bills. Today, more than four in ten are worried. A quarter in 2001

were worried about not being able to pay their mortgages or rent; in Gallups latest poll, 38 percent gave that response.

Q: Next, please tell me how concerned you are right now about each of the following financial matters, based on yourcurrent financial situation. Are you . . . ?

Very/Moderately worried Not too worried/Not worried at all

Not having enough money

for retirement

66% 2010 32%

53 2001 43

Not being able to pay medical

costs in the event of a serious

illness or accident

61% 2010 37%

50 2001 49

Not being able to maintain the

standard of living you enjoy

54% 2010 45%

43 2001 56

Not being able to pay medical

costs for normal health care

48% 2010 48%

44 2001 55

Not having enough money to pay

your normal monthly bills

44% 2010 54%

32 2001 68

Not being about to pay your rent,

mortgage, or other housing costs

38% 2010 56%

24 2001 72

Not being able to make the

minimum payments on your

credit card bills

24% 2010 58%

18 2001 63

Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of April 2010.



Retirement AnxietyAnother indication of economic anxiety comes from surveys about retirement plans. More people than at any time since

1995 are saying that they will delay their retirement past age 65. The number saying they will rely on Social Security is up,

while the proportion saying they expect to rely on money in their 401(k)s, a work pension plan, or private saving is down.

Q: At what age do you expect to retire?

Note: Asked of non-retired adults. Responses for categories under ages 55, 5559, and 6064 were combined into one category (under 65) inthe figure above.Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of April, 2010.

Q: When you retire, how much do you . . . ?

Expect to rely on the following sources of money for retirement

2010 2001

Social Security 34% 28%

Money from an inheritance 9 7

Other savings such as regular savings

accounts or CDs 22 16

Annuities or insurance plans 8 7

Rent and royalties 6 5

Part-time work 18 10

Individual stock or stock mutual fund

investments 20 24

A 401(k), IRA, Keogh, or other retirementsavings account 45 58

A work-sponsored pension plan 23 34

The equity you have built up in your home 20 24

Note: Asked of non-retired adults.Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of April 2010.

Expected age of retirement

Under 65

29%At 65

27%

Over 65

34%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010



The Pain of UnemploymentIn August 2009, the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce development at Rutgers, working with the online polling firm

Knowledge Networks, examined the demographic characteristics and attitudes of a large sample of people who were

unemployed. In March 2010, only 21 percent of those looking for work in the August survey had found a job. Two-thirds

remained unemployed, and 12 percent said they had left the labor market. As this survey and others show, males havebeen hit especially hard by the downturn. In August 2009, 60 percent of the unemployed were male and 40 percent

female. Seventy-one percent of this group of men were still unemployed and looking for work in the March 2010 survey.

August 2009 In March 2010

(Employment status of those unemployed

in August 2009)

Newly

Unemployed Still unemployed employed

67% 21%

60% Male 71% 18%

40 Female 62 26

30% 1829 years 57% 29%

43 3049 72 21

28 50 and older 72 12

53% H.S. education or less 64% 19%

29 Some college 75 20

19 Bachelors degree or more 65 28

53% White, non-Hispanic 71% 21%

41 Black/Hispanic 63 22

54% Less than $30,000 68% 19%

22 $30,000$60,000 64 22

24 $60,000 and over 70 26

Note: Category left the labor force not shown.Source: Knowledge Networks for the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University and the State University ofNew Jersey, latest that of March 2010.

Q: How long have you been actively seeking employment?

Of the unemployed

Searching for work for more than seven months

(August 2009) 48%

Searching for work for more than seven months(March 2010) 70

Source: Knowledge Networks for the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University and the State University ofNew Jersey, latest that of March 2010.



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Q: Which of the following have you done since being unemployed?

Since being unemployed

Sold some of my possessions 37%

Received public assistancelike welfare or unemployment 37

Used food stamps 28

Went to a soup kitchen or free food pantry 17

Note: Responses are from those who were unemployed in the March 2010 survey. TSource: Knowledge Networks for the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University and the State University ofNew Jersey, March 2010.

Q: Did you do any of the following while you were unemployed?

While unemployed

Put off plans for home 68%

Used money from savings set aside for other

things or retirement to make ends meet 63Borrowed money from family or friends 50

Increased credit card debt 41

Missed a credit card payment 23

Missed a mortgage or rent payment 20

Declared personal bankruptcy 6

Note: Selected categories shown. Responses are from those who were unemployed in the March 2010 survey.Source: Knowledge Networks for the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University and the State University ofNew Jersey, March 2010.

Q: How would you rate . . . ?

Pew (March 2010) Rutgers (March 2010)

National Response Unemployed Response

Personal financial situation is excellent/good 37% 15%

Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, March 2010 and Knowledge Networks for the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development atRutgers University and the State University of New Jersey, latest that of March 2010.


Health Care ReformWhile discussion over health care reform

has quieted considerably since the bill

passed, pollsters continue to ask ques-

tions gauging public reactions. To viewthe major trends on attitudes toward the

health care bill, see our special supple-

ment on attitudes toward health care.

New AEI Public Opinion StudiesTwo new studies examine public attitudes toward business and

attitudes about the economic crisis. These comprehensive studies

bring together poll data from major pollsters, presenting the

most recent polls as well as trends. Taking Stock of Business examines polling data on

the confidence in business and Wall Street, executive pay and

bonuses, attitudes toward regulation, and prestige, honesty, and

trust. The AEI Public Opinion Study on TARP, the Auto Bailout,

and the Stimulus looks at

public reactions to each of these programs and to the expansion

of governments role in the economy.
http://www.aei.org/http://www.aei.org/outlook/100958http://www.aei.org/outlook/100958http://www.aei.org/paper/100013http://www.aei.org/paper/100013http://www.aei.org/paper/100105http://www.aei.org/paper/100105http://www.aei.org/http://www.aei.org/paper/100105http://www.aei.org/paper/100013http://www.aei.org/outlook/100958



About Those Tuesday PrimariesClose readers ofPolitical Reportwill notice that we havent looked closely yet at polls on the shape of the 2010 congres-

sional elections. We believe it is still very early. Including the primaries that took place this week, just 22 percent of states

that will have primaries have held them.

David Wasserman, the eminent House race analyst for the Cook Political Report, noted in commentary written beforeTuesdays primaries that a dozen incumbents in recent elections (six Democrats and six Republicans) received under 70

percent of the vote in their primaries. This is one of many signs that Americans are deeply dissatisfied with Washington.

We saw more of that evidence with the defeat in Pennsylvania of long-serving Arlen Specter, the elevation of political

novice and Tea Party acolyte Rand Paul in Kentuckys Senate race, and the success of Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halters

labor-backed effort to force incumbent Senator Blanche Lincoln into a June runoff.

Polls show that at this stage Republicans are winning the enthusiasm game. Gallup data since March has shown that

they are more excited about voting this fall than are Democrats. Gallup also notes that Conservatives are significantly

more enthusiastic than liberals or moderates, and those Americans who define themselves as very conservativeabout

10% of the registered voter populationare the most enthusiastic of all.

The Supreme Court: An Institutional ReviewMost people have only some confidence in the Supreme Court. While around 40 percent say the Court has remained

about the same in the past two decades, 28 percent say it has become more liberal, and 19 percent more conservative.

Today, a plurality believes the Court is about right. Of the remainder, 29 percent say it is too liberal, and 19 percent too

conservative. Early impressions of U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan are mostly good. People wanted President Obama

to nominate someone who would make the Court more conservative. The fact that she is a woman is not a big factor for

the public.

Q: As far as people in charge of running the U.S. Supreme Court are concerned, would you say you have a great deal ofconfidence, only some confidence, or hardly any confidence at all in them?

Source: Harris Interactive, latest that of March 2010.

Confidence in people running the Supreme Court

Great deal

31%

Only some

46%

Hardly any 21%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

1966 1968 1971 1973 1976 1978 1981 1983 1986 1988 1991 1993 1996 1998 2001 2003 2006 2008 2010




Q: Just your impression . . . over the past two decades, do you think the Supreme Court has . . . ?

Supreme Court has

Become more conservative over the past two decades 19%

Become more liberal 28

Has stayed about the same 43

Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, April 2010.

Q: Do you think the Supreme Court is too liberal, too conservative, or about right?

Supreme Court

2010 2008 2007 2003

Too liberal 29% 25% 20% 19%

Too conservative 19 31 29 26

About right 40 33 37 46

Source: Quinnipiac, latest that of April 2010.

Q: Generally speaking, how would you rate ______ choice of _______as a nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court . . . ?

Rate choice ofKagan Sotomayor Alito Miers Roberts

(May 2010) (May 2009) (Nov 2005) (Oct 2005) (Jul 2005)

Excellent 13% 19% 17% 11% 25%

Good 27 28 26 33 26

Only fair 22 29 22 25 20

Poor 14 13 17 16 14

No Opinion 24 20 18 15 15

Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of May 2010.

Q: Would you like to see President Obama nominate a new justice who would make the Supreme Court more liberal

than it currently is, more conservative that it currently is, or who would keep the court as it is now?

Note: On July 1, 2005, Justice OConnor announced her resignation. On July 19, President Bush nominated John Roberts to succeed her. OnSeptember 3, Chief Justice Rehnquist died. President Bush then announced that he would nominate Roberts to succeed the Chief Justice. InOctober, he nominated Harriet Miers to take the OConnor seat.Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of May 2010.

Would like a new justice who would make the Supreme Court...

27% 28%30% 30%

42% 41% 41%

33%

24%26%

24%

29%

Replacement forJohn Paul Stevens:May 2010 (Obama)

Replacement forDavid Souter:

May 2009 (Obama)

Replacement forSandra Day O'Connor:

Sept 2005 (Bush)

Replacement forSandra Day O'Connor:

June 2005 (Bush)

More Liberal More Conservative Keep as it is now




Q: For each item I name, please tell me whether to you personally it would be . . .

A factor in favor of a

Supreme Court nominee Against No difference

Protestant 7% 5% 83%

Woman 15 3 81

African American 16 3 81

Gay or lesbian 4 25 71

Someone with experience as a judge 70 5 24

Someone with experience outside the legal profession

for example in the field of business or politics 35 26 38

Note: Those people who said that someone with experience outside the legal profession would be a factor in favor of a nominee were askedwhich of two kinds of experience would be preferable. Fifty-six percent said someone with experience in business would be, while 36 percentsaid someone with experience in politics would be.Source: ABC News/Washington Post, April 2010.

Q: Im going to read you a list of characteristics and affiliations and Id like you to tell me whether or not you would be

comfortable with a Supreme Court Justice who has that characteristic or affiliation. Would you be . . . ?

Comfortable with characteristic/affiliation

of next Supreme Court Justice Not comfortable

A Mormon 65% 30%

A Christian who takes the Bible literally 62 35

A libertarian 57 32

A Muslim 43 53

An atheist 39 58

A socialist 31 64

Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, April 2010.


Big Shots

Q: Im going to read you the names of several individuals and groups. Please tell me whether you have a generally

favorable or unfavorable opinion of . . . ?

Favorable opinion of

Laura Bush 68%

Barack Obama 53

Mike Huckabee 42Mitt Romney 40

Sarah Palin 37

Newt Gingrich 32

Nancy Pelosi 28




Oil Companies and Public OpinionWhile Americans think the leak in the Gulf of Mexico is a major environmental disaster, they also say that efforts to con-

trol it and prevent its spread will be successful. A bare majority sees it as an isolated incident; 35 percent see it as a

broader problem with offshore drilling. Neither President Obama nor the federal government is getting good marks for

handling the situation there. BPs ratings are worse. Support for offshore drilling is down in all new polls.

Q: Now let me ask you about specific industries. Is your opinion of ____ industry highly favorable, or moderately favor-

able, or not too favorable, or rather unfavorable? (Roper)

Q: I am going to read you a list of companies and groups. For each one please tell me if you have a favorable or an

unfavorable opinion of each. How about oil companies? (Kaiser)

Q: Is your overall opinion of oil companies very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable, or very unfavorable? (Pew)

Source: The Roper Organization, latest that of October 1997; PSRA/Pew Research Center, latest that of October 2005; Kaiser/Harvard/USAToday, latest that of January 2008.

Opinion of Oil Companies

Roper:

High/Moderatly

favorable

March 1989: Exxon

Valdez Spill

48%

Kaiser:

Very/mostly

favorable

29%

Pew: Very/mostly

favorable 20%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%70%

1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009

Q: Do you think the leak in the Gulf of Mexico is . . . ?

Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, May 2010.

Q: From what you have read or heard, do you think . . . ?


Major

environmental

disaster

55%

Efforts to

control the

spill and

prevent

spreading will

be successful

51%

Serious

problem,

not a disaster

37%

Unsuccessful

29%

Dont

know

20%

Not too serious

a problem 4%




Q: As I read some possible government policies to address Americas energy supply, tell me whether you would favor or

oppose each. First would you favor or oppose the government allowing more offshore oil and gas drilling in U.S.waters? (PSRA/Pew Research Center)

Q: Would you favor allowing increased drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast, or do you think the costs andrisks are too great? (CBS)

Q: Do you favor or oppose increasing offshore drilling for oil and gas in U.S. coastal areas? (Fox News/Opinion Dynamics)

Q: Do you favor, oppose, or neither favor nor oppose drilling for oil and gas in coastal areas around the United States?

(AP-GfK/Roper)

Q: Do you support or oppose a proposal to allow more drilling for oil off the coast of the United States? (NBC/Wall

Street Journal)



The recent oil platform collapse and

oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico ismost likely an isolated incident 51%

Mostly an indication of a broader

problem with offshore drilling 35

Source: CBS News, May 2010.


Oil spills like the one in the Gulf of Mexico

are unavoidable if the United States is going

to get an adequate supply of energy 41%

Dont think so 45


Q: How would you rate the job______ has been doing . . . .?

Responding to oil leak in the

Gulf of MexicoThe federal BP Obama

government

Excellent/good 33% 24% 38%

Only fair/poor 54 63 36


PSRA/Pew

Favor more Oppose

Sept. 2008 67% 28%

Apr. 2009 68 27

Feb. 2010 63 31

May 2010 54 38

CBS

Favor Costs, risks

increased too great

Aug. 2008 62% 28%

May 2010 46 41

Fox/OD

Favor

increasing Oppose

Apr. 2010 70% 22%

May 2010 60 33

AP-GfK/Roper

Favor

increasing Oppose Neither

May 2010 50% 38% 10%

NBC/Wall Street Journal

Support

allowing Oppose

May 2010 60% 34%

Drilling for oil and gas



ImmigrationOur friend at the Brookings Institution, demographer William Frey recently said that Arizona has the largest cultural

generation gap of any state because of the growth of the Latino population of children and young adults there. Eighty-

three percent of Arizonas older people are white, but only 43 percent of its children are. All polls we have seen show that

people think immigration policy is a federal responsibility. At the same time, however, surveys show that people thinkArizona was right to act. In a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics question, a solid majority says that the Obama administration

should wait and see how the law works out; 15 percent say the administration should try to stop it.


The Obama administration should try to stop the new Arizona immigration law 15%

Should wait and see how the law works 64


Q: Which one of the following is your . . . ?

Biggest concern when thinking about illegal immigration

Responses of

National response Rep. Dem. Ind.

Overburdening government programs and services 44% 52% 36% 46%

Taking jobs away from U.S. citizens 19 16 25 11

Leading to an increase in crime 6 5 7 9

Leading to an increase in terrorism 6 6 6 7

Changing the culture of the country 3 4 3 2


Q: Which of the following statements comes closest to expressing your overall view of immigration policy?

Views of immigration policy

May 2010 May 2007

On the whole, our immigration policy works pretty welland only minor changes are necessary to make it work better 8% 8%

There are some good things in our immigration policy,

but fundamental changes are needed 45 41

Our immigration policy has so much wrong with it that

we need to completely rebuild it 44 49

Source: CBS News/New York Times, latest that of AprilMay, 2010.


Laws regarding illegal immigration

should be determined by the federal

government 57%

By each state government 34

Note: Fifty-two percent of Republicans, 54 percent of independents,and 63 percent of Democrats said this is a federal responsibility.Source: CBS News/New York Times, AprilMay 2010.


Arizona was right to take action by passing its

new immigration law and not waiting any

longer for the federal government to act 61%

Securing the border with Mexico is the

responsibility of the federal government and

Arizona should have waited for the federal

government to take action on immigration 27

Note: Forty-three percent of Democrats, 72 percent of independents,and 77 percent of Republicans said Arizona was right to take action.Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, May 2010.




Q: Based on what you know or have read about the new Arizona immigration law, do you . . . ? (Gallup)

Q: Do you favor or oppose the new Arizona immigration law, or dont you know enough about it to say? (Fox News/Opinion Dynamics)

Q: As you may know, the state of Arizona recently passed a law that gives the police the power to question anyonethey suspect is in the country illegally, requires people to produce documents verifying their status if asked, and allows

officers to detain anyone who cannot do so. Do you think this law goes too far in dealing with the issue of illegal immi-gration, doesnt go far enough, or is it about right? (CBS/New York Times)

Q: Considering everything, would you say you approve or disapprove of Arizonas new illegal immigration law?

(PSRA/Pew)

Q: The Arizona law makes it a state crime to be in the U.S. illegally. It requires local and state law enforcement officers toquestion people about their immigration status if they have reason to suspect a person is in the country illegally, makingit a crime for them to lack registration documents. Do you support or oppose this law? (NBC/Wall Street Journal)

New Arizona immigration law

Gallup* Fox News/OD CBS/NYT

Favor Oppose Favor Oppose Too far Not far About

enough right

April 39% 30%

May 34% 21% 36% 9% 51%

Pew NBC/WSJ

Approve Disapprove Support Oppose

May 2010 59% 32% 64% 34%

Note: *Of those who had hear or read a great deal, fair amount, or not much about the immigration law just passed in Gallups poll, theresponses were 51 percent favor, 39 percent oppose.


And in Arizona . . .

Q: Next, a new Arizona law may soon go into effect regarding ones U.S. citizenship status and right to be in the U.S.The new law would require police officers in Arizona to question anyone about their immigration status if an officer

suspects the person may be in the country illegally, including anyone who looks or sounds foreign. Those found to behere illegally could be jailed up to six months and fined $2,500. Do you favor or oppose the governor signing such a

law if it is sent to her by the legislature?

Arizonans response

Favor new immigration law Oppose

Total 52% 39%

Republicans 76% 15%

Democrats 30 58

Independents 60 30

Caucasian 65% 28%

Non-Hispanic minorities 29 63

Hispanics 21 69

Note: Survey conducted among Arizona adults.Source: Behavior Research Center Rocky Mountain poll, April 2010.


14/14

Poll Potpourri

Commencement ManiaQ: If you were graduating from college this year, whoamong the following would you most want to speak at

your commencement?

Want to speak at commencement

Warren Buffett 20%

Sandra Bullock 19

Oprah Winfrey 17

Tom Hanks 15

Anderson Cooper 8

Nancy Pelosi 4

Source: CBS News/60 Minutes/Vanity Fair, MarchApril, 2010.

Terrorism


May January

2010 2010

The Obama administration

is as serious about fighting

terrorism as the Bushadministration was 51% 54%

Not as serious 43 37

Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, latest that of May 2010.

Goldman Who?Q: Im going to read you the names of several individ-

uals and groups. Please tell me whether you have agenerally favorable or unfavorable opinion of each one.

If youve never heard of someone please just say so.

Opinion of Goldman Sachs

Favorable 7%

Unfavorable 55

Never heard of 23

Note: Fifteen percent said they could not say. In a May 2010NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, 4 percent rated Goldman Sachs pos-

itively, 21 percent neutrally, 50 percent negatively.Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, May 2010.

Goldman or Senate?

Q: If you had to choose one of the two followings to

manage your familys finances, would you choose . . . ?

Would chooseto manage

familys finances

The Goldman Sachs executiveswho testified before the Senate

about their investment practices 19%

The U.S. senators who were

questioning the executives about

their investment practices 35

Neither (vol.) 34


GM on the Upswing?

Q: Now Im going to read you the names of several public figures and groups, and Id like you to rate your feelingstoward each one as very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative, or very negative.

General Motors, or GM

May 2010 December 2008

Positive 37% 25%

Neutral 31 23

Negative 27 39

Source: NBC/Wall Street Journal, May 2010.

Political Report May 2010: AEI's Monthly Poll Compilation

Documents

Transcript of Political Report May 2010: AEI's Monthly Poll Compilation