2009 Publications

Top Stories of 2009: Economy, Obama and Health Care

More Now Think Health Reform Bill Will Pass

Health Care Debate Remains Top News Story

Current Decade Rates as Worst in 50 Years

Internet, Cell Phones Are Changes for the Better

Obama’s 2010 Challenge: Wake Up Liberals, Calm Down Independents

by Andrew Kohut, President, Pew Research Center

Mixed Views of Obama at Year’s End

Unabated Economic Gloom, Divides on Afghanistan and Health Care

Public Closely Tracking Health Care Debate

Most Still Say Reform Issues Hard to Understand

News Interest In Afghanistan Surges

Tiger, But Not Salahis, Much Discussed Around Water Cooler

U.S. Seen as Less Important, China as More Powerful

Isolationist Sentiment Surges to Four-Decade High

GOP Seen as Friendlier to Religion than Democrats

Obama Seen as More Friendly than His Party

Strong Interest in Health Care, Little Interest in Palin

Surprise, Disagreement Over Mammogram Guidelines

Where the Public Stands on Immigration Reform

by Scott Keeter, Director of Survey Research, Pew Research Center

Health Care Reform News Tops Public Interest

Public Option Registers Widely

Abortion Plays Small Role in Health Reform Opposition

Though Most Oppose Public Funding

Modest Rise in Concern About Islamic Extremism

Post-Fort Hood

Faith-Based Programs Still Popular, Less Visible

Church-State Concerns Persist

Fort Hood Shootings Top Interest, Coverage

Unchanged Expectations About Health Care Reform Passage

A Year Out, Widespread Anti-Incumbent Sentiment

Obama's Afghanistan Rating Declines

Public Divided Over Afghan Troop Requests, But Still Sees Rationale for War

Swine Flu Interest Outpaces Coverage

Partisanship and Cable News Audiences

Fox News Viewed as Most Ideological Network

Swine Flu Tops Weekly News Interest

Searching For Clues in the Global Warming Puzzle

Most Say They Lack Background to Follow Afghan News

Growing Number Expects Health Care Bill to Pass

Fewer Americans See Solid Evidence of Global Warming

Modest Support for

Growing Interest in Swine Flu, Many See Press Overstating its Danger

Fewer than Half Would Get Vaccine

But What Do the Polls Show?

How public opinion surveys came to play a major role in policymaking and politics
by Andrew Kohut, President, Pew Research Center

Well Known:Public Option, Sonia Sotomayor Little Known: Cap and Trade, Max Baucus

Pew Research News IQ Quiz

Obama’s Nobel Prize

Majority Continues to Support Civil Unions

Most Still Oppose Same-Sex Marriage

Mixed Views of Economic Policies and Health Care Reform Persist

Support for Health Care Principles, Opposition to Package

Americans Following Health Care, Economic News

Many Aware of Swine Flu Vaccine Arrival

Most Would Use Force to Stop Iranian Nukes

Support for Talks and Sanctions, Skepticism They Will Work

Strong Support For Watchdog Role, Despite Public Criticism Of News Media

Support For Abortion Slips

Issue Ranks Lower on the Agenda

Media Less Influential in Views on Health Care, Economy Than on Other Issues

Health Care Debate Continues to Top News Interest

No Increase in “Too Much” Obama Despite Media Blitz

Republicans Focus on ACORN Scandal

Public Support for Afghan Mission Slips

But Most See Possible Taliban Takeover as Major Threat

Obama Approval Ratings Steady, Personal Image Remains Positive

Most Continue to Say He Brings 'New Approach' to Politics

Health Care Debate Seen as “Rude and Disrespectful”

Debate Continues to Dominate Public Interest

Press Accuracy Rating Hits Two Decade Low

Public Evaluations of the News Media: 1985-2009

Muslims Widely Seen As Facing Discrimination

Views of Religious Similarities and Differences

Health Care Proposals Remain Hard to Follow

Most Plan to Watch Obama Health Care Speech

Obama’s Approval Ratings Slide: By the Numbers

Public Aware of Key Swine Flu Facts

Health Care Debate Still Top Story

Congressional Favorability at 24-Year Low

Midterm Voting Intentions Evenly Divided

Health Care Still the Summer’s Dominant Story

Many Hearing News About Swine Flu Vaccine

Health Care Reform Closely Followed, Much Discussed

Would Americans Welcome Medicare if it Were Being Proposed in 2009?

by Andrew Kohut, President, Pew Research Center

More See White House and GOP Leaders at Odds

Democratic Favorable Ratings Slide

News About Economy Seen as Less Dire, More Hopeful

Little Protest over Town Hall Protests

Budget Woes Take Toll on Views of State Governments

Public Supports Targeting Al Qaeda Leaders, Wants Congress in the Loop

The Republican Party’s Dilemma

by Andrew Kohut, President, Pew Research Center
Special to the New York Times

Many Fault Media Coverage of Health Care Debate

Partisan Divide Over Coverage of

Obama’s Ratings Slide Across the Board

The Economy, Health Care Reform and Gates Grease the Skids

Health Care Front-And-Center on Public’s News Agenda

Interest, Coverage Spike

Few See U.S. Health Care as ‘Best in the World’

Health Care: Important, Interesting, But Hard to Follow

“One Small Step” No Longer Seen as Such a Giant Leap for America

Americans Remained Focused on Michael Jackson

Public Divided Over Palin Press Coverage

Accurately Locating Where Wireless Respondents Live Requires More Than A Phone Number

The mobile nature of wireless phones creates a significant problem for geographic sampling and analysis. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that the wireless-only are more geographically mobile than those with landline phones.

Public Praises Science; Scientists Fault Public, Media

Scientific Achievements Less Prominent Than a Decade Ago

Public Hearing More Negative News About Economy

Michael Jackson's Death Again Most Closely Followed Story

Coverage of Jackson’s Death Seen As Excessive

Blacks Track News of Icon's Death Much More Closely than Whites

Perils of Polling in Election ’08

Despite such challenges as a growing wireless-only population, possible racially-related response bias and greater-than-usual difficulties in forecasting turnout, pollsters' methods were evidently adequate to the task.

Pollwatch: Comparing the Polls on Spending and the Deficit

How the question is phrased has a clear impact on whether the public rates deficit reduction or stimulus spending more important.

Strong Public Interest in Iranian Election Protests

Many Know Iranians Using Internet to Get Message Out

Romney’s Image Improves; Palin Well Regarded by Republican Base

Favorability of Leading Republicans

Public More Optimistic About the Economy, But Still Reluctant to Spend

Obama’s Ratings Remain High Despite Some Policy Concerns

Health Care Views Similar to '93, But Fewer Favor Rebuilding System

Employment News Seen As Overwhelmingly Bad

Health Care Reform Debate Gets Noticed

Week’s Major News Stories Draw Different Audiences

Coverage of Obama Seen as Largely Fair

Gen Next Squeezed By Recession, But Most See Better Times Ahead

Young Are More Liberal in Views of Gov’t, Traditional Values

First Impressions of Sotomayor Mostly Positive

Press Coverage of Nomination Seen as Fair

Public Backs Affirmative Action, But Not Minority Preferences

Public Tracks Economy, Media Focuses on Terror Debate

Majorities Say Right Amount on Leadership and Policies

Independents Take Center Stage in Obama Era

Trends in Political Values and Core Attitudes: 1987-2009

Public Stays Focused on the Economy

Widespread Awareness of Dealership Closings

Public Sees News About Economy Less Glum

Swine Flu Interest High But Flagging

Top of the Mind Impressions of Obama

The New President ... In a Word

Local TV A Top Source For Swine Flu News

Internet Seen as Most Useful

Public Takes Conservative Turn on Gun Control, Abortion

Americans Now Divided Over Both Issues

GOP Party Identification Slips Nationwide and in Pennsylvania

No Indication of Further Democratic Gains

Public Sees Too Much Personal Coverage of Obama

Majorities Say Right Amount on Leadership and Policies

Support for Free Trade Recovers Despite Recession

Obama at 100 Days: Strong Job Approval, Even Higher Personal Ratings

Better Ratings for Foreign Policy than Domestic Issues

Public Remains Divided Over Use of Torture

Will Obama Ride Reagan’s Ratings Roller Coaster?

by Andrew Kohut, President, Pew Research Center
Special to the New York Times

Fox News Stands Out as “Too Critical” of Obama

No One Network Singled Out as Too Easy

Most Now Say News Paints Mixed Economic Picture

Many Follow Somali Pirate Story

Partisan Bickering Is Back, Says Public

Obama's Ratings Hold Steady, Trip Well-Received

Obama’s Trip Closely Followed

More Women Than Men Track Royal Visit

Partisan Gap in Obama Job Approval Widest in Modern Era

Partisan Gap in Obama Job Approval Widest in Modern Era

Little Sign of Obama Fatigue

Fewer See Press Coverage of President as Fair

Public Knows Basic Facts About Financial Crisis

More Know Unemployment Rate than Dow Average

No Decline in Belief That Obama is a Muslim

Nearly One-in-Five White Evangelicals Think So

Obama Unlikely to Find a Quick Fix for U.S. Global Image

by Andrew Kohut, President, Pew Research Center

Unusually Wide Gap in ‘Satisfaction,’ ‘Right Direction’ Measures

Americans Favor Carbon Cap, Gays in the Military and Renewing U.S.-Cuba Ties

Policy Update

Strong Interest in AIG, Positive Views of Congress’ Response

Echoes of Dubai Ports Deal

Support For Health Care Overhaul, But It’s Not 1993

Stable Views of Stem Cell Research

Support For Health Care Overhaul, But It’s Not 1993

Stable Views of Stem Cell Research

Public Sees More of a Mix of Good and Bad Economic News

Stewart-Cramer Registers Less than Rihanna-Chris Brown

Obama’s Approval Rating Slips Amid Division Over Economic Proposals

GOP Congressional Leaders' Ratings Hit New Low - 28%

Many Would Shrug if Their Local Newspaper Closed

Limbaugh Flap Draws More Coverage Than Interest

Why Surveys of Muslim Americans Differ

Because Muslim Americans make up a very small percentage of the U.S. public, it is difficult to provide a reliable picture of their views and differences in survey design can crucially affect findings.

States’ Budget Woes Register With Public

Republicans Increasingly Critical of Obama

New Tricks for Old — and New — Dogs: Challenges and Opportunities Facing Communications Research

Pollsters and other communications researchers are finding their job ever more challenging but also more interesting, and, with the help of new techniques and data sources, even more amenable.

Newspapers Face a Challenging Calculus

Online Growth, but Print Losses are Bigger

Many Say Government on Right Track on Economy

Some Harsh Words for Wall Street

One-In-Five Homeowners Feels “Underwater” On Mortgages

Most Feel a Personal Stake in Tracking Economic News

Stimulus Passage Tops News Coverage and Interest

Obama Faces Familiar Divisions Over Anti-Terror Policies

No Change in Views of Torture, Warrantless Wiretaps

As Jobs Crisis Spreads, Worries Climb the Economic Ladder

More Workers Anticipate Pay Cuts, Layoffs

Stimulus News Seen As More Negative Than Positive

Too Much Coverage of Phelps, Octuplets

Support for Stimulus Plan Slips, But Obama Rides High

92% View Obama as Good Communicator

On Darwin’s 200th Birthday, Americans Still Divided About Evolution

by Scott Keeter, Director of Survey Research, Pew Research Center, and Juliana Horowitz, Research Associate, Pew Research Center for the People & the Press

Policy Issues Overshadow Personal Stories in Obama’s First Weeks

Broad Public Awareness of Coming Digital TV Transition

Limbaugh Holds onto his Niche — Conservative Men

Dems’ Favorability Advantage Widens

Views of Congress Negative, More Polarized

Ideological Gaps Over Israel on Both Sides of Atlantic

Inauguration Outdraws Interest in Economy

Public Says Media Fair in Obama Coverage

Plane Crash Draws As Much Interest As Economy

Understanding Likely Voters

This analysis summarizes differences in presidential horserace estimates based on likely and registered voters in 2008 and previous election cycles and describes the Pew Research Center's 2008 likely voter scale.

Economy, Jobs Trump All Other Policy Priorities In 2009

Environment, Immigration, Health Care Slip Down the List

Who Expects To Gain — And Lose — Under Obama

Obama Cabinet Appointees Highly Visible

Unemployment Figures Draw Broad Attention

Strong Confidence in Obama – Country Seen As Less Politically Divided

America's Pre-Inauguration Mood

Modest Backing For Israel in Gaza Crisis

No Desire for Greater U.S. Role in Resolving Conflict

Mideast Competes with Economy and Obama For Public Interest

Press Viewed as 'Fair' to Bush and Obama

Gains Seen On Minority Discrimination – But Little Else

Americans Assess Progress on National Problems