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Analyze Groups and Issues
The Pew Research Center's Political Typology divides the public into eight politically engaged groups, along with a ninth group of less engaged Bystanders.
Compare the Typology Groups On
Typology Group Profiles
The Pew Research Center's Political Typology is a longstanding effort to go beyond Red vs. Blue and sort Americans into cohesive groups based on values, political beliefs and party affiliation. The 2011 Typology divides the public into eight politically engaged groups, along with a ninth group of less engaged Bystanders. This is the fifth typology created by the Pew Research Center since 1987.
Explore the typology by:
- Selecting the name of a typology group on the left to explore its characteristics.
- Selecting a topic above to learn how the groups differ in their views of key issues.
Staunch Conservatives
9% of the public
What They Believe
- Extremely critical of the federal government
- Favor an assertive foreign policy
- Pro-business; against stricter environmental laws and regulations
- Strongly opposed to abortion and same-sex marriage
- Convinced the 2010 health care law will be bad for the country
- View immigrants as a threat to traditional American customs and values
- Nearly half believe President Obama born outside the United States
Who They Are
- 84% are Republicans
- 72% agree with the Tea Party
- More than nine-in-ten are non-Hispanic white
- The oldest typology group (61% are age 50 and older)
- 56% are male; most are married and financially comfortable
- 57% own guns and 57% attend church every week
- 54% regularly watch Fox News
- More watch Glenn Beck and listen to Rush Limbaugh than any other group
How this group compares to the rest of the country on key issues …
Staunch Conservatives
General Public
Key Beliefs of Staunch Conservatives versus the General Public
Main Street Republicans
11% of the public
What They Believe
- Highly critical of government
- Strongly opposed to abortion and same-sex marriage
- Less enamored of business than the Staunch Conservatives
- Generally negative about immigrants
- Mostly opposed to social welfare programs
- Confident that hard work pays off
- Supportive of government efforts to protect the environment
Who They Are
- 76% are Republicans
- Most are homeowners (84%); 51% have a gun in the household
- Predominately non-Hispanic white (88%)
- Highly religious (91% say religion is a very important part of their lives)
- Concentrated in the South and Midwest
- Nearly one-quarter (24%) follow NASCAR racing
- Most say they have enough income to lead the life they want
How this group compares to the rest of the country on key issues …
Main Street Republicans
General Public
Key Beliefs of Main Street Republicans versus the General Public
Libertarians
9% of the public
What They Believe
- Economically very conservative but moderate to liberal on social issues
- Highly critical of government
- Strongly pro-business
- Accepting of homosexuality
- Less religious than the average American
- Moderate views about immigrants compared to other GOP-oriented groups
Who They Are
- Strong Republican-orientation, though a majority identify as independents
- Affluent: 39% have incomes of $75,000 or more
- Two-thirds are male
- 85% are non-Hispanic whites
- About seven-in-ten (71%) have attended college
- About half as likely as the two strongest GOP groups to attend church weekly
- 56% use social networking sites
- 36% trade stocks
How this group compares to the rest of the country on key issues …
Libertarians
General Public
Key Beliefs of Libertarians versus the General Public
Disaffecteds
11% of the public
What They Believe
- Highly critical of both government and business
- Sympathetic to the poor and supportive of social welfare programs
- Concerned about immigration
- Majority believes the country can't solve many of its important problems
- Religious and socially conservative
Who They Are
- Most financially stressed of the groups: nearly half describe their household as "struggling"
- 71% have experienced unemployment in their household in the past 12 months
- About two-thirds have only a high school education or less
- Compared with the national average of 33%, more are parents (44%)
- 26% have a U.S. passport — well below the national average
- 23% follow NASCAR racing
How this group compares to the rest of the country on key issues …
Disaffecteds
General Public
Key Beliefs of Disaffecteds versus the General Public
Post-Moderns
13% of the public
What They Believe
- Generally supportive of government, though more conservative on race policies and the safety net
- Strongly supportive of regulation and environmental protection
- Most (56%) say Wall Street helps the economy more than it hurts
- Very liberal on social issues, including same-sex marriage
- One of the least religious groups: nearly a third are unaffiliated with any religious tradition
- Favor the use of diplomacy rather than force
Who They Are
- The youngest of the typology groups: 32% under age 30
- A majority are non-Hispanic white and have at least some college experience
- Half live in either the Northeast or the West
- A majority (58%) live in the suburbs
- 63% use social networking
- One-in-five regularly listen to NPR; 14% regularly watch The Daily Show
How this group compares to the rest of the country on key issues …
Post-Moderns
General Public
Key Beliefs of Post-Moderns versus the General Public
New Coalition Democrats
10% of the public
What They Believe
- Strongly pro-government
- Upbeat about the country's ability to solve problems and an individual's ability to get ahead through hard work
- Approve of regulation and environmental protection
- More positive about business than other Democratic-oriented groups
- Generally liberal on racial issues
- Hospitable to immigrants: 78% believe they strengthen society
- Very religious and socially conservative
Who They Are
- 56% are Democrats
- Majority-minority group: 34% white, 30% black and 26% Latino
- About three-in-ten are first or second generation Americans
- 55% have only a high school education or less
- 23% are not registered to vote
- Only 34% read a daily newspaper
- Half are regular volunteers for charity or non-profit groups
How this group compares to the rest of the country on key issues …
New Coalition Democrats
General Public
Key Beliefs of New Coalition Democrats versus the General Public
Hard-Pressed Democrats
13% of the public
What They Believe
- Very cynical about government
- Critical of business
- Supportive of the social safety net
- View immigrants as an economic burden and a cultural threat
- Supportive of environmental protection, but concerned about its economic impact
- Pessimistic about their future finances
- Socially conservative and very religious
Who They Are
- 84% are Democrats
- More than six-in-ten are female
- Largely blue collar; about two-thirds have no formal education beyond high school
- One of two groups with a sizeable concentration of African Americans (35%)
- Nearly half live in the South (48%), with many others in the Midwest (23%)
- More than four-in-ten describe their household as struggling
- 61% regularly watch network evening news and 44% watch CNN
- 23% follow NASCAR racing
How this group compares to the rest of the country on key issues …
Hard-Pressed Democrats
General Public
Key Beliefs of Hard-Pressed Democrats versus the General Public
Solid Liberals
14% of the public
What They Believe
- Strongly pro-government and very liberal on a broad range of issues
- Very supportive of regulation, environmental protection and government assistance to the poor
- One of the most secular groups; 59% say that religion is not that important to them
- Supportive of the country's growing racial and ethnic diversity
- Two-thirds disagree with the Tea Party
Who They Are
- Highly politically engaged
- 75% are Democrats
- Concentrated in the Northeast and West
- 57% are female
- Best educated of the groups: 49% hold at least a bachelor's degree and 27% have post-graduate experience
- A third regularly listen to NPR, about two-in-ten regularly watch The Daily Show and read The New York Times
- 59% have a passport
- 42% regularly buy organic foods
- 21% are first or second generation Americans
How this group compares to the rest of the country on key issues …
Solid Liberals
General Public
Key Beliefs of Solid Liberals versus the General Public
Bystanders
10% of the public
Defined by their disengagement from the political process, either by choice or because they are ineligible to vote. They are highly unlikely to vote (61% say they seldom vote, and 39% volunteer that they never vote; none are currently registered to vote). Most follow government and public affairs only now and then (42%) or hardly at all (23%). They are diverse in their political views though they lean Democratic, and their values more often align with the Democratic than the Republican groups.
Who They Are
- Overwhelmingly young: 51% are under 30
- Majority are non-white; 38% are Latino
- 33% are immigrants or children of immigrants
- Not well-off: 54% have annual incomes under $30,000
- Nearly two-thirds say they or someone in their household was unemployed in the past year
- Relatively few have a gun in the household
- Only 8% trade stocks
- Just 33% own their home
How this group compares to the rest of the country on key issues …
Bystanders
General Public
Key Beliefs of Bystanders versus the General Public
Experienced unemployment
Question Over the past 12 months, has there been a time when you or someone in your household has been without a job and looking for work, or not?
| No unemployment | Unemployment in HH in last year | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 61% | 39% |
| Main Street Republicans | 61 | 39 |
| Libertarians | 58 | 42 |
| Disaffecteds | 29 | 71 |
| Post-Moderns | 64 | 36 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 47 | 53 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 37 | 63 |
| Solid Liberals | 51 | 48 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 49 | 51 |
Recession impact
Question Overall, which of the following best describes how the recession affected your own personal financial situation? It had a major effect, and your finances have not recovered; it had a major effect, but your finances have mostly recovered; OR it didn't have a major effect on your finances?
| Major impact, not yet recovered | Major impact, mostly recovered | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 46% 21% | ||
| Main Street Republicans | 32 25 | ||
| Libertarians | 37 26 | ||
| Disaffecteds | 63 16 | ||
| Post-Moderns | 15 40 | ||
| New Coalition Democrats | 41 16 | ||
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 53 20 | ||
| Solid Liberals | 30 33 | ||
| Bystanders | 40 24 | ||
Currently underemployed
Question Unemployed or underemployed: Unemployed and looking for work or working part-time, would prefer full-time.
| Staunch Conservatives | 9% |
|---|---|
| Main Street Republicans | 10 |
| Libertarians | 14 |
| Disaffecteds | 20 |
| Post-Moderns | 17 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 27 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 24 |
| Solid Liberals | 17 |
| Bystanders | 19 |
Top economic worry
Question Which of the following national economic issues worries you most?
| Job situation |
Rising prices |
Federal budget deficit | Problems in housing/financial markets | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 17% 15% 50% 10% | |||
| Main Street Republicans | 24 26 34 11 | |||
| Libertarians | 23 12 49 11 | |||
| Disaffecteds | 43 36 9 8 | |||
| Post-Moderns | 32 24 28 14 | |||
| New Coalition Democrats | 42 27 12 13 | |||
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 33 42 14 8 | |||
| Solid Liberals | 46 21 19 13 | |||
| Total | 34 28 24 10 | |||
Hard work & success
Question Which comes closer to your view: Most people who want to get ahead can make it if they're willing to work hard OR Hard work and determination are no guarantee of success for most people?
| Hard work no guarantee of success | Most can get ahead if work hard | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 17% | 79% |
| Main Street Republicans | 29 | 68 |
| Libertarians | 18 | 80 |
| Disaffecteds | 47 | 50 |
| Post-Moderns | 26 | 70 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 32 | 64 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 44 | 51 |
| Solid Liberals | 50 | 45 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 34 | 62 |
National satisfaction
Question All in all, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in this country today?
| Not satisfied | Satisfied | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 95% | 4% |
| Main Street Republicans | 81 | 14 |
| Libertarians | 83 | 14 |
| Disaffecteds | 86 | 10 |
| Post-Moderns | 52 | 40 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 57 | 31 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 82 | 15 |
| Solid Liberals | 67 | 28 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 73 | 22 |
Obama job approval
Question Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?
| Disapprove | Approve | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 97% | 1% |
| Main Street Republicans | 65 | 27 |
| Libertarians | 76 | 16 |
| Disaffecteds | 57 | 28 |
| Post-Moderns | 19 | 65 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 12 | 83 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 22 | 69 |
| Solid Liberals | 7 | 90 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 39 | 51 |
Attention to government
Question Would you say you follow what's going on in government and public affairs: Most of the time, some of the time, only now and then, or hardly at all?
| Follow government most of the time | |
|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 75% |
| Main Street Republicans | 54 |
| Libertarians | 67 |
| Disaffecteds | 46 |
| Post-Moderns | 53 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 46 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 48 |
| Solid Liberals | 61 |
| Bystanders | 50 |
Political participation
Question Have you participated in a political campaign, meeting, or rally over the last 5 years, or not?
| Participation within the past 5 years | |
|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 32% |
| Main Street Republicans | 18 |
| Libertarians | 21 |
| Disaffecteds | 15 |
| Post-Moderns | 15 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 18 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 14 |
| Solid Liberals | 37 |
| Bystanders | 20 |
2012 vote preference
Question Looking ahead, would you like to see Barack Obama re-elected president in 2012 or would you prefer that a Republican candidate win the election?
| Prefer Republican | Reelect Obama | |
|---|---|---|
| Based on registered voters | ||
| Staunch Conservatives | 91% | |
| Main Street Republicans | 73 | 11 |
| Libertarians | 70 | 7 |
| Disaffecteds | 48 | 22 |
| Post-Moderns | 16 | 60 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 5 | 75 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 11 | 78 |
| Solid Liberals | 2 | 95 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 37 | 47 |
Tea Party
Question From what you know, do you agree or disagree with the Tea Party movement, or don't you have an opinion either way?
| Agree | Disagree | No opinion | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 72% 2% 26% | ||
| Main Street Republicans | 32 8 57 | ||
| Libertarians | 44 10 43 | ||
| Disaffecteds | 19 12 67 | ||
| Post-Moderns | 7 37 53 | ||
| New Coalition Democrats | 8 28 60 | ||
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 10 28 58 | ||
| Solid Liberals | 1 67 29 | ||
| Bystanders | 19 25 53 | ||
I like elected officials who…
Question Which comes closer to your own views - even if neither is exactly right. I like elected officials who …
| Compromise with those they disagree with | Stick to their positions | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 17% | 79% |
| Main Street Republicans | 38 | 56 |
| Libertarians | 31 | 60 |
| Disaffecteds | 27 | 64 |
| Post-Moderns | 60 | 37 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 35 | 59 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 31 | 60 |
| Solid Liberals | 70 | 25 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 40 | 54 |
Trust in Government
Question How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right? Just about always, most of the time, or only some of the time?
| Some of the time/never | Always/most of the time | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 97% | 3% |
| Main Street Republicans | 71 | 28 |
| Libertarians | 86 | 14 |
| Disaffecteds | 80 | 19 |
| Post-Moderns | 53 | 46 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 57 | 40 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 73 | 25 |
| Solid Liberals | 61 | 38 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 70 | 29 |
U.S. standing in the world
Question Which of these statements best describes your opinion about the United States? The U.S. stands above all other countries in the world, the U.S. is one of the greatest countries in the world, along with some others, or there are other countries that are better than the U.S.?
| U.S. stands above all other countries | U.S. one of greatest countries, with others | Other countries are better than U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 67% 32% 1% | ||
| Main Street Republicans | 49 46 4 | ||
| Libertarians | 38 56 5 | ||
| Disaffecteds | 40 47 11 | ||
| Post-Moderns | 27 65 7 | ||
| New Coalition Democrats | 40 54 4 | ||
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 42 52 6 | ||
| Solid Liberals | 19 62 17 | ||
| Bystanders | 38 53 8 | ||
Supreme Court's interpretation of the Constitution should be based on…
Question Should the U.S. Supreme Court base its rulings on its understanding of what the U.S. Constitution meant as it was originally written, or should the court base its rulings on its understanding of what the U.S. Constitution means in current times?
| Meaning in current times | Meaning as originally written | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 10% | 88% |
| Main Street Republicans | 32 | 64 |
| Libertarians | 28 | 70 |
| Disaffecteds | 36 | 55 |
| Post-Moderns | 70 | 27 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 54 | 40 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 53 | 40 |
| Solid Liberals | 81 | 15 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 50 | 45 |
Importance of the deficit
Question Considering what the president and Congress need to deal with, do you think reducing the budget deficit should be a top priority, important but lower priority, not too important, or does it not need to be addressed this year?
| Top priority this year | |
|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 84% |
| Main Street Republicans | 64 |
| Libertarians | 76 |
| Disaffecteds | 51 |
| Post-Moderns | 48 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 47 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 50 |
| Solid Liberals | 32 |
| Bystanders | 53 |
Wall Street
Question Which comes closer to your view: Wall Street helps the American economy more than it hurts or Wall Street hurts the American economy more than it helps?
| Hurts U.S. econ. more than it helps | Helps U.S. econ. more than it hurts | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 39% | 48% |
| Main Street Republicans | 45 | 36 |
| Libertarians | 32 | 56 |
| Disaffecteds | 59 | 26 |
| Post-Moderns | 35 | 56 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 32 | 39 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 66 | 26 |
| Solid Liberals | 59 | 32 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 47 | 38 |
U.S. involvement in world
Question Which comes closer to your view: It's best for the future of our country to be active in world affairs, OR We should pay less attention to problems overseas and concentrate on problems here at home?
| Be active in world | Focus on domestic problems | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 37% | 54% |
| Main Street Republicans | 37 | 53 |
| Libertarians | 34 | 55 |
| Disaffecteds | 16 | 73 |
| Post-Moderns | 42 | 52 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 36 | 56 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 18 | 74 |
| Solid Liberals | 47 | 47 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 33 | 58 |
U.S. approach to allies
Question Which comes closer to your view: in foreign policy, the U.S. should take into account the interests of its allies even if it means making compromises with them, OR in foreign policy, the U.S. should follow its own national interests even when its allies strongly disagree?
| Consider interests of allies | Follow its own interests | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 40% | 47% |
| Main Street Republicans | 54 | 37 |
| Libertarians | 48 | 45 |
| Disaffecteds | 44 | 42 |
| Post-Moderns | 60 | 31 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 61 | 26 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 39 | 44 |
| Solid Liberals | 72 | 23 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 53 | 36 |
U.N. favorability
Question Would you say your opinion of the United Nations is…
| Unfavorable | Favorable | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 72% | 19% |
| Main Street Republicans | 37 | 47 |
| Libertarians | 52 | 26 |
| Disaffecteds | 33 | 42 |
| Post-Moderns | 25 | 60 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 17 | 69 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 27 | 54 |
| Solid Liberals | 17 | 75 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 32 | 52 |
Democracy in Middle East
Question Thinking about recent events in the Middle East, which is more important?
| Democracy, even if region is less stable | Stability, even if there is less democracy | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 35% | 57% |
| Main Street Republicans | 31 | 59 |
| Libertarians | 34 | 55 |
| Disaffecteds | 29 | 56 |
| Post-Moderns | 34 | 61 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 40 | 43 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 41 | 48 |
| Solid Liberals | 54 | 40 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 37 | 52 |
Libyan air strikes
Question All things considered, do you think that the U.S. and its allies made the right decision or the wrong decision to conduct military air strikes in Libya?
| Wrong decision | Right decision | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 49% | 37% |
| Main Street Republicans | 39 | 47 |
| Libertarians | 47 | 37 |
| Disaffecteds | 43 | 32 |
| Post-Moderns | 30 | 53 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 30 | 55 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 32 | 40 |
| Solid Liberals | 25 | 58 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 37 | 45 |
Afghanistan troop removal
Question From what you've read and heard, do you think Barack Obama will remove U.S. combat troops from Afghanistan too quickly, not quickly enough, or is he handling this about right?
| Will remove troops too quickly | Troop removal not quick enough | Troop removal about right | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 52% 18% 20% | ||
| Main Street Republicans | 22 25 48 | ||
| Libertarians | 17 22 49 | ||
| Disaffecteds | 11 44 34 | ||
| Post-Moderns | 5 25 58 | ||
| New Coalition Democrats | 6 28 60 | ||
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 4 30 56 | ||
| Solid Liberals | 1 25 70 | ||
| Bystanders | 12 30 50 | ||
U.S. approach to China on economic issues
Question Thinking about our economic and trade policy toward China, which is more important: building a stronger relationship with China on economic issues OR getting tougher with China on economic issues?
| Stronger relationship | Getting tougher | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 16% | 79% |
| Main Street Republicans | 43 | 47 |
| Libertarians | 53 | 43 |
| Disaffecteds | 54 | 38 |
| Post-Moderns | 57 | 37 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 66 | 23 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 48 | 46 |
| Solid Liberals | 65 | 29 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 53 | 40 |
Islam and violence
Question Which comes closer to your own views - even if neither is exactly right? The Islamic religion …
| Encourages violence more than other religions | Does not encourage violence more than other religions | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 84% | 10% |
| Main Street Republicans | 58 | 30 |
| Libertarians | 52 | 30 |
| Disaffecteds | 39 | 35 |
| Post-Moderns | 26 | 58 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 26 | 44 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 37 | 46 |
| Solid Liberals | 19 | 71 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 40 | 42 |
Free trade
Question In general, do you think that free trade agreements between the U.S. and other countries have been a good thing or a bad thing for the United States?
| Bad for U.S. | Good for U.S. | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 45% | 43% |
| Main Street Republicans | 47 | 46 |
| Libertarians | 43 | 42 |
| Disaffecteds | 57 | 29 |
| Post-Moderns | 37 | 54 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 31 | 59 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 48 | 40 |
| Solid Liberals | 37 | 52 |
| Bystanders | ||
| Total | 41 | 48 |
Gender
| Women | Men | |
|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 44% | 56% |
| Main Street Republicans | 50 | 50 |
| Libertarians | 33 | 67 |
| Disaffecteds | 54 | 46 |
| Post-Moderns | 47 | 53 |
| New Coalition Democrats | 56 | 44 |
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 61 | 39 |
| Solid Liberals | 57 | 43 |
| Bystanders | 51 | 49 |
| Total | 51 | 49 |
Age
| 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 8% 31% 33% 28% | |||
| Main Street Republicans | 15 40 24 19 | |||
| Libertarians | 19 34 27 19 | |||
| Disaffecteds | 16 34 34 15 | |||
| Post-Moderns | 32 35 22 11 | |||
| New Coalition Democrats | 21 37 23 17 | |||
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 12 35 33 19 | |||
| Solid Liberals | 22 35 26 16 | |||
| Bystanders | 51 29 14 5 | |||
| Total | 22 35 26 16 | |||
Race/Ethnicity
| Hispanic | Black non-Hispanic | White non-Hispanic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 3% 92% | ||
| Main Street Republicans | 4 2 88 | ||
| Libertarians | 7 1 85 | ||
| Disaffecteds | 9 8 77 | ||
| Post-Moderns | 14 6 70 | ||
| New Coalition Democrats | 26 30 34 | ||
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 6 35 53 | ||
| Solid Liberals | 11 9 72 | ||
| Bystanders | 38 9 44 | ||
| Bystanders | 13 12 68 | ||
Education
| H.S. or less | Some college | College grad + | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 37% 28% 34% | ||
| Main Street Republicans | 45 26 28 | ||
| Libertarians | 29 33 37 | ||
| Disaffecteds | 66 23 11 | ||
| Post-Moderns | 29 30 41 | ||
| New Coalition Democrats | 55 18 27 | ||
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 68 19 13 | ||
| Solid Liberals | 23 27 49 | ||
| Bystanders | 72 17 10 | ||
| Bystanders | 47 25 28 | ||
Income
| <$30,000 | $30,000-$74,999 | $75,000 + | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 15% 38% 33% | ||
| Main Street Republicans | 20 37 33 | ||
| Libertarians | 16 33 39 | ||
| Disaffecteds | 51 28 9 | ||
| Post-Moderns | 22 34 34 | ||
| New Coalition Democrats | 46 23 16 | ||
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 49 30 11 | ||
| Solid Liberals | 22 33 36 | ||
| Bystanders | 54 22 10 | ||
| Bystanders | 33 31 24 | ||
Party
| Republican | Independent | Democrat | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunch Conservatives | 84% 15% | ||
| Main Street Republicans | 76 21 | ||
| Libertarians | 28 63 5 | ||
| Disaffecteds | 25 63 | ||
| Post-Moderns | 7 62 26 | ||
| New Coalition Democrats | 2 34 56 | ||
| Hard-Pressed Democrats | 15 84 | ||
| Solid Liberals | 23 75 | ||
| Bystanders | 13 47 25 | ||
| Bystanders | 24 38 33 | ||
Health care policy
Question How do you think the health care law passed by Barack Obama and Congress last year will affect health care in the U.S.? Will it have a mostly good effect, a mostly bad effect, or a mix of good and bad?
Same-sex marriage
Question Do you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally?
Abortion
Question Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases, or illegal in all cases?
Immigration reform
Question Thinking about illegal immigration in the U.S., do you favor or oppose providing a way for illegal immigrants currently in the country to gain legal citizenship if they pass background checks, pay fines and have jobs?
Immigration enforcement
Question Thinking about illegal immigration in the U.S., do you favor or oppose stronger enforcement of immigration laws and border security?
Gun rights
Question What do you think is more important-to protect the right of Americans to own guns, OR to control gun ownership?
Marijuana use should be …
Question Do you think the use of marijuana should be made legal, or not?
Energy policy
Question Right now, which ONE of the following do you think should be the more important priority for addressing America's energy supply? Developing alternative sources, such as wind, solar, and hydrogen technology OR expanding exploration and production of oil and natural gas?
Government role in childhood obesity?
Question Do you think government should or should not play a significant role in reducing obesity among children?