Over the last month, Democracy Corps and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner have conducted two national surveys and six focus groups exploring the dynamics of the battle over health care reform. The results show that the country wants reform but is largely uncommitted on the plans being developed in Washington.
We are convinced that the country will support comprehensive health care reform — if progressives respect how voters will assess our plans, provide key information about how reform will work (particularly to reduce costs) and if the president carries forward with his educative role. This conclusion is based on our most current survey, which shows a plurality for the Obama plan, but short of a majority — which gets larger after a robust debate.
As Congress begins work on its hefty summer schedule, a new survey from Democracy Corps and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner shows that President Obama continues to enjoy a strong standing while the Republican brand remains deeply unpopular. Moreover, two of the most high-profile debates in Washington could damage the GOP further by isolating the party from the vast middle of the electorate.
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, in conjunction with Democracy Corps and Campaign for America’s Future conducted a straw poll among registered participants at “America’s Future Now!” an annual conference of progressive activists from around the country. The poll measured preferences on key issues and opinions and has been a feature of the conference for three years in a row.
A new Democracy Corps and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner survey shows that after 100 days in office, President Barack Obama has effectively erased doubts that Americans have historically harbored about the Democratic Party’s vision and competence on national security. For the first time in our research, Democrats are at full parity on perceptions of which party would best manage national security, while they have moved far ahead of the GOP on specific challenges such as Afghanistan, Iraq, working with our allies, and improving America’s image abroad.
The closest state during the 2008 presidential election, Missouri shows early signs of opportunity for Democrats to pick up the senate seat currently held by Republican Kit Bond. A new Democracy Corps survey by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research shows Secretary of State Robin Carnahan leading Republican Congressman Roy Blunt 53 to 44 percent and leading former Treasurer Sarah Steelman 54 to 42 percent.
Stan Greenberg responds to the initial poll from Resurgent Republic
As President Obama ends his first 100 days in office, Americans are increasingly optimistic about the president, his policies and the country. The mood in the country is as positive as it has been since late 2003, with 43 percent now saying the country is going in the right direction, compared to 46 who say things are off on the wrong track. While this is mostly driven by Democrats buoyed by the Obama presidency, optimism is also on the rise among independents and even Republicans, among whom the “right direction” number has more than doubled since early March.
In announcing his intention to leave the Republican Party, Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter said, “Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right…. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.” Two new surveys from Democracy Corps and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner show that this sentiment is shared by a sizeable majority of voters as well.
The congressional battleground districts for 2010 may not act to type, according to a new survey by Democracy Corps and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research in the 40 most marginal Democratic seats where nearly all expect Republicans to reclaim lost ground and the 15 most marginal Republican seats where incumbents should be safe. But as most commentators stop to contemplate the president’s first 100 days, they should also look at the congressional dynamic. With Congress poised to vote on the president’s budget, the Democratic incumbents are winning over 50 percent of the vote — stable over the last three months — and hold double-digit leads against their generic challengers.
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