A MONTHLY P OLL C OMPILATION Volume 7, Issue 2 • February 2011

Assessing President Obama’s Foreign Policy In the past two years, poll-based assessments of Barack Obama’s handling of foreign policy have been sporadic. In part this reflects the public’s intense concern about the economy. Pew’s summary of the news stories people paid closest atten- tion to in 2010 found a familiar pattern. Americans were very interested in natural or man-made disasters here and abroad (the BP oil spill, the Haiti earthquake, and the Chilean mine disaster, for example), but much less interested in foreign policy developments. In terms of high interest, Iraq ranked fifteenth in a long list of news stories that most interested the public. Afghanistan didn’t make the top fifteen in Pew’s catalog. Although positive views of President Obama’s handling of foreign policy have dropped since he assumed office, his marks in this area have generally been among his most positive.

Q: Right now, which is more important for President Obama to focus on . . . ? Egypt Erupts More important for President Obama Q: Do you . . . ? to focus on Jan. 2011 Jan. 2009 Approve of the way Domestic policy 78% 71% Barack Obama is handling Foreign policy 11 11 the situation in Egypt 47% Note: The January 2009 question asked about “President-elect Obama.” Disapprove 32 Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, latest that of January 2011. Note: A poll conducted Febru- ary 7–9, 2011 showed nearly identical Q: Next, we’re interested in how you think the U.S. is doing on some inter- results. Forty-eight percent approved and 32 percent disapproved of how the national issues. First, do you think . . . ? Obama administration was handling the situation in Egypt. U.S. is Things are about U.S. is Source: The Gallup Organization, Febru- making the same as they losing ary 2–5, 2011. progress have been ground The situation in Iraq 32% 48% 15% Q: Overall, are you . . . ? The situation in Afghanistan 23 45 24 Sympathetic to the Dealing with Iran 13 53 26 protestors in Egypt Drug violence along who have called the Mexican border 12 38 43 for a change of Dealing with North Korea 9 50 26 government 82% Note: In December 2008, 36 percent said the U.S. was making progress on the war in Iraq, Unsympathetic 11 26 percent losing ground, and 34 percent said things were about the same. Also in December 2008, 21 percent said we were making progress on the war in Afghanistan, 31 Source: The Gallup Organization, Febru- percent losing ground, and 42 percent said things were about the same. ary 2–5, 2011. Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, January 2011.

AEI POLITICAL REPORT CONTRIBUTORS Karlyn Bowman, Senior Fellow; John Fortier, Research Research Assistants: Jennifer Marsico, Editor; Andrew Fellow; Norman Ornstein, Resident Scholar; Rugg, Editor. Michael Barone, Resident Fellow. Intern: Greg Brooks, Julia Goldstein, Matt Hoyt.

1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org Pollsters Map the President’s Foreign Policy Obama’s handling of foreign policy CNN/ORC CBS/NYT Quinnipiac Gallup App/Dis App/Dis App/Dis App/Dis Initial polls Feb. 2009 - - 50% 15% - - 54% 22% Mar. 66% 28% - - - - 61 28 Apr. - - - - 57% 32% - -

Recent polls Jan. 2010 51 46 49 38 - - 47 47 Feb. - - 47 34 - - 51 44 Mar. 51 44 - - - - 48 46 Apr. - - - - 48 42 -- May - - 48 38 -- -- Jun. ------July - - 44 41 43 46 -- Aug. ------44 48 Sept. - - - - 45 44 -- Oct. ------Nov. 49 46 46 37 46 44 45 49 Dec. - - 40 45 -- -- Jan. 2011 57 40 46 32 47 38 -- Feb. ------48 45

Obama’s handling of the situation in Afghanistan CNN/ORC AP-GfK Quinnipiac Gallup App/Dis App/Dis App/Dis App/Dis Initial polls Feb. 2009 ------Mar. 67% 29%* ------Apr. - - 60% 26% - - --

Recent polls Jan. 2010 51 47 49 42 -- -- Feb. ------48% 47% Mar. 55 42 57 32 52% 36% - - Apr. - - 51 38 49 39 -- May - - 49 39 45 40 -- Jun. - - 47 41 -- -- July 46 51 - - 43 46 -- Aug. - - 44 43 - - 36 57 Sept. 48 47 53 46 49 40 -- Oct. - - 52 47 -- -- Nov. - - 48 50 - - 44 49 Dec. ------Jan. 2011 51 46 54 44 46 40 -- Feb. ------47 46 Note: *March 2009 CNN/ORC poll asked of a half sample.

(continued on the next page)

1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org 2 (continued from the previous page) War Stories Obama’s handling of the situation in Iraq The Pew Research Center conducts both a news CNN/ORC AP-GfK coverage and a news interest index. They reported App/Dis App/Dis recently that during all of 2010, “just 1 percent of Initial polls Feb. 2009 --- - news coverage was devoted to Iraq events and pol- Mar. 63% 35%* - - icy debates, and in no week did Iraq consume more Apr. - - 59% 27% than 10 percent of the news hole.” Afghanistan received 4 percent of all news coverage in 2010. Recent polls Jan. 2010 53 43 49 39 Pew asked about public interest in Iraq 10 times in Feb. - - - - 2010. Roughly a quarter of Americans said they Mar. 51 46 55 33 were following the story “very closely,” but only Apr. - - 49 41 May - - 51 38 about one in ten said it was the top story they were Jun. - - 46 40 following. As for Afghanistan, Pew inquired about July 49 49 - - interest in it 18 times in 2010. Similarly, about a Aug. - - 45 43 quarter said they were following Afghanistan-related Sept. 57 41 60 39 news “very closely.” Like Iraq, Afghanistan was the Oct. - - 56 43 top story for fewer than one in ten Americans in Nov. - - 54 45 these Pew polls. Economic news was the top or sec- Dec. - - - - Jan. 2011 56 42 57 41 ond most closely followed news story in 32 of the 45 weeks in which Pew measured attention to it. Note: *March 2009 CNN/ORC poll asked of a half sample.

Exporting Democracy Polls taken during George W. Bush’s presidency showed that Americans agreed with him that the world would be more stable and safer if there were more democracies. But deep skepticism about our ability to promote democracy abroad remained. Trend data show that Americans place democracy promotion at or close to the bottom of their foreign policy goals. The reason appears to be that Americans are not confident that we know enough about how to do this or are uncertain about outcomes. Q: Below is a list of possible 70% Helping to bring a democratic form of government to other nations foreign policy goals that the might have. For 60% each one please select whether you think that it should be a Somewhat Important 55% very important foreign policy 50% goal of the United States, a somewhat important foreign 40% policy goal, or not an impor- Very Important tant goal at all? 30% 26%

Note: Beginning in 2002, surveys were conducted online. In 2010, 20% helping to bring a democratic form 19% Not Important of government to other nations 10% ranked 19th of 19 issues the poll- sters inquired about. Source: Chicago Council on Global 0% Affairs, latest that of June 2010. Jul-2001 Jul-1990 Jul-1979 Jan-2007 Jan-1996 Jan-1985 Jan-1974 Mar-2005 Mar-1994 Mar-1983 Nov-2008 Sep-2010 Nov-1997 Sep-1999 Nov-1986 Sep-1988 Nov-1975 Sep-1977 May-2003 May-1992 May-1981

(continued on the next page)

1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org 3 (continued from the previous page) Q: I’m going to read you some different things the president and Congress might try to do when it comes to helping developing countries. As I read each one, tell me if you think it should be one of their top priorities for helping develop- ing countries, important but not a top priority, or not that important. What about . . . ? ——————Helping developing countries—————— Top Important but not Not that Priority a top priority important Improving education 53% 35% 11% Helping out after natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis 50 43 6 Reducing poverty 40 42 16 Promoting the rights of women 39 47 14 Improving health for people in developing countries 37 48 13 Protecting the environment and fighting climate change 37 37 25 Promoting democracy 27 46 24 Source: Kaiser, August 2010.

Q: Do you think the U.S. should or should not put greater pressure on countries in the Middle East, like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, to become more democratic? Should Should Not 2003 41% 53% 2004 35 57 2010 38 59 Source: Chicago Council on Global Affairs, latest that of June 2010.

Q: Which comes closest to your view? Some people believe that . . . National Dems. Inds. Reps. The US should always support democracy in the Middle East, even it means that the newly democratic countries may elect Islamist governments that do not support our interests 32% 36% 25% 29%

The US should be cautious about supporting democracy in the Middle East because it is likely that the newly democratic countries may elect Islamist governments that do not support our interests 58 55 56 63 Source: Ipsos/Reuters, February 2011.

Q: How concerned are you . . . ? Very/somewhat concerned that a new government in Egypt could be unfriendly or hostile to the United States 69% Not very/not at all concerned 28 Source: CBS, February 2011.

1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org 4 Political Roundup Virtually every recent poll shows an uptick in positive ratings of President Obama and of Congress. Views of the parties remain mixed. At this point, most Americans don’t know much about House Speaker John Boehner or Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell personally, so we don’t report their ratings here. Nor do they have firm views about how they are performing their jobs at this point. Initial reactions to them are more positive than negative. As for the economy, Americans see some green shoots but still believe it will be a long time before the economy fully recovers. Q: Do you . . . ? Feb. 2011 Low point in 2010/Fox (Sept. 2010) Approve of the job Barack Obama is doing as president 51% 42% Disapprove 43 52 Source: Anderson Robbins (D) and Shaw & Company (R) for Fox News, February 2011.

Q: Do you . . . ? Feb. 2011 Low point in 2010/Fox (Oct. 2010)* Approve of the job Congress is doing 31% 17% Disapprove 60 76 Note: *October 2010 asked of registered voters. Source: Anderson Robbins (D) and Shaw & Company (R) for Fox News, February 2011.

The Parties

Q: Next, we’d like to get your overall opinion of some people in the news. As I read each name, please say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of these people—or if you have never heard of them. How about . . . ? The Republican Party The Democratic Party Favorable opinion 47% 46% Unfavorable 43 47 Source: Gallup, January 2011.

Q: Just in general, is your overall opinion of . . . ? The Republican Party The Democratic Party Favorable overall opinion 43% 47% Unfavorable 48 46 Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, February 2011.

Economic Indicators Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment February 2011* 75 February 2010 73 February 2009 56 Note: *Preliminary monthly finding.

(continued on the next page)

1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org 5 (continued from the previous page) Q: Thinking about the condition of the national economy, do you think . . . ? Feb. 2011 Feb. 2010 The worst is over 48% 37% The worst is yet to come 48 56 Source: Anderson Robbins (D) and Shaw & Company (R) for Fox News, latest that of February 2011.

Q: Which of these best describes your opinion . . . ? Feb. 2011 March 2010 The economy is recovering 24% 13% The economy is not yet recovering but will recover soon 33 37 It will be a long time before the economy recovers 42 48 Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, latest that of February 2011.

Q: Overall, which of the following best describes how the recession affected your own personal financial situation? The recession . . . Had a major effect, and your finances have not recovered 36% Had a major effect, but your finances have mostly recovered 25 It didn’t have a major effect 37 Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, February 2011.

Regulating Regulation The public opinion pendu- 60% lum on government regula- Government regulation of business tion swings back and forth, 49% often in response to news 50% stories. In its immediate Too much aftermath of the 2008 finan- cial crisis, Americans sup- 40% ported greater government regulation. But the pendu- 30% Right amount lum has swung again, and 27% today people are more con- cerned about too much reg- 20% Too little 21% ulation. President Obama’s plan for a government- 10% wide review of regulation appears to be in sync with public opinion. 0% Q: In general, do you think

there is too much, too little, 1981 Mar. 1983 Mar. 1985 Mar. 1987 Mar. 1989 Mar. 1991 Mar. 1993 Mar. 1995 Mar. 1997 Mar. 1999 Mar. 2001 Mar. 2003 Mar. 2005 Mar. 2007 Mar. 2009 Mar. or about the right amount of government regulation Source: For 1981, the Los Angeles Times. For 1993–September 2008, August–September 2009, and of business and industry? September 2010, The Gallup Organization. For December 2008 and 2009, CNN and the Opinion Research Corporation. (continued on the next page)

1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org 6 (continued from the previous page)

Q: What do you think is the bigger risk . . . ? Bigger risk is that Obama will put Bigger risk is that McCain will not put in place too many government regulations enough government regulations in place 40% 2008 45%

Bigger risk is that the Democrats will put Bigger risk is that the Republicans will not put in place too many government regulations enough government regulations in place 52% 2010 35% Note: Sample is likely voters. Source: ABC/Washington Post, October 2008 and October 2010.

Q: I’m going to read you some pairs of statements that will help us understand how you feel about a number of things. As I read each pair, tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to you own views—even if neither is exactly right. The first pair is . . . . —–––––––––—-Government regulation of business—–––––––––—- Is necessary to protect the public interest Usually does more harm than good 50% 2008 (Oct.) 38% 47 2008 (Dec.) 43 46 2010 (Dec.) 49 Note: Question wording for the CAP survey was slightly different. Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, latest that of December 2008; Hart Research Associates for the Center for American Progress (CAP), Decem- ber 2010.

Q: As I read a few statements some people have made about the federal government, please tell me if you . . . Agree, government has gone too far in regulating business and interfering with the free enterprise system 58% Disagree 37 Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, March 2010.

Q: Do you think there is . . . ? Too much govern- About the Too ment regulation right amount little Of the stock market and financial institutions Sept. 2008 26% 21% 50% Dec. 2008 22 18 59 Dec. 2009 29 23 45 Of business and industry Sept. 2008 38% 19% 42% Dec. 2008 39 20 39 Dec. 2009 50 18 30 Source: CNN/Opinion Research Corporation, latest that of December 2009. (continued on the next page)

1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org 7 (continued from the previous page) What About Regulation of Specific Industries? In November 2010, Harris asked people whether 17 different industries should be more regulated by government. Thirty percent said none of them should be. We show below only those industries for which 30 percent or more of those sur- veyed said there should be more regulation. Fewer than 30 percent said there should be more regulation of airlines (27 percent), life insurance companies (27 percent), car manufacturers (26 percent), hospitals (25 percent), packaged food companies (24 percent), telephone/telecommunications companies (23 percent), online retailers (12 percent), computer software companies (9 percent), and supermarkets (8 percent). Q: Which of these industries do you think should be more regulated by government—for example for health, safety or environmental reasons—than they are now? 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Oil companies 52% 48% 55% 54% 53% 53% 47% 47% Pharmaceutical and drug companies 57 55 51 48 53 49 47 46 Health insurance companies 59 56 46 48 52 49 45 42 Banks 21 20 19 17 20 36 40 34 Managed health care companies, such as HMOs 60 55 43 41 45 39 36 34 Tobacco companies 44 42 36 38 41 31 33 38 Electric and gas utilities - - 43 38 41 34 32 33 Note: Only industries that had a 2010 “more regulation” rating above 30 percent are shown. Source: Harris Interactive, latest that of November 2010.

Public Deliberation on the Budget In the mid-February CBS News poll, 31 percent approved of the way President Obama is handling the budget deficit and 58 percent disapproved. His marks on the deficit in this poll and others are among the lowest he receives. At the same time, however, people are evenly split on whether they trust him or the Republicans in Congress more to make the right decisions about reducing the deficit.

Q: In order to reduce the federal budget deficit, do you Q: Who do you . . . ? think. . . ? Trust President Obama more to It will be necessary to cut programs that make the right decisions about benefit people like you to lower the deficit 49% reducing the budget deficit 42% Will not 41 Trust the Republicans in Congress more 42 Source: CBS, February 2011. It will be necessary to increase taxes for people like you to lower the deficit 37% Will not 59 Note: Thirty percent of those with household incomes of less than $50,000 said it would be necessary to increase taxes on people like them to lower the deficit. Forty percent of those with incomes of $50,000 to 100,000 gave that response as did 62 percent of those with incomes higher than $100,000. Source: CBS, February 2011.

1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org 8 What Should Government Do? The question shown below is the first comprehensive question we have been able to find in the public opinion literature on the subject. The 1939 survey, conducted by the Roper Organization for Fortune, inquires about sixteen possible gov- ernment functions. Majorities supported only three. We haven’t been able to find contemporary questions like this. Most simply ask whether we should spend more or less on various programs. Q: People feel differently about how far a government should go. Here is a list of things which some people believe in and some don’t. Let’s take them one at a time. Do you think . . . ? ————–—–—-1939——–—–———- Government should Should not Provide an army and navy 96% 2% Provide for all people who have no other means of subsistence 69 23 Be responsible for seeing to it that everyone who wants to work has a job 61 32 Regulate all public utility rates like electricity, gas, etc. 49 39 Make all decisions in disputes between capital and labor 35 45 Redistribute wealth by heavy taxes on the rich 35 54 Establish a bureau to supervise what should be produced in moving pictures 32 51 Establish a bureau to supervise what should be produced over the radio 27 60 Control the price of farm products by controlling production 23 62 Take over and operate all private, public, and parochial schools for children 20 72 Make every adult male spend at least two years in the army 18 76 Confiscate wealth over what people need to live on decently; use it for the public good 16 76 Establish a bureau to supervise1939 what should be printed in newspapers and magazines 15 76 Take over and operate all private colleges and institutions of higher learning 14 75 Take over all the present family duties toward children 5 92 Supervise all religious observances by establishing a national church 4 92 Note: Interviewers were told to tell respondents that this question was about the federal government, not government in general. Source: The Roper Organization for Fortune, March 1939. Q: Next, I’m going to read a list of functions the federal government could serve. On a 1 to 5 scale, please say how much responsibility you think the government should have for each—with 1 meaning the government should have no responsibility at all and 5 meaning the government should have total responsibility in this area. How about . . . ? ——––——––——-Sept. 2010—————––—––– Government should ...... have more . . . less responsibility responsibility (Pts. 5,4) (3) (2,1) Protecting Americans from foreign threats 93% 4% 2% Protecting consumer against unsafe products 76 15 9 Preventing discrimination 66 19 14 Protecting the environment from human action that can harm it 65 20 15 Developing and maintaining the nation’s transportation systems 65 22 12 Making sure that all Americans have adequate health care 57 14 29 Making sure that all those who want jobs have them 51 21 27 Providing a minimum standard of living for all 45 21 33 Upholding moral standards among its citizens 39 23 37 Reducing income differences between the rich and poor 34 20 44 Protecting major U.S. corporations2010 that are in danger of going out of business 19 24 56 Source: Gallup, September 2010.

1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org 9 Palin’s Popularity ’s favorability ratings have dropped since John McCain tapped her to be his vice-presidential running mate in August 2008. In four January 2011 polls, half or more had unfavorable views of her. In a January 2011 CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, she had a 70 percent favorable rating among Republicans. Of the 11 possible Republican candi- dates they inquired about, only had a higher favorable rating (72 percent) among Republicans. Trailing Palin were (64 percent favorable) and (59 percent). In a February 2011 poll, Fox News asked Republicans about 14 potential candidates and whether each would make a good president. Forty percent said Palin would. She trailed Mike Huckabee who led with 55 percent, Mitt Romney with 54 percent, and Newt Gingrich with 43 percent. Q: Is your opinion of Sarah Palin favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven’t you heard enough about Sarah Palin yet to have an opinion? (CBS/NYT) Q: We’d like to get your overall opinion of some people in the news. As I read each name, please say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of these people or if you have never heard of them. Sarah Palin. (CNN/ORC; Gallup/USA Today) Q: I’m going to read you the names of several public figures and I’d like you to rate your feelings toward each one as either very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative, or very negative. If you don’t know the name, please just say so. Sarah Palin. (NBC/WSJ)

Palin’s Favorability 60%

50% CNN Gallup

40% 38%

NBC 30% 27%

20% CBS 19%

10% Jul. 2010 Jul. 2009 May 2010 May 2009 Jan. 2011 Oct. 2008 Jan. 2010 Mar. 2010 Mar. Mar. 2009 Mar. Nov. 2010 Nov. Nov. 2009 Nov. Sep. 2010 Sep. 2009 Aug. 2008 Dec. 2008

Latest Polls on Palin’s Favorability: January 2011 Favorable Unfavorable Undecided CBS/NYT 19% 57% 19% CNN/ORC 38 56 - Gallup/USA Today 38 53 - Positive Negative Neutral NBC/WSJ 28% 50% 20%

1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org 10 Tea Party Trends We look below at questions from survey organizations that started asking about the Tea Party movement in 2010 and have also asked about it in 2011. The question wordings differ. Pew gives people the option of choosing the response “don’t you have an opinion either way,” and many people choose it. Gallup allows people to respond “neither” a supporter nor oppo- nent, and many choose it. NBC and the Wall Street Journal give people the option of selecting “neutral” as a response, and again, many select it. When AP/GfK-Roper asks people whether they are supporters or not, six in ten or more say they are not. Q: From what you know, do you strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with the Tea Party movement, or don’t you have an opinion either way? (PSRA/Pew) Q: Do you consider yourself to be a supporter of the Tea Party movement, an opponent of the Tea Party movement, or neither? (Gallup) Q: Now I’m going to read you the names of several public figures and groups, and I’d like you to rate your feelings toward each one as very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative, or very negative. (NBC/WSJ) Q: Do you consider yourself a supporter of the Tea Party movement, or are you not a supporter of the Tea Party movement? (AP/GfK-Roper) Q: Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of the political movement known as the Tea Party? (ABC/WP) PSRA/Pew Gallup NBC/WSJ AP/GfK ABC/WP Agree/Disagree Supporter/Not Pos/Neg Supporter/Not Fav/Unfav Feb. 2010 ------35% 40% Mar. 24% 14% - - 28% 26% 29% 28% 41 39 Apr. ------31 60 - - May 25 18 29% 28% 30 31 27 68 - - Jun. 24 18 31 30 34 31 27 65 36 50 Jul. 22 18* ------Aug. 29 26^ 30 27 30 34 28 69 38 45 Sep. - - - - 30 36 28 68 - - Oct. 29 25+ 26 27 - - 30 37 - - Nov. 27 22 32 30 - - 30 66 - - Dec. 22 26 ------Jan. 2011 24 22 30 25 28 21 31 61 35 52 Feb. 22 22 ------Note: * Jul.–Aug. 2010, ^ Aug.–Sept. 2010. + For Oct. 2010 and earlier, the PSRA/Pew responses shown here are based on responses to two questions. The first asked people how much they had heard about the Tea Party movement, and then those who had heard a lot or a little were asked whether they agreed with it or had no opinion either way.

Races to Watch in 2011 In 2011, there will be four governor’s races. At this early stage, two appear in solid shape for the Republicans. Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal is running for re-election, and there are no declared Democratic candidates at this time. Haley Barbour is term-limited, but Mississippi is likely to elect another Republican. Our friend, election analyst Charlie Cook rates Louisiana a solid R, and Mississippi a likely R. Two other races, Kentucky and West Virginia, could be livelier. Much like the 2010 Senate race in Kentucky, the Republican primary could be a face-off between the party establishment and a Tea Party-backed candidate. Kentucky State Senate president David Williams has already announced that he will run, but so has businessman Phil Moffett, who is more closely aligned with the Tea Party. However, unlike last year’s Senate open-seat contest, the winner of the Repub- lican primary will face a popular Democratic incumbent, Steve Beshear, who was elected in 2007 by a 17-point margin. West Virginia will have two elections for governor in as many years. The first is an October 2011 special election to complete the remainder of Democrat Joe Manchin’s term (Manchin was elected to take the Senate seat of the late Robert Byrd in 2010). The current acting governor, Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin, has said he will run. The 2012 election will then allow the candidate who wins in 2011 to run for a full term if he so chooses.

1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org 11 New Age Technologies by Age The tables below look at how people use the Internet and what popular devices they own. With the exception of the GI generation, between 90 and 100 percent of Internet users use e-mail. Using the Internet for searches is popular among 80 to 90 percent of Gen X-ers, but only 60 to 70 percent of the GI Generation. As for what devices people have, members of the Millennial generation are more likely to have laptop than desktop computers. Cell phones are by far the most popular device: around 85 percent of adults own one, including 95 percent of Millennials. Pew found earlier that 90 percent of young adults who own a cell phone sleep with their cell phones on or have them right next to their beds. Eleven percent of those polled by Pew had none of these devices.

Percent of Internet users in each generation who engage in these online activities 90–100% 80–90% 70–79% 60–69% 50–59%

Millennials Gen X Younger Boomers Older Boomers Silent Generation GI Generation (18-34) (35–46) (47–56) (57–65) (66–74) (75+)

Email Email Email Email Email Email

Search Search Search Search Search Search

Health info Health info Health info Health info Health info Health info

Social network sites Get news Get news Get news Get news Buy a product

Watch video Govt website Govt website Govt website Travel reservations Get news

Get news Travel reservations Travel reservations Buy a product Buy a product Travel reservations

Note: Only top six response categories shown. Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, April–May 2010.

Percent of American adults in each generation who own this device Younger Older Silent GI Millennials Gen X Boomers Boomers Generation Generation (18–34) (35–46) (47–56) (57–65) (66–74) (75+) Cell phone 95% 92% 86% 84% 68% 48% Desktop 57 69 65 64 48 28 Laptop 70 61 49 43 30 10 iPod/MP3 player 74 56 42 26 16 3 Game console 63 63 38 19 8 3 e-Book reader 5 5 7 3 6 2 Tablet, iPad 5 5 4 3 1 1 None 1 3 8 8 20 43 Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, August–September 2010.

1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org 12 Our Sputnik Moment, 1957 In his State of the Union message, President Obama described the Sputnik launch, saying that “[W]e had no idea how we’d beat them to the moon. The science wasn’t there yet. NASA didn’t even exist. But after investing in better research and edu- cation, we didn’t just surpass the Soviets; we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs. This is our generation’s Sputnik moment.” We return here to 1957 to look at public opinion. Feelings about Russia were very negative, and Americans worried that the Eisenhower administration wasn’t doing enough to win the Cold War. There was great suspicion of Russia’s intentions around the globe, and Americans wanted to spend more to prevent other countries from going Communist. The answer to the Sputnik challenge, Americans said, was for us to work harder.

Q: How would you rate your feelings toward the follow- Q: Please tell me whether you think . . . ing countries . . . ? The Eisenhower administration Favorable feelings toward leaders are doing a very Russia 3% good job winning the Neutral 15 Cold War with Russia 15% Unfavorable 82 Fairly good 42 Poor 28

Q: What do you think is the most important problem . . . ? Q: Why do you think Russia was able to launch the earth Foreign policy, dealing with Russia is satellite before the U.S. did? the most important problem facing Top response this country today 40% Russia worked harder on it 24% Note: No other response reached 10 percent. Q: During recent years, Congress has appropriated about 4 billion dollars each year for countries in other parts of Q: Some of our educators say that if we are to compete the world to help prevent their going communistic. with Russia, high school students in this country must be Should . . . ? required to work much harder than they do now. Do Congress should appropriate the you . . . ? same amount to prevent countries Agree, if we are to compete with Russia, in other parts of the world to help high school students must be required to prevent their going communistic 58% work much harder than they do now 71% Should not 28 Disagree 17 Note: In another question about foreign aid in general, 42 percent aid there should be a big cut, but 32 percent said there shouldn’t be. Q: Do you think . . . ? Young people in this country get more physical exercise than the young people of Russia 31% Do not 44

In October 1957, when Gallup asked people how long it would be before “men in rockets would reach the moon,” the median response was 20 years. Men were more skeptical that this would happen than women were. Older people were more doubtful than younger ones.

Source: The question about the Eisenhower administration was asked by the Opinion Research Corporation. All other questions were asked by the Gallup Organization.

1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202.862.5800 www.aei.org 13