Poll Watch: Harvard University Survey of Young Americans’ Attitudes toward Politics and Public Service

Harvard University Survey of Young Americans’ Attitudes toward Politics and Public Service

If Barack Obama runs for reelection in 2012, in general, are you more likely to vote for Obama, or for the Republican Party’s candidate for president?

18-29

• Barack Obama 31%
• Republican 30%
• Don't know 38%

College Students

• Republican 36%
• Barack Obama 31%
• Don't know 33%

If Barack Obama were the Democratic Party's candidate and Sarah Palin were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for: Obama, the Democrat, or Palin, the Republican?

18-29

• Barack Obama 48%
• Sarah Palin 23%
• Don't know 28%

College Students

• Barack Obama 58%
• Sarah Palin 26%
• Don't know 15%

If Barack Obama were the Democratic Party's candidate and Mitt Romney were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for: Obama, the Democrat, or Romney, the Republican?

18-29

• Barack Obama 43%
• Mitt Romney 18%
• Don't know 37%

College Students

• Barack Obama 46%
• Mitt Romney 23%
• Don't know 26%

If Barack Obama were the Democratic Party's candidate and Newt Gingrich were the Republican Party's candidate, who would you be more likely to vote for: Obama, the Democrat, or Gingrich, the Republican?

18-29

• Barack Obama 44%
• Newt Gingrich 14%
• Don't know 39%

College Students

• Barack Obama 47%
• Newt Gingrich 15%
• Don't know 32%

In general, do you approve or disapprove of the job performance of Barack Obama as President?

18-29

• Approve 49%
• Disapprove 48%

College Students

• Approve 51%
• Disapprove 46%

Now thinking specifically about Barack Obama, do you approve or disapprove of the way he is handling:

The economy

18-29

• Approve 39%
• Disapprove 58%

College Students

• Approve 42%
• Disapprove 55%

Health care

18-29

• Approve 47%
• Disapprove 50%

College Students

• Approve 48%
• Disapprove 49%

The federal budget deficit

18-29

• Approve 36%
• Disapprove 61%

College Students

• Approve 35%
• Disapprove 62%

Afghanistan

18-29

• Approve 44%
• Disapprove 52%

College Students

• Approve 49%
• Disapprove 49%

Iran

18-29

• Approve 43%
• Disapprove 53%

College Students

• Approve 48%
• Disapprove 49%

Gulf oil spill

18-29

• Approve 49%
• Disapprove 48%

College Students

• Approve 54%
• Disapprove 44%

Immigration

18-29

• Approve 37%
• Disapprove 59%

College Students

• Approve 39%
• Disapprove 58%

In general, do you approve or disapprove of the job performance of the Democrats in Congress?

18-29

• Approve 39%
• Disapprove 57%

College Students

• Approve 42%
• Disapprove 55%

In general, do you approve or disapprove of the job performance of the Republicans in Congress?

18-29

• Approve 28%
• Disapprove 68%

College Students

• Approve 37%
• Disapprove 60%

What is your preference for the outcome of the Congressional elections, a Congress controlled by Democrats or a Congress controlled by Republicans?

18-29

• Controlled by Democrats 53%
• Controlled by Republicans 42%

College Students

• Controlled by Democrats 56%
• Controlled by Republicans 40%

As you may know, the proposed bi-partisan DREAM Act in Congress would make it possible for illegal immigrant students who arrived in the U.S. as minors the opportunity to gain permanent residency as long as they attend college or serve in the U.S. military. Do you favor or oppose the DREAM Act?

18-29

• Favor 64%
• Oppose 31%

College Students

• Favor 68%
• Oppose 29%

As you may know, the state of Arizona recently passed a law that gives the police the power to question someone they have already stopped, detained, or arrested about their legal status in the country. The law requires people to produce documents verifying their status if asked. Do you think this law goes too far in dealing with the issue of ILLEGAL immigration, doesn't go far enough, or is about right?

18-29

• Too far 36%
• Not far enough 20%
• About right 41%

College Students

• Too far 39%
• Not far enough 14%
• About right 44%

As you may know, there is a proposal to build an Islamic cultural center and mosque in downtown New York City, a few blocks from the site of the World Trade Center. From what you've read and heard, do you agree more with:

18-29

• Those who object to the building of this center 41%
• Those who think the center should be allowed to be built 25%

College Students

• Those who object to the building of this center 42%
• Those who think the center should be allowed to be built 32%

The tax cuts that were passed in 2001 will expire this year if they are not continued. Which of the following best describes what you think Congress should do about the tax cuts?

18-29

• Allow the tax cuts for people earning more than $250,000 to expire, but continue them for other people. 44%
• Continue the tax cuts for everyone. 38%
• Allow the tax cuts to expire for everyone. 14%

College Students

• Allow the tax cuts for people earning more than $250,000 to expire, but continue them for other people. 45%
• Continue the tax cuts for everyone. 36%
• Allow the tax cuts to expire for everyone. 15%

Which one of these best describes your religious preference?

18-29

• Catholic 22%
• No religious preference 20%
• Fundamentalist/Evangelical Christian 13%
• Protestant 11%
• Jewish 2%
• LDS/Mormon 2%
• Muslim 0%
• Another religion 13%

College Students

• No religious preference 24%
• Catholic 23%
• Fundamentalist/Evangelical Christian 14%
• Protestant 14%
• LDS/Mormon 3%
• Jewish 2%
• Muslim 0%
• Another religion 11%

Do you consider yourself to be a supporter of the Tea Party movement, or are you not a supporter of the Tea Party movement?

18-29

• Supporter 11%
• Not a supporter 34%

College Student

• Supporter 14%
• Not a supporter 35%

Survey of 2,004 18-29-year-olds, including a subsample of 383 students currently enrolled in a 4-year college, was conducted September 24 - October 4, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 2.2 percentage points; +/- 5 percentage points among students enrolled in a 4-year college. Party ID breakdown (among all 18-29-year-olds): 37% Democrat; 22% Republican; 40% Independent; (among college students): 39% Democrat; 25% Republican; 36% Independent. Political ideology (among all 18-29-year-olds): 37% Liberal; 27% Moderate; 34% Conservative; (among college students): 48% Liberal; 19% Moderate; 32% Conservative.