2016-02-21-皮尤-Majority_of_Public_Wants_Senate_to_Act_on_Obama_s_Supreme_Court_Nominee_11页_156kb

Pew Research Center Report Summary: Senate Action on Obama's Supreme Court Nominee (February 2016)

• Key Findings:

  • Public Opinion: A majority (56%) of Americans favored the Senate holding hearings and voting on President Obama's nominee to replace Justice Antonin Scalia, while 38% supported delaying action until the next president. Only 10% expressed openness to changing their minds based on the nominee.

• Partisan and Ideological Divides:

  • Republicans (66%) were more likely to oppose hearings until the next president, compared to Democrats (79%) who favored acting. Ideological groups showed stronger divides, with conservatives resisting delay and liberals supporting action.

• Importance of Supreme Court Choice:

  • 57% of the public viewed the selection of a new justice as very important to them personally, an increase from 40% in 2010. Fewer younger adults (37% for ages <30) and those with lower education found it less important.

• Demographic Differences:

  • Views varied by age, education, and race. Higher education (77% for postgraduates) and older adults showed greater support for acting. African Americans were more likely to favor hearings, while whites, young people, and lower-education groups displayed more division.

• Awareness and Perception of Scalia:

  • 55% identified Scalia as conservative; awareness was higher among older, more educated individuals, and those who heard a lot about his death. Deliberations on delaying were linked to fixed opinions in many cases.

• Methodology Notes:

  • Based on a national survey of 1,002 adults conducted in February 2016, with a margin of error accounting for sampling variability. Trends compared to earlier polls in 2010.