2014-09-11-皮尤-Wide_Partisan_Differences_Over_the_Issues_That_Matter_in_2014_31页_625kb

2014 Midterm Election Summary

Core Content

This report from the Pew Research Center, released on September 12, 2014, analyzes the partisan differences in issue priorities and engagement levels among voters in the United States ahead of the 2014 midterm elections. It highlights how Republican and Democratic voters differ in their views on key political issues and their likelihood to vote.

Main Issues and Partisan Views

• Foreign Policy, Budget Deficit, and Immigration are seen as very important by 70% or more of Republican voters, but only about 50% of Democratic voters consider these issues very important.
• Environment and Economic Inequality are considered very important by 70% of Democratic voters, but no more than 40% of Republican voters.
• Terrorism and the Economy are top issues for both parties, though Republicans rate them as more important than Democrats.
• Health Care is also a key issue for both parties, with 77% of voters finding it very important, and Democratic voters are more likely to support it than Republican voters.

Engagement Levels

• Republican voters are more engaged than Democratic voters in the midterm elections:
  • 15% more likely to have given a lot of thought to the election.
  • 12% more likely to say they definitely will vote.
• Despite the "generic ballot" slightly favoring Democrats (47% vs. 42%), the likely electorate is more favorable to Republican candidates (47% vs. 44%).

Demographic Trends

• Republicans lead among:
  • Whites (68% support GOP candidates).
  • Older voters (65+ years).
  • Evangelical Protestants (68% support GOP candidates).
• Democrats hold an edge among:
  • Non-whites (73% of non-Hispanic blacks and 60% of Hispanics approve of the ACA).
  • Younger voters (under 30, 55% approve of the ACA).
  • Post-graduates (58% support Democratic candidates).
• Education plays a role:
  • Post-graduates favor Democrats by a 19-point margin.
  • Middle-income voters (30k-75k) lean Republican by 10 points.
  • Low-income voters (under 30k) favor Democrats by 20 points.

Views on the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

• Overall approval of the ACA remains low, with 44% approving and 52% disapproving.
• Democrats approve of the ACA by a 72%-23% margin.
• Republicans disapprove by an 88%-11% margin.
• The ACA is viewed more negatively by non-college-educated voters, with 48% of some college and 30% of high school or less voters seeing it as mostly negative.
• College graduates are more likely to view the ACA positively (41% mostly positive vs. 42% mostly negative).

Issue Priorities by Age and Gender

• Older voters (65+) prioritize foreign policy (71%) and immigration (69%) more than younger voters.
• Young voters (18-29) are more likely to prioritize the environment (64%).
• Women are more likely than men to rate several issues as important:
  • Abortion (55% vs. 37%).
  • Birth control (44% vs. 27%).
  • Economic inequality (64% vs. 49%).
  • Health care (84% vs. 70%).

Survey Methodology

• The survey was conducted from September 2-9, 2014, with a sample of 2,002 adults.
• It included registered voters (1,552) and likely voters (1,150).
• The sample was weighted using demographic data from the 2012 Census Bureau and 2013 National Health Interview Survey.
• Sampling errors are noted, with a 95% confidence level and margins of error ranging from 2.5 to 5.9 percentage points.

Summary of Key Findings

• Partisan differences are significant across various issues.
• Republican engagement remains higher than Democratic engagement.
• Education, income, and demographics influence voter preferences.
• Health care continues to be a top issue, but Republicans disapprove of the ACA by a larger margin than Democrats approve.
• Terrorism and the economy are consistently high priorities, though Republicans find them more important than Democrats.

Conclusion

The Pew Research Center report highlights the partisan divide in issue importance and voter engagement, with Republicans maintaining an advantage in engagement and specific demographics showing stronger support for either party. These findings provide insight into the political landscape leading up to the 2014 midterms and the divided views on the Affordable Care Act.