Insiders may be excited about the 2016 presidential campaigns, but voters....not so much.
The campaign “has gotten off to a slow start with voters,” according to a new Pew Research Center survey released Thursday.
Fifty-eight percent said they’ve given at least some thought to potential candidates, but that’s 10 percentage points below this point in 2008. That was the last time there was no incumbent president running.
“No Republican stands out among the party’s crowded field,” Pew said, as no one gets more than one-fourth support from Republicans or Republican leaners. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is far ahead among Democrats.
And, said Pew:
“Democrats Want a Candidate Who Compromises. At this stage in the race, 52 percent of all voters say it is more important to them that a presidential candidate will compromise with the other party than that he or she will stick to their core values and positions (41 percent). Democratic voters, in particular, place value on candidates who will make compromises: 63 percent say this, compared with 35 percent of GOP voters.
Experience vs. ‘New Ideas.’ Half of voters said “experience and a proven record” is more important to them than “new ideas and a different approach.” Republican voters are more likely than either Democrats or independents to prioritize a proven record.
Walker, Carson in the Mix Despite Low Visibility. Just 57 percent of Republican and Republican-leaning voters have heard of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, yet 23 percent say there is a good chance they would vote for him. That is about as many as say there is a good chance they would vote for any of the other GOP candidates in the survey. Ben Carson has name recognition only among about half (48 percent) of GOP voters, but 21 percent said there is a good chance he would get their vote.
Both Parties’ Negative Views of Congress. The public’s views of Congress continue to hover near all-time lows. Just 22 percent have a favorable opinion of Congress – equal to its rating last December – while 72 percent feel unfavorably about Congress. With the GOP now in control of both houses of Congress, Republicans’ views of the institution are only slightly more positive than Democrats’ views: 29 percent of Republicans have a favorable opinion of Congress, compared with 22 percent of Democrats (and 19 percent of independents).”
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