New national surveys put the inattentiveness of the American public in the spotlight. Two polls show that few are closely following the conflict in Syria, though Americans would be more apt to favor intervention there if chemical weapons use is confirmed. Three years after its passage, Americans are still confused about the Affordable Care Act. And Massachusetts primary voters go to the polls. This is the HuffPost Pollster update for Tuesday, April 30, 2013.
TWO NEW POLLS FIND LOW INTEREST IN SYRIA INTERVENTION - Two new national polls find tepid interest in the conflict in Syria and something less than a groundswell of support for American intervention there. A new CBS/New York Times poll finds finds a big drop since March (from 54 to 39 percent) in Americans saying they have been following the "ongoing violence in Syria" at least somewhat closely. Only 18 percent are following very closely. "Sixty-two percent of the public say the United States has no responsibility to do something about the fighting in Syria between government forces and antigovernment groups, while just one-quarter disagree." [NYTimes; CBS News]
Different reaction to chemical weapons use - Meanwhile, a new Pew Research Center survey produced a slightly different result by introducing the subject of chemical weapons into their question. "By a 45% to 31% margin, more Americans favor than oppose the U.S. and its allies taking military action against Syria, if it is confirmed that Syria used chemical weapons against anti-government groups."
But no increased interest - The Pew Research survey also confirmed low interest in the Syrian conflict: "Since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, it has never drawn much attention from the U.S. public. At most, only about one-in-five have tracked developments in Syria very closely. The new survey, which asked specifically about allegations that the Syrian government used chemical weapons against anti-government groups, finds that 18% say they followed this news very closely while 25% followed it fairly closely." [Pew Research]
HEALTH REFORM LAW CONTINUES TO CONFUSE - "Let's just step back for a second and -- and -- and make sure the American people understand what it is that we're doing. The Affordable Care Act, 'Obamacare,' has now been with us for three years." With those words during his Tuesday press conference, President Obama began a roughly five-minute answer aimed at once again explaining his signature health reform law. [WaPost]
And the Kaiser poll proves it - Just hours before the Kaiser Family Foundation released their latest monthly tracking poll: "Four in ten Americans (42 percent) are unaware that the ACA is still the law of the land, including 12 percent who believe the law has been repealed by Congress, 7 percent who believe it has been overturned by the Supreme Court and 23 percent who don't know whether or not the ACA remains law. And about half the public says they do not have enough information about the health reform law to understand how it will impact their own family."
Awareness weakest with those most affected - The percentage who are unaware that ACA is the law of the land is even higher among 18 to 29 year olds (51 percent) and among those with incomes of less than $30,000 a year (59 percent). [KFF]
MASSACHUSETTS PRIMARY TODAY - Polls close at 8 p.m. EDT. We have a chart for the Democratic primary; only two polls measured the Republican contest. [HuffPost Pollster compilations for Democrats, Republicans]
Boston Globe's Peter Schworm reports turnout via Twitter: "New Bedford expects turnout around 7 percent today for #masen election 'It's basically the diehards,' says an election official." [@globepete]
TUESDAY'S 'OUTLIERS'- Links to more news at the intersection of polling, politics and political data:
- Harvard finds deepening partisanship among millennials. [Harvard IOP]
- Young Americans say their financial situation is getting better. [Gallup]
- Dem pollsters Anzalone Grove Liszt find sweeping support for gun background checks in seven states. [Project New America]
- Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) confirms that his "poll numbers have indeed taken a southerly turn since my vote against the Manchin-Toomey background check proposal." [TPM]
- Nate Silver creates an interactive graphic that allows for different assumptions about immigration reform, population grown and racial voting patterns to predict a future election outcome. [NYTimes]
- Americans aren't riled up about campaign finance reform. [WaPost]
- How do you get a conservative to change a lightbulb? Don't tell them it'll save the environment. [Atlantic Cities]