Institutions of Democracy

Not long after the 2004 presidential election, the Annenberg Public Policy Center gathered Democratic and Republic strategists for a debriefing and questions from scholars and the media. Day One (December 3) featured presentations by the two presidential campaigns. Matthew Dowd, Mark McKinnon, Alex Castellanos, Elizabeth Cheney, Tucker Eskew and Nicolle Devenish represented the Bush-Cheney campaign.

Republicans narrowed the gap in party allegiance in the 2004 campaign, but are still outnumbered by Democrats, the University of Pennsylvania’s National Annenberg Election Survey shows. Polling of 67,777 registered voters from October 7, 2003, through November 16, 2004, showed that 31.8 percent called themselves Republicans and 34.6 percent said they were Democrats, a Democratic

After the re-election of President George W. Bush, the American public has become more optimistic about the general direction of the country and more supportive of him personally and as president, the University of Pennsylvania’s National Annenberg Election Survey shows. Interviews with 1,307 registered voters, conducted from November 3 through 11, showed that 47 percent

As of Election Eve, only 62 percent of registered voters are “very confident” that their votes will be accurately counted, the University of Pennsylvania’s National Annenberg Election Survey shows. Another 22 percent said they were “somewhat confident.” Voters committed to George W. Bush were much more optimistic than those committed to John Kerry. Seventy-nine percent

Early voting is proceeding at a record pace, with 14 percent of registered voters saying they have already voted, the University of Pennsylvania’s National Annenberg Election Survey shows. That exceeded the 13 percent who told the 2000 Annenberg Survey in post-election interviews that they voted before Election Day. Another 11 percent, in the polling conducted

To committed Bush supporters the war on terrorism is clearly the nation’s biggest problem, twice as important as the economy, the University of Pennsylvania’s National Annenberg Election Survey shows. But to Kerry backers the economy matters most, followed by the war in Iraq and health care, and only then by terrorism. The ever-smaller group of

Committed Kerry voters are more active than solid Bush backers in campaign activities from posting signs or bumper stickers to giving money to candidates to just talking about the campaign, the University of Pennsylvania’s National Annenberg Election Survey shows. Committed Bush supporters attend more religious services than firm Kerry supporters, are more likely to be

The public’s knowledge of the presidential candidates’ positions on issues such as tax cuts and re-importation of drugs from Canada increased after the three presidential debates, the University of Pennsylvania’s National Annenberg Election Survey shows. There were smaller changes in perceptions of the individual traits of President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry. Kerry

Since the presidential debates, John Kerry has emerged with a clear advantage on economic issues among the general public and with political independents in particular, but George W. Bush maintained his edge on terrorism and as Commander-in-Chief, the University of Pennsylvania’s National Annenberg Election Survey shows. The survey also found higher hopes for Kerry on

Twenty-two percent of America’s registered voters say they have already voted or plan to vote before Election Day, the University of Pennsylvania’s National Annenberg Election Survey shows. In a comparable period in 2000, 19 percent of registered voters either planned to vote before Election Day or had already voted. Five percent said they have already