I talk about this a bit in the piece, but, as states are starting to re-open, I wanted to compare binary questions (states should/should not close) with ones that include more middle options.
Americans say 67% to 21%, state stay-at-home orders are the right decision.
In another question, 30% want to see their area remain entirely shut down, 46% some re-openings, 12% all restrictions lifted.
In another question, 30% want to see their area remain entirely shut down, 46% some re-openings, 12% all restrictions lifted.
In other words, there's significant desire for some phased reopening, but little appetite for total end to shutdowns. And if pushed to choose, most will take side of caution. 57% are more concerned about states reopening too quickly, 29% too slowly.
There are both partisan and geographical divides about the course people want to see their local policies take, but even among less-urban Republicans, support for total reopening maxes out at 35%.
huffpost.com/entry/us-coron…
huffpost.com/entry/us-coron…
Meanwhile, most Americans also say they're being cautious in their own behavior. 79% are still trying to stay home as much as possible.
Here's what those staying home say they'd do if restrictions were all lifted:
-54% still stay at home as much as possible
-33% go out more, but take major precautions
-10% go back to living as normally as possible
-54% still stay at home as much as possible
-33% go out more, but take major precautions
-10% go back to living as normally as possible
Finally, approval ratings for handling of coronavirus issues by both Trump and the U.S. government are continuing to decline, with the latter crossing into net negative territory for the first time in our polling since February.
Full story: huffpost.com/entry/poll-reo…
Crosstabs (PDF): big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/athena/files/2…
Crosstabs (interactive!):
app.crunch.io/api/public/cru…
Crosstabs (PDF): big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/athena/files/2…
Crosstabs (interactive!):
app.crunch.io/api/public/cru…
Final thought: this is a 2-point scale (stay-at-home, yes/no) vs. a 3-point scale (total restrictions/some/none). A 4-point scale (total restrictions/many/just a few/none?) would likely look different still. I don't know that one is the "correct" way.
Instead, hopefully, taken together, they help give us a more nuanced picture of how Americans are reacting.
