I will now start labeling new political science research with the #polisciresearch hashtag in the hopes that it leads to more coordination & research sharing.
#SocSciResearch will still be available for the archive & my tweets of non-polisci papers.
Harris is doing much better than Biden & than pre-dropout polls. Some potential nudges to theory that may provoke: 1) candidate factors still matter & aren't just due to quality or moderation 2) how incumbent parties are judged economically is interpreted through the candidate
3) undecided & temporary 3rd party voters are real; many swing voters don't pay attention until it draws them 4) both mainstream & new media tenor matter, can switch quickly & then be self-reinforcing 5) when voters don't know much about candidates, impressions can change quickly
6) women & minority candidates no longer face any immediate net disadvantage 7) abnormal demographic trends have capacity to return to normal but not due to polling error 8) some disapproval (I won't listen to them anymore) is stronger than others (I haven't heard anything good)
Our new paper "Building Back with Partial Praise: Public Opinion on the Biden Agenda" for #SPSA2024
Build Back Better's modest popularity was mostly but not entirely a product of mixed views on its provisions. The Inflation Reduction Act was more popular.matthewg.org/IRA_BBB_Southe…
The eventual law (IRA) was more popular than BBB while it was being debated. Describing BBB only with Biden & name was less popular than outlining its provisions, but not after voters evaluated provisions. Provision information did not affect IRA opinion. matthewg.org/IRA_BBB_Southe…
Support for both BBB & IRA was higher when voters supported more of their provisions. But voters appeared to hold BBB to a higher standard, needing to support most of its provisions to support the package as a whole matthewg.org/IRA_BBB_Southe…
Biden is not preparing to act alone & default is very unlikely, as is a long-term clean debt limit lift. Whatever the posturing, we are mostly waiting on the terms of Dems' concessions. That likely includes budget caps & more. We may get no hints today but structure is mostly set
Potential but not probable hints today would include: 1) assignment of people to spearhead budget caps dissuasion 2) Dem comments on Rep concessions with varying degrees of disdain (eg non-starter vs we can work on) 3) talk of debt limit extension timing with further budget talks
Possible Dems may be able to delay concessions (or give some now & more later), but won't get limit past election without concessions. Even (unlikely) unilateral action would really be a delay; they'd still be negotiating under threat:
State government policy becomes consistent with state public opinion as conservative & liberal states elect Republican & Democratic officials & as officials adjust policy to public opinion
State public opinion has grown more liberal over the long-term on racial issues, more liberal over the short term on cultural issues, & moved up & down on economic issues after a move right
State public policy has grown consistently more liberal on economic & cultural policies over time, but states have begun to diverge more in recent years & to be relatively more liberal or conservative based on their partisanship & public opinion
Highly recommend “The Bitter End” by @johnmsides@vavreck@CTausanovitch
on the 2020 election, a campaign where not much changed opinions despite lots of big news
Here is the relatively stable horse race & consistent Biden favorability advantage 1/n
The primary race was, by the end, less stable. But Biden & Sanders drew most coverage & public support for most of the campaign. & Biden won with a similar coalition as Clinton: older & more partisan voters & Black voters
Biden was judged ideologically closer to Dem voters. But many voters weren’t judging candidates ideologically. Only 52% placed both candidates & had Sanders to left of Biden; 21% saw no difference: 10% reversed it; rest couldn’t place
Americans increasingly perceive the Republican Party as the more conservative party but some Americans remain ideologically confused isr-anesweb.isr.umich.edu/ANES_Data_Tool…
Americans are also reporting more frequent conversations about politics since Trump, with only 9% of Americans saying they are not talking at all about politics with friends or family