A Close Contest
The race for the Democratic presidential nomination went to Hawaii and Wisconsin on Tuesday, with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama neck-and-neck in the delegate count. If a PSRA/Newsweek poll conducted in early February is any indication, neither has a significant edge among Democrats nationally. Forty-two percent of Democrats say they would most like to see Obama become the Democratic Party's candidate, compared to 41 percent who say they prefer Clinton. Strength of opinion is similarly split: 60 percent of Obama's supporters, compared to 62 percent of Clinton's supporters, describe their support as strong. Forty-three percent of Democrats say Clinton comes closer to their way of thinking on major issues; 42 percent say the same of Obama. And 84 percent of Democrats say they would be satisfied with a Clinton candidacy—identical to the 84 percent who say that for Obama.  Source: PSRA/Newsweek, February 2008.  
 

Health Care Woes

Dissatisfaction with health care is widespread across the globe, a new survey by Harris Interactive, France 24, and the International Herald Tribune reports. Only in one country (Spain) of the six surveyed did more people say their country was handling the issue “well” rather than “badly.” Americans were the most critical: 68 percent of them said the United States was handling health care badly.

Source: Harris Interactive, France 24, International Herald Tribune, January 2008.

What Albatross?

Many pundits have speculated that Iraq may be an albatross for the Republican presidential nominee. But according to a new Gallup poll, a majority of Americans think Republican John McCain would handle Iraq better than either of the Democratic frontrunners.

Source: The Gallup Organization, February 2008.

Movie Madness
Film—and fashion—will take center stage at this Sunday’s Academy Awards. But glitz aside, just how influential is Hollywood? According to recent Time magazine poll, 10 percent of Americans say that a movie or a documentary inspired them to contact a politician, and roughly the same percentage say that a film inspired them to vote differently. Sixteen percent say that a movie or a documentary prompted them to donate to a charity; 14 percent say that a film spurred them to volunteer for a cause. Nearly three in ten say that a movie or a documentary caused them to change their mind about an issue. Source: ABT SRBI for Time, February 2008.