Faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences pursue collaborative research agendas linked to political communication. They focus undergraduate students’ attention on the symbiosis between politics and communication, with special emphasis on digital technology’s growing role in campaigns and public policy debates. Faculty affiliated with the Center for Political Communication regularly conduct cutting-edge research through national and statewide public opinion polls. Studies sponsored by the CPC have received coverage in a wide range of news outlets, including the Atlantic, the New York Times, the Washington Post, USA Today, US News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Slate, and Wired.
Poll: Anger, anxiety motivate voters in 2018
The political climate has Americans fuming and they report feeling less hopeful and proud heading into the midterm elections. A national poll conducted by RABA Research for the University of Delawares Center of Political Communication found emotions driving increased involvement and engagement as November approaches, especially among women and Millennials. More women than men said they were anxious (50% versus 40%) and angry (66% versus 58%) about politics. Women also reported that they are more likely to vote in the midterm elections this fall, with 63% citing anxiety as the reason and 49% saying it was anger that would drive them to the polls.
Researcher(s):
Hoffman, Dr. Lindsay
CPC RABA Polls_Prof Ath Paid To Play REVISED 032918
A majority of Republicans believe professional athletes should not speak out about politics and causes, with a sizable portion saying it is completely inappropriate for them to do so, according to a new national poll conducted for the University of Delawares Center for Political Communication.
More than 40% of Republicans say it is “not at all appropriate” for professional athletes to speak out about political issues or causes, compared to approximately 5% of Democrats. At the same time, nearly 60% of Democrats say such speech is “very appropriate,” with just over 8% of Republicans saying so. Independents are more evenly distributed across the scale.
The national poll, conducted by RABA Research, comes just weeks after conservative FOX News host Laura Ingraham rebuked LeBron James for “talking politics” and said, “Keep the political comments to yourselves … Shut up and dribble.”
Researcher(s):
Hoffman, Dr. Lindsay, Jones, Dr. Philip Edward, Young, Dr. Danna
Poll: Majority of Americans Say Trump Should Not Run for Re-Election in 2020
More than half of respondents in a new poll said President Trump should not run for re-election in 2020, with an increasing number of Americans calling for a new candidate in the next election. The national poll, the third this year conducted for the University of Delaware’s Center for Political Communication by RABA Research, found that 54% of those questioned said Trump should not run for a second term as President. In a startling gender divide, the majority of men (53%) say they believe he should run, and the majority of women (60%) believe he should not. When broken down by party, just 16% of Democrats said he should run, compared with 77% of Republicans. In a possible sign of a growing fissure within the GOP, 23% of Republican respondents said President Trump should not be the party’s standard-bearer in 2020.
Researcher(s):
Hoffman, Dr. Lindsay, Brewer, Dr. Paul R.