A major new US survey finds worsening views of Donald Trump among independents and Hispanic voters, widespread economic pessimism and deep partisan divisions over elections, immigration and foreign policy.
The surveys on Trump and the election keep rolling in. And there is one common factor – they are all getting worse.
The 17th annual American Values Survey by the Public Religion Research Institute (20/10) in partnership with the Brookings Institution found that 58 per cent of Americans see Trump as a threat to democracy, with six in 10 Americans saying: “President Trump is a potentially dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy.”
The survey found that two-thirds (64 per cent) of independents and similar numbers of Hispanic Americans agree Trump is a dangerous dictator whose power should be limited.
Two-thirds (68 per cent) of Americans say their opinion of Trump has mostly changed for the worse over the past two years. His favourability among Hispanic Protestants has dropped from 51 per cent to 31 per cent today.
Hispanic voters are twice as likely as white Trump voters (22 per cent versus 11 per cent) to express regret about their vote choice.
PRRI CEO Dr Melissa Deckman says Trump’s gains are clearly not a long-term realignment “as we see Black, Hispanic and young male voters moving back to Democrats”.
The survey found that 71 per cent of Americans say the country (71 per cent) and the economy (76 per cent) are going in the wrong direction.
Amazingly (or perhaps not, given who is benefiting and who is not among Americans), 41 per cent of Americans agree that capitalism is no longer working for average Americans and the country should consider adopting some aspects of socialism. Among Americans aged 18 to 29, 48 per cent support adopting some aspects of socialism.
Although Republicans and white evangelical Protestants have moved strongly in favour of deportations, 59 per cent of Americans still favour providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
Trump blathering about elections has meant confidence in elections remains fragile. Most Republicans (82 per cent) say the biggest problem in US elections is ineligible people casting votes, while 80 per cent of Democrats say the biggest problem is eligible voters being denied the right to vote.
Among other findings, the report found that majorities of both Democrats and Republicans say the rising cost of housing and everyday expenses (61 per cent) and electing leaders of good moral character (59 per cent) are critical issues.
Among Republicans, concern about electing leaders of good moral character has little impact on favourable views of Donald Trump, with Trump favourability at 73 per cent among those saying this is critical and 79 per cent among those who say it is not critical.
Majorities of Republicans and white evangelical Protestants support detaining undocumented immigrants in internment camps until they can be deported (62 per cent and 53 per cent). So much for Christian charity.
One message that hasn’t got to Trump is about self-enrichment by using the power of his office. Large bipartisan majorities say it should be illegal for elected officials to use their office to benefit themselves or their families financially (88 per cent), to draw voting maps for partisan advantage (83 per cent), or to buy or sell individual stocks while in office (80 per cent).
Just one-third of Americans (36 per cent), but 71 per cent of Republicans, agree that the United States was justified in carrying out military strikes against Iran.
Another amazing finding is that nearly two-thirds of Americans (64 per cent) agree the United States provides too much financial and military support to Israel, compared with three in 10 (30 per cent) who disagree.
Noel Turnbull has had a 50-year-plus career in public relations, politics, journalism and academia. He blogs at http://noelturnbull.com/blog/