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Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Americans Disappointed with Current Leaders
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Many adults in the United States express concern over the state of leadership in their country, according to a poll by The Segmentation Company and Yankelovich, Inc. for the Center for Public Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University published in U.S. News & World Report. 55 per cent of respondents think their country has worse leaders now than 20 years ago.
In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2004, Republican George W. Bush earned a second term after securing 286 electoral votes from 31 states. Democratic nominee John Kerry received 252 electoral votes from 19 states and the District of Columbia. 54 per cent of respondents say they are generally not proud of most leaders in the country today.
In the November 2004 congressional ballot, the Republican Party elected 232 lawmakers to the U.S. House of Representatives, while the Democratic Party secured 202 seats. The Republicans also have a majority in the Senate, with 55 members in the 100-seat upper house.
American voters will renew the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate in November 2006.
Polling Data
Compared to 20 years ago, do you think we have better leaders today or worse leaders today?
Better | 29% |
Worse | 55% |
The same | 11% |
In general, are you proud or not proud of most leaders in this country today?
Proud | 43% |
Not proud | 54% |
Source: The Segmentation Company (TSC) / Yankelovich, Inc. / Center for Public Leadership (CPL) at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University / U.S. News & World Report
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,374 American adults, conducted from Sept. 13 to Sept. 23, 2005. Margin of error is 2.8 per cent.
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