Trump, Clinton show country’s deep polarization, survey shows
Supporters of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have almost completely different views of what the federal government should do and how it should operate.
While that’s been pretty clear for months as the two parties’ nomination processes have played out, data from more than 9,000 responses to a nationwide presidential election survey give a view of just how different the two leading candidates’ supporters are.
Election Compass USA 2016, a joint effort between American and European academics, analyzed how the supporters of Clinton and Trump agree or disagree with a wide range of issues on immigration, education, the economy, defense and health care. The Spokesman-Review is among news organizations around the country that provide a link to the survey on its website.
The results show “the country is currently permeated by deep polarization,” analysts said.
“It is clear that the two sections of the American electorate supporting the Democratic and Republican frontrunners constitute sections of society with very different outlooks on life,” they said Thursday in a report on current survey results.
Nowhere is that division greater than on health care. Among Trump supporters, 80 percent would abolish the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare; only 1 percent of Clinton supporters would do that.
Other big divisions on statements respondents were asked to consider:
- “Muslims should be subjected to stricter security checks at our airports and borders.” Three-fourths of Trump supporters agreed, compared to about one in 10 Clinton supporters.
- “Illegal immigrants should be denied access to all social services.” More than four of five Trump supporters agreed, compared to about one in 10 Clinton supporters.
- “The federal debt limit should never be increased again, even if the federal government must lower its expenditures.” Three fourths of Trump supporters agreed, compared to about one in seven Clinton supporters.
- “The federal government should only recognize a marriage between one man and one woman.” Just over half of the Trump supporters agreed, compared to about one in 30 Clinton supporters.
- “It should be made much more difficult for people to buy guns.” Nearly nine of 10 Clinton supporters agreed with that, compared to about one in four Trump supporters.
- “Because of environmental concerns, oil and gas drilling should be limited.” Three-fourths of Clinton supporters agreed, compared to only about one in five Trump supporters.
- “The federal government should provide more financial aid to help students.” Four of five Clinton supporters agreed, compared to slightly more than one in four Trump supporters.