The College Fix

A new poll from Stanford University, highlighted by the New York Times, shows that an “overwhelming majority of the American public, including half of Republicans, support government action to curb global warming.”

Stating the findings “could have implications for the 2016 presidential campaign,” the poll also found that over sixty percent of the public were “more likely” to choose a politician who campaigned on combating global warming climate change.

The Times reports:

The poll found that 83 percent of Americans, including 61 percent of Republicans and 86 percent of independents, say that if nothing is done to reduce emissions, global warming will be a very or somewhat serious problem in the future.

But substantial differences remain between the two parties on the issue.

Democrats are much more likely than Republicans or independents to say that the issue of global warming is important to them. Among Democrats, 63 percent said the issue was very or extremely important to them personally. In contrast, 40 percent of independents and only 18 percent of Republicans said the same.

And while the poll found that 74 percent of Americans said that the federal government should be doing a substantial amount to combat climate change, the support was greatest among Democrats and independents. Ninety-one percent of Democrats, 78 percent of independents and 51 percent of Republicans said the government should be fighting climate change.

But cleverly noted in the fifth paragraph, the article says “Although the poll found that climate change was not a top issue in determining a person’s vote …”

No kidding. Not only has the topic typically not been a “top issue,” it’s routinely listed at or near the bottom of American worries.

According to Gallup, climate change ranked second from the bottom of American public concerns for 2014 … out of fifteen items. Only race relations ranked lower.

Read the full Times article.

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