Welcome to NAVIGATOR – a project designed to better understand the American public’s views on issues of the day and help advocates, elected officials, and other interested parties understand the language, imagery, and messaging needed to make and win key policy arguments.
This release features findings from a national online survey of 1,001 registered voters conducted March 11-15, 2021. Additional interviews were conducted among 101 Hispanic voters, 105 African American voters, 103 independents without a partisan lean, and 67 Asian American and Pacific Islander voters.
Key takeaways
- Following passage of the “American Rescue Plan,” a majority now report hearing about it while support remains vast.
- While bipartisan majorities see a range of proposals from the stimulus package as important to the economy, top-rated policies are $1,400 stimulus checks and increased vaccines.
- Biden’s net approval rating on his handling of the economy has increased 6 points following the passage of the stimulus.
Support for Stimulus Remains High As More Hear About It
As a majority now report having heard “a lot” or “some” about the stimulus, seven in ten continue to support it.
Independents, Service Industry Workers, Women, and Rural Americans Least Likely to Have Heard About Stimulus
Additionally, 2020 Trump voters, younger Americans, non-college educated Americans, and people making less than $50,000 annually are more likely to say they have heard “a little” or “nothing” about the package.
Bipartisan Majorities View a Variety of Policies in the “American Rescue Plan” as Important to Economy
More than three in five Democrats, independents, and Republicans rate each proposal as important to the economy.
- At least 59% of 2020 Trump voters rate each as important, including 67% who say so of the $1,400 checks.
Checks in Pockets and Shots in Arms Are Key
Even among 2020 Trump voters (52%) and Fox News Republicans (57%), majorities say checks are most important.
Range of Progressive Messaging Rebutting Concerns About Costs of the Stimulus Package Are All Effective
Messaging focused on specifics of the bill, the emotional toll of the pandemic, and urgency all are effective.
Stimulus Package and Vaccines Dominate Positive Conversation on Biden
More than nine in ten Democrats (95%), 72% of independents, and 51% of Republicans report having heard “mostly positive” or “a mix of positive and negative” things on Biden in the last few days.
Biden’s Ratings on Economy Climb After Passage of Stimulus
Biden’s net approval rating on the economy has improved 6 points since March 1st.
- His net approval rating improved by 11 points among Republicans (from -69 to -58) and by 9 points among Black Americans (from +71 to +80) since March 1st.
Biden and Democrats More Trusted On Range of Issues Related to Economy, Recovery, and Pandemic
Independents trust Biden and Democrats over Republicans to handle relief for people who cannot afford to pay their bills (by 42 points) and combatting the pandemic (by 30 points).
