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 1,002 registered voters conducted March 25-29, 2021. Additional interviews were conducted among 103 Hispanic voters, 100 African American voters, 100 independents without a partisan lean, and 100 Asian American and Pacific Islander voters.
Key takeaways
- While fewer report hearing about the American Rescue Plan — especially younger Americans, women, and independents — more than seven in ten Americans support it.
- News headlines focusing on direct money and economic growth seen as having greatest benefits for “people like you.”
- An effective rebuttal to criticisms of the child tax credit centers the impact of the pandemic and the financial struggles it has created for families.
Support for the American Rescue Plan Remains Consistent and Widespread
Only Half of Americans Are Hearing About the American Rescue Plan
After several weeks of increasingly hearing more about the American Rescue Plan, awareness of it began to revert in this week’s survey.
Younger Americans, Low-Income Republicans, Independents, and Women Hearing Least About Stimulus
Groups hearing the most about it live in union households (69% “a lot” or “some”), are liberal Democrats (58%), are urban Americans (56%), or are college-educated (55%).
Helpful Headlines for Selling the ARP Center Checks, Middle Class Benefits, Tax Credits, and Economic Growth
Highlighting How Child Tax Credit Will Benefit Struggling Families Is More Effective Than Calling It “Revolutionary”
Both language of a “revolutionary change” and helping struggling families are effective rebuttals to Republican criticisms of the child tax credit in the American Rescue Plan – but struggling families resonate more.
Majority Continue to Say Economy “Not So Good” or “Poor”
Just a quarter of Americans say the economy is “excellent” or “good,” largely driven by Democrats (34%).
- On a separate question, 48% say they feel “uneasy” about their personal financial situation.
Biden Seen as for the Middle and Working Class, While Republicans Are for the Wealthy and Corporations
Among independents, nearly half say Biden is for the middle and working class and the same share say Republicans are for the wealthy and big corporations.
