---
"title": "Nation Building — at Home"
"description": "Seven-in-ten Americans say President Obama should focus on domestic policy."
"date": "2009-01-27"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "Russell Heimlich"
    "job_title": "Former web developer"
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/short-reads/2009/01/27/nation-building-at-home/"
---

# Nation Building — at Home

While it is not unusual for the public to prioritize domestic over foreign policy, the balance of opinion today — 71% to11% in favor of domestic — is particularly one-sided. Just last January, nearly a third of Americans (31%) said the focus should be on foreign policy. Republicans were evenly split last January (45% to 45%) on the question of domestic versus foreign policy, creating a 17-point gap with Democrats in prioritizing domestic policy. That gap has been cut in half a year later, and now Democrats, independents and Republicans generally agree that it is more important for President Obama to focus on domestic policy than on foreign policy [Read More](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/pubs/1087/economy-jobs-top-public-priorities-2009)