{"id":49938,"date":"2012-08-02T06:48:42","date_gmt":"2012-08-02T11:48:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2012\/08\/02\/little-public-awareness-of-outside-campaign-spending-boom\/"},"modified":"2024-04-14T03:48:09","modified_gmt":"2024-04-14T08:48:09","slug":"little-public-awareness-of-outside-campaign-spending-boom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2012\/08\/02\/little-public-awareness-of-outside-campaign-spending-boom\/","title":{"rendered":"Little Public Awareness of Outside Campaign Spending Boom"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

The public is hearing little about increased spending by outside groups in the 2012 election. Just 25% have heard a lot about outside spending by groups not associated with the candidates or campaigns, while three-quarters are hearing a little (36%) or nothing at all (39%) about this. In fact, the term \u201csuper PAC\u201d itself is not widely known: Just 40% can correctly identify the term, nearly half (46%) don\u2019t know what it refers to, while 14% give incorrect responses.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

When asked an open-ended question about the effect of increased outside spending on the election, a plurality (48%) expresses no opinion. About equal percentages indicate the effect will be neutral (27%) or negative (24%). Just 2% give a positive response about the effect of more outside political spending.<\/p>\n\n

Those who have heard a lot about this issue \u2013which includes nearly equal shares of Republicans and Democrats \u2013 nearly half (47%) say increased outside election spending say it will have a negative effect, while 35% say it will have a neutral effect. Among those who have heard little or nothing about increased outside spending, most (59%) have no opinion; 24% say the impact will neutral and 16% say it will be negative.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and The Washington Post, conducted July 26-29, 2012 among 1,010 adults, finds that few people thing either Barack Obama or Mitt Romney is gaining an advantage as a result of increased election spending by outside groups. About half (51%) say neither candidate will benefit more than the other, 16% say Romney will benefit more than Obama, while about as many (15%) say Obama will benefit more than Romney.<\/p>\n\n

There are only modest partisan differences in views of whether Obama or Romney will benefit more from increased spending by outside groups. A majority of Republicans (55%) and a plurality of Democrats (42%) say neither candidate will benefit more than the other.<\/p>\n\n

Among those who have heard a lot about increased campaign spending by outside groups, 34% say Romney will benefit more than Obama, while 16% say Obama will benefit more.<\/p>\n\n

Super PACs Not Widely Known<\/h3>\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Reflecting the public\u2019s low level of awareness about campaign finance and this year\u2019s election, just 40% can correctly identify a \u201csuper PAC\u201d as a group that is able to accept unlimited political donations. Nearly half (46%) don\u2019t know what the term refers to, while 14% give incorrect responses.<\/p>\n\n

Partisan differences in knowledge of the term are modest. Seven-in-ten (70%) of those who have heard a lot about increased campaign spending by outside groups correctly identify a Super-PAC. That compared with just 30% of those who have heard less about the issue.<\/p>\n\n

\u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The public is hearing little about increased spending by outside groups in the 2012 election. Just 25% have heard a lot about outside spending by groups not associated with the candidates or campaigns, while three-quarters are hearing a little (36%) or nothing at all (39%) about this. 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