One vote tips the balance

The election of a Republican senator in Massachusetts is being interpreted by many as a wake up call for congress to shape up. Also, Haiti and measuring disaster donation patterns and more, in this week’s What Are We Thinking with Frank Newport, Editor-in-Chief at the Gallup Poll and WHYY’s Dave Heller.

The election of a Republican senator in Massachusetts is being interpreted by many as a wake up call for congress to shape up. It’s also a sign that the much debated health care reform, as it stands now, may be up for grabs once again. Meanwhile the President’s approval rating follows a familiar historic pattern with other presidents in their first year in office. Also, Haiti and measuring disaster donation patterns and more, in this week’s What Are We Thinking with Frank Newport, Editor-in-Chief at the Gallup Poll and WHYY’s Dave Heller.

Listen:
[audio: gallup20100122.mp3]
 
This week on What Are We Thinking:

– New data measuring the impact of the Massachusetts election nationally is just being released and how pre-election polling pretty much told the story

– Wednesday marked the end of President Obama’s first year in office. How does he fare in relation to other elected presidents’ first years? History speaks: A second year dip in ratings appears highly likely. In 1950 (Truman), 1970 (Nixon), 1990 (Bush Sr.) presidents were also finishing their first years in office.

– This is the month for health club sign-ups. But who’s exercising? Income is more important in predicting exercise than age or gender!

– A new poll (Pew) looks at Americans’ reaction to the Haiti crisis, and more.