Over 20 percent of people surveyed for a newly released poll believe that violence "may be necessary" to secure their 2024 political objectives.
An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released Wednesday found that just 79 percent of Americans oppose the use of violence "to get the nation back on track."
When looking at the results by political party, 89 percent of Democrats oppose the use of political violence, as well as 82 percent of independents. Just 70 percent of Republicans said the same.
"In contrast, while Republicans coalesce on some issues, they are less cohesive than Democrats," the pollsters report. "Republicans agree that all immigrants who came to the country illegally should be deported (84%), they have friends with different political views (81%), discrimination against white people is as problematic as discrimination against Black Americans (77%), and the Americans Dream is still attainable (68%). They are also united in their opposition to legal consequences for someone who has had an abortion (79%) and that Americans may have to resort to violence to get the country back on track (70%)."
Additionally, just 38 percent of Republicans told Marist they believe President Joe Biden won the 2020 election. Only 28 percent of independents agreed — and three percent of Democrats.
The pollsters wrote, "They are less united on the questions of allowing ownership of military-style assault weapons (62% agree to 37% disagree), the need for a leader who is willing to break rules to get the nation back on track (56% agree to 43% disagree), whether corporate greed is a major cause of inflation (57% agree to 41% disagree), permitting religion to play a role in government policy (40% agree to 58% disagree), recognizing Biden as the legitimate winner of the 2020 election (38% agree to 61% disagree), and granting immunity to a president who has committed crimes while in office (34% agree to 63% disagree)."
Interestingly, the poll found that about four in ten voters can be persuaded to change their vote, "including 29% who say they have a good idea for whom they will vote but could still switch to another candidate and 12% who have not made up their minds. 63% of Biden’s supporters, compared with 59% of Trump’s supporters, say their vote is solid."
"The presidential contest remains close, but there are some interesting twists which run counter to the conventional wisdom," said Lee M. Miringoff, Director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. "Three points to note: first, about four in ten voters are not rock solid in their choice for president; second, Biden supporters are slightly more locked in; and third, Democrats are more cohesive in their positions on the issues."
