(Newser)
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A new CNN poll finds that, for the first time in poll history, a majority of Americans do not think the government should promote traditional values. In 2010, 53% of registered voters said that it should—and that number had been even higher in 2008, at 57%. But this time around, that number was just four in 10. "Between 1993, when CNN began asking that question, and last year, a majority of respondents have always said that the government should promote traditional values. Now, for the first time, more than half say the government should not favor any particular set of values," says CNN's polling director, who notes that this could be good news for Democrats.
But there was good news for Republicans, too: Six in 10 respondents said the government is doing too much, a number that is close to historically high levels. The poll also found that 56% of respondents believe President Obama will perform better in the presidential debates, which start today, while 55% say Paul Ryan will come out on top in the VP debate. In terms of what issues Americans are most concerned about? No surprise here: the economy and unemployment. Click for more of today's poll results.
