New Pew Survey Reveals Troubling/Humorous Voter Ignorance on GOP Candidates

Alyssa Meza

Republican presidential candidates Gov. Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul during the NBC News Facebook Debate on January 8, 2012. (Photo by ALEX WONG/ Getty Images)
The Republican primaries have provided some good comedic fodder, and a new study from the Pew Research Center has unearthed more troubling tidbits about the health of our electoral process.  According to a national survey conducted January 4 -- 8, many voters--Republican and Democrat alike--are unaware of major facts about the GOP candidates vying to run the country.   Only 45 percent of registered voters knew that South Carolina would hold the next primary after Iowa and New Hampshire, and 44 percent knew Ron Paul opposed U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan. As for the man who 2% of voters believed to be named Mittens, about half of those surveyed knew Mitt Romney was the former governor of Massachusetts. You'll get 'em next time Mittens!

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Alyssa Meza is a Winter 2012 In These Times editorial intern
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