27 March 2016

Superman beats Batman, Muhammad Ali beats Tyson, Reagan beats Obama

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For Easter Saturday we asked YouGov’s US panel three fun and not-to-be-taken-completely-seriously questions.  The idea for three hypothetical match up questions was provoked by the release of Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice – not, it must be acknowledged, to great reviews. Poor Ben Affleck – he really needs something to go well for him soon.

For YouGov’s First Verdict panel there was an overwhelming view that the very human crimefighter of Gotham City would lose out to the superhero from Planet Krypton in a direct fight. Perhaps we should have included Wonder Woman in the question, too? Too late to give that a whirl now, unfortunately.
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There was an even bigger vote of confidence from the YouGov Panel in the boxing superhero of yesteryear; Muhammad Ali. By 64% to 18% the people of America think he’d get the better of Mike Tyson in a boxing ring. Or, perhaps, quite a number of Americans just hoped that Ali would prevail over such a controversial character?Screen Shot 2016-03-27 at 12.57.45
And, thirdly, and most interestingly for political geeks like me, we asked who would win an election between the man Republicans revere as their favourite Commander-in-Chief – Ronald Reagan – and the president most respected by Democrats – the current resident of the White House, Barack Obama. It was a surprisingly large victory for President Reagan – by 60% to 34%. There might be an element, with Obama still in office, of the policy controversies of today being simply too raw? Or, perhaps, an element of rose-tinted spectacles about the Reagan era that helps explain his near two-to-one advantage? There might be some recognition of Reagan’s historic, all-but-Minnesota electoral landslide victory in 1984 and that our times, today, could use his “Great Communicator” skills and sunny disposition? Screen Shot 2016-03-27 at 12.57.54

Anyway, victories for Reagan, Superman and Muhammad Ali. Back to more serious questions in our next posting…

And, PS, Happy Easter!

For more about Portrait of America and the methodology behind First Verdict, click here.

For the complete Portrait of America catalog, click here.

Tim Montgomerie is Editor of Portrait of America