What the public knows

Not much, it turns out. The good folks at the Pew Research Center just published a new survey:

While 75% identify the Republicans as the party regarded as doing best in the midterms, fewer than half (46%) know that Republicans will have a majority only in the House when the new Congress convenes in January. About one-in-seven (14%) say the GOP won both the House and Senate; 8% say they won just the Senate; 5% do not think they will have a majority in either chamber; and 27% do not know.

If you avidly follow the news, you probably know all you ever wanted to know about the midterm elections. The media covered it like the Second Coming.

But most folks have a life, god bless ‘em. In a more perfect world, the citizenry should be far more informed about the political currents that affect them. On the other hand, the bleak picture of the electorate painted by pundits and the media is obviously way off base. America is at the Mall and more worried about missing an episode of Dancing with the Stars than the gyrations in Washington.

And despite the blanket coverage John Boehner has gotten in recent weeks, a whopping 62% have never heard of him, let alone know he’s going to be the next Speaker of the House.

I find that hilarious and strangely comforting.