January 5-9, 2011: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press Political Survey—Nationwide poll solicits the public’s views on the importance of government action on poverty.
“(I’d like to ask you about priorities for President (Barack) Obama and Congress this year (2011). As I read from a list, tell me if you think each should be a top priority, important but lower priority, not too important, or should it not be done.) Should…dealing with the problems of poor and needy people be a top priority, important but lower priority, not too important, or should it not be done?”
52% Top priority 
36% Important but lower priority
8% Not too important
2% Should not be done
2% Don’t know/Refused
Subpopulation/Note:Asked of Form 2 half sample.
Survey by Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. Methodology: Conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International, January 5 – January 9, 2011 and based on 1,503 telephone interviews. Sample: national adult. 1000 respondents were interviewed on a landline telephone, and 503 were interviewed on a cell phone, including 235 who had no landline telephone. [USPSRA.012011.R26QF2]
Formal Citation
Pew Research Center for the People, Jan, 2011. Retrieved Jan-31-2011 from the iPOLL Databank, The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut. http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/data_access/ipoll/ipoll.html