OPINION:
Those who wonder if President Obama was born in the U.S. got much press in years past. In response to persistent media interest, Mr. Obama released a copy of his long form birth certificate in 2011; his re-election campaign even embellished an image of it on a promotional coffee mug for good measure.
Donald Trump was especially interested, even telling ABC News last year, “Was there a birth certificate? You tell me. Some people say that was not his birth certificate. I’m saying I don’t know. Nobody knows.”
But suspicious sentiments about Mr. Obama’s birthplace still linger, even swaying public opinion about where he should site his presidential library when the time comes. And a surprising two thirds of GOP respondents admit they still have doubts.
Just the numbers then, from a new YouGov/Economist poll of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted Feb. 8-10.
70 percent of Americans say a presidential candidate should produce their birth certificate before appearing on a ballot.
67 percent of Americans say people who think President Obama was born outside the U.S.really just “don’t like the President.”
33 percent of Republicans and 74 percent of Democrats agree.
25 percent overall say birther advocates “really believe that”; 49 percent of Republicans and 18 percent of Democrats agree.
62 percent of Americans overall say this statement is true: Mr. Obama “was born in the U.S.”; 34 percent of Republicans and 84 percent of Democrats agree.
38 percent overall say the statement is false.; 66 percent of Republicans and 16 percent of Democrats agree.
30 percent overall say Mr. Obama should locate his future presidential library in Illinois.
24 percent say the library should be located in Hawaii; 21 percent are not sure.
6 percent say the library should be in Kenya, 5 percent say in New York.
This poll is a complicated one, with multiple cross numbers and demographic breakdowns. See it - plus multiple links to more data - here
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