The number of people who say they are Republican or leaning Republican is down, down to 36 percent in Pew Research Center polls.

NPR: Conservatively Speaking, Things Look Bad

Polls back him up: Pew finds that Americans still think the federal government controls too much of their lives.

ECONOMIST: Government v market in America

Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Centre, sees a parallel with 1981, when polls showed high approval for Reagan coupled with anxiety about his policies, such as cuts to Social Security (government-funded pensions) and welfare.

ECONOMIST: Government v market in America

Among the most scientific and serious polls was the large-sample survey (844 respondents) by the Pew Research Center from Jan. 30 through Feb. 2.

CNN: By Ronald D. Elving, CQ Staff Writer

Both sides are encouraged down this path by the fact that, while voters say they don't like negative campaigning, polls show it often works, said Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center.

WSJ: Campaign 2012: Parties Seek Positives in Negative Tone

Two days after her victory, Andrew Kohut, of the Pew Research Center, published an Op-Ed in the Times about the failure of polls to predict the outcome.

NEWYORKER: The Hardest Vote