Smart Talk Monday; What Pa. voters are saying in latest F&M poll

The latest Franklin and Marshall College poll of registered voters released this week noted several key findings.

Pennsylvanians are “generally” optimistic that the state is “heading in the right direction.” Although, that percentage dropped from the October 2019 poll.

Respondents also consider COVID-19 the most important problem facing the state and may, as a result, feel less optimistic about their finances. The 2020 general election and voter intentions were also key poll questions.

Franklin and Marshall College political analyst and pollster Dr. G. Terry Madonna, Ph.D., appears on Monday’s Smart Talk to discuss the results and provide perspective.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, social distancing and mask-wearing have been important tools in the plan to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Different countries and even communities have been slower to advocate for and require masks in public places. Many public health officials believe this is the reason the U.S. is experiencing a COVID-19 surge in different parts of the country.

A recent study on mask wearers found a gender divide in mask wearing, with men more likely to resist wearing masks. So, is there a correlation between mask wearing and masculinity?

Joining Smart Talk to explore the attitudes toward mask-wearing is study author Rolfe Peterson, Ph.D., assistant professor of Political Science at Susquehanna University.