While 65% of Democrats rate universal health insurance a top priority, only 27% of Republicans agree — the largest partisan difference recorded for any issue in a recent Pew poll.

More than a quarter of Americans (27%) say this year’s State of the Union address is less important than those in the past; last year just 16% saw the 2007 State of the Union address as less important than those in past years.

Three-quarters of Americans (75%), now rate strengthening the economy as a top priority for policymakers — up from 68% a year ago. Much of the increased emphasis comes from upper socio-economic groups.

That’s the small percentage of Republicans who say that dealing with global warming should be a top priority for the president and Congress.

Nearly nine-in-ten black respondents (87%) view TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey as a positive influence in the black community; in a virtual tie with Winfrey is comedian, actor and author Bill Cosby.

Most American Muslims (61%) express optimism that a balanced solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be found.

That’s the proportion of adults who said they were especially looking forward to baseball’s World Series according to a January Pew survey, down 13 points from 1988.