Photos: The Week in Polls: July 14

Americans share opinions about news and political issues.

The Debt Ceiling: To Raise or Not to Raise - Both Democratic and Republican leaders agree that not raising the nation’s debt ceiling is not an option, but a majority of Americans want their congressional representatives to vote against it. A Gallup poll shows that 42 percent oppose raising the ceiling, 22 percent support it and 35 percent don’t know enough about the issue to pick a side. Republicans are far more opposed (39 percent) than Democrats (21 percent) and independents (46 percent). Another survey found that 53 percent of people who say they are watching the issue very closely want their member to just say “nay.”(Photo: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

1 / 5

The Debt Ceiling: To Raise or Not to Raise - Both Democratic and Republican leaders agree that not raising the nation’s debt ceiling is not an option, but a majority of Americans want their congressional representatives to vote against it. A Gallup poll shows that 42 percent oppose raising the ceiling, 22 percent support it and 35 percent don’t know enough about the issue to pick a side. Republicans are far more opposed (39 percent) than Democrats (21 percent) and independents (46 percent). Another survey found that 53 percent of people who say they are watching the issue very closely want their member to just say “nay.”(Photo: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Public Divided Over Consequences of Default - A Pew Research Center survey shows that 42 percent of the American public is worried about the risks of not raising the debt limit, up from 35 percent in May. But, 47 percent say they are more concerned that raising the debt limit will lead to higher government spending and an even bigger debt, while 42 percent say their biggest concern is that not raising the limit would force the government into default and further damage the economy.(Photo: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

2 / 5

Public Divided Over Consequences of Default - A Pew Research Center survey shows that 42 percent of the American public is worried about the risks of not raising the debt limit, up from 35 percent in May. But, 47 percent say they are more concerned that raising the debt limit will lead to higher government spending and an even bigger debt, while 42 percent say their biggest concern is that not raising the limit would force the government into default and further damage the economy.(Photo: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

The Republican Field - Sarah Palin is still mulling over a presidential bid and continues to be a factor in the GOP nominating race, according to a new Gallup poll. In addition to extremely high name recognition at 95 percent, she ties with the current field's frontrunner, Mitt Romney, with a "positive intensity" score of 15. The two are less intensely positive than Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann, however, who had scores around 23 and 18, respectively.(Photo: AP Photo/Jim Mone)

3 / 5

The Republican Field - Sarah Palin is still mulling over a presidential bid and continues to be a factor in the GOP nominating race, according to a new Gallup poll. In addition to extremely high name recognition at 95 percent, she ties with the current field's frontrunner, Mitt Romney, with a "positive intensity" score of 15. The two are less intensely positive than Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann, however, who had scores around 23 and 18, respectively.(Photo: AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Bachmann Surging - Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann is on a serious roll. In addition to gaining the lead in a second Iowa poll in which she leads Mitt Romney by four points, the Minnesota Republican is catching on nationally, too. She has more than doubled her supporting the last two weeks from 6 percent to 14 percent, coming in second to Romney in a new Quinnipiac University survey.\r(Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

4 / 5

Bachmann Surging - Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann is on a serious roll. In addition to gaining the lead in a second Iowa poll in which she leads Mitt Romney by four points, the Minnesota Republican is catching on nationally, too. She has more than doubled her supporting the last two weeks from 6 percent to 14 percent, coming in second to Romney in a new Quinnipiac University survey.\r(Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Mitt Romney  - Mitt Romney has some deciding to do. The perceived frontrunner now faces some stiff competition from Perry. As The Washington Post reports, when Perry starts going after him, Romney “won’t know what hit him.”(Photo: AP Photo/Jim Cole)

5 / 5

Obama v. GOP Challengers - A Quinnipiac University survey shows that President Obama leads his Republican challengers, reaching 50 percent or higher against all of the GOP contenders except Mitt Romney. Still, he would beat the former Massachusetts governor as well, by 47 to 41 percent.(Photo: AP Photo/Jim Cole)