One thing that is clear, thanks to polling released this week by NPR, PBS NewsHour and Marist, is, while Ford is probably in the more difficult position personally, it’s Kavanaugh that has his work cut out for him.

That poll shows that a small majority of Americans have been tracking the confirmation process. More Republicans and more men have been paying attention than Democrats and women, according to the poll. Those groups (that is, Republicans and men who are tracking the confirmation) probably have substantial overlap.

A larger percentage of Americans indicated they planned to follow the hearing that will air on Thursday. Just over 6 in 10 voters (and just under 6 in 10 Americans overall) plan to pay close attention to the hearing.

What’s interesting about the poll, though, is that interest in the process is compared to views of the participants.

Understandably, those who haven’t been paying as close attention are more likely to have unclear views on whose story they believe. Overall, more Americans believe Ford’s allegations (particularly among Democrats). Among those who have been tracking the confirmation hearings, the difference is about 4 points, within the margin of error. (The overall margin is the same.)

Notice that outlined box, though: Those who don’t plan to follow the hearing closely are about split in whom they believe, with well over half having no opinion. There is a good way to resolve that uncertainty, of course: They could watch the hearing. This poll was completed on Monday, so perhaps more plan to tune in by now.

One interesting bit of data: Those who haven’t paid close attention to the confirmation process are far more likely to hold unfavorable views of Kavanaugh than favorable views. That suggests either that the population that’s paying less attention is picking up mostly negative information that filters out — or that those more inclined to oppose Kavanaugh are less likely to pay close attention.

(Notice, too, the gender split on that chart.)

Support for Kavanaugh’s nomination is mixed. By party and gender, though, there are wide divides.

Perhaps the most remarkable finding of the poll is that 3-in-10 Americans — and more than half of Republicans! — think that the resolution of who’s telling the truth is unimportant. Even if Ford is proven true, those percentages believe that Kavanaugh should be confirmed.