Washington Post-ABC News Poll
Sept. 2008 Poll: Presidential Race | Analysis | Full Poll Data
This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone September 18-21, 2008, among a random sample of 1,001 adults in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points. Among the 857 registered voters it is three points; it is four points among the sample of 698 likely voters. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by TNS of Horsham, Pa.
*= less than 0.5 percent
1. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) How closely are you following the presidential race: very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not closely at all?
---- Closely ----- ---- Not closely ----- No
NET Very Smwt. NET Not too At all opinion
9/21/08 VA 93 58 35 7 6 1 *
10/8/07 VA RV 80 35 46 20 13 6 0
10/8/07 VA All 74 30 44 26 16 10 *
2. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) I'd like you to rate the chances that you will vote in the presidential election in November: Are you absolutely certain to vote, will you probably vote, are the chances 50-50, or less than that?
Don't think
Certain Probably Chances Less than will vote No
to vote vote 50/50 that (vol.) opinion
9/21/08 VA 88 6 5 2 * *
3. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) If the 2008 presidential election were being held today and the candidates were (Barack Obama and Joe Biden, the Democrats) and (John McCain and Sarah Palin, the Republicans), for whom would you vote?
NET LEANED VOTE - LIKELY VOTERS
Other Neither Would not No
Obama McCain (vol.) (vol.) vote (vol.) opinion
9/21/08 VA 49 46 * 2 0 3
9/7/08 NAT 47 49 1 1 0 3
NET LEANED VOTE - REGISTERED VOTERS
Other Neither Would not No
Obama McCain (vol.) (vol.) vote (vol.) opinion
9/21/08 VA 50 44 * 2 1 3
9/7/08 NAT 47 46 1 1 1 4
3b. (IF NAMED CANDIDATE) Would you definitely vote for (CANDIDATE), or is there a chance you could change your mind and vote for someone else? (IF CHANCE CHANGE MIND) Is there a GOOD CHANCE you'll change your mind, or would you say it's PRETTY UNLIKELY?
Definitely -Chance change mind - No
vote for NET Good Unlikely opinion
9/21/08 VA 81 18 5 12 2
9/7/08 NAT 79 20 8 12 1
Barack Obama:
Definitely -Chance change mind - No
vote for NET Good Unlikely opinion
9/21/08 VA 82 17 5 12 1
9/7/08 NAT 78 21 9 12 1
John McCain:
Definitely -Chance change mind - No
vote for NET Good Unlikely opinion
9/21/08 VA 80 18 5 13 2
9/7/08 NAT 80 19 8 11 2
4. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) If the 2008 presidential election were being held today and the candidates were {(Barack Obama and Joe Biden, the Democrats), (John McCain and Sarah Palin, the Republicans)}, {(Bob Barr and Wayne Allen Root, the Libertarian Party candidates), and (Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzales, as independent candidates)}, for whom would you vote?
NET LEANED VOTE - LIKELY VOTERS
Other None Would not No
Obama McCain Barr Nader (vol.) (vol.) vote (vol.) opinion
9/21/08 VA 50 45 1 1 * * * 2
NET LEANED VOTE - REGISTERED VOTERS
Other None Would not No
Obama McCain Barr Nader (vol.) (vol.) vote (vol.) opinion
9/21/08 VA 51 43 2 2 * * * 3
5. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) Will this be the first time you've voted in a presidential election, or have you voted in previous presidential elections?
First time Have voted in previous No opinion
9/21/08 VA 9 91 0
6. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) Now, turning to the U.S. Senate election in Virginia, if the 2008 election for the U.S. Senate were being held today, would you vote for {(Mark Warner, the Democratic candidate), (Jim Gilmore, the Republican candidate)}, {(Gail Parker, the Independent Green candidate), or (William Redpath, the Libertarian candidate)}?
NET LEANED VOTE - LIKELY VOTERS
Other None Would not No
Warner Gilmore Parker Redpath (vol.) (vol.) vote (vol.) op.
9/21/08 VA 61 31 1 1 * 1 1 5
NET LEANED VOTE - REGISTERED VOTERS
Other None Would not No
Warner Gilmore Parker Redpath (vol.) (vol.) vote (vol.) op.
9/21/08 VA 61 29 2 1 * 1 1 5
10/8/07 VA 61 32 NA NA * 2 NA 4
7. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) Do you think things in this country (are generally going in the right direction) or do you feel things (have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track)?
Right Wrong No
direction track opinion
9/21/08 VA 15 83 3
8. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) Thinking ahead to the November presidential election, what is the single most important issue in your choice for president?
9/21/08 9/7/08
VA NAT
Economy/Jobs 50 37
Iraq/War in Iraq 9 10
Health care 6 9
Terrorism/National
security 6 6
Taxes 3 4
Change 3 2
Ethics/Honesty/
Corruption in
government 2 5
Abortion 2 2
Experience 2 2
Gas/Oil prices/Energy 2 4
Education 1 2
Immigration/Illegal
immigration 1 1
Morals/Family values 1 1
Foreign policy 1 1
Guns/Gun control 1 *
Federal budget deficit 1 *
Stock market/Wall
Street * 0
Banking/insurance/
credit problems * 0
Environment * *
Housing/Mortgages * 0
Social Security * *
Global warming 0 *
None/Nothing * 1
Other 5 7
No opinion 3 5
9. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Sarah Palin? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
------- Favorable ------- ------ Unfavorable ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
9/21/08 VA 53 33 20 38 13 25 9
9/7/08 NAT 58 35 23 28 11 17 15
10. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tim Kaine is handling his job as governor?
Approve Disapprove No opinion
9/21/08 VA RV 66 25 9
10/8/07 VA RV 65 26 9
10/8/07 VA All 63 25 12
10/12/06 VA LV 77 19 4
11. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jim Webb is handling his job as U.S. Senator?
Approve Disapprove No opinion
9/21/08 VA RV 54 24 21
10/8/07 VA RV 52 28 20
10/8/07 VA All 50 27 22
12. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) Regardless of who you may support, who do you trust more to handle [ITEM] - (Obama) or (McCain)?
9/21/08 - Summary Table*
Both Neither No
Obama McCain (vol.) (vol.) opinion
a. The economy 51 41 1 5 1
b. Fixing the problems
with major financial
institutions 49 39 1 8 3
c. The war in Iraq 46 47 0 4 3
d. International affairs 48 48 * 4 1
e. The U.S. campaign
against terrorism 42 52 1 2 2
f. An unexpected major
crisis 42 52 1 2 3
*Full sample asked items a-b, half sample asked items c-d, other half sample asked items e-f.
Trend where available:
a. The economy
Both Neither No
Obama McCain (vol.) (vol.) opinion
9/21/08 VA 51 41 1 5 1
9/7/08 NAT 47 42 1 4 6
b. No trend.
c. The war in Iraq
9/21/08 VA 46 47 0 4 3 9/7/08 NAT 41 51 1 2 4
d. International affairs
9/21/08 VA 48 48 * 4 1 9/7/08 NAT 39 51 2 3 6
e. The U.S. campaign against terrorism
9/21/08 VA 42 52 1 2 2 9/7/08 NAT 36 56 2 2 4
f. An unexpected major crisis
9/21/08 VA 42 52 1 2 3 9/7/08 NAT 37 54 2 3 3
13. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) Regardless of who you may support, who do you think [ITEM] - (Obama) or (McCain)?
9/21/08 - Summary Table*
Both Neither No
Obama McCain (vol.) (vol.) opinion
a. would do more to bring needed
change to Washington 56 36 1 4 2
b. better understands the
economic problems people in
this country are having 56 33 2 8 2
c. is more honest and
trustworthy 43 41 7 6 4
d. is the stronger leader 49 46 2 2 1
*Full sample asked items a-b, half sample asked item c, other half sample asked item d.
Trend where available:
a. would do more to bring needed change to Washington
Both Neither No
Obama McCain (vol.) (vol.) opinion
9/21/08 VA 56 36 1 4 2
9/7/08 NAT 51 39 * 5 5
b. No trend. c. is more honest and trustworthy
9/21/08 VA 43 41 7 6 4 9/7/08 NAT 38 44 5 7 6
d. is the stronger leader
9/21/08 VA 49 46 2 2 1 9/7/08 NAT 44 48 2 1 5
14a. (ASKED OF REGISTERED OBAMA VOTERS) Thinking about his candidacy for president so far, how enthusiastic are you about Obama - very enthusiastic, fairly enthusiastic, not too enthusiastic, or not enthusiastic at all?
--- Enthusiastic -- ---- Not enthusiastic ---- No
NET Very Fairly NET Not too Not at all opinion
9/21/08 VA 96 64 32 4 4 0 *
9/7/08 NAT 96 64 32 4 3 1 0
14b. (ASKED OF REGISTERED MCCAIN VOTERS) Thinking about his candidacy for president so far, how enthusiastic are you about McCain - very enthusiastic, fairly enthusiastic, not too enthusiastic, or not enthusiastic at all?
--- Enthusiastic -- ---- Not enthusiastic ---- No
NET Very Fairly NET Not too Not at all opinion
9/21/08 VA 91 45 46 9 8 1 0
9/7/08 NAT 92 46 46 8 6 2 0
15. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) Please tell me whether the following statements apply to (Obama/McCain), or not?
9/21/08 - Summary Table
----- Obama ------ ----- McCain -----
Yes No No opin. Yes No No opin.
a. He would be a good commander-
in-chief of the military 51 45 4 73 25 3
b. He knows enough about world
affairs to serve effectively
as president 55 42 3 74 23 3
16. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) If McCain were elected president, do you think he'd (mainly lead the country in a new direction), or (mainly continue in George W. Bush's direction)?
New Same No
direction direction opinion
9/21/08 VA 44 53 3
9/7/08 NAT 46 50 4
17. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) In your choice for president, how important is the [ITEM] - very important, somewhat important, not so important or not important at all?
9/21/08 - Summary Table
--- Important --- --- Not Important --- No
NET Very Smwt. NET Not so At all opinion
a. Race of the candidate 18 14 4 82 12 70 *
b. Age of the candidate 43 13 30 57 22 35 *
18. On another subject, how do you feel about [READ ITEM] - very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried or not worried at all? How about [NEXT ITEM]?
9/21/08 - Summary Table
----- Worried ---- ----- Not worried ---- No
NET Very Smwt. NET Not too At all opinion
a. The direction of the
nation's economy over
the next few years 82 45 38 17 11 6 1
b. Your own family's
financial situation 59 23 35 41 26 15 *
c. The performance of
the stock market 74 38 37 24 13 10 2
19. Do you approve or disapprove of the steps the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department have taken to try to deal with the current situation involving the stock market and major financial institutions? Do you approve/disapprove STRONGLY or SOMEWHAT?
-------- Approve -------- ------ Disapprove ------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
9/21/08 VA 46 10 36 42 21 21 12
20. Just your best guess - do you think the economy (is in a normal downturn that will correct itself before too long), or do you think the economy (has moved into a serious long-term decline)?
Normal Serious Neither No
downturn decline (vol.) opinion
9/21/08 VA 45 50 2 2
21. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) Do you think [NAME]'s views on most issues are too (liberal) for you, too (conservative) for you, or just about right?
9/21/08 - Summary Table
Too Too Just about No
liberal conservative right opinion
a. Mark Warner 21 5 61 12
b. Jim Gilmore 9 31 39 21
22. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) On another subject, do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases?
------ Legal ------ ----- Illegal -----
All Most Most All No
NET cases cases NET cases cases opinion
9/21/08 VA 60 22 38 38 25 12 3
9/7/08 NAT 57 19 38 39 24 15 4
6/3/07 RV 56 19 38 39 25 14 5
9/9/05 RV 55 21 35 43 28 15 2
10/25/01 LV 57 21 36 39 11 28 4
8/23/01 RV 57 21 37 39 12 27 3
10/26/00 LV 58 18 40 38 12 27 4
8/27/00 LV 57 16 40 38 12 26 5
8/27/00 RV 57 18 39 38 12 26 5
901. Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as:
Democrat Republican Independent Other No op.
9/21/08 LV 33 28 34 4 1
9/21/08 RV 34 25 35 6 1
NET LEANED PARTY:
Democrat Republican Independent Other No op.
9/21/08 LV 47 44 7 1 *
9/21/08 RV 49 41 8 1 *
905. Are you registered to vote at your present address, or not?
Yes No No opinion
9/21/08 78 21 *
908a. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) Would you say your views on most political matters are liberal, moderate, or conservative?
Don't think in No
Liberal Moderate Conservative those terms (vol.) op.
9/21/08 LV 21 46 30 2 1
9/21/08 RV 22 47 29 2 1
911. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) What, if anything, is your religion?
Christian Other Non- No
Protestant Catholic (Non-Protestant) Christian None op.
9/21/08 LV 54 15 13 5 11 *
9/21/08 RV 54 13 14 5 12 *
911b. (IF CHRISTIAN) Would you consider yourself a born-again or evangelical Christian, or not?
Yes No No opin.
9/21/08 LV 45 53 3
9/21/08 RV 47 50 3
912. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTER) Are you, or is anyone in your household, a military veteran?
------------------ Yes ------------------
Resp Other HH Both resp and
NET is member is other HH member are No No op.
9/21/08 LV 38 18 17 2 62 0
9/21/08 RV 35 16 17 2 65 0
914. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) Are you:
Never
Married Separated Divorced Widowed Married
9/21/08 LV 67 2 9 5 16
9/21/08 RV 62 2 10 6 20
918. Race
Other DK/
White Black Hispanic Asian Race No op.
9/21/08 LV 75 17 3 * 4 *
9/21/08 RV 73 18 3 1 5 *
9/21/08 72 18 4 2 5 *
INCOME. (ASKED OF REGISTERED VOTERS) Which of the following CATEGORIES best describes your total annual household income before taxes, from all sources?
-------Less than $50k------- --------More than $50k--------
NET <20k 20-35k 35-50k NET 50-75k 75-100k 100k+
9/21/08 LV 31 7 8 15 68 19 18 31
9/21/08 RV 36 11 9 16 62 17 17 27
9/21/08 40 13 11 16 58 19 14 25
23. How many years have you lived in Virginia, or have you lived here your whole life?
5 yrs All your
or less 6 to 10 11 to 25 26+ life (vol.) No opinion
9/21/08 LV 12 9 22 30 27 0
9/21/08 RV 11 8 20 28 32 0
Q921. Sex
All RV LV
Male 48 47 45
Female 52 53 55
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