Washington Post-ABC News Poll
October 30 - Nov. 2, 2005
The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll is based on telephone interviews with 1,202 randomly selected adults nationwide, and was conducted Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 2005. The margin of sampling error for overall results is plus or minus 3 percentage points, and plus or minus 4 percentage points for results based on the subsample. Sampling error is only one of many potential sources of error in this or any other public opinion poll. Fieldwork was conducted by TNS of Horsham, Pa.
*= less than 0.5 percent
3. If the election for the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2006 were being held today, would you vote for (the Democratic candidate) or (the Republican candidate) in your congressional district? (IF OTHER, NEITHER, DK, REF) Would you lean toward the (Democratic candidate) or toward the (Republican candidate)?
Net Leaned Vote:
Dem Rep Other Neither Will not No
cand. cand. (vol.) (vol.) vote (vol.) op.
11/2/05 All 53 36 1 3 2 5
11/2/05 RV 52 37 1 3 1 6
11/4/02 LV 48 48 1 1 0 2
11/3/02 LV 48 48 * 1 0 2
11/2/02 LV 50 49 * 1 0 2
10/27/02 LV 47 49 1 1 0 3
9/26/02 All 46 42 2 2 5 3
9/26/02 RV 47 44 2 3 2 3
9/26/02 LV 49 47 1 2 0 2
7/15/02 All 47 45 1 1 1 4
7/15/02 RV 47 46 1 1 1 4
Call for full trend.
11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the U.S. Congress is doing its job?
- Approve Disapprove No opinion
11/2/05 37 59 4
8/28/05 37 59 4
6/5/05 41 54 4
10/29/03 40 52 9
4/30/03 57 37 6
9/26/02 51 43 6
7/15/02 57 36 7
2/21/02 57 39 4
1/27/02 58 35 7
12/19/01 59 34 7
9/9/01 45 48 7
7/30/01 48 48 4
4/22/01 58 33 8
10/31/99 42 53 6
9/2/99 46 47 7
6/6/99 48 46 6
3/14/99 44 49 7
2/14/99 46 50 4
12/20/98 44 51 5
12/19/98 45 50 5
12/13/98 49 46 5
11/7/98 41 55 4
11/1/98 49 47 5
10/25/98 45 44 11
10/18/98 46 45 8
9/28/98 52 44 4
8/21/98 55 39 6
7/12/98 46 44 11
5/12/98 45 45 9
4/4/98 47 45 8
1/31/98 55 35 10
1/30/98 55 35 10
1/25/98 56 37 8
1/24/98 55 38 7
1/19/98 47 49 5
10/13/97 36 57 7
8/27/97 39 54 7
7/8/97 40 53 6
4/24/97 40 53 7
3/9/97 35 60 5
8/5/96 42 52 7
6/30/96 35 58 7
5/22/96 35 60 5
3/10/96 30 64 6
1/7/96 31 65 5
11/19/95 27 68 5
10/1/95 32 65 3
7/17/95 34 63 3
3/19/95 39 56 5
1/29/95 42 52 6
10/31/94 21 72 8
10/23/94 18 78 4
9/11/94 24 70 5
6/26/94 34 61 5
3/27/94 35 62 3
2/27/94 32 64 4
1/23/94 29 60 11
11/14/93 28 66 6
8/8/93 33 64 3
4/26/93 30 69 2
1/17/93 29 66 6
4/9/92 17 78 5
3/18/92 19 76 5
3/8/92 22 73 6
2/2/92 32 64 4
12/15/91 35 59 6
10/21/91 45 50 5
6/2/91 49 46 5
10/14/90 34 63 3
2/4/90 41 55 4
1/16/90 39 55 6
8/21/89 42 53 5
5/23/89 54 44 2
2/14/89 53 44 3
1/23/88* 43 53 4
6/1/87 56 40 4
6/22/85 54 37 9
5/83 33 43 24
6/81 38 40 22
6/79 19 61 20
9/78 29 49 22
6/77 34 42 24
6/75 29 54 17
8/74 48 35 17
*1/23/88 and previous: Gallup
12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way (ITEM) are doing their job?
11/2/05 - Summary Table
Approve Disapprove No opinion
a. the Republicans in Congress 35 61 4
b. the Democrats in Congress 41 54 5
Trend:
a. the Republicans in Congress
Approve Disapprove No opinion
11/2/05 35 61 4
6/5/05 42 56 2
6/6/99 41 52 7
3/14/99 40 56 4
7/8/97 40 54 6
9/15/96 Reg. 46 48 6
6/30/96 38 56 6
4/5/95 45 50 5
10/31/94 33 59 7
10/23/94 31 64 5
9/11/94 35 59 6
b. the Democrats in Congress
Approve Disapprove No opinion
11/2/05 41 54 5
6/5/05 42 56 3
6/6/99 51 42 7
3/14/99 51 42 7
7/8/97 45 49 6
4/5/95 36 60 4
10/31/94 39 53 8
10/23/94 36 59 5
9/11/94 41 53 6
13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way your own representative to the U.S. House of Representatives in Congress is handling his or her job?
Approve Disapprove No opinion
11/2/05 60 33 7
6/5/05 61 32 8
9/26/02 64 27 9
7/15/02 68 23 9
11/1/98 72 20 8
11/1/98 LV 73 23 5
10/18/98 68 20 11
10/18/98 LV 67 25 9
9/28/98 70 21 10
9/28/98 LV 71 23 6
7/12/98 70 18 12
1/19/98 74 19 7
4/5/95 65 25 9
10/31/94 51 38 11
10/23/94 49 43 8
9/11/94 53 35 12
6/26/94 59 31 10
3/27/94 62 26 12
1/17/93 60 29 11
4/9/92 47 39 13
3/18/92 49 40 11
2/2/92 56 32 12
12/15/91 60 28 12
10/21/91 64 27 9
6/2/91 61 26 14
10/14/90 64 29 7
5/23/89 71 18 11
14.Overall, which party, the (Democrats) or the (Republicans), do you trust to do a better job in coping with the main problems the nation faces over the next few years?
Both Neither
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) No opinion
11/2/05 49 37 3 9 3
6/5/05 46 41 1 9 2
8/11/03 39 40 3 10 7
12/15/02 41 44 2 11 2
10/27/02 LV 39 51 2 5 2
9/26/02 39 46 3 8 4
9/26/02 LV 42 49 1 7 2
7/15/02 42 45 2 7 4
1/27/02 40 44 3 10 4
4/22/01 47 40 4 7 3
7/23/00 42 42 2 9 6
9/2/99 45 39 4 9 4
6/6/99 45 35 3 13 5
3/14/99 47 37 5 9 3
2/14/99 48 37 4 7 4
10/18/98 44 36 3 12 6
10/18/98 LV 43 42 3 10 2
9/28/98 49 38 2 8 3
9/28/98 LV 45 44 1 8 2
8/21/98 48 36 4 9 3
7/12/98 45 38 3 8 6
1/31/98 47 37 4 6 7
1/19/98 45 42 2 7 4
7/8/97 44 37 2 14 3
9/15/96 RV 45 38 3 11 3
8/5/96 43 38 3 11 3
6/30/96 46 37 3 12 3
5/22/96 47 38 3 10 3
11/6/94 RV 41 39 2 12 6
10/31/94 43 43 2 8 4
10/23/94 39 40 3 15 3
9/11/94 43 40 4 11 3
6/26/94 41 36 3 14 5
2/27/94 46 32 4 16 3
11/14/93 42 39 3 11 4
1/17/93 49 28 5 13 5
7/8/92 48 38 1 8 4
6/7/92 43 37 3 11 6
3/11/92 45 37 1 11 5
3/8/92 51 36 1 7 5
2/2/92 49 39 2 7 3
12/15/91 39 37 3 15 6
10/21/91 39 40 3 13 5
15. Which political party, the (Democrats) or the (Republicans), do you trust to do a better job handling (ITEM)?
11/2/05 - Summary Table*
Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
a. The economy 56 34 1 8 1
b. The U.S. campaign
against terrorism 42 42 4 10 3
c. The situation in Iraq 48 37 2 11 2
d. Education 55 32 4 7 2
e. Social Security 56 29 1 11 3
f. Gasoline prices 47 26 2 21 5
g. Health care 54 29 2 12 3
h. Taxes 48 38 1 11 1
i. The federal budget 48 34 2 13 2
j. Ethics in government 42 36 3 16 3
*Half sample asked items a-e, other half asked items f-j.
Trend where available:
a. The economy
Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
11/2/05 56 34 1 8 1
12/15/02 44 45 4 6 1
Compare to: The economy and jobs
Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
10/27/02 LV 43 48 3 3 2
9/26/02 LV 50 41 3 5 1
9/26/02 47 39 3 6 5
b. The U.S. campaign against terrorism
Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
11/2/05 42 42 4 10 3
12/15/02 25 61 5 6 2
Compare to: The war on terrorism
Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
10/27/02 LV 26 61 4 5 4
9/26/02 LV 34 52 4 7 3
9/26/02 30 51 6 6 8
c. The situation in Iraq
Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
11/2/05 48 37 2 11 2
Compare to: The situation with Iraq and Saddam Hussein
Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
12/15/02 30 56 4 7 3
10/27/02 LV 31 58 3 4 4
9/26/02 LV 30 61 3 3 2
9/26/02 33 52 6 4 6
d. Education
Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
11/2/05 55 32 4 7 2
12/15/02 49 40 4 5 2
10/27/02 LV 44 45 4 3 3
9/26/02 LV 47 43 3 5 1
9/26/02 46 39 4 5 6
e. Social Security
Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
11/2/05 56 29 1 11 3
12/15/02 54 34 3 6 3
10/27/02 LV 51 39 3 4 3
9/26/02 LV 50 34 4 10 3
9/26/02 50 33 3 8 6
f. No trend.
g. Health care
Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
11/2/05 54 29 2 12 3
12/15/02* 53 33 3 7 4
10/27/02 LV 50 39 3 5 3
9/26/02 LV 49 39 3 5 4
9/26/02 50 35 4 5 6
*The cost, availability, and coverage of health insurance
h. Taxes
Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
11/2/05 48 38 1 11 1
12/15/02 46 44 2 6 2
9/26/02 44 44 3 6 4
i,j. No trend.
16. Whether or not you agree with them, do you think the Democrats are or are not offering the country a clear direction that's different from the Republicans?
Yes, No, No
they are they are not opin.
11/2/05 44 51 5
17. Which political party, the (Democrats) or the (Republicans), do you think:
11/2/05 - Summary Table*
Both Neither No
Dems Reps (vol.) (vol.) opin.
a. better represents your own
personal values 50 40 1 7 1
b. is more concerned with the
needs of people like you 56 33 1 9 1
c. has stronger leaders 35 51 5 8 2
d. is more open to the ideas of
people who are political
moderates 60 24 2 9 5
*Half sample asked items a-b, other half asked items c-d.
Trend where available:
a. Better represents your own personal values
Both Neither No
Dems Reps (vol.) (vol.) opin.
11/2/05 50 40 1 7 1
4/24/05 47 38 2 10 2
3/14/99 47 39 3 8 3
b,c. No trend.
d. Is more open to the ideas of people who are political moderates
Both Neither No
Dems Reps (vol.) (vol.) opin.
11/2/05 60 24 2 9 5
7/15/02 53 32 4 4 6
1/27/02 49 38 3 3 7
6/3/01 57 32 2 6 4
18. When it comes to the level of ethics and honesty among politicians, do you think (the Democrats are generally better than the Republicans), (the Republicans are generally better than the Democrats), or isn't there much difference between them when it comes to ethics and honesty?
Democrats better Republicans better Not much No
than Republicans than Democrats difference opin.
11/2/05 16 12 71 1
3/27/94 10 8 81 1
5/23/89 13 8 79 1
19. If a candidate for Congress supports Bush in many areas, would that make you more likely to (support) that candidate for Congress, more likely to (oppose) that candidate, or wouldn't it make much difference in your vote?
More likely More likely Wouldn't make No
to support to oppose much difference opin.
11/2/05 18 34 48 1
20. Regardless of your local contest, which party would you like to see in control of Congress after the congressional elections a year from now, the (Democrats) or the (Republicans)?
Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) opin.
11/2/05 55 37 6 2
45. ASKED OF LEANED DEMOCRATS) In your view, is the leadership of the Democratic Party currently taking the party in the (right direction) or in the (wrong direction)?
Right Wrong No
direction direction opin.
11/2/05 62 30 8
46. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) In your view, is the leadership of the Republican Party currently taking the party in the (right direction) or in the (wrong direction)?
Right Wrong No
direction direction opin.
11/2/05 76 23 1
47. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) In your view, is President Bush currently leading the Republican party in the (right direction) or in the (wrong direction)?
Right Wrong No
direction direction opin.
11/2/05 72 25 3
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