Washington Post Poll
This Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone November 19-23, 2009, among a random national sample of 1,306 adults, including additional interviews with randomly-selected Republicans and Republican-leaning nonpartisans for a total GOP sub-sample of 804. Interview were conducted on both conventional and cellular phones. The results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points; four points for the sample of 485 Republicans and five points for the sample of 319 GOP-leaning nonpartisans. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by TNS of Horsham, Pa. Note: if no designation on trend line, row is "Lean Reps," which includes both self-identified Republicans and nonpartisans who lean toward the Republican Party.
*= less than 0.5 percent
1. How satisfied are you with the way this country's political system is working - would you say very satisfied, mostly satisfied, mostly dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
---- Satisfied ---- --- Dissatisfied -- No
NET Very Mostly NET Mostly Very opinion
11/23/09 All adults 38 4 34 61 30 31 1
11/23/09 Lean Reps 15 1 14 85 33 52 1
6/3/07 All adults 34 5 29 64 34 30 1
6/3/07 Lean Reps 51 5 46 48 30 18 2
2. How do you personally feel about the Obama administration's policies - (enthusiastic, satisfied but not enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry)?
---------- Positive ---------- -------- Negative -------- No
NET Enthusiastic Satisfied NET Dissatisfied Angry op.
11/23/09 All adults 49 15 34 50 29 21 1
11/23/09 Lean Reps 11 1 9 89 43 46 *
3. How do you personally feel about the policies offered by the Republicans in Congress - (enthusiastic, satisfied but not enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry)?
---------- Positive ---------- -------- Negative -------- No
NET Enthusiastic Satisfied NET Dissatisfied Angry op.
11/23/09 All adults 34 3 31 61 46 15 5
11/23/09 Lean Reps 57 7 50 41 35 6 2
4. (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.
11/23/09 49 42 9
11/2/05 76 23 1
5. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) With Democrats in control of Congress and the presidency: in general, do you think the Republicans should mainly work (with the Democrats to try to get some Republican ideas into legislation) or should mainly work (to stop the Democratic agenda)?
Work with Work to stop
Democrats Democratic agenda Depends (vol.) No opinion
11/23/09 56 41 3 1
6. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) Thinking specifically about the changes to the country's [ITEM] proposed by Obama and the Democrats, would you prefer that the Republicans in Congress (work with the Democrats on these changes) or (try to stop these changes from happening)? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
11/23/09 - Summary Table:
- Work with Democrats - - Try to stop changes - No
NET Strgly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strgly opinion
a. health care system 23 15 8 77 6 71 1
b. energy policy 49 28 20 46 5 41 5
7. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) For each of the following, please tell me whether you think the group or individual generally shares your views on MOST issues, shares your views on SOME issues, or HARDLY ANY issues. How about [ITEM]?
11/23/09 - Summary Table
---Hardly any/none---
Hardly None No
Most Some NET any (vol.) opinion
a. Barack Obama 5 22 72 49 23 1
b. The Democratic Party 4 28 67 50 17 *
c. The Republican Party 37 56 6 5 1 *
8. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) Do you think (Republican candidates for office should take only conservative positions on issues) or do you think (it is OK to have Republican candidates take moderate positions on some issues?)
-Only conservative-- ----Moderate OK----- Depends No
NET Strgly Smwht NET Smwht Strgly (vol.) opinion
11/23/09 27 21 5 69 32 37 3 2
9. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) Thinking about the Republicans now in Congress, please tell me whether the following statement applies to the Republicans in Congress, or not: [ITEM].
11/23/09 - Summary Table
Yes No No opinion
a. They understand the problems of
people like you 55 44 2
b. They share your own personal values 60 37 3
c. They stand up for the core values
of the Republican Party 66 31 3
10. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) Thinking about the Republican Party in general and not just the people in Congress, for each issue area I name, please tell me if you think the party in general puts (too much) emphasis on the issue, (too little) emphasis on the issue, or about the right amount? The first issue is [ITEM]: Does the Republican Party put (too much) emphasis on [ITEM], (too little) emphasis, or about the right amount?
11/23/09 - Summary Table
Too Too Right No
much little amount opinion
a. Second amendment gun rights 16 33 50 2
b. Same-sex marriage 27 32 38 3
c. Abortion 23 34 42 1
d. Federal spending 11 60 28 1
e. Taxes 11 44 44 1
f. The environment 14 38 47 1
g. Illegal immigration 9 61 29 1
h. The economy and jobs 3 60 36 1
11. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) Thinking about Republican leaders today - which one person best reflects the core values of the Republican Party?
11/23/09 Sarah Palin 18 John McCain 13 Mike Huckabee 7 Mitt Romney 6 Newt Gingrich 4 Rush Limbaugh 2 Bobby Jindal 1 Colin Powell 1 George Bush 1 George W. Bush 1 John Boehner 1 Kay Bailey Hutchison 1 Lindsey Graham 1 Mike Pence 1 Mitch McConnell 1 Ron Paul 1 Ronald Reagan 1 Rudy Giuliani 1 Tim Pawlenty 1 Charles Grassley * Glenn Beck * Haley Barbour * Jeb Bush * Jim DeMint * John Thune * Michael Steele * There is no leader 8 Other 9 No opinion 20
12. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) Would you rather see religion have (greater) influence in politics and public life than it does now, (less) influence, or about the same influence as it does now?
Greater Less Same No opin. 11/23/09 48 17 34 1 11/23/09 Reps 51 16 33 * 4/24/05 Reps 38 13 48 1
13. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) In general, how comfortable do you feel expressing your true feelings about politics - very comfortable, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or very uncomfortable?
---- Comfortable ---- --- Uncomfortable --- No
NET Very Somewhat NET Somewhat Very opinion
11/23/09 84 56 27 16 13 4 *
14. Overall, would you say most of your friends and family think of themselves as (Republicans), most as (Democrats) or most as independents?
Other No
Republicans Democrats Independents (vol.) opinion
11/23/09 All adults 36 33 19 8 5
11/23/09 Lean Reps 60 12 19 6 3
15. Thinking ahead to 2012, at this point would you definitely vote to re-elect Obama, would you consider voting for him, or would you definitely not vote for him?
Definitely Consider Definitely
vote to voting not vote No
re-elect for him for him opinion
11/23/09 All adults 24 31 41 4
11/23/09 Lean Reps 2 16 81 1
16. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) If the 2012 Republican presidential primary or caucus in your state were being held today, for whom would you vote?
11/23/09
Sarah Palin 17
Mike Huckabee 10
Mitt Romney 9
John McCain 7
Newt Gingrich 2
Bobby Jindal 1
Ron Paul 1
Rudy Giuliani 1
Tim Pawlenty 1
Charlie Crist *
Haley Barbour *
Jeb Bush *
Other 8
None/Nobody 12
Would not vote 2
No opinion 28
17. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) For each group I name, please tell me whether you think television news tends to be biased in favor of that group, biased against that group, or is even-handed in its reporting on that group. The first is [ITEM]?
11/23/09 - Summary Table
In favor Against Even-handed No opin.
a. The Republican Party 6 73 18 2
b. The Democratic party 74 6 17 3
c. The Obama administration 74 7 16 3
18. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) Thinking now about Sarah Palin, do you think she has a (good) effect on the Republican Party, a (bad) effect on the party or hasn't made a difference either way?
Good Bad Hasn't made No
effect effect a difference opinion
11/23/09 46 20 32 1
19. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) Generally speaking, do you think that the news media has been fair or unfair to Sarah Palin?
Fair Unfair No opinion
11/23/09 13 87 1
Compare to:
Dan Quayle:
Fair Unfair No opinion
10/29/91 22 75 3
10/29/91 Reps 19 79 2
5/5/91 Reps 34 63 1
20. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) How often do you [ITEM] - do you do this regularly, sometimes, hardly ever, or never?
11/23/09 - Summary Table
--- Regularly/Sometimes --- - Hrdly ever/Never -
Hardly No
NET Regularly Sometimes NET ever Never op.
a. Watch Fox News cable
channel 74 46 29 26 14 12 0
b. Watch MSNBC cable news 32 10 23 68 25 43 *
c. Watch or listen to
Glenn Beck 43 18 25 56 20 36 *
d. Listen to Rush Limbaugh
on the radio 31 12 19 69 21 48 0
21. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) How much, if at all, do you blame George W. Bush for current problems that the Republican Party may be having - a great deal, a good amount, only some or hardly any?
No
-Great deal/Good amount --Some/Hardly any--- problems No
NET Grt deal Good amt NET Some Hrdly any (vol.) opin.
11/23/09 24 11 13 75 45 30 * *
22. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) Would you say your views on most POLITICAL matters are (very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative or very conservative)?
Don't think
--- Liberal ---- - Conservative - in those No
NET Very Smwht Moderate NET Smwht Very terms (vol.) op.
11/23/09 6 2 4 22 72 40 32 * *
6/3/07 11 2 8 24 64 34 30 1 1
23. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) How about on most SOCIAL issues: would you say your views are (very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative or very conservative)?
Don't think
--- Liberal ---- - Conservative - in those No
NET Very Smwht Moderate NET Smwht Very terms (vol.) op.
11/23/09 7 2 5 26 66 35 32 * 1
6/3/07 13 4 9 22 63 35 28 1 1
24. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) How about on most FISCAL issues - such as taxes and government spending: would you say your views are (very liberal, somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat conservative or very conservative)?
Don't think
--- Liberal ---- - Conservative - in those No
NET Very Smwht Moderate NET Smwht Very terms (vol.) op.
11/23/09 4 2 3 14 81 29 51 * 1
6/3/07 7 2 5 22 70 38 32 1 1
25. 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
11/23/09 All adults 54 19 35 43 28 16 2
11/23/09 Lean Reps 36 9 26 63 42 21 2
6/21/09 55 20 35 43 26 17 2
9/7/08 RV 57 19 38 39 24 15 4
8/22/08 54 22 32 44 26 18 3
6/15/08 53 18 35 44 28 16 3
1/12/08 57 21 36 40 25 15 3
12/9/07 53 18 35 44 27 17 3
11/1/07 55 19 36 43 27 16 2
7/21/07 56 23 34 41 28 14 2
2/25/07 56 16 39 42 31 12 2
12/18/05 56 17 40 41 27 13 3
4/24/05 56 20 36 42 27 14 3
12/19/04 55 21 34 42 25 17 3
5/23/04 54 23 31 44 23 20 2
1/20/03 57 23 34 42 25 17 2
8/12/01 49 22 27 48 28 20 3
6/24/01 52 22 31 43 23 20 4
1/15/01 59 21 38 39 25 14 1
9/6/00 RV 55 20 35 42 25 16 3
7/23/00 53 20 33 43 26 17 4
9/2/99 56 20 37 42 26 15 2
3/14/99 55 21 34 42 27 15 3
7/12/98 54 19 35 42 29 13 4
8/5/96 56 22 34 41 27 14 3
6/30/96 58 24 34 40 25 14 2
10/1/95 60 26 35 37 25 12 3
9/21/95 60 24 36 36 25 11 4
7/17/95 59 27 32 40 26 14 1
26. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) Over the past two years, the government has used hundreds of billions of dollars to shore up failing companies hard hit by the economic crisis. Some people say (these were bailouts that those companies didn't deserve). Other people say (these loans were necessary to protect the broader economy). On balance, do you support or oppose the use of federal money in this way? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
----- Support ------- ------- Oppose ------ Depends No
NET Strngly Smwht NET Smwht Strngly (vol.) op.
11/23/09 12 3 9 86 22 64 1 1
27. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) All in all, do you think Obama does or does not stand for traditional American values? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
---------- Does --------- -------- Does not ------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
11/23/09 24 10 14 74 13 61 3
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