Washington Post Poll
This Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone July 15 to 17, 2012, among a random sample of 1,002 adults living in Washington D.C., including users of both conventional and cellular phones. The results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus four percentage points; error margins are six points for the sample of 458 African Americans, and 6.5 points for the sample of 401 non-Hispanic whites. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by Abt-SRBI of New York.
*= less than 0.5 percent
1. First, do you think things in the District of Columbia are generally going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?
Right Wrong Neither No
direction track (vol.) opinion
7/17/12 40 45 8 6
5/31/11 46 36 11 7
8/26/10 56 29 9 6
1/28/10 52 29 11 8
1/8/08 56 31 8 5
7/18/06 42 46 7 5
5/19/02 54 33 8 5
2/7/00 69 22 6 3
8/27/98* 47 46 NA 7
5/18/98 31 58 4 6
5/4/97 20 71 6 2
5/19/96 14 78 NA 2
2/29/96 16 80 NA 4
3/02/95 15 80 NA 5
12/21/93 11 83 NA 6
7/86 42 47 NA 12
*Among Democratic likely voters only.
2. Would you describe the state of the District’s economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
--- Excellent/Good --- --- Not so good/Poor --- No
NET Excellent Good NET Not so good Poor opinion
7/17/12 55 4 50 43 32 11 3
5/31/11 50 5 45 48 38 10 2
3. How interested are you in District government and city affairs: Very interested, fairly interested, not too interested or not interested at all?
------Interested----- ------Not interested------ No
NET Very Fairly NET Not too Not at all opinion
7/17/12 79 35 44 20 14 7 1
5/31/11 79 35 45 20 12 8 1
12/21/93 76 32 44 23 14 9 1
2/2/92 85 46 39 15 10 5 *
4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way that Vincent Gray is handling his job as Mayor? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or just somewhat?
-------Approve--------- -------Disapprove------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
7/17/12 29 9 21 59 24 35 12
7/17/12 RV 28 8 20 62 24 38 10
5/31/11 41 10 31 40 26 14 20
5/31/11 RV 40 11 29 43 27 16 17
Compare to Adrian Fenty:
-------Approve--------- -------Disapprove------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
8/26/10 RV 47 15 32 46 19 27 8
1/28/10 RV 40 13 27 53 20 33 7
1/28/10 42 13 29 49 20 29 9
1/8/08 RV 72 31 41 22 11 11 6
1/8/08 72 32 40 21 11 10 7
Compare to Anthony Williams:
-------Approve--------- -------Disapprove------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
7/18/06 RV 54 20 34 40 16 24 6
5/19/02 RV 64 24 40 29 11 18 7
5/19/02 64 22 42 28 11 17 8
2/7/00 77 36 40 17 9 7 7
Compare to Marion Barry:
-------Approve--------- -------Disapprove------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
5/18/98 35 16 19 52 17 34 14
5/4/97 31 13 19 63 21 41 6
5/19/96 50 25 25 47 21 26 3
2/29/96 48 19 29 45 19 26 7
3/02/95 58 28 30 27 13 14 15
5/89 28 NA NA 62 NA NA 10
8/21/87 44 NA NA 41 NA NA 15
7/86 50 NA NA 38 NA NA 12
Compare to Sharon Pratt Kelly:
-------Approve--------- -------Disapprove------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
12/21/93 30 7 23 67 32 35 3
2/2/92 54 20 34 42 19 23 4
5. Now I’m going to mention some issues that face our community, and for each, please tell me whether you think Mayor Gray is doing an excellent job, good, not-so-good or poor job in dealing with this issue:
7/17/12 - Summary Table
--Excellent/Good--- --Not-so-good/Poor-- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not Good Poor op.
a. Improving city
services 41 3 38 52 36 16 6
b. Improving District
public schools 34 4 31 55 33 22 11
c. Attracting new
business to the
District 46 5 41 43 32 11 11
d. Creating more jobs
for D.C. residents 26 3 23 62 43 19 12
Trend:
a. Improving city services
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
7/17/12 41 3 38 52 36 16 6
1/28/10 Fenty 52 6 46 42 29 14 6
1/8/08 Fenty 65 9 56 31 23 8 5
5/19/02 Williams 60 7 53 38 26 12 2
2/7/00 Williams 68 18 50 30 20 10 2
2/29/96 Barry 28 2 26 68 35 33 4
b. Improving District public schools
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
7/17/12 34 4 31 55 33 22 11
1/28/10 Fenty 42 10 32 49 26 24 9
1/8/08 Fenty 52 12 41 42 24 18 5
5/19/02 Williams 31 3 28 58 38 20 11
2/7/00 Williams 45 5 40 44 30 14 11
2/29/96 Barry 23 2 21 67 32 35 10
c. Attracting new business to the District
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
7/17/12 46 5 41 43 32 11 11
1/28/10 Fenty 53 9 44 35 23 12 12
1/8/08 Fenty 66 14 52 22 16 7 12
5/19/02 Williams 68 16 52 26 17 9 7
2/7/00 Williams 64 12 53 28 22 6 7
2/29/96 Barry 26 3 23 62 35 27 12
d. Creating more jobs for D.C. residents
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opin.
7/17/12 26 3 23 62 43 19 12
1/28/10 Fenty 25 3 21 61 39 22 14
1/8/08 Fenty 41 4 37 46 31 15 13
5/19/02 Williams 43 5 38 46 29 17 11
2/7/00 Williams 54 7 48 34 24 11 11
2/29/96 Barry 29 4 25 59 36 23 12
6. For each of the following people, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person, or perhaps you don’t know enough to say. Is that strongly or somewhat favorable/unfavorable?
7/17/12 – Summary table*
------- Favorable ------- ------ Unfavorable ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly op.
a. Vincent Gray 34 9 25 56 25 31 10
b. Adrian Fenty 57 29 28 31 14 18 11
c. Muriel Bowser 23 8 16 11 6 4 66
d. Eleanor Holmes Norton 72 44 29 12 6 6 16
e. Tommy Wells 27 11 16 10 5 5 62
f. David Catania 32 10 22 16 9 7 52
g. Marion Barry 52 34 18 40 9 31 8
h. Phil Mendelson 34 12 22 11 8 3 55
i. Jack Evans 35 10 25 13 8 5 52
j. Ron Machen 11 4 7 7 5 2 82
*Full sample asked items a and b; half sample asked items c through f; other half sample asked items g through j.
Trend where available
a. Vincent Gray
------- Favorable ------- ------ Unfavorable ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
7/17/12 34 9 25 56 25 31 10
7/17/12 RV 33 8 24 59 26 33 9
5/31/11 46 13 32 37 26 11 17
5/31/11 RV 47 13 33 40 27 13 14
8/26/10 RV 60 27 32 16 12 5 24
1/28/10* 43 16 27 13 8 5 44
1/28/10* RV 48 17 31 13 8 4 36
1/8/08 39 NA NA 9 NA NA 52
1/8/08 RV 43 NA NA 11 NA NA 46
*District Council Chairman Vincent Gray
b. Adrian Fenty
------- Favorable ------- ------ Unfavorable ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
7/17/12 57 29 28 31 14 18 11
7/17/12 RV 58 31 27 34 16 18 8
5/31/11 54 24 31 35 14 22 10
5/31/11 RV 52 25 30 39 14 25 6
8/26/10 RV 51 17 34 42 17 24 7
7/18/06 RV 59 NA NA 16 NA NA 25
c. no trend
d. Eleanor Holmes Norton
------- Favorable ------- ------ Unfavorable ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
7/17/12 72 44 29 12 6 6 16
7/17/12 RV 74 45 29 14 7 7 12
8/26/10 RV 78 53 26 11 6 5 11
5/19/02 80 NA NA 8 NA NA 12
5/19/02 RV 85 NA NA 9 NA NA 6
2/7/00 82 NA NA 7 NA NA 11
2/7/00 RV 87 NA NA 8 NA NA 5
5/18/98 77 NA NA 7 NA NA 16
5/4/97 81 NA NA 8 NA NA 12
2/29/96 77 NA NA 8 NA NA 15
2/95 74 NA NA 8 NA NA 18
6/94 78 NA NA 8 NA NA 14
1/92 69 NA NA 12 NA NA 19
e-f no trend.
g. Marion Barry
------- Favorable ------- ------ Unfavorable ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
7/17/12 52 34 18 40 9 31 8
7/17/12 RV 52 36 16 42 9 33 6
1/8/08 49 NA NA 42 NA NA 9
5/19/02 41 NA NA 53 NA NA 6
2/7/00 47 NA NA 46 NA NA 7
8/27/98 43 NA NA 51 NA NA 6
5/18/98 42 NA NA 48 NA NA 10
5/4/97 37 NA NA 58 NA NA 6
5/19/96 55 NA NA 41 NA NA 5
2/29/96 51 NA NA 42 NA NA 7
3/02/95 65 NA NA 29 NA NA 6
6/94 46 NA NA 46 NA NA 8
2/2/92 35 NA NA 58 NA NA 6
h. no trend
i. Jack Evans
------- Favorable ------- ------ Unfavorable ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
7/17/12 35 10 25 13 8 5 52
7/17/12 RV 37 11 26 13 8 5 52
5/19/02 40 NA NA 9 NA NA 51
8/27/98 42 NA NA 15 NA NA 43
5/18/98 27 NA NA 11 NA NA 62
j. no trend
7. Please tell me whether the following statements apply to Mayor Gray, or not?
7/17/12 – Summary table
Yes No No opinion
a. He understands the problems
of people like you 45 46 9
b. He is honest and trustworthy 22 61 16
Trend:
a. He understands the problems of people like you
Yes No No opinion
7/17/12 45 46 9
7/17/12 Dem RV* 50 42 7
5/31/11 52 36 12
5/31/11 Dem RV 54 36 9
8/26/10 Dem RV** 61 16 23
*In 2010, voters officially registered as Democrats; in 2011 and 2012, registered voters who identify as Democratic
**Chairman Vincent Gray
b. He is honest and trustworthy
Yes No No opinion
7/17/12 22 61 16
7/17/12 Dem RV* 21 63 16
5/31/11 42 37 20
5/31/11 Dem RV 45 38 16
8/26/10 Dem RV** 61 13 26
*In 2010, voters officially registered as Democrats; in 2011 and 2012, registered voters who identify as Democratic
**Chairman Vincent Gray
8. Do you agree or disagree that Mayor Gray is running an ethical administration?
Agree Disagree No opinion
7/17/12 25 63 12
5/19/02 Williams 57 33 10
9. Thinking back to when Adrian Fenty was in office, would you say you approve or disapprove of the way Fenty handled his job as mayor? Do you feel that way strongly or just somewhat?
-------Approve--------- -------Disapprove------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
7/17/12 59 29 30 33 14 19 7
7/17/12 RV 60 30 30 36 16 20 5
5/31/11 58 26 31 38 14 24 5
5/31/11 RV 56 26 30 42 14 27 2
8/26/10 RV* 47 15 32 46 19 27 8
1/28/10 42 13 29 49 20 29 9
1/28/10 RV 40 13 27 53 20 33 7
1/8/08 72 32 40 21 11 10 7
1/8/08 RV 72 31 41 22 11 11 6
*8/26/10 and previous: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Adrian Fenty is handling…
10. As you may have heard or read, two D.C. Council members – Kwame Brown and Harry Thomas -- have resigned after pleading guilty to federal criminal charges and several people affiliated with Mayor Gray’s 2010 campaign have pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations. How closely have you been following these stories - very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely or not closely at all?
-----Closely------ -----Not Closely------ No
NET Very Smwht NET Not too At all opinion
7/17/12 69 31 38 31 19 12 *
11. Do you think these instances are (a sign of broader problems in city politics), or do you think they are (pretty much isolated incidents)?
Sign of broader problems Isolated incidents No opinion
7/17/12 74 21 5
12. Do you think the issue of corruption in D.C. government is (getting worse), (getting better) or is it about the same as it has been?
Getting worse Getting better About the same No opinion
7/17/12 44 7 45 3
13. Compared to other big cities, do you think D.C. has a (bigger) or a (smaller) problem with public corruption, or is it about the same?
Bigger problem Smaller problem About the same No opinion
7/17/12 32 8 55 5
14. Do you think Mayor Gray’s campaign and former councilmen Brown and Thomas have been fairly or unfairly investigated by federal authorities? 14a. (IF UNFAIRLY INVESTIGATED) Do you think their being African American had a lot, a little or nothing to do with being investigated?
Fairly Unfairly No opinion
7/17/12 79 8 12
Q14/Q14a NET Table
-------Unfairly investigated------
-Being African American mattered--
Fairly A A No No
investigated NET lot little Nothing opin opinion
7/17/12 79 8 3 2 2 * 12
15. Considering everything, do you think that the District of Columbia would be (better off), (worse off), or about the same if Vincent Gray were not the Mayor?
Better off Worse off About the same No opinion
7/17/12 44 5 44 7
5/19/96 Barry 36 25 36 4
16. Considering everything, do you think Vincent Gray should step down as the Mayor of the District of Columbia?
Should step down Should not step down No opinion
7/17/12 54 37 9
5/19/96 Barry 36 61 2
17. How important do you think it is that D.C. have an African American mayor – very important, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important?
--- Important ---- ----- Not important ------ No
NET Very Smwht NET Not too Not at all opinion
7/17/12 45 19 26 53 20 34 2
5/31/11 45 18 27 54 22 32 1
Compare to:
8/27/98* 52 26 27 46 22 23 2
*Among Democratic likely voters only.
18. As you may know, taxis in the District changed the way they calculate fares from a system based on zones to one which uses time and distance meters. Do you approve or disapprove of this change?
------ Approve ------ ----- Disapprove ---- Don’t use No
NET Strngly Smwht NET Smwht Strngly taxis (vol.) opin.
7/17/12 51 31 20 37 13 23 7 5
1/28/10 56 37 19 30 10 20 6 8
19. As you may know, the D.C. Council passed a law requiring all D.C. taxi cabs to be the same color, accept credit cards and have GPS devices. Fares would go up 50 cents per ride. Do you approve or disapprove of this change?
------ Approve ------ ----- Disapprove ---- No
NET Strngly Smwht NET Smwht Strngly opinion
7/17/12 63 33 30 32 9 23 5
20. How often, if ever, do you yourself take taxis in D.C.--several times a week, once a week, a few times a month, a few times a year or less often than that?
Several times Once Few times Few times Less Never No
a week a week a month a year often (Vol.) opinion
7/17/12 11 9 23 25 17 14 *
21. Thinking about the strong storm that hit the D.C. area at the end of June, did you happen to lose power where you live, or not?
Yes No No opinion
7/17/12 33 67 *
21a. (IF LOST POWER) Was your power out for more or less than 24 hours? (IF MORE THAN 24 HOURS) How many days were you without power? (IF LESS THAN 24 HOURS) How many hours were you without power?
-------------Yes, lost power-------------
Less than 1-2 3-4 5+ No No, did not No
NET 24 hrs days days days op. lose power op.
7/17/12 33 10 9 8 6 * 67 *
22. (HALF SAMPLE: Given the severity of the storm) How would you rate the job PEPCO did in restoring power after the storm -- excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
- Excellent/Good - --- Not Good/Poor --- No
NET Excel. Good NET Not good Poor opinion
7/17/12 39 9 31 55 27 28 6
23. One way to limit power outages in the city would be to bury power lines underground, which may cost about six billion dollars. How much extra would you be willing to pay on your monthly electricity bill to do this?
Median $0 $1-$5 $6-$10 $11-$20 $21+ No opinion
7/17/12 $2 35% 17 12 9 9 18
901. Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as:
Democrat Republican Independent Other No op.
7/17/12 65 7 23 2 3
5/31/11 68 7 23 1 2
1/28/10 67 7 22 2 2
1/28/10 RV 70 6 21 2 2
1/8/08 68 6 22 3 1
1/8/08 RV 71 5 20 3 1
7/18/06 RV 69 7 21 2 1
908a. 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.
7/17/12 41 37 18 2 3
8/26/10 RV 40 37 18 3 2
1/28/10 37 39 18 3 3
1/8/08 44 34 18 2 3
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