Washington Post-ABC News Poll

The following are responses to questions from a Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted by telephone Jan. 23-26, 2006 among 1,002 randomly selected adults nationwide. Margin of sampling error for overall results is plus or minus three percentage points. Sampling error is only one of many sources of error in this or any other public opinion poll. Fieldwork by TNS of Horsham, PA. *= less than 0.5 percent 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat? -------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin. 1/26/06 42 25 18 56 14 42 2 1/8/06 46 29 17 52 13 39 2 12/18/05 47 29 17 52 12 40 1 11/2/05 39 20 18 60 13 47 1 10/29/05 39 22 17 58 13 45 3 9/11/05 42 27 15 57 12 45 1 8/28/05 45 27 18 53 12 41 2 6/26/05 48 27 21 51 11 40 1 6/5/05 48 27 21 52 14 38 1 4/24/05 47 25 22 50 13 38 3 3/13/05 50 31 19 48 11 37 3 1/31/05 50 34 15 45 11 34 5 1/16/05 52 33 19 46 11 35 2 12/19/04 48 27 21 49 12 38 2 10/20/04 50 30 20 46 11 35 4 10/17/04 LV 54 35 19 45 9 36 2 10/16/04 LV 54 35 19 44 10 34 2 10/15/04 LV 54 35 19 44 10 34 2 10/3/04 LV 53 36 17 46 11 34 1 9/26/04 50 33 18 45 13 32 5 9/8/04 52 35 17 43 11 32 5 8/29/04 50 31 19 47 13 34 3 8/1/04 47 28 18 49 13 36 5 7/25/04 50 32 19 47 13 34 3 7/11/04 48 31 17 50 11 39 2 6/20/04 47 30 17 51 13 39 1 5/23/04 47 31 17 50 14 36 3 4/18/04 51 33 18 47 13 34 1 3/7/04 50 32 18 48 12 36 2 2/11/04 50 30 21 47 14 34 2 1/18/04 58 35 24 40 9 30 2 12/21/03 59 39 21 38 15 23 3 12/14/03 57 37 20 39 10 29 5 12/7/03 53 32 21 40 13 27 7 11/16/03 57 34 23 39 11 28 4 10/29/03 56 30 26 42 13 29 2 10/13/03 53 33 20 43 13 29 4 9/30/03 54 34 20 44 15 29 2 9/13/03 58 35 23 40 14 27 2 9/7/03 56 34 22 41 13 28 4 8/11/03 59 37 22 37 14 23 4 7/10/03 59 35 24 38 13 25 3 6/22/03 68 45 23 29 11 18 4 4/30/03 71 50 22 26 17 9 3 4/16/03 74 52 22 23 9 14 3 4/9/03 77 58 19 20 6 14 4 4/3/03 71 54 16 25 7 19 4 3/23/03 68 NA NA 27 NA NA 4 3/20/03 67 NA NA 28 NA NA 5 3/2/03 62 38 23 35 13 22 4 2/23/03 60 NA NA 34 NA NA 6 2/9/03 64 42 21 34 14 20 3 2/1/03 62 41 21 34 13 22 4 1/28/03 62 43 19 36 13 23 2 1/27/03 59 39 21 37 15 22 4 1/20/03 59 36 23 38 16 22 2 12/15/02 66 37 28 32 12 20 2 11/4/02 LV 67 45 23 31 12 20 1 11/3/02 LV 67 45 22 32 12 20 1 11/2/02 LV 67 47 20 32 9 23 1 10/27/02 67 39 28 29 13 16 4 9/26/02 67 42 25 30 12 18 3 9/8/02 71 42 28 27 12 15 3 7/28/02 69 39 31 28 14 14 3 7/15/02 72 42 31 25 12 13 2 6/17/02 74 42 32 22 9 13 4 6/9/02 77 41 36 20 9 11 3 5/19/02 76 48 28 22 8 13 3 4/21/02 78 47 31 20 9 10 2 3/28/02 79 49 30 18 8 10 3 3/10/02 82 52 30 16 9 7 2 1/27/02 83 56 27 14 7 7 3 12/19/01 86 64 22 12 6 6 2 11/27/01 89 69 21 9 4 5 1 11/6/01 89 65 24 9 5 4 2 10/9/01 92 76 16 6 3 3 1 9/27/01 90 70 20 6 3 3 4 9/13/01 86 63 23 12 5 6 2 9/9/01 55 26 29 41 20 22 3 8/12/01 61 28 33 31 14 17 8 7/30/01 59 28 30 38 17 22 3 6/3/01 55 27 28 40 18 22 6 4/22/01 63 33 30 32 16 16 5 3/25/01 58 NA NA 33 NA NA 8 2/25/01 55 NA NA 23 NA NA 22 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bush is handling (ITEM)? 1/26/06 - Summary Table* Approve Disapprove No op. a. The situation in Iraq 39 60 1 b. The US campaign against terrorism 52 45 2 c. The federal budget deficit 32 64 4 d. Ethics in government 42 56 2 e. Prescription drug benefits for the elderly 38 51 11 f. The economy 46 52 1 g. Immigration issues 34 57 9 h. Health care 37 60 3 i. Taxes 45 52 3 *Item a asked of full sample. Items b-e asked of half sample, items f-i asked of other half sample. Trend: a. The situation in Iraq -------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin. 1/26/06 39 24 15 60 10 50 1 12/18/05 46 31 15 53 10 43 1 11/2/05 36 20 15 64 13 51 1 9/11/05 38 NA NA 62 NA NA 1 8/28/05 42 28 14 57 11 46 1 6/26/05 43 25 18 56 12 44 1 6/5/05 41 NA NA 58 NA NA 1 4/24/05 42 56 2 3/13/05 39 57 4 1/16/05 40 58 2 12/19/04 42 57 1 9/26/04 RV 47 50 3 8/29/04 RV 47 51 2 7/25/04 45 53 2 6/20/04 44 55 2 5/23/04 40 58 2 4/18/04 45 54 1 3/7/04 46 53 1 2/11/04 47 52 1 1/18/04 55 42 2 12/21/03 60 39 2 12/14/03 58 38 4 11/16/03 48 48 4 10/29/03 47 51 2 10/13/03 51 47 2 9/29/03 50 47 3 9/13/03 52 46 2 9/7/03 49 47 4 8/24/03 56 37 7 8/11/03 56 41 3 7/10/03 58 41 2 6/22/03 67 30 2 4/30/03 75 " " 22 " " 2 3/27/03* 69 26 5 3/23/03 71 26 3 3/20/03 65 29 5 3/17/03 64 29 7 3/9/03 55 38 8 2/23/03 55 39 6 2/9/03 61 37 2 2/5/03 61 32 7 2/1/03 61 35 3 1/28/03 58 38 4 1/27/03 57 40 3 1/20/03 50 46 4 12/15/02 58 37 5 11/4/02 LV 56 40 4 11/3/02 LV 57 40 4 11/2/02 LV 56 41 3 10/27/02 57 38 5 9/26/02 58 39 3 9/14/02 65 31 4 8/29/02 52 " " 36 " " 12 *3/27/03 and previous: "The situation with Iraq and Saddam Hussein" b. The US campaign against terrorism Approve Disapprove No opinion 1/26/06 52 45 2 1/8/06 53 45 2 12/18/05 56 44 1 11/2/05 48 51 1 9/11/05 50 47 3 8/28/05* 56 43 2 6/5/05 50 49 1 4/24/05 56 41 3 3/13/05 59 38 3 1/16/05 61 38 2 12/19/04 53 43 3 9/26/04 RV 59 38 3 8/29/04 RV 60 37 3 7/25/04 57 40 4 6/20/04 50 48 2 5/23/04 58 39 4 4/18/04 63 35 2 3/7/04 63 34 3 2/11/04 64 34 2 1/18/04 66 33 2 12/21/03 70 28 2 10/29/03 63 35 2 10/13/03 66 30 4 9/13/03 70 27 3 9/7/03 67 28 5 4/30/03 79 19 2 2/9/03 74 23 4 2/1/03 75 21 3 1/27/03 72 26 2 1/20/03 71 25 4 12/15/02 79 20 1 11/4/02 LV 76 22 1 11/3/02 LV 77 22 3 11/2/02 LV 78 21 2 10/27/02 74 23 4 9/26/02 70 28 2 9/8/02 74 24 2 7/28/02 81 17 2 7/15/02 83 15 2 5/19/02* 79 19 3 4/21/02* 81 18 2 3/10/02* 88 10 2 1/27/02 88 10 2 12/19/01* 89 9 2 10/15/01* 92 5 3 *Asked very/somewhat follow-up c. The federal budget deficit Approve Disapprove No opinion 1/26/06 32 64 4 1/16/05 39 58 3 6/20/04 39 56 5 4/18/04 34 60 6 3/7/04 30 65 5 1/18/04 35 58 7 12/21/03 37 52 10 10/29/03 32 61 7 d. Ethics in government Approve Disapprove No opinion 1/26/06 42 56 2 1/8/06 45 52 3 12/18/05 48 49 3 e. Prescription drug benefits for the elderly Approve Disapprove No opinion 1/26/06 38 51 11 6/20/04 40 50 11 4/18/04 38 46 15 3/7/04 41 49 9 1/18/04 39 49 12 12/21/03 36 46 18 10/29/03 36 46 18 10/13/03 34 43 22 9/13/03 35 54 11 4/30/03 44 40 17 2/1/03 46 35 19 f. The economy Approve Disapprove No opinion 1/26/06 46 52 1 12/18/05 47 52 1 11/2/05 36 61 3 9/11/05 40 58 2 8/28/05 44 54 3 6/5/05 40 58 2 4/24/05 40 57 3 3/13/05 43 55 2 1/16/05 46 52 2 12/19/04 46 51 3 9/26/04 RV 47 50 4 8/29/04 RV 45 52 3 7/25/04 47 50 3 6/20/04 46 53 1 5/23/04 44 54 2 4/18/04 44 54 2 3/7/04 39 59 1 2/11/04 44 54 2 1/18/04 51 47 2 12/21/03 51 44 5 11/16/03 48 49 3 10/29/03 45 53 2 10/13/03 45 52 2 9/13/03 42 56 3 9/7/03 44 51 5 8/11/03 45 51 5 7/10/03 47 49 4 4/30/03 52 45 3 2/9/03 47 49 4 2/1/03 44 52 4 1/28/03 46 49 4 1/27/03 47 47 5 1/20/03 43 53 4 1/5/03 50 43 7 12/15/02 50 46 4 11/4/02 LV 53 45 2 11/3/02 LV 52 46 2 11/2/02 LV 55 43 2 10/27/02 51 43 6 9/26/02 51 47 3 9/8/02 57 40 4 7/28/02 57 39 4 7/15/02 58 38 3 4/21/02 64 33 3 1/27/02 62 34 4 12/19/01 67 27 6 11/6/01 72 23 5 9/9/01 48 48 4 7/30/01 52 45 3 6/3/01 53 41 6 4/22/01 55 38 7 3/25/01 50 42 8 g. Immigration issues Approve Disapprove No opinion 1/26/06 34 57 9 12/18/05 33 58 9 8/28/05 33 57 10 1/16/05 33 54 13 1/18/04 34 56 10 h. Health care Approve Disapprove No opinion 1/26/06 37 60 3 12/18/05 37 57 6 11/2/05 34 61 5 3/13/05 44 48 8 1/16/05 42 51 6 12/19/04 37 56 7 8/29/04 RV 39 55 6 7/25/04 38 53 9 6/20/04 39 57 4 4/18/04* 33 61 5 3/7/04 32 62 6 2/11/04 32 62 6 1/18/04 37 55 8 12/21/03 34 56 10 10/29/03 28 63 9 10/13/03 30 60 10 9/13/03 32 61 7 4/30/03 34 57 9 1/28/03 40 47 13 1/20/03 36 51 13 12/15/02 33 58 9 *4/18/04 and previous: "The cost, availability and coverage of health insurance" i. Taxes Approve Disapprove No opinion 1/26/06 45 52 3 1/16/05 49 46 5 8/29/04 RV 49 48 3 7/25/04 49 46 5 6/20/04 42 54 4 4/18/04 48 49 3 3/7/04 50 47 3 1/18/04 45 51 4 10/29/03 41 53 6 9/13/03 48 48 4 8/11/03 49 46 5 4/30/03 50 46 4 2/1/03 51 43 7 1/20/03 50 45 5 12/15/02 51 44 5 3. Please tell me whether the following statement applies to Bush or not. 1/26/06 - Summary Table* No Yes No op. a. He is a strong leader 52 48 * b. He is honest and trustworthy 46 53 * c. He understands the problems of people like you 38 61 1 d. He can be trusted in a crisis 53 47 1 *Half sample asked items a,b, other half asked items c,d Trend: a. He is a strong leader Yes No No op. 1/26/06 52 48 * 12/18/05 51 49 * 11/2/05 47 53 * 9/11/05 50 50 * 5/23/04 62 37 1 4/18/04 64 36 1 3/7/04 63 36 1 2/11/04 61 38 1 12/21/03 67 32 2 10/29/03 62 37 1 9/13/03 66 34 * 4/30/03 74 25 * 12/15/02 75 23 2 7/15/02 75 24 1 7/30/01 55 43 2 4/22/01 53 42 5 10/9/00 RV 62 33 5 9/6/00 RV 65 28 7 8/20/00 RV 65 29 5 8/10/00 RV 67 29 5 7/23/00 RV 61 33 6 7/23/00 62 32 5 6/11/00 65 30 6 4/2/00 68 27 5 3/11/00 63 31 6 2/27/00 62 32 6 2/6/00 65 30 7 1/16/00 65 28 7 12/15/99 67 26 7 10/31/99 77 18 5 9/2/99 70 18 12 3/14/99 68 13 20 b. He is honest and trustworthy Yes No No op. 1/26/06 46 53 * 12/18/05 49 50 1 11/2/05 40 58 2 5/23/04 53 45 2 4/18/04 55 44 1 3/7/04 54 45 1 2/11/04 52 45 2 10/29/03 59 40 2 9/13/03 60 39 2 12/15/02 70 26 4 7/15/02 71 26 3 7/30/01 63 34 3 4/22/01 62 32 6 11/5/00 LV 60 33 7 11/4/00 LV 61 33 7 10/24/00 LV 65 30 5 10/15/00 LV 57 34 9 10/15/00 RV 53 35 12 9/6/00 RV 62 30 7 7/23/00 RV 61 30 8 7/23/00 59 31 10 12/15/99 63 28 9 10/31/99 68 22 10 9/2/99 63 23 14 3/14/99 67 12 22 c. He understands the problems of people like you Yes No No op. 1/26/06 38 61 1 11/2/05 34 66 1 9/11/05 38 61 1 8/28/05 40 59 1 4/24/05 40 58 2 1/16/05 43 56 1 5/23/04 42 57 1 4/18/04 41 57 2 3/7/04 41 57 2 2/11/04 41 57 2 1/18/04 43 56 1 12/21/03 45 53 2 10/29/03 40 58 2 9/13/03 48 51 1 4/30/03 51 48 1 12/15/02 51 47 2 7/15/02 57 41 2 1/27/02 61 37 2 7/30/01 45 54 2 4/22/01 47 51 2 11/4/00 LV 49 46 5 10/24/00 LV 50 46 3 10/15/00 RV 46 46 7 10/9/00 RV 50 44 6 9/6/00 RV 47 49 4 8/20/00 RV 50 46 5 7/23/00 44 51 5 6/11/00 48 47 5 4/2/00 48 46 6 3/11/00 47 47 6 2/27/00 43 51 6 2/6/00 43 52 5 1/16/00 46 49 6 12/15/99 47 46 7 10/31/99 54 39 7 9/2/99 50 39 11 3/14/99 52 27 21 d. He can be trusted in a crisis Yes No No op. 1/26/06 53 47 1 11/2/05 49 49 2 9/11/05 49 49 2 5/23/04 60 39 1 7/30/01 60 37 3 4/22/01 65 32 4 12/15/99 62 27 11 9/2/99 58 22 19 4. (and 5) 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.) opin. 1/26/06 All 55 36 1 3 1 4 1/26/06 RV 54 38 1 3 1 5 12/18/05 All 50 41 1 3 1 4 12/18/05 RV 51 41 1 3 1 4 11/2/05 All 53 36 1 3 2 5 11/2/05 RV 52 37 1 4 2 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 1/27/02* RV 43 50 NA 2 1 5 9/6/00 RV 49 42 2 1 6 7/23/00 RV 46 45 3 1 5 2/27/00 RV 45 46 2 1 5 10/31/99 RV 50 43 3 1 3 9/2/99 RV 48 44 3 * 5 3/14/99 RV 50 41 2 1 6 2/14/99 RV 48 41 3 1 7 1/30/99 RV 49 39 8 1 3 11/1/98 RV 51 43 4 * 2 10/25/98 RV 48 43 3 1 4 10/18/98 RV 49 44 3 1 4 9/28/98 RV 49 44 2 * 4 8/21/98 RV 48 45 3 1 3 7/12/98 RV 47 45 2 * 6 1/31/98 RV 49 40 2 1 8 1/19/98 RV 47 44 3 1 5 10/8/96 RV 51 41 2 1 5 9/29/96 RV 48 41 3 1 7 9/22/96 RV 50 43 2 1 4 9/15/96 RV 49 45 1 1 4 9/4/96 RV 48 44 3 * 5 8/29/96 RV 53 39 3 1 5 8/28/96 RV 51 40 3 1 5 8/27/96 RV 51 41 3 0 5 8/26/96 RV 51 41 3 0 5 8/25/96 RV 48 43 3 1 6 8/24/96 RV 47 43 2 1 6 8/19/96 RV 49 42 3 0 6 8/18/96 RV 45 46 3 0 6 8/15/96 RV 46 43 4 1 5 8/14/96 RV 48 42 3 1 6 8/13/96 RV 49 43 3 0 5 8/12/96 RV 49 42 3 1 5 8/11/96 RV 49 40 4 1 6 8/10/96 RV 49 41 4 1 5 8/4/96 RV 48 45 2 1 4 6/30/96 RV 49 44 3 * 3 5/22/96 RV 52 41 3 1 3 3/10/96 RV 51 43 2 * 4 1/21/96 RV 52 43 3 1 1 10/1/95 RV 49 44 3 * 3 11/6/94 RV 47 42 5 2 5 10/31/94 RV 48 44 4 1 3 10/23/94 RV 50 45 2 1 2 10/9/94 RV 46 47 3 2 2 9/11/94 RV 50 45 1 1 4 8/7/94 RV 49 42 4 1 4 2/27/94 RV 50 40 8 1 2 10/21/91 RV 51 41 4 * 4 7/28/91 RV 49 41 6 * 3 6/2/91 RV 48 42 4 1 5 11/4/90 RV 51 41 5 * 3 10/14/90 RV 50 41 5 * 3 9/9/90 RV 47 46 3 * 3 7/24/90 RV 51 41 4 1 4 5/21/90 RV 47 45 5 1 2 9/21-10/10/88 RV 52 41 2 1 4 9/19/88 RV 51 39 3 1 6 6/22/85 RV 48 44 5 * 3 10/16/84 RV 52 44 2 NA 5 9/11/84 RV 53 45 2 NA 1 7/8/84 RV 58 40 2 NA 1 10/27/82 RV 58 39 NA NA 3 10/11/82 RV 55 36 NA NA 9 9/13/82 RV 58 36 NA NA 6 11/22/81 RV 53 41 " NA NA 7 *1/27/02 and previous: No "other candidate" option recorded 6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the U.S. Congress is doing its job? Approve Disapprove No opinion 1/26/06 43 53 4 1/8/06 41 55 5 12/18/05 43 53 4 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 7. 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 1/26/06 64 30 6 12/18/05 65 29 6 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 8. 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 1/26/06 51 37 1 8 3 12/18/05 47 42 1 8 2 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 9. Do you think the country should go in the direction (Bush wants to lead it), go in the direction (the Democrats in Congress want to lead it), or what? Other Neither No dif. No Bush Democrats (vol.) (vol.) (vol.) opin. 1/26/06 35 51 4 5 3 2 1/16/05 45 39 3 6 2 5 12/19/01 54 28 4 9 6 0 9/9/01 41 42 4 6 1 5 7/30/01 42 43 4 6 3 3 6/3/01 40 42 5 7 3 3 4/22/01 46 36 4 6 3 4 10. Would you describe the state of the nation'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 op. 1/26/06 40 5 35 60 37 23 * 12/18/05 45 5 39 55 38 17 * 11/2/05 35 3 32 65 36 29 * 9/11/05 40 3 37 59 37 22 1 6/5/05 44 3 40 56 38 19 * 4/24/05 37 2 35 63 44 20 * 9/26/04 RV 46 3 43 53 38 15 1 8/29/04 RV 45 3 41 55 37 18 * 7/25/04 46 4 42 53 39 14 * 6/20/04 45 4 41 55 38 17 * 4/18/04 43 4 39 57 39 18 * 3/7/04 39 2 37 60 38 22 1 1/18/04 42 3 39 58 42 16 0 12/21/03 42 4 39 57 41 16 1 10/29/03 33 1 32 67 45 23 * 9/13/03 30 2 27 70 45 25 * 8/11/03 32 2 30 68 43 25 * 4/30/03 35 1 34 64 46 19 * 2/9/03 28 1 27 72 49 23 * 1/20/03 25 1 25 74 48 26 1 12/15/02 35 1 33 65 44 21 1 11/4/02 LV 28 1 27 72 55 17 1 11/3/02 LV 27 1 26 72 56 17 1 11/2/02 LV 29 1 28 71 54 17 * 9/26/02 31 2 28 69 50 19 * 7/15/02 39 3 36 61 44 17 1 2/21/02 30 1 29 69 51 18 * 1/27/02 31 1 29 69 50 19 * 9/20/01 38 3 35 60 47 14 2 9/9/01 33 1 32 66 47 19 * 7/30/01 50 3 46 50 39 12 * 4/22/01 50 3 47 50 40 9 * 1/15/01 70 10 59 29 24 6 1 10/27/00 LV 86 24 61 14 11 3 * 10/26/00 LV 86 24 61 14 11 3 * 6/11/00 74 17 57 26 19 6 * 2/27/00 80 25 55 20 14 5 * 10/31/99 74 18 56 26 18 7 1 9/2/99 76 19 57 23 16 6 1 3/14/99 80 22 58 19 15 4 1 11/1/98 73 12 61 26 21 5 1 11/1/98 LV 78 13 65 22 19 3 * 10/13/97 61 12 49 39 27 11 * 11. Which political party, the (Democrats) or the (Republicans), do you trust to do a better job (ITEM)? 1/26/06 - Summary Table Both Neither No Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op. a. handling the situation in Iraq 47 40 1 9 2 b. standing up to lobbyists and special interest groups 46 27 1 20 5 c. handling the economy 55 37 2 5 2 d. handling the U.S. campaign against terrorism 41 46 2 6 4 Trend: a. handling the situation in Iraq Both Neither No Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op. 1/26/06 47 40 1 9 2 12/18/05 47 44 2 6 2 11/2/05 48 37 2 11 2 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 *12/15/02 and previous: "The situation with Iraq and Saddam Hussein" b. standing up to lobbyists and special interest groups Both Neither No Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op. 1/26/06 46 27 1 20 5 12/18/05 42 34 2 17 5 c. handling the economy Both Neither No Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op. 1/26/06 55 37 2 5 2 11/2/05 56 34 1 8 1 12/15/02 44 45 4 6 1 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 *10/27/02 and previous: "The economy and jobs" d. handling the U.S. campaign against terrorism Both Neither No Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op. 1/26/06 41 46 2 6 4 11/2/05 42 42 4 10 3 12/15/02 25 61 5 6 2 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 *10/27/02 and previous: "The war on terrorism" 12. Which political party, the (Democrats) or the (Republicans), do you think (ITEM): 1/26/06 - Summary Table Both Neither No Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op. a. has stronger leaders 41 47 3 6 3 b. has better ideas 51 35 6 6 3 Trend where available: a. has stronger leaders Both Neither No Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op. 1/26/06 41 47 3 6 3 11/2/05 35 51 5 8 2 b. No trend. 13. Do you think it is better for the country to have a president (who comes from the same political party that controls Congress), or do you think it is better to have a president (from one political party and Congress controlled by another)? Same Different No difference/ party party no opinion 1/26/06 45 44 10 7/15/02 41 45 14 4/7/02* 43 42 15 9/10/01* 43 45 12 10/9/00* 48 40 12 11/22/81 47 34 19 *Gallup. 14. For each issue I name, please tell me what kind of priority you think Bush and the Congress should give it - the highest priority, a high priority but not the highest, or a lower priority than that? 1/26/06 - Summary Table* ------- High ------- None No NET Highest High Lower (vol.) op. a. The economy 96 52 45 3 * * b. The situation in Iraq 90 60 30 9 1 1 c. The U.S. campaign against terrorism 93 59 34 6 * 1 d. Social Security 91 41 51 8 1 * e. Taxes 82 27 54 17 * 1 f. Global warming 62 26 37 35 1 1 g. Immigration issues 69 27 42 29 2 1 h. Health care 95 53 41 5 0 * i. Reducing government spending 88 43 45 10 * 1 j. The federal budget deficit 88 38 50 11 0 1 k. Education 93 47 46 6 * * l. Prescription drug benefits for the elderly 87 32 55 12 1 0 m. Federal disaster preparedness 88 36 52 11 * * n. Lobbying reform 62 16 46 34 1 4 *Full sample asked items a-c; half sample asked d-i, other half asked j-n. Trend where available: a. The economy ------- High ------- None No NET Highest High Lower (vol.) op. 1/26/06 96 52 45 3 * * 1/16/05 94 43 51 5 0 1 4/30/03 95 56 39 4 * 1 b. The situation in Iraq ------- High ------- None No NET Highest High Lower (vol.) op. 1/26/06 90 60 30 9 1 1 1/16/05 91 61 30 7 * 1 4/30/03 83 29 54 15 * 1 c. The U.S. campaign against terrorism ------- High ------- None No NET Highest High Lower (vol.) op. 1/26/06 93 59 34 6 * 1 1/16/05 93 52 41 6 * 1 4/30/03 93 48 45 7 0 1 d. Social Security ------- High ------- None No NET Highest High Lower (vol.) op. 1/26/06 91 41 51 8 1 * 1/16/05 90 35 55 10 0 * 4/30/03 88 34 54 12 * * e. Taxes ------- High ------- None No NET Highest High Lower (vol.) op. 1/26/06 82 27 54 17 * 1 1/16/05 80 19 60 19 * 1 4/30/03 82 30 51 17 * 2 f. No trend. g. Immigration issues ------- High ------- None No NET Highest High Lower (vol.) op. 1/26/06 69 27 42 29 2 1 1/16/05 68 20 49 28 1 2 h. Health care ------- High ------- None No NET Highest High Lower (vol.) op. 1/26/06 95 53 41 5 0 * 1/16/05 94 40 54 5 * 1 Compare to: The cost, availability, and coverage of health insurance ------- High ------- None No NET Highest High Lower (vol.) op. 4/30/03 89 50 40 10 * * i. No trend. j. The federal budget deficit ------- High ------- None No NET Highest High Lower (vol.) op. 1/26/06 88 38 50 11 0 1 1/16/05 89 32 57 9 0 1 k. Education ------- High ------- None No NET Highest High Lower (vol.) op. 1/26/06 93 47 46 6 * * 1/16/05 95 44 52 4 0 1 4/30/03 94 49 45 5 1 * l,m,n. No trend. 15. Just your best guess, how likely do you think it is that Congress will pass tough new regulations on political lobbying in the next year - very likely, somewhat likely, somewhat unlikely or very unlikely? ------Likely------ -----Unlikely----- Def. will Def. will No NET Very Smwt. NET Smwt. Very (vol.) not (vol.) opin. 1/26/06 46 11 35 51 27 24 0 * 3 16. All in all, considering the costs to the United States versus the benefits to the United States, do you think the war with Iraq was worth fighting, or not? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat? --- Worth fighting --- --- Not worth fighting -- No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly op. 1/26/06 44 32 12 55 13 42 1 1/8/06 43 30 13 55 12 43 2 12/18/05 46 33 14 52 11 42 1 11/2/05 39 25 13 60 12 48 1 8/28/05 46 33 12 53 9 44 1 6/26/05 46 33 13 53 10 43 1 6/5/05 41 29 12 58 12 46 1 4/24/05 44 31 13 54 12 42 2 3/13/05 45 34 11 53 11 42 2 1/16/05 44 32 12 55 10 45 1 12/19/04 42 31 11 56 10 47 2 10/3/04 LV 49 34 15 48 11 37 3 9/26/04 RV 46 35 12 51 8 42 3 9/8/04 RV 51 38 13 45 10 34 4 8/29/04 RV 48 34 14 50 11 39 2 7/25/04 49 36 13 48 11 37 3 6/20/04 47 32 14 52 13 39 2 5/23/04 48 35 13 50 13 37 1 5/6/04 49 NA NA 47 NA NA 5 4/18/04 51 47 2 3/7/04 52 44 3 2/11/04 48 50 2 1/18/04 56 41 3 12/21/03 59 39 2 12/14/03 53 42 5 11/16/03 52 44 4 10/29/03 54 44 2 10/13/03 54 44 2 9/13/03 61 37 2 9/7/03 54 42 4 8/24/03 57 37 5 8/11/03 61 35 4 7/10/03 57 40 3 6/22/03 64 33 3 4/30/03 70 " " 27 " " 4 2/2/92* 66 NA NA 32 NA NA 2 7/28/91 67 30 3 6/2/91 70 26 3 3/4/91 86 " " 13 " " 1 *2/2/92 and previous: "the Persian Gulf war"; 3/4/91: "this war 17. Do you think the war with Iraq has or has not contributed to the long-term security of the United States? IF YES: Has it contributed to the long-term security of the United States a great deal, or somewhat? --------- Contributed --------- Has No NET Great deal Somewhat not opin. 1/26/06 53 32 21 45 1 12/18/05 54 32 22 44 2 11/2/05 46 25 21 52 2 8/28/05 49 29 20 49 2 6/26/05 52 31 22 46 1 6/5/05 47 24 22 52 1 3/13/05 52 29 23 46 2 1/16/05 50 30 21 47 3 12/19/04 51 27 23 46 4 10/3/04 LV 53 32 22 42 4 9/26/04 RV 54 36 18 42 4 9/8/04 RV 57 36 22 40 3 8/29/04 RV 54 33 20 42 4 7/25/04 51 32 19 45 3 6/20/04 51 28 23 46 2 5/23/04 54 30 24 43 3 4/18/04 57 33 24 40 3 3/7/04 57 29 29 40 3 2/11/04 58 32 26 38 4 1/18/04 59 34 25 38 3 12/21/03 62 34 29 34 4 7/10/03* 62 33 29 35 3 *"did or did not" 18. How much confidence do you have in the ability of the U.S. government to prevent further terrorist attacks against Americans in this country: a great deal, a good amount, only a fair amount or none at all? ------- Confident ------- ---- Not confident --- No NET Grt.deal Good amt. NET Fair amt. None opin. 1/26/06 50 19 31 49 39 11 * 9/11/05 41 14 27 59 41 18 * 8/21/05 42 14 28 57 43 15 * 9/8/04 RV 52 16 35 47 39 8 1 9/7/03 45 14 31 55 48 7 1 9/8/02 50 12 38 49 43 6 * 7/15/02 46 13 33 54 45 9 * 6/9/02 44 14 30 55 44 11 * 5/19/02 46 17 29 52 42 10 2 3/10/02 55 18 38 44 39 5 * 1/27/02 57 18 40 42 37 6 1 11/27/01 63 24 39 36 32 5 1 11/6/01 52 17 35 47 40 7 1 9/11/01 66 35 31 32 30 2 1 6/2/97 35 10 26 62 52 10 3 8/5/96 35 12 23 65 49 16 * 5/14/95 36 12 24 63 51 12 1 4/20/95 37 13 24 62 51 11 1 6/28/93 59 22 37 41 32 8 1 4/3/89 46 16 30 54 38 16 * 19. Compared to before September 11, 2001, do you think the country today is safer from terrorism or less safe from terrorism? IF SAFER: Would you say the country is much safer or somewhat safer? -------- Safer -------- Less No diff. No NET Much Somewhat safe (vol.) opin. 1/26/06 64 24 41 30 6 * 8/21/05 49 14 35 38 11 2 10/3/04 LV 62 29 33 29 7 2 9/26/04 LV 59 25 34 33 6 2 RV 59 24 35 34 5 2 9/8/04 RV 64 26 38 28 5 3 8/29/04 RV 60 24 36 31 7 2 1/18/04 67 28 39 24 8 1 9/7/03 67 24 42 27 4 2 20. Do you think the overall level of ethics and honesty in the federal government has risen, fallen or stayed the same with Bush as president? Risen Fallen Same No opin. Bush, 1/26/06 18 43 38 1 Bush, 11/2/05 17 43 39 1 Bush, 10/29/05 15 46 37 2 Clinton, 3/27/94 17 24 58 1 Clinton, 1/23/94 14 23 58 6 Clinton, 1/17/93* 35 13 50 2 *"Will rise, fall or stay the same" 21. On another subject: as you may know, the National Security Agency has been investigating people suspected of involvement with terrorism by secretly listening in on telephone calls and reading e-mails between some people in the United States and other countries, without first getting court approval to do so. Would you consider this wiretapping of telephone calls and e-mails without court approval as an acceptable or unacceptable way for the federal government to investigate terrorism? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat? ----- Acceptable ----- ----- Unacceptable ----- No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin. 1/26/06 56 38 17 43 10 33 1 1/8/06 51 35 15 47 14 33 2 22. As you may know, a prominent lobbyist in Washington named Jack Abramoff has pleaded guilty to corruption charges allegedly involving a U.S. congressman. Do you think this case (is limited to a few corrupt individuals); or do you think it (is evidence of widespread corruption in Washington)? Limited to a Neither/None No few individuals Widespread (vol.) opinion 1/26/06 38 55 2 5 1/8/06 34 58 2 6 23. Do you think the Bush administration should or should not provide a list of all meetings any White House officials may have had with Abramoff? Should Should not No opin. 1/26/06 76 18 5 24. Iran says it is refining uranium to use in nuclear power plants. Other countries are concerned Iran may also use this uranium in nuclear weapons. To try to prevent Iran from developing nuclear technology, would you support or oppose: 1/26/06 - Summary Table Support Oppose No opin. a. imposing international economic sanctions against Iran 71 26 3 b. the United States bombing Iran's nuclear development sites 42 54 4 25. One last question: do you approve or disapprove of the way Alan Greenspan has handled his job as chairman of the Federal Reserve? Approve Disapprove No opin. 1/26/06 72 21 7