Washington Post-ABC News Poll: Bush and Iraq
Monday, May 24, 2004 | | | | This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone May 20-23, 2004 among 1,005 randomly selected adults nationwide. The margin of sampling error for overall results is plus or minus three percentage points. 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.
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 All 67 39 28 29 13 16 4
10/27/02 LV 68 47 21 30 14 16 3
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)? 5/23/04 - Summary Table Approve Disapprove No op.
a. The economy 44 54 2
b. The situation in Iraq 40 58 2
c. The US campaign against terrorism 58 39 4
d. The issue of the apparent abuse of
Iraqi prisoners by U.S. soldiers 36 57 7 a. The economy Approve Disapprove No opinion
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
10/27/02 LV 53 44 3
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 b. The situation in Iraq Approve Disapprove No opinion
5/23/04 40 58 2
4/18/04 45 54 1
3/7/04 46 53 7
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 Compare to: The situation with Iraq and Saddam Hussein 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 c. The US campaign against terrorism Approve Disapprove No opinion
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 All 74 23 4
10/27/02 LV 78 20 2
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 d. The issue of the apparent abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. soldiers Approve Disapprove No opinion
5/23/04 36 57 7
5/6/04 48 35 17 3. How closely are you following the 2004 presidential race: very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not closely at all? Very Somewhat Not too Not closely No
closely closely closely at all opin.
5/23/04 33 41 17 9 *
4/18/04 30 45 16 9 0
3/7/04 33 42 18 7 *
2/11/04 30 45 15 10 *
1/18/04 22 44 22 13 *
10/29/03 15 39 30 15 0
9/13/03 16 40 27 17 * Compare to: How closely are you following the 2000 presidential race: very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not closely at all? Very Somewhat Not too Not closely No
closely closely closely at all opin.
Likely Voters:
11/6/00 54 38 6 2 *
11/5/00 53 38 6 2 *
11/4/00 52 39 7 2 *
11/3/00 51 40 6 3 *
11/2/00 48 42 7 3 *
11/1/00 48 43 7 2 *
10/31/00 46 44 7 2 *
10/30/00 47 44 7 2 *
10/29/00 47 43 7 3 *
10/28/00 47 42 7 3 *
10/27/00 48 41 7 4 *
10/26/00 47 42 8 3 *
10/25/00 47 42 8 3 0
10/24/00 44 43 10 3 0
10/23/00 44 45 8 3 0
10/22/00 44 44 9 3 0
10/21/00 46 41 9 4 *
10/20/00 46 40 11 4 *
10/19/00 44 41 10 4 *
10/18/00 42 45 10 3 *
10/17/00 40 46 10 3 *
Registered Voters:
10/15/00 33 44 15 8 *
10/9/00 30 45 16 9 *
10/1/00 27 48 17 8 *
9/6/00 26 48 17 9 *
8/20/00 28 46 16 10 1
8/10/00 29 43 18 11 *
General Population:
8/6/00 17 36 22 25 *
7/29/00 16 35 25 24 *
7/23/00 14 36 25 25 *
6/11/00 13 36 26 25 0
4/2/00 17 36 24 23 0
3/11/00 21 40 21 17 0
2/27/00 24 46 20 10 *
2/6/00 19 48 21 13 0
1/16/00 11 39 26 24 *
12/15/99 12 33 31 24 *
10/31/99 16 45 25 13 * 4/4a. If the 2004 presidential election were being held today, would you vote for (George W. Bush, the Republican), (John Kerry, the Democrat), or Ralph Nader, the independent? Which one are you leaning toward? Net Leaned Vote: Other Neither Would No
Bush Kerry Nader (vol.) (vol.) not vote op.
5/23/04 All 45 44 6 * 1 2 1
RV 46 46 4 * 1 1 1
4/18/04 All 47 42 7 * 2 1 *
RV 48 43 6 * 2 1 *
3/7/04 All* 42 47 5 * 1 3 2
RV 44 48 3 * 1 2 2
*Half sample 5/5a. (ASKED OF NADER VOTERS AND DON'T KNOWS) If Nader does not run or is not on the ballot for whom would you vote - (Bush) or (Kerry)? Which one are you leaning toward? Net Leaned Vote, All Respondents: Write in Other Neither Would No
Bush Kerry Nader (vol.) (vol.) (vol.) not vote op.
5/23/04 All 46 48 * * 2 3 1
RV 47 49 * * 1 1 1
4/18/04 All 49 47 * * 2 1 *
RV 49 48 * * 2 1 * 6a. (ASKED OF LEANED BUSH SUPPORTERS) Is your vote more for Bush or more against Kerry? For Bush Against Kerry No opinion
5/23/04 77 21 1
3/7/04 86 13 2 6b. (ASKED OF LEANED KERRY SUPPORTERS) Is your vote more for Kerry or more against Bush? For Kerry Against Bush No opinion
5/23/04 38 61 1
3/7/04 38 61 1 7. Who do you trust to do a better job handling (ITEM), (Bush) or (Kerry)? 5/23/04 - Summary Table Both Neither No
Bush Kerry (vol.) (vol.) op.
a. The economy 43 48 * 5 3
b. The situation in Iraq 48 42 * 6 3
h. The US campaign against
terrorism 52 39 1 4 4 Trend: a. The economy Both Neither No
Bush Kerry (vol.) (vol.) opin.
5/23/04 43 48 * 5 3
4/18/04 47 47 1 4 1
3/7/04 41 53 * 4 2
2/11/04 41 49 1 4 5 b. The situation in Iraq Both Neither No
Bush Kerry (vol.) (vol.) opin.
5/23/04 48 42 * 6 3
4/18/04 52 41 * 4 2
3/7/04 47 48 1 3 2
2/11/04 48 41 1 6 5 c. The U.S. campaign against terrorism Both Neither No
Bush Kerry (vol.) (vol.) opin.
5/23/04 52 39 1 4 4
4/18/04 58 37 1 3 1
3/7/04 57 36 2 2 3
2/11/04 53 37 1 4 5 8. Of the following list, which one of these will be the single most important issue in your vote for president this year: (The U.S. campaign against terrorism), (the war in Iraq), (the economy and jobs), (education), (Health care), (Medicare and prescription drugs), (Social Security) or something else? Econ./ Educ- Health Medicare/ Soc. No
Terrorism Iraq jobs ation care drugs Sec. Other op.
5/23/04 14 18 32 8 8 7 5 6 1
4/18/04 22 23 26 8 5 4 4 6 1
3/7/04 17 10 36 8 6 7 7 8 1
12/21/03* 14 9 37 12 8 6 7 6 2
*"Which one of the these will be . . ." 9. 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.
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
Gulf War:
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 10. Do you think the United States (has gotten bogged down in Iraq), or do you think the United States (is making good progress in Iraq)? Has gotten bogged down Is making good progress No opinion
5/23/04 65 33 2
5/6/04 60 35 5
4/18/04 59 41 0 11a. (HALF SAMPLE) Do you think the Bush Administration does or does not have a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq? Does Does not No opinion
5/23/04 40 58 2
5/6/04 38 57 5
4/18/04 45 53 2
3/7/04 43 53 3
12/21/03 48 47 5
10/13/03 42 53 5
9/13/03 42 55 2
8/26/03* 44 54 2
*Gallup. 11b. (HALF SAMPLE) Do you think the Bush Administration has a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq? Does Does not No opinion
5/23/04 38 59 3 12. 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.
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" 13. Do you think (the United States should keep its military forces in Iraq until civil order is restored there, even if that means continued U.S. military casualties); or do you think (the United States should withdraw its military forces from Iraq in order to avoid further U.S. military casualties, even if that means civil order is not restored there)? Keep forces Withdraw forces No opinion
5/23/04 58 40 2
4/18/04 66 33 1
11/16/03 62 34 4
10/29/03 58 38 3
9/13/03 65 32 3
8/24/03 69 27 4
7/10/03 72 26 2 14a. (HALF SAMPLE) Do you think the United States is or is not making significant progress toward establishing a democratic government in Iraq? Is making Is not making No
significant progress significant progress opinion
5/23/04 38 57 5 14b. (HALF SAMPLE) Do you think the United States is making significant progress toward establishing a democratic government in Iraq? Is making Is not making No
significant progress significant progress opinion
5/23/04 38 57 5 15. Who do you think is behind most of the attacks on U.S. soldiers in Iraq - (Iraqis who oppose the occupation), or (international terrorist groups)? Iraqis who oppose International Both equally Neither No
the occupation terrorist groups (vol.) (vol.) opin.
5/23/04 40 42 15 1 2 15b. Thinking about the next 12 months, would you say you feel (optimistic) or (pessimistic) about the situation in Iraq? Optimistic Pessimistic No opinion
5/23/04 55 43 2
1/18/04* 58 39 2
*"Thinking about the coming year" 16. On another subject, Do you think the apparent abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. soldiers represents a few isolated incidents, or do you think it's more widespread than that? Represents a few Abuse is more No
isolated incidents widespread than that opinion
5/23/04 60 38 3
5/6/04 62 31 7 17. Do you think the U.S. soldiers involved were (acting on their own) or (following orders)? Acting on their own Following orders No opinion
5/23/04 40 54 6 18. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is handling the U.S. military's response to the prisoner abuse issue? Approve Disapprove No opinion
5/23/04 47 45 8 19. What's your own personal reaction to the apparent abuse of Iraqi prisoners - would you say you're (not concerned; concerned but not upset; upset but not angry; or angry)? Not Concerned Upset
concerned but not upset but not angry Angry No op.
5/23/04 12 30 27 31 *
5/6/04 7 39 27 24 2 20. Do you think what Americans soldiers did to prisoners did at the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad amounts to torture, or do you think it was abuse, but not torture? Abuse but Some of Not No
Torture not torture both (vol.) abuse (vol.) op.
5/23/04 29 60 5 2 4 21. On another subject, have recent price increases in gasoline caused any financial hardship for you or others in your household, or not? IF YES: Has that been a serious hardship, or not serious? ------------Yes-----------
Net Serious Not serious No No opin.
5/23/04 64 37 27 36 0
4/18/04 54 31 23 46 0
4/28/02 53 20 33 47 *
4/29/01 48 17 30 52 *
6/25/00* 44 na na 56 *
5/24/00 36 64 *
4/2/00 39 61 *
3/12/00 41 59 *
2/15/00 40 " " 60 *
*6/25 and previous by Gallup; slightly different wordings. 22. Who do you blame for the recent rise in oil and gasoline prices - (other oil-producing countries), (U.S. oil companies), or (the Bush administration)? Other oil U.S. Oil Bush None Other All equal No
Producing companies admin. (vol.) (vol.) (vol.) op.
countries
5/23/04 28 26 27 3 2 10 3
10/15/00* 36 22 24 1 2 5 9
*Clinton administration. 23. (and 24) Please tell me whether the following statement applies to (Bush/Kerry), or not. 5/23/04 - Summary Table** -----Bush------ -----Kerry-----
No No
Yes No op. Yes No op.
a. He is honest and trustworthy 53 45 2 48 42 9
b. He understands the problems of
people like you 42 57 1 52 43 5
c. He is a strong leader 62 37 1 52 38 10
d. He takes a position and sticks
with it 75 24 1 41 50 10
e. He's willing to listen to
different points of view 49 50 1 69 25 6
f. He has made the country safer
and more secure 52 47 1 39* 50 11
g. He can be trusted in a crisis 60 39 1 46 42 12
h. He shares your values 49 50 1 48 46 6
*"He will make the country"
**Half sample asked a-d, other half asked e-h. Trend where available: a. He is honest and trustworthy -------Bush--------- --------Kerry-------
Yes No No op. Yes No No op.
5/23/04 53 45 2 48 42 9
4/18/04 55 44 1 49 40 11
3/7/04 54 45 1 59 30 11
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 b. He understands the problems of people like you -------Bush--------- --------Kerry-------
Yes No No op. Yes No No op.
5/23/04 42 57 1 52 43 5
4/18/04 41 57 2 51 40 10
3/7/04 41 57 2 58 34 8
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 RV 44 51 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 c. He is a strong leader -------Bush--------- --------Kerry-------
Yes No No op. Yes No No op.
5/23/04 62 37 1 52 38 10
4/18/04 64 36 1 52 38 11
3/7/04 63 36 1 61 29 10
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 d. He takes a position and sticks with it -------Bush--------- --------Kerry-------
Yes No No op. Yes No No op.
5/23/04 75 24 1 41 50 10
4/18/04 79 20 1 41 48 11 e. No trend. f. He has made the country safer and more secure -------Bush--------- --------Kerry*------
Yes No No op. Yes No No op.
5/23/04 52 47 1 39* 50 11
9/13/03 63 35 2
12/15/02 65 33 2
*"He will make the country" g. He can be trusted in a crisis -------Bush--------- --------Kerry-------
Yes No No op. Yes No No op.
5/23/04 60 39 1 46 42 12
7/30/01 60 37 3
4/22/01 65 32 4
12/15/99 62 27 11
9/2/99 58 22 19 h. No trend. 25. How much do you feel you know about Bush's positions on specific issues - a great deal, a good amount, only some, or hardly anything? Great deal/ --Some/Hardly anything/Nothing-
---Good amount--- Nothing No
NET Great Good NET Some Hardly any. (vol.) op.
5/23/04 67 24 44 32 23 8 1 * 26. How much do you feel you know about Kerry's positions on specific issues - a great deal, a good amount, only some, or hardly anything? Great deal/ --Some/Hardly anything/Nothing-
---Good amount--- Nothing No
NET Great Good NET Some Hardly any. (vol.) op.
5/23/04 42 10 31 54 35 19 3 1
Compare to:
10/29/03* 19 5 14 79 27 42 10 2
*Asked of leaned Democrats
© 2004 The Washington Post Company | 
