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| Washington Post Poll: The Bush Presidency, Iraq, and the Economy Tuesday, August 12, 2003 The latest Washington Post poll is based on telephone interviews with 1,003 randomly selected adults nationwide, and was conducted Aug. 7-11, 2003. The margin of sampling error for overall results is plus or minus 3 percentage points. Sampling error is only one of many potential sources of error in this or any other public opinion poll. Interviewing was conducted by TNS Intersearch 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 Strongly Somewhat opin.
8/11/03 59 37 22 37 23 14 4
7/10/03 59 35 24 38 25 13 3
6/22/03 68 45 23 29 18 11 4
4/30/03 71 50 22 26 9 17 3
4/16/03 74 52 22 23 14 9 3
4/9/03 77 58 19 20 14 6 4
4/3/03 71 54 16 25 19 7 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 22 13 4
2/23/03 60 NA NA 34 NA NA 6
2/9/03 64 42 21 34 20 14 3
2/1/03 62 41 21 34 22 13 4
1/28/03 62 43 19 36 23 13 2
1/27/03 59 39 21 37 22 15 4
1/20/03 59 36 23 38 22 16 2
12/15/02 66 37 28 32 20 12 2
11/4/02 LV 67 45 23 31 20 12 1
11/3/02 LV 67 45 22 32 20 12 1
11/2/02 LV 67 47 20 32 23 9 1
10/27/02 All 67 39 28 29 16 13 4
10/27/02 LV 68 47 21 30 16 14 3
9/26/02 67 42 25 30 18 12 3
9/8/02 71 42 28 27 15 12 3
7/28/02 69 39 31 28 14 14 3
7/15/02 72 42 31 25 13 12 2
6/17/02 74 42 32 22 13 9 4
6/9/02 77 41 36 20 11 9 3
5/19/02 76 48 28 22 13 8 3
4/21/02 78 47 31 20 10 9 2
3/28/02 79 49 30 18 10 8 3
3/10/02 82 52 30 16 7 9 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 5 4 1
11/6/01 89 65 24 9 4 5 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 6 5 2
9/9/01 55 26 29 41 22 20 3
8/12/01 61 28 33 31 17 14 8
7/30/01 59 28 30 38 22 17 3
6/3/01 55 27 28 40 22 18 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 (READ ITEM)? 8/11/03 - Summary Table Approve Disapprove No opinion a. The situation in Iraq 56 41 3 b. The economy 45 51 5 c. Taxes 49 46 5 d. The federal budget 41 50 9 a. The situation in Iraq Approve Disapprove No opinion 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 b. The economy Approve Disapprove No opinion 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 c. Taxes Approve Disapprove No opinion 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 d. The federal budget Approve Disapprove No opinion 8/11/03 41 50 9 4/30/03 43 50 6 2/9/03 45 45 10 2/1/03 47 46 8 1/20/03 43 47 10 7/15/02 50 42 8 1/27/02 59 30 12 9/9/01 46 48 6 7/30/01 53 42 5 3. If the 2004 presidential election were being held today, would you vote for (George W. Bush, the Republican) or for (the Democratic nominee for president)? Net Leaned Vote:
Democratic Other Neither Would No
Bush nominee (vol.) (vol.) not vote opin.
8/11/03 48 40 2 1 1 7
4/30/03 53 40 * 2 1 3
4. On another subject, do you support or oppose the current U.S. military presence in Iraq? Do you support/oppose it strongly or somewhat? ---------Support--------- ----------Oppose--------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Strongly Somewhat opin.
8/11/03 70 46 24 27 17 10 3
7/10/03 74 48 26 25 15 10 1
5. 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? Worth Not worth No
fighting fighting opinion
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 32 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" 6. Again thinking about the goals versus the costs of the war, so far in your opinion has there been an acceptable or unacceptable number of U.S. military casualties in Iraq? Acceptable Unacceptable No opinion 8/11/03 42 53 5 7/10/03 44 52 3 6/22/03 51 44 5 4/9/03 66 28 6 4/3/03 62 32 5 3/27/03 58 34 9 7. Do you think (the United States has to kill or capture Saddam Hussein for the war in Iraq to be a success), or do you think (the war in Iraq can be a success with Saddam Hussein removed from power, but not killed or captured)? US must capture/ War can succeed No
kill Hussein without Hussein opinion
8/11/03 63 29 8
7/10/03 61 35 4
4/9/03* 50 43 7
3/20/03 49 43 7
*4/9/03 and previous: "if Saddam Hussein is removed from power" Compare to: Do you think (the United States has to capture or kill Osama bin Laden for the war on terrorism to be a success), or do you think (the war on terrorism can be a success without Osama bin Laden being killed or captured)? US must capture/ War can succeed No
kill bin Laden without bin Laden opin.
9/8/02 44 54 2
4/21/02 50 45 5
3/10/02 44 53 4
1/27/02 46 51 3
12/19/01 64 34 2
11/6/01 64 30 6 8. Before the war began, do you think the Bush administration did or did not intentionally exaggerate its evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, such as biological or chemical weapons? Did Did not No opinion 8/11/03 50 46 4 7/10/03 50 46 4 9. 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.
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 *
10. Do you think the nation's economy is getting better, getting worse or staying the same? Better Worse Same No opin. 8/11/03 32 29 38 1 1/20/03 18 38 43 1 7/28/02 17 44 39 1 7/15/02 20 36 43 2 7/7/02 22 37 41 0 6/9/02 27 29 43 1 5/12/02 35 27 38 0 4/14/02 34 26 40 0 3/17/02 47 20 32 1 2/17/02 29 27 42 2 1/20/02 25 36 39 1 12/9/01 24 37 38 1 11/11/01 16 48 36 1 10/14/01 15 46 39 0 9/16/01 9 44 46 1 8/12/01 16 46 38 0 7/15/01 13 40 46 0 6/17/01 17 45 38 1 5/20/01 13 47 39 0 *7/7/02 and previous, ABC/Money. Call for full trend. 11. Would you say you, yourself are better off financially than you were when Bush became president, not as well off, or in about the same shape as then financially? Better off Not as well off About the same No opin.
BUSH
8/11/03 17 25 58 1
Better off Not as well off About the same No opin.
CLINTON
6/11/00 34 14 50 2
7/19/98 30 15 52 3
3/1/98 32 9 57 1
6/23/96 29 22 49 0
2/27/94 12 17 71 *
BUSH*
8/9/92 22 32 45 1
6/7/92 19 32 49 *
3/11/92 20 33 46 1
2/2/92 19 31 49 *
10/21/91 20 27 53 1
3/4/91 19 18 63 1
REAGAN**
1/16/89 42 18 39 1
1/18/87 37 23 40 1
9/8/86 41 20 39 1
*"...in 1989 when Bush became..." 12. 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
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
13. Which political party, the (Democrats) or the (Republicans), do you trust to do a better job handling: 8/11/03 - Summary Table Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
a. The economy 47 37 3 7 4
b. The U.S. campaign
against terrorism 25 54 8 6 7
c. Social Security 46 33 5 10 6
d. Taxes 43 40 3 8 6
e. The federal budget 40 41 4 8 6
f. The issue of financial
fraud and accounting
irregularities by large
business corporations 44 33 5 12 7
Trend: a. The economy Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
8/11/03 47 37 3 7 4
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
a. The U.S. campaign against terrorism Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
8/11/03 25 54 8 6 7
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. Social Security Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
8/11/03 46 33 5 10 6
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
d. Taxes Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
8/11/03 43 40 3 8 6
12/15/02 46 44 2 6 2
9/26/02 44 44 3 6 4
e. The federal budget Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
8/11/03 40 41 4 8 6
9/26/02 43 43 3 7 4
f. The issue of financial fraud and accounting irregularities by large business corporations Both Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) op.
8/11/03 44 33 5 12 7
9/26/02 40 40 4 7 9
14. Who is mostly responsible for the current state of the economy: (President Bush), (the Democrats in Congress), (the Republicans in Congress), (the September 11 attacks), (the normal business cycle), or something else? Bus. Greed Clinton No
Bush Dems Reps 9/11 cycle (vol) (vol) Comb. Other op.
8/11/03 14 7 10 29 16 1 2 NA 16 6
9/26/02* 13 6 9 29 21 2 3 7 12 5
* Was only asked of those who rated the economy "not so good" or "poor". 15. As you may know, officials now say the federal budget is in deficit. How much responsibility do you think Bush bears for the budget deficit - a great deal, a good amount, just some or hardly any? -Great/Good Amount- --Some/Hardly Any--
Great Good Just Hardly None No
NET deal amount NET some any (vol.) op.
8/11/03 52 28 24 45 30 15 1 1
1/27/02 41 18 23 55 32 23 2 2
9/9/01* 48 28 20 48 25 23 NA 3
*"For each item I name, please tell me how much responsibility [George W. Bush] bears for the lower surplus - a great deal, a good amount, just some or hardly any." 16. Do you think the current national budget deficit is a problem or not? Problem Not a problem No opinion 8/11/03 73 23 3 17. (IF PROBLEM, Q22) Would you say it's a problem that (demands immediate government action) or is it a problem that (will work itself out over time)? Immediate Work No
action itself out opinion
8/11/03 61 34 5
16/17. Do you think the current national budget deficit is a problem or not? (IF PROBLEM) Would you say it's a problem that (demands immediate government action) or is it a problem that (will work itself out over time)? ---------------Problem----------------
Immediate Work No Not a No
NET action itself out opinion problem opinion
8/11/03 73 44 25 4 23 3
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