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Washington Post-ABC News Poll, October 1997
Wednesday, October 15, 1997 The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll is based on random telephone interviews with 1,515 adults on October 9-13. The overall margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points. Sampling error is, however, only one source of error in this or any other public opinion poll. Interviewing was conducted by Chilton Research of Radnor, Pa. Presidential Approval | Congressional Approval | Federal Priorities
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is handling his job as president?
-------Approve----------- -------Disapprove-------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
10/13/97 59 NA NA 36 NA NA 6
8/27/97 58 NA NA 37 NA NA 5
7/8/97 64 NA NA 31 NA NA 5
6/8/97 59 NA NA 36 NA NA 5
4/24/97 56 NA NA 39 NA NA 5
3/25/97 56 NA NA 33 NA NA 11
3/9/97 55 NA NA 41 NA NA 4
10/8/96* 58 NA NA 38 NA NA 4
10/8/96** 59 NA NA 37 NA NA 4
9/4/96** 57 NA NA 38 NA NA 4
8/5/96 59 NA NA 37 NA NA 4
6/30/96 56 NA NA 39 NA NA 5
5/22/96 58 20 37 39 17 22 3
3/31/96 52 21 30 40 16 25 8
3/17/96 53 19 34 45 19 26 2
3/10/96 55 23 32 40 17 24 4
4/21/96 51 NA NA 43 NA NA 6
1/7/96 53 22 31 43 16 28 4
11/19/95 54 NA NA 41 NA NA 5
11/13/95 54 20 34 41 20 21 5
10/1/95 52 17 35 43 19 24 5
7/17/95 51 14 37 45 20 25 4
6/8/95 47 NA NA 45 NA NA 8
5/14/95 56 20 36 41 23 18 3
3/19/95 52 17 35 45 19 26 3
3/5/95 46 NA NA 49 NA NA 4
1/29/95 54 20 34 43 21 22 3
1/4/95 45 13 31 51 22 29 5
12/20/94 44 NA NA 50 NA NA 6
11/6/94** 52 20 32 43 16 26 5
10/31/94 48 17 31 49 19 30 3
10/23/94 49 18 31 48 19 29 4
10/9/94 45 13 32 51 21 30 4
9/25/94 44 13 31 51 20 31 5
9/11/94 46 15 30 51 19 33 3
8/16/94 44 NA NA 51 NA NA 5
8/7/94 47 17 31 47 20 27 5
6/26/94 50 16 34 44 17 28 6
5/15/94 51 19 32 44 17 28 4
3/27/94 57 23 34 41 16 25 3
3/22/94 47 NA NA 45 NA NA 7
3/08/94 52 NA NA 40 NA NA 8
2/27/94 58 20 38 38 15 23 4
1/23/94 56 22 34 34 14 20 10
1/9/94 59 20 39 36 15 21 4
12/19/93 58 22 36 40 20 20 3
11/14/93 49 16 33 45 20 25 6
10/31/93 52 17 35 41 17 24 7
10/10/93 51 20 31 43 18 25 5
10/3/93 52 19 33 36 14 22 12
9/19/93 51 NA NA 41 NA NA 8
8/8/93 45 16 29 51 19 32 4
6/28/93 43 13 29 50 19 31 7
6/15/93 45 NA NA 48 NA NA 7
5/23/93 46 17 30 48 18 30 6
4/26/93 59 22 37 39 17 21 2
2/28/93 60 28 32 33 11 22 7
2/23/93 63 28 35 30 11 19 7
2/14/93 54 23 31 31 15 16 15
* Likely voters
1.1 Do you approve or disapprove of the way the U.S. Congress is doing its job?
Approve Disapprove No opinion
10/13/97 36 57 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
3. I'm going to mention a few things the federal government could try to accomplish. For each one, please tell me whether you think it should or should not be a goal for government to accomplish. (If should, then ask:) Should it be a major goal or a minor goal for government? (Get answer, then ask:)Do you think the government will be able to get that done, or not? Should it be a major goal or a minor goal for government?
10/13/97
-------Goal-------- Not a No
NET Major Minor goal opinion
A. Making sure the Social
Security system is
financially sound 97 88 9 3 -
B. Finding ways to give
all Americans health
care insurance 88 74 14 11 1
C. Reducing federal
income taxes 90 64 26 9 1
D. Reforming election
campaign finance laws 84 44 39 14 3
E. Increasing efforts to
fight crime and drugs 95 87 8 4 -
F. Protecting the
environment more 93 69 24 7 -
Do you think the government will be able to get that done, or not?
10/13/97
Yes No No opin.
A. Making sure the Social Security
system is financially sound 48 49 3
B. Finding ways to give all Americans health
care insurance 34 63 3
C. Reducing federal income taxes 29 68 3
D. Reforming election campaign finance laws 37 59 3
E. Increasing efforts to fight crime and drugs 37 60 3
F. Protecting the environment more 47 50 3
4. I'm going to read you a few names. For each, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person, or perhaps you don't know enough to say. How about (Read name)?
Summary table:
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
Bill Clinton 59 37 4
Al Gore 45 40 15
Janet Reno 46 32 22
Trend (where available):
Bill Clinton
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
10/13/97 59 37 4
9/10/97 57 38 5
3/9/97 60 38 3
9/4/96** 58 38 4
6/30/96 56 38 5
10/30/95 54 41 6
7/17/95 59 38 3
6/8/95 53 43 4
3/19/95 55 42 3
10/31/94 51 44 5
5/15/94 57 40 3
3/27/94 59 37 4
1/23/94 60 32 8
11/14/93 58 37 5
11/11/93 52 43 6
8/8/93 56 39 5
4/26/93 59 29 12
2/23/93 59 30 11
1/17/93 68 20 11
10/18/92* 56 36 8
9/27/92* 55 36 9
8/23/92** 54 36 10
7/19/92** 58 23 18
7/8/92 52 33 15
6/7/92 41 38 21
3/18/92 37 37 26
3/11/92 39 31 30
2/2/92 37 24 39
1/27/92 23 11 66
10/21/91 13 9 78
* Likely voters
Al Gore
Favorable Unfavorable No opinion
10/13/97 45 40 15
9/10/97 49 33 19
4/24/97 53 29 19
3/9/97 56 29 15
3/19/95 57 27 16
10/31/94 41 37 22
5/15/94 58 27 15
3/27/94 57 25 18
11/14/93 56 28 15
8/23/92** 52 19 29
7/19/92** 55 12 33
7. Are you satisfied that Clinton has the honesty and integrity to serve effectively as president?
Yes No No Opin.
10/13/97 55 44 2
3/9/97 53 45 2
10/9/94 53 44 3
8/16/94 53 45 2
1/23/94 63 31 5
1/9/94 60 36 4
1/17/93 74 23 3
11/1/92* 49 44 7
10/21/92* 51 41 8
8/23/92* 52 43 5
7/19/92* 61 27 11
7/15/92* 52 40 8
3/18/92** 42 45 12
3/11/92 49 41 10
* Likely voters
8. And do you think Gore has the honesty and integrity to serve effectively as president some day?
Yes No No opin.
10/13/97 48 43 9
9/10/97 49 40 11
3/9/97 59 32 10
9. Do you think Gore is more honest than Clinton, less honest, or what?
No No
More Less Diff.* opinion
10/13/97 34 17 39 10
9/10/97 34 12 44 11
3/9/97 41 12 35 12
10. Have you heard or read about Bill Clinton allowing donors who contributed money to his re-election campaign to stay overnight in the Lincoln bedroom at the White House, or inviting donors to attend private receptions and coffees at the White House?
Yes No No Opin.
10/13/97 81 19 -
3/9/97 84 15 -
11. Do you think it was appropriate or not appropriate for Clinton to use the White House as a tool in fundraising?
Appropriate Not Appropriate No Opinion
10/13/97 28 68 4
3/9/97 24 72 4
12. Do you think he did anything illegal, or not?
Yes No No Opin.
10/13/97 34 55 11
3/9/97 31 59 10
13. As you may know, the Justice Department is looking into Clinton's fundraising activities in the last election. Some people have said this should be examined by an independent special counsel, not by the Justice Department. What do you think -- should it be investigated by the Justice Department or by an independent special counsel?
Justice Independent No
Department Special Counsel Opinion
10/13/97 33 60 7
14. Just your best guess, do you think the Clinton administration changed government policies for some of the major donors to Clinton's 1996 presidential campaign, or not?
Changed Did not change No opinion
10/13/97 48 36 16
3/9/97 47 40 13
COMPARE TO: In your view, during the 1996 presidential campaign, did the Clinton administration:
A. B. Did the Clinton administration just give access to major campaign donors, but make no actual changes in government policy.
Changed Special Access No opinion
2/2/97* 28 41 31
* Gallup 15. Do you think the campaign contribution situation has interfered with Clinton's ability to serve effectively as president? (IF INTEFERE, ASK:) Is that interference a great deal or only somewhat?
-----------Interfered---------- Did not No
NET A great deal Somewhat Interfere Opinion
10/13/97 40 15 25 56 3
COMPARE TO: Do you think the campaign contribution situation will interfere with Clinton's ability to serve effectively as president? (IF the respondent says "Interfere" ask:) Is that interfere a great deal or only somewhat?
---------Interfere--------- Not No
NET Great deal Somewhat Interfere opinion
1/15/97 26 8 18 73 1
16. Have you heard or read about Al Gore making phone calls from his office in the White House asking political donors for campaign contributions?
Yes No No opin.
10/13/97 66 33 1
9/10/97 64 35 -
3/9/97 62 38 -
17. Do you think it was appropriate or not appropriate for Gore to ask political donors directly for campaign contributions?
Appropriate Not Appropriate No opinion
10/13/97 31 64 5
9/10/97 25 64 11
3/9/97 32 62 6
18. Do you think what he did was illegal, or not?
Yes No No opin.
10/13/97 33 54 13
9/10/97 34 45 21
3/9/97 31 56 13
19. As you may know, the Justice Department is looking into Gore's fundraising activities in the last election. Some people have said this should be examined by an independent special counsel, not by the Justice Department. What do you think -- should it be investigated by the Justice Department or by an independent special counsel?
Justice Dept. Indpt. special counsel No opinion
10/13/97 34 61 5
9/10/97 36 54 10
COMPARE TO: As you may know, the Justice Department is looking into the Democratic National Campaign committee's foreign campaign contribution situation. Some people have said this should be examined by an independent special counsel,not by the Justice Department. What do you think -- should it be investigated by the Justice Department or by an independent special counsel?
Justice Dept. Indpt. special counsel No opinion
3/9/97 34 60 6
12/9/96 41 56 3
20. As you may know, Reno has had Justice Department investigators looking into campaign fund raising practices in the 1996 election campaign. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Reno has been handling that investigation?
Approve Disapprove No opinion
10/13/97 42 38 20
21. Which of these two statements best describes your view of Reno's
handling of the investigation:
Statement A: Statement B: Her main goal seems to be protecting the Clinton Administration.
Statement A Statement B Both* No opinion
10/13/97 48 37 2 12
22. As you may know, for most of this year, there has been a Senate investigation into campaign fund raising practices in the 1996 election campaign. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Senate has been handling that investigation?
Approve Disapprove No opinion
10/13/97 38 47 14
23. Which of these two statements best describes your view of the
Senate's handling of its investigation:
Statement A: Statement B: The main goal of committee members from both parties seems to be using the investigation for political attacks.
Statement A Statement B Both* No opinion
10/13/97 24 66 2 7
24. How closely have you been following news about all the investigations of campaign financing in the 1996 election -- very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely or not closely at all?
------Closely-------- -------Not Closely-------- No
NET Very Somewhat NET Not too Not at all opin.
10/13/97 56 10 46 44 30 14 -
25. Which best describes your view of these campaign investigations:
A. B. The country would be better off without the investigations even if it means federal election campaign financing is not reformed.
Statement A Statement B No opinion
10/13/97 71 25 3
26. Which best describes how the Clinton administration has been responding to the Justice Department and Senate Committee campaign financing investigations -- cooperating most of the time or dragging its feet most of the time:
Cooperating Dragging its feet No opinion
10/13/97 33 62 5
27. Have you heard or read about the video-tapes of campaign fund-raising gather
Yes No No opin.
10/13/97 69 31 -
28. Do those video tapes tend to make you think those fund-raising gatherings were worse than you thought, better than you thought or what?
Worse Better No difference* No opinion
10/13/97 35 15 33 17
* Voluntary 29. Clinton said it was just an accident that the video tapes were not found until recently. Just your best guess, do you think it was accidental that the tapes were not found until now or do you think their existence was hidden on purpose?
Accidental Hidden on purpose No opinion
10/13/97 22 72 5
30. Do you think Clinton is serious about wanting to reform the system of financing political campaigns, or not?
Yes No No Opin.
10/13/97 42 55 4
3/9/97 48 46 6
31. Do you think the Republicans in Congress are serious about wanting to reform the system of financing political campaigns, or not?
Yes No No Opin.
10/13/97 39 56 5
3/9/97 43 50 8
31.1 Do you think the Democrats in Congress are serious about wanting to reform the system of financing political campaigns, or not?
Yes No No Opin.
10/13/97 40 56 4
32. Would you be more or less likely to vote for a candidate for your U.S. Congressional District if that person voted for election campaign finance reform or wouldn't that have much effect on your vote?
More Less No effect No opinion
10/13/97 31 4 62 2
33. Should labor unions have to get permission from individual union members before using some of a member's union dues for political campaign donations or should unions be able to donate money without such permission?
Need Do not need No
permission permission opinion
10/13/97 82 16 2
34. On another subject, 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 opin.
10/13/97 61 12 49 39 27 11 -
35. Would you describe the state of your own personal finances 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 opin.
10/13/97 63 7 56 37 27 11 -
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