Washington Post-Bloomberg News Poll
This poll was conducted for The Washington Post and Bloomberg News by telephone October 6 to 9, 2011, among a random national sample of 1,000 adults, including users of both conventional and cellular phones. The results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. For the sample of 391 Republicans and GOP-leaning independents the error margin is six percentage points. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI) of Princeton, NJ.
*= less than 0.5 percent
Leaned GOP=self-identified Republicans and GOP-leaning independents
1. If a Republican were president right now, do you think the economy would be better, worse, or about the same as it is now?
Better Worse The same No opinion
All adults 23 25 45 7
2. Thinking beyond the 2012 presidential election, do you think your own family’s financial situation would be better if (President Obama wins a second term) OR if (a Republican wins the election) or wouldn’t it make much difference either way?
President Obama Republican wins Not make much (Vol.) No
wins a second term the election much difference Depends opinion
All adults 24 24 44 * 7
3a. Of the following possible Republican candidates for president, which one do you think would do the most to improve the economy?
All adults Leaned GOP
Mitt Romney 17 22
Herman Cain 10 20
Rick Perry 7 12
Ron Paul 7 8
Newt Gingrich 4 6
Michele Bachmann 4 3
Jon Huntsman 2 *
Rick Santorum 1 1
None of these (VOL.) 16 5
Other (VOL.) 1 *
No opinion 33 22
3b. Of the following possible Republican candidates for president, which one do you think would do the most damage to the economy?
All adults Leaned GOP
Michele Bachmann 15 14
Rick Perry 12 9
Ron Paul 7 11
Newt Gingrich 6 5
Mitt Romney 5 7
Jon Huntsman 2 3
Herman Cain 2 2
Rick Santorum 2 1
None of these (VOL.) 5 5
Other (VOL.) 3 1
No opinion 42 43
4. Some U.S. companies say they can’t find enough highly-skilled Americans to fill jobs. One proposal is to increase the number of visas for foreign workers with advanced degrees in math, science and engineering so they can fill those jobs in the U.S. Do you support or oppose this idea?
Support Oppose No opinion
All adults 31 59 10
Leaned GOP 27 63 10
5. Do you believe middle-class Americans will or will NOT have to make financial sacrifices to decrease the federal budget deficit?
Will Will not No opinion
All adults 81 11 8
Leaned GOP 83 11 6
6. Please tell me if you would support or oppose each of the following to help reduce the nation’s budget deficit.
10/9/11 – Summary table – All adults
Support Oppose No opinion
a. Raising taxes on households with
incomes of 250 thousand dollars
per year and higher 68 27 5
b. Raising taxes on the middle class 18 79 4
c. Reducing Social Security benefits 13 83 4
d. Reducing Medicare benefits 14 82 4
e. Reducing military spending 51 42 7
10/9/11 – Summary table – Leaned GOP
Support Oppose No opinion
a. Raising taxes on households with
incomes of 250 thousand dollars
per year and higher 54 41 4
b. Raising taxes on the middle class 14 83 3
c. Reducing Social Security benefits 16 79 5
d. Reducing Medicare benefits 18 77 5
e. Reducing military spending 39 56 5
7. Thinking about the next couple of years, how likely do you think it is that there will be another financial crisis similar to the one that caused a near meltdown of the banking industry in the U.S. in 2008 – very likely, fairly likely, just somewhat likely, or not likely?
------ Likely ----- ---- Less/Not likely ----
NET Very Fairly NET Somewhat Not No opinion
All adults 52 28 24 42 29 13 6
3/22/10* All 42 23 19 57 35 22 1
*Bloomberg
8. At the end of the Republican nomination contest, whom do you want to be the Republican candidate for president?
10/9/11 – Summary table
All adults Leaned GOP
Mitt Romney 17 24
Herman Cain 8 16
Rick Perry 8 13
Ron Paul 7 6
Michele Bachmann 6 4
Newt Gingrich 3 3
Jon Huntsman 2 0
Rick Santorum 1 1
None of these (VOL.) 14 3
Other (VOL.) * 0
No opinion 32 29
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