D.C. Poll
This Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone Jan. 24-28, 2010, among a random sample of 1,135 adult residents of the District of Columbia including users of both conventional and cellular phones. Interviews were conducted in English or Spanish. The results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus three percentage points. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by Abt SRBI, Inc of New York.
*= less than 0.5 percent
Jump to: Schools questions | Gay marriage, medical marijuana and other issues
1. First, do you think things in the District of Columbia are generally going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track? (While not provided as an option, a significant number of respondents said "neither.")
Right Wrong Neither No
direction track opinion
1/28/10 52 29 11 8
White 67 17 10 6
Black 43 35 12 9
1/8/08 56 31 8 5
7/18/06 42 46 7 5
5/19/02 54 33 8 5
2/7/00 69 22 6 3
8/27/98 47 46 NA 7
5/18/98 31 58 4 6
5/4/97 20 71 6 2
5/19/96 14 78 NA 2
2/29/96 16 80 NA 4
3/02/95 15 80 NA 5
12/21/93 11 83 NA 6
July 1986 42 47 NA 12
2. What's the first word that comes to mind when thinking about the District of Columbia today? (Open-ended question, verbatim response recorded, percentage among those giving a response)
Positive Negative Neutral 1/28/10 28 32 40 White 33 28 39 Black 24 35 41
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way that Adrian Fenty is handling his job as Mayor? Is that approve/disapprove strongly or just somewhat?
-------Approve--------- -------Disapprove------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
1/28/10 42 13 29 49 20 29 9
White 57 16 41 30 21 9 13
Black 29 10 19 65 21 45 6
Registered voters 40 13 27 53 20 33 7
1/8/08 72 32 40 21 11 10 7
Registered voters 72 31 41 22 11 11 6
Compare to Anthony Williams:
-------Approve--------- -------Disapprove------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
7/18/06 RV 54 20 34 40 16 24 6
5/19/02 All 64 22 42 28 11 17 8
Registered voters 64 24 40 29 11 18 7
2/7/00 77 36 40 17 9 7 7 Compare to Marion Barry:
-------Approve--------- -------Disapprove------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
5/18/98 35 16 19 52 17 34 14
5/4/97 31 13 19 63 21 41 6
5/19/96 50 25 25 47 21 26 3
2/29/96 48 19 29 45 19 26 7
3/02/95 58 28 30 27 13 14 15
May 1989 28 NA NA 62 NA NA 10
8/21/87 44 NA NA 41 NA NA 15
July 1986 50 NA NA 38 NA NA 12 Compare to Sharon Pratt Kelly:
-------Approve--------- -------Disapprove------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
12/21/93 30 7 23 67 32 35 3
2/2/92 54 20 34 42 19 23 4 4. Please tell me whether the following statements apply to Mayor Fenty, or not?
Yes No No opinion a. He has brought needed change to the District 51 42 7 White: 60 30 10 Black: 43 51 5 b. He is willing to listen to different points of view 47 41 12 White: 51 32 17 Black: 44 47 9 c. He understands the problems of people like you 44 45 11 White: 60 27 13 Black: 33 58 9 d. He is honest and trustworthy 43 43 14 White: 62 25 13 Black: 30 56 14
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way that the D.C. Council is handling its job?
----------Approve---------- --------Disapprove--------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
1/28/10 52 12 40 35 20 15 13
White 48 8 40 33 22 11 19
Black 55 14 41 36 19 17 9
1/8/08 56 11 45 29 16 13 15
5/19/02 56 9 46 34 23 11 10
2/7/00 50 11 39 40 24 16 10
5/4/97 38 9 29 51 28 23 11
2/2/92 53 12 41 38 24 14 9
July 1986 49 NA NA 25 NA NA 26
6. Overall, how would you rate your neighborhood as a place to live: excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
--- Excellent/Good --- --- Not so good/Poor --- No
NET Excellent Good NET Not so good Poor opinion
1/28/10 79 34 46 21 14 6 *
White 94 56 38 6 5 1 *
Black 71 21 51 28 19 9 *
2/29/96 78 23 55 21 13 8 1
12/21/93 72 21 51 27 20 7 1
Feb. 1988 56 18 38 43 28 15 * (1988 poll used "fair" instead of "not so good.")
7. In recent years, has your neighborhood gotten better, gotten worse, or stayed about the same?
Gotten Gotten Stayed about No
better worse the same opinion
1/28/10 42 9 46 3
White 46 6 44 4
Black 38 12 48 1
5/19/02 40 14 44 2
2/7/00 37 11 49 3
2/29/96 17 24 53 6
Dec. 1993 13 31 51 5
Feb. 1988 18 27 52 3 8. Now I'm going to mention some issues that face our community, and for each, please tell me whether you think Mayor Fenty is doing an excellent job, good, not-so-good or poor job in dealing with this issue:
a. Attracting new business to the District
----Excellent/Good---- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excellent Good NET Not good Poor opinion
1/28/10 53 9 44 35 23 12 12
White 53 6 47 26 21 5 21
Black 52 10 42 42 25 17 6
1/8/08 66 14 52 22 16 7 12 Compare to Anthony Williams:
5/19/02 68 16 52 26 17 9 7 2/7/00 64 12 53 28 22 6 7Compare to Marion Barry:
2/29/96 26 3 23 62 35 27 12
b. Improving city services
----Excellent/Good---- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excellent Good NET Not good Poor opinion
1/28/10 52 6 46 42 29 14 6
White 62 9 53 29 22 7 10
Black 45 4 41 52 33 19 3
1/8/08 65 9 56 31 23 8 5 Compare to Anthony Williams:
5/19/02 60 7 53 38 26 12 2 2/7/00 68 18 50 30 20 10 2
Compare to Marion Barry:
2/29/96 28 2 26 68 35 33 4
c. Reducing crime in the city
----Excellent/Good---- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excellent Good NET Not good Poor opinion
1/28/10 51 8 44 44 29 15 4
White 64 7 57 29 20 8 7
Black 41 6 35 56 37 19 3
1/8/08 41 5 36 55 40 15 4 d. Improving District public schools
----Excellent/Good---- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excellent Good NET Not good Poor opinion
1/28/10 42 10 32 49 26 24 9
White 63 16 47 24 16 8 13
Black 28 6 22 67 32 35 5
1/8/08 52 12 41 42 24 18 5 Compare to Anthony Williams:
5/19/02 31 3 28 58 38 20 11 2/7/00 45 5 40 44 30 14 11
Compare to Marion Barry:
2/29/96 23 2 21 67 32 35 10
e. Eliminating waste and inefficiency in city government
----Excellent/Good---- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excellent Good NET Not good Poor opinion
1/28/10 37 3 34 52 34 18 12
White 36 3 34 45 33 12 18
Black 37 3 34 56 35 22 7
1/8/08 51 7 44 40 28 12 9 Compare to Anthony Williams:
2/7/00 68 12 56 26 19 7 7
Compare to Marion Barry:
5/19/96 32 7 25 63 33 30 5 2/29/96 28 3 25 61 31 30 11
f. Creating more jobs for D.C. residents
----Excellent/Good---- ---Not-so-good/Poor--- No
NET Excellent Good NET Not good Poor opinion
1/28/10 25 3 21 61 39 22 14
White 29 1 28 45 35 9 26
Black 20 3 17 73 43 31 7
1/8/08 41 4 37 46 31 15 13 Compare to Anthony Williams:
5/19/02 43 5 38 46 29 17 11 2/7/00 54 7 48 34 24 11 11
Compare to Marion Barry:
2/29/96 29 4 25 59 36 23 12
9. How would you characterize the relations between Mayor Fenty and the District Council: excellent, good, only fair or poor?
----Excellent/Good---- ---Fair/Poor--- No
NET Excellent Good NET Fair Poor opinion
1/28/10 15 2 13 72 43 29 13
White 13 * 12 69 35 34 19
Black 16 2 14 77 50 28 7
1/8/08 32 3 28 59 52 7 9 Compare to: How would you characterize the relations between Mayor Kelly and the District Council: excellent, good, only fair or poor?
----Excellent/Good---- ---Fair/Poor--- No
NET Excellent Good NET Fair Poor opinion
2/2/92 17 1 16 79 64 15 4
9a. (IF MAYOR/DISTRICT RELATIONS ARE FAIR/POOR, Q9) Who do you mostly blame for the relations not being better, (Fenty) or (the Council)? (While not provided as an option, a significant number of respondents said the mayor and council deserved equal blame.)
Fenty The Council Equal No opinion 1/28/10 51 23 20 6 White 42 31 23 4 Black 60 18 17 5 1/8/08 32 46 17 5
Compare to: And who is most to blame that relations between the council and the mayor are not better: Kelly or the D.C. Council? (While not provided as an option, a significant number of respondents said the mayor and council deserved equal blame.)
Kelly The Council Equal No opinion 2/2/92 34 42 15 9
10. Generally speaking, how would you rate:
a. The job that district police are doing
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not Good/Poor--- No
NET Excellent Good NET Not Good Poor opinion
1/28/10 73 12 61 25 17 8 2
White 79 11 68 18 14 4 2
Black 69 13 57 28 20 9 2
1/8/08 61 8 53 37 27 10 2
7/18/06 RV 53 6 47 43 30 13 4
5/19/02 65 8 57 31 21 10 4
2/7/00 63 9 54 33 23 10 4
5/18/98 49 7 42 45 29 16 5
5/4/97 68 15 53 30 21 9 2
5/21/90 65 13 52 26 20 6 9 b. The quality of District parks and recreation facilities
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not Good/Poor--- No
NET Excellent Good NET Not Good Poor opin.
1/28/10 65 11 54 28 19 8 7
White 71 13 58 21 15 6 8
Black 62 9 53 32 20 11 7
7/18/06 RV 54 8 47 34 21 13 11
5/19/02 52 7 45 35 24 12 12
2/7/00 56 7 49 33 22 11 11
5/18/98 47 6 41 39 22 17 14
5/4/97 52 7 45 38 24 14 9
2/29/96 45 4 41 41 24 17 14
Feb. 1995 38 3 35 42 28 14 20
5/21/90 58 10 48 16 12 5 25 c. The job that district public schools are doing
---Excellent/Good--- ---Not Good/Poor--- No
NET Excellent Good NET Not Good Poor opinion
1/28/10 37 5 32 54 32 22 9
White 32 3 30 52 32 21 15
Black 40 6 34 55 32 23 5
1/8/08 23 3 20 71 38 33 5
7/18/06 RV 15 1 14 78 35 43 7
5/19/02 26 3 24 59 35 23 15
2/7/00 32 3 28 56 33 23 12
5/18/98 18 3 16 70 30 39 12
5/4/97 18 2 16 74 35 39 8
5/21/90 38 7 31 36 23 13 26 11. For each of the following people, please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person, or perhaps you don't know enough to say.
a. Police Chief Cathy Lanier:
------- Favorable ------- ------ Unfavorable ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
1/28/10 68 33 36 10 5 5 21
White 74 35 39 5 3 2 21
Black 65 31 35 13 6 7 22
1/8/08 69 NA NA 15 NA NA 16
Compare to Police Chief Charles Ramsey:
------- Favorable ------- ------ Unfavorable ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
5/19/02 73 NA NA 15 NA NA 12 b. District Council Chairman Vincent Gray
------- Favorable ------- ------ Unfavorable ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
1/28/10 43 16 27 13 8 5 44
White 36 6 30 16 12 5 48
Black 51 23 29 10 6 4 38
1/8/08 46 NA NA 15 NA NA 39
c. Attorney General Peter Nickles
------- Favorable ------- ------ Unfavorable ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
1/28/10 19 5 14 13 5 7 69
White 20 5 15 13 6 7 67
Black 17 4 13 12 5 7 71 12. These days, how safe from crime do you feel in your neighborhood? Would you say you feel very safe from crime, somewhat safe, not too safe, or not safe at all?
-------Safe-------- --------Not safe-------- No
NET Very Somewhat NET Not too Not at all opinion
1/28/10 79 27 52 21 15 6 *
White 88 36 52 12 10 2 *
Black 76 24 23 24 16 8 *
1/8/08 74 24 50 26 16 11 0
7/18/06 RV 72 15 57 28 19 8 1
5/19/02 74 27 47 25 16 9 *
2/7/00 80 24 56 20 15 5 1
5/18/98 67 15 52 32 20 12 *
Dec. 1993 57 11 47 43 23 20 0
13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way that Michelle Rhee is handling her job as Chancellor of the D.C. public schools?
-------Approve--------- -------Disapprove------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin.
1/28/10 43 21 22 44 15 29 13
White 66 36 30 20 12 8 14
Black 28 11 16 62 18 44 11
1/8/08 59 27 32 29 14 15 12 14. As you may know, control of the D.C. public schools was transferred to the mayor in mid-2007. Overall, do you think the mayor’s being in charge has made the school system (better), (worse) or has it not made a difference?
Better Worse No difference No opinion 1/28/10 35 19 36 10 White 56 6 21 16 Black 21 29 46 5 1/8/08 39 7 46 8
15. (IF CHILDREN AT HOME) I'm going to read you a list of issues that some people point to as problems in the DC public school system. For each, tell me whether you think it is a big problem, a small problem, or not a problem in District public schools.
a. The presence of violence or crime in the schools
------Problem------ Not a No
NET Big Small problem opinion
1/28/10 86 65 20 11 3
White 90 64 26 3 8
Black 84 63 21 16 *
1/8/08 96 78 18 2 2
7/18/06 RV 95 75 19 3 2 b. The condition of buildings and other facilities
------Problem------ Not a No
NET Big Small problem opinion
1/28/10 80 57 23 17 3
White 86 60 26 5 9
Black 78 56 22 21 *
1/8/08 90 67 22 7 3
7/18/06 RV 86 66 19 6 8 c. The quality and availability of books and other instructional materials
------Problem------ Not a No
NET Big Small problem opinion
1/28/10 73 48 25 16 11
White 66 26 40 12 22
Black 79 62 16 17 4
1/8/08 90 67 22 7 3
7/18/06 RV 86 66 19 6 8 d. The quality of the teachers
------Problem------ Not a No
NET Big Small problem opinion
1/28/10 70 43 26 22 9
White 71 40 30 13 17
Black 70 45 25 24 5
1/8/08 86 53 32 11 3
7/18/06 RV 86 54 32 8 5 e. The school district's central administration office
------Problem------ Not a No
NET Big Small problem opinion
1/28/10 55 29 25 22 23
White 61 35 26 9 30
Black 54 27 27 31 15
1/8/08 80 50 30 12 9 16. Are you registered to vote at your present address, or not?
Yes No No opinion 1/28/10 80 19 *
17. (IF REGISTERED) Are you registered as a Democrat, a Republican, an independent, or what?
Democrat Republican Independent Statehood Green Party Other No opinion 1/28/10 RV 76 8 14 * * 1
18. (IF A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT) Thinking ahead to the September Democratic primary election for mayor, how would you to rate the chances that you will vote in that election –- are you absolutely certain to vote, very likely to vote, probably will vote, are the chances 50-50, or don’t you think you will vote in that election?
Certain Likely Probably Chances Don't think No
to vote to vote will vote 50/50 they will vote opinion
1/28/10 65 14 7 8 4 1
7/18/06 64 17 8 6 4 *
8/29/02 66 12 9 8 4 1 19. (IF A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT) Suppose the primary election for mayor of the District were held today, and the candidates were (Leo Alexander), (Sulaimon Brown), (Adrian Fenty), (Vincent Gray), (Ernest Johnson), and (Don Peebles). For whom would you vote? Which one are you leaning toward right now?
Net leaned vote among registered Democrats:
Gray Fenty Brown Peebles Alexander Johnson Other Wouldn't vote No opinion 1/28/10 35 31 3 2 2 1 3 4 20 White 13 60 0 2 * 0 1 3 20 Black 47 17 5 3 3 1 3 3 19
20. (IF RESPONDENT NAMED CANDIDATE) Do you support (CANDIDATE) strongly, or somewhat?
Strongly Somewhat No opinion Vincent Gray 46 53 * Adrian Fenty 43 56 1
21. As you may know, under District law, the mayor appoints the city's Attorney General. Would you prefer that this position (remain an appointed one) or do you think it (should be an elected office, with the person selected by District-wide vote)?
Remain appointed Elected office No opinion 1/28/10 33 55 12 White 43 46 11 Black 27 62 11
22. On another subject, do you think it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get married? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
--------- Legal --------- -------- Illegal -------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
1/28/10 56 42 13 35 5 30 9
White 83 70 14 12 4 9 4
Black 37 24 13 51 7 44 12 Compare to national (question in 2005 and 2009 polls mixed phrasing as "gay and lesbian" and "homosexual"):
--------- Legal --------- -------- Illegal -------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
4/24/09* 49 31 18 46 7 39 5
6/4/06 36 24 13 58 7 51 5
8/28/05* 39 NA NA 58 NA NA 3
8/29/04 RV 32 18 14 62 10 52 5
3/7/04 38 24 14 59 11 48 3
2/22/04 39 25 13 55 6 49 6
1/18/04 41 NA NA 55 NA NA 4
9/7/03 37 NA NA 55 NA NA 7 23. As you may have heard, the D.C. Council passed and the mayor signed legislation to permit same-sex marriages in the District. Do you think this issue should be put on a city-wide ballot, so District voters could vote yes or no on a referendum on same-sex marriage?
Should be on Should not be on No
city-wide ballot city-wide ballot opinion
1/28/10 59 37 4
White 39 58 3
Black 70 25 6 24. In general, do you favor or oppose legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use?
Favor Oppose No opinion 1/28/10 46 48 6 White 60 35 5 Black 37 55 7
Compare to national:
Favor Oppose No opinion 1/15/10 46 51 2 4/24/09 46 52 2 10/24/02* 39 53 8 5/27/97 22 75 3 8/26/86 25 74 1 5/19/86 22 77 1 4/28/86 23 75 1 3/24/86 21 78 1 5/13/85 26 72 2
*Time/CNN: "Do you favor or oppose the legalization of marijuana? (IF FAVOR) What about in small amounts, for example three ounces or less? Do you favor or oppose the legalization of marijuana in small amounts?"
25. Regardless of what you think about the personal non-medical use of marijuana, do you think doctors should or should not be allowed to prescribe marijuana for medical purposes to treat their patients?
Should Should not No opinion 1/28/10 80 15 5 White 89 9 3 Black 75 20 6
Compare to national:
Should Should not No opinion 1/15/10 81 18 1 5/27/97 69 27 4
26. If doctors are allowed to prescribe marijuana to patients, should it be limited to patients who are terminally ill and near death; or also allowed for patients who have serious but not fatal illnesses; or should it be allowed for any patient the doctor thinks it could help?
Terminally ill Serious/not fatal Any patient No opinion 1/28/10 18 17 59 6 White 9 24 64 3 Black 21 12 57 9
Compare to national:
Terminally ill Serious/not fatal Any patient No opinion 1/15/10 21 21 56 2 5/27/97 29 13 52 6
27. On another subject, do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?
-------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
1/28/10 87 60 27 11 4 6 2
White 79 42 37 20 9 11 1
Black 95 73 22 3 1 2 2 28. As you may know, taxis in the District changed the way they calculate fares from a system based on zones to one which uses time and distance meters. Do you approve or disapprove of this change? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat? (While not provided as an option, a significant number of respondents said they don't use taxis)
-------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ Don't use No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly taxis opinion
1/28/10 56 37 19 30 10 20 6 8
White 80 55 25 11 5 6 3 6
Black 41 25 17 41 13 28 9 9 29. Do you support or oppose the five cent bag tax that went into effect earlier this month in the District? Do you support/oppose strongly or somewhat?
> -------- Support -------- --------- Oppose -------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
1/28/10 46 31 15 49 8 41 5
White 75 54 20 23 6 17 3
Black 29 17 12 65 9 57 6 30. Since the tax has been put in place, have you used a reusable bag when shopping, or not? IF YES: Are you using reusable bags more than before or about the same?
---------- YES ---------- No
NET More Same Other No opinion
1/28/10 73 46 24 3 25 1
White 84 54 28 2 15 1
Black 67 41 23 3 31 2 31. Are you CURRENTLY planning to move or seriously considering moving away from the District, or not? IF YES: Is that to the suburbs of Washington, or somewhere else?
> ------- Yes --------
NET Suburbs Else No No opinion
1/28/10 20 5 16 78 2
White 16 4 12 84 1
Black 22 6 16 75 3 32. In which section of Washington, D.C. do you live: Northwest, Northeast, Southwest or Southeast?
Northwest Northeast Southwest Southeast No opinion 1/28/10 51 23 2 23 1 1/8/08 52 22 4 22 * 7/18/06 50 21 4 24 *
33. Washington is divided into eight wards for voting purposes: Ward 1, Ward 2, Ward 3 and so on. Do you happen to know which ward you live in?
Ward 1 Ward 2 Ward 3 Ward 4 Ward 5 Ward 6 Ward 7 Ward 8 Not sure 1/28/10 10 6 10 11 10 9 10 13 22 Registered voters 11 7 10 12 11 10 11 14 16 1/8/08 9 7 12 13 10 10 9 12 20 Registered voters 10 7 13 14 9 10 11 11 14 7/18/06 RV 9 7 13 12 13 10 12 10 14
34. Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as:
Democrat Republican Independent Other No opinion 1/28/10 67 7 22 2 2 1/8/08 68 6 22 3 1 7/18/06 RV 69 7 21 2 1
(IF NOT DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN) Do you lean more towards the:
Democratic Party Republican Party Neither No opinion 1/28/10 51 12 31 7 1/8/08 52 12 31 5
Net leaned party affiliation:
Democrat Republican Independent Other No opinion 1/28/10 80 10 7 2 1 1/8/08 82 9 6 2 1
35. Would you say your views on most political matters are liberal, moderate, or conservative?
Don't think in No
Liberal Moderate Conservative those terms opinion
1/28/10 37 39 18 3 3
1/8/08 44 34 18 2 3 36. Aside from weddings and funerals, how often if ever do you attend religious services: at least once a week, almost every week, about once a month, less often than that, or never?
At least 1 Almost Once per Less often
per week every wk month than that Never No opinion
1/28/10 26 11 14 26 22 1
1/8/08 28 8 16 27 20 * 