Washington Post Poll
This Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone August 9, 2011, among a random national sample of 601 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 4.5 percentage points. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by Abt-SRBI of New York.
*= less than 0.5 percent
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?
-------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
8/9/11 44 18 26 46 9 37 10
7/17/11 47 25 22 48 14 35 5
6/5/11 47 27 20 49 13 37 4
5/2/11 56 29 27 38 14 24 6
4/17/11 47 27 21 50 12 37 3
3/13/11 51 27 24 45 12 33 4
1/16/11 54 30 23 43 15 28 3
12/12/10 49 24 25 47 15 32 4
10/28/10 50 27 23 45 11 34 5
10/3/10 50 26 24 47 13 34 3
9/2/10 46 24 22 52 14 38 3
7/11/10 50 28 22 47 12 35 3
6/6/10 52 30 22 45 12 33 4
4/25/10 54 31 23 44 11 33 3
3/26/10 53 34 20 43 8 35 3
2/8/10 51 29 22 46 12 33 3
1/15/10 53 30 24 44 13 32 2
12/13/09 50 31 18 46 13 33 4
11/15/09 56 32 23 42 13 29 2
10/18/09 57 33 23 40 11 29 3
9/12/09 54 35 19 43 12 31 3
8/17/09 57 35 21 40 11 29 3
7/18/09 59 38 22 37 9 28 4
6/21/09 65 36 29 31 10 22 4
4/24/09 69 42 27 26 8 18 4
3/29/09 66 40 26 29 9 20 5
2/22/09 68 43 25 25 8 17 7
2. How satisfied are you with the way this country’s political system is working – would you say very satisfied, mostly satisfied, mostly dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
---- Satisfied ---- --- Dissatisfied -- No
NET Very Mostly NET Mostly Very opinion
8/9/11 21 2 19 78 33 45 1
11/23/09 38 4 34 61 30 31 1
6/3/07 34 5 29 64 34 30 1
3. In general, do you think the federal government is (mostly focused on the right things), or (mostly focused on the wrong things)?
Focused on Focused on No
right things wrong things opinion
8/9/11 19 71 10
10/3/10 39 55 6
4. (IF WRONG THINGS) Who is to blame for the government’s focus on the wrong things – (mainly Obama and the Democrats) or (mainly the Republicans)?
Obama and Both equally Neither No
Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) opinion
8/9/11 30 30 32 6 2
[Questions 5 and 6 rotated.]
5. Thinking about the major problems facing the country, would you say the Republican leaders in Congress have made progress toward solving these problems, tried but failed to solve these problems, not addressed these problems, or made these problems even worse?
Made Tried but Not Made No
progress failed addressed problems worse opinion
8/9/11 10 38 13 35 4
10/30/95* 20 40 14 21 5
*Pew Research Center
6. Thinking about the major problems facing the country, would you say Obama has made progress toward solving these problems, tried but failed to solve these problems, not addressed these problems, or has made these problems even worse?
Made Tried but Not Made No
progress failed addressed problems worse opinion
8/9/11 19 42 7 28 4
Compare to:
Thinking about the major problems facing the country, would you say President (George W.) Bush has made progress toward solving these problems, tried but failed to solve these problems, not addressed these problems, or made these problems even worse?
Made Tried but Not Made No
progress failed addressed problems worse opinion
12/8/08 Bush* 13 34 11 37 5
1/7/01 Clinton 52 27 9 6 6
9/8/98 Clinton 45 34 9 9 3
10/30/95 Clinton 24 50 11 12 3
*2008 and previous Pew Research Center. 2001: “the Clinton administration”; 1998 and 1995: “President (Bill) Clinton”
Thinking now about the economy,
7. In general, when the government in Washington decides to solve economic problems, how much confidence do you have that the problem actually will be solved: A lot, some, just a little, or none at all?
--- Confident ---- -- Not confident -- No
NET A lot Some NET Little None opinion
8/9/11 26 5 21 73 34 39 1
10/3/10 47 10 37 52 32 21 1
9/6/02 58 9 49 41 27 14 1
1/27/02 63 11 52 37 31 6 *
8. How much confidence do you have in [ITEM] when it comes to making the right decisions about the country’s economic future – a great deal, a good amount, just some or none at all?
a. Obama
------- Confident ------- ---- Not confident --- No
NET Grt.deal Good amt. NET Just some None opinion
8/9/11 33 15 18 67 31 36 1
1/17/11 43 19 24 55 31 24 2
b. Republicans in Congress
------- Confident ------- ---- Not confident --- No
NET Grt.deal Good amt. NET Just some None opinion
8/9/11 18 4 13 81 47 33 2
1/17/11 35 12 23 62 37 25 3
9. (Obama), (the Democrats in Congress) and (the Republicans in Congress) recently agreed to cut more than two trillion dollars from the federal budget over 10 years, and to increase the amount of money the government can borrow to avoid defaulting on its obligations. Given what you’ve heard or read about it, do you support or oppose this budget agreement?
-------- Support -------- --------- Oppose -------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
8/9/11 37 6 32 54 21 33 9
10. How much if anything, have you heard about the move by Standard and Poor’s (S&P) to downgrade the U.S. government’s credit rating, indicating the company sees United States government bonds as no longer among the safest investments in the world? Have you heard a lot, a little or nothing at all?
A lot A little Nothing at all No opinion
8/9/11 45 36 19 *
11. Do you think S&P’s downgrading of the U.S. credit rating is (a fair) or (an unfair) assessment of the country’s financial situation?
Fair Unfair No opinion
8/9/11 52 34 14
12. In its downgrade announcement, S&P said the country’s political system has become weaker and government policies have become “less stable, less effective and less predictable.” Do you see this as (a fair) or (an unfair) assessment of the country’s political situation?
Fair Unfair No opinion
8/9/11 71 25 4
13. Who do you think is mainly to blame for the S&P credit rating downgrade: (Obama and the Democrats in Congress) or (the Republicans in Congress)?
Obama Both Neither Blame S&P No
and Dems Reps (vol.) (vol.) (vol.) opinion
8/9/11 31 36 22 4 * 6
14. Do you think the country's current financial situation is a crisis, a serious problem but not a crisis, a problem but not a serious one, or not much of a problem at all?
------ Problem ------- --------- Not a problem -------
Serious Not serious Not much of No
NET Crisis problem NET problem a problem opin.
8/9/11 92 48 44 7 4 3 1
12/14/08 90 54 36 10 7 3 *
9/29/08 RV 94 52 43 5 4 * 1
15. On another subject: Thinking about the next election in November 2012, right now, are you inclined to vote to re-elect your representative in Congress, or are you inclined to look around for someone else to vote for?
Depends
Re-elect Look around (vol.) No opinion
8/9/11 All 17 69 6 7
8/9/11 RV 18 67 7 7
7/17/11 All 30 63 2 5
7/17/11 RV 32 63 2 3
6/5/11 All 34 55 4 6
6/5/11 RV 37 53 4 6
10/28/10 All 32 50 7 11
10/28/10 RV 35 52 7 6
10/28/10 LV 40 49 6 5
10/3/10 All 29 55 9 7
10/3/10 RV 31 55 8 6
9/2/10 All 31 58 5 6
9/2/10 RV 33 57 5 5
7/11/10 All 25 60 6 8
7/11/10 RV 26 62 6 6
6/6/10 All 29 60 5 6
6/6/10 RV 30 59 5 5
4/25/10 RV 32 57 7 4
2/8/10 ALL 36 56 4 4
2/8/10 RV 37 56 5 3
11/15/09 All 38 50 6 5
5/15/06 All 35 55 6 4
5/15/06 RV 37 54 6 3
6/5/05 All 40 50 8 3
2/21/02 All 40 48 7 6
2/21/02 RV 43 47 7 4
10/31/99 RV 43 47 9 2
9/28/98 LV 52 42 NA 6
7/12/98 All 42 44 5 10
7/12/98 RV 46 43 5 6
1/19/98 All 47 41 7 4
1/19/98 RV 49 41 7 3
8/27/97 All 34 52 9 5
11/6/94 RV 37 47 7 8
10/31/94 RV 37 56 2 5
10/23/94 RV 34 58 4 5
9/11/94 RV 39 52 4 5
6/26/94 All 35 54 6 5
6/26/94 RV 38 53 6 3
3/27/94 All 32 56 6 7
3/27/94 RV 34 55 6 5
1/23/94 All 32 46 10 12
1/23/94 RV 35 44 10 10
11/14/93 All 38 52 5 5
11/14/93 RV 40 51 5 4
8/21/92 RV 35 48 5 12
7/8/92 All 34 54 3 9
7/8/92 RV 36 54 3 6
6/7/92 All 36 53 4 7
6/7/92 RV 39 53 4 5
4/9/92 All 33 56 3 8
4/9/92 RV 35 56 3 7
3/18/92 All 35 56 3 5
3/18/92 RV 36 56 4 4
3/11/92 All 36 54 3 7
2/2/92 All 38 51 4 7
2/2/92 RV 41 49 4 5
10/21/91 All 31 55 7 6
10/21/91 RV 32 56 8 5
6/2/91 All 37 49 5 9
11/4/90 LV 41 50 NA 8
10/14/90 All 36 57 " 7
5/21/90 All 43 50 3 3
5/23/89 All 45 44 4 6
16. As you may know, Obama has announced that he is running for re-election in 2012. Would you say you will definitely vote for him, you’ll consider voting for him, or you definitely will not vote for him?
Definitely Will Definitely No
will consider will not opinion
8/9/11 20 33 44 2
8/9/11 RV 21 30 46 2
6/5/11 24 29 45 1
6/5/11 RV 25 27 47 1
4/17/11 28 25 45 2
4/17/11 RV 30 23 46 1
12/12/10* 26 30 43 2
12/12/10* RV 26 28 44 2
11/23/09** 24 31 41 4
*”If Obama runs...would you...”
**"Thinking ahead to 2012, at this point would you..."
17. Please tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statement: Whatever its faults, the United States still has the best system of government in the world. Do you agree or disagree?
Agree Disagree No opinion
9/8/11 77 21 2
10/3/10 77 21 2
12/19/07* 81 17 1
12/15/00 89 11 *
5/6/96** 83 15 2
4/9/95** 85 14 1
9/1/94** 84 13 3
*ABC News/Facebook; **ABC News
901. Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as (a Democrat), (a Republican), an independent or what? IF NOT DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN: Do you lean more towards the (Democratic Party) or (Republican Party)?
--Non-Partisans-
Lean Lean No
Democrat Republican Independent Other No op. Dem. Rep. Lean
8/9/11 32 25 37 5 1 16 17 9
7/17/11 32 26 34 6 2 17 16 9
6/5/11 31 25 39 4 1 18 17 9
4/17/11 32 22 41 4 * 17 18 8
3/13/11 33 24 37 5 1 17 14 11
1/16/11 33 23 38 5 1 17 17 9
12/12/10 31 26 38 5 1 18 17 7
10/28/10 34 24 34 5 2 17 16 6
10/3/10 33 23 39 4 1 15 19 9
9/2/10 31 25 39 4 1 17 21 6
7/11/10 31 24 40 3 1 18 18 9
6/6/10 32 24 39 3 1 19 19 6
4/25/10 34 23 38 4 1 19 17 6
3/26/10 34 24 38 3 1 17 17 7
2/8/10 32 26 39 3 * 17 19 6
1/15/10 32 23 38 7 * 17 20 9
12/13/09 32 26 37 5 1 13 18 11
11/15/09 35 21 39 4 1 19 17 8
10/18/09 33 20 42 4 1 20 19 8
9/12/09 32 21 43 4 * 19 20 9
8/17/09 35 25 34 6 1 15 14 11
7/18/09 33 22 41 4 * 20 16 9
6/21/09 35 22 37 7 * 17 16 10
4/24/09 35 21 38 5 * 18 16 10
3/29/09 36 25 33 5 1 15 16 8
2/22/09 36 24 34 5 1 18 13 9
1/16/09 35 23 36 5 1 20 12 11
12/14/08 37 24 35 4 1 16 13 10
11/3/08 35 26 30 6 2 13 10 15
10/11/08 36 26 31 4 2 15 12 10
9/29/08 34 26 31 8 2 17 12 12
9/22/08 36 26 31 5 2 18 9 11
9/7/08 35 26 33 5 2 15 14 11
8/22/08 36 23 34 6 1 16 14 10
7/13/08 37 24 33 6 1 16 14 10
6/15/08 38 24 34 4 1 16 14 8
5/11/08 34 28 34 4 1 19 11 8
4/13/08 35 29 30 5 1 15 13 8
3/2/08 40 28 28 3 1 15 8 9
2/1/08 37 26 32 4 1 16 11 10
1/12/08 39 27 29 5 1 13 9 12
908a. Would you say your views on most political matters are liberal, moderate, or conservative?
Don’t think in No
Liberal Moderate Conservative those terms (vol.) op.
8/9/11 24 37 36 1 2
7/17/11 23 40 35 1 2
6/5/11 22 36 40 1 1
4/17/11 21 39 36 2 2
3/13/11 23 37 36 1 2
1/16/11 22 38 36 2 2
12/12/10 19 39 38 2 2
10/28/10 21 39 37 1 2
10/3/10 21 43 34 2 1
9/2/10 19 37 40 3 1
7/11/10 22 35 39 2 1
6/6/10 23 39 36 1 1
4/25/10 22 40 35 1 2
3/26/10 24 32 42 1 2
2/8/10 24 36 37 2 1
1/15/10 25 34 38 1 1
12/13/09 23 35 41 1 1
11/15/09 19 41 38 1 1
10/18/09 23 36 38 2 1
9/12/09 24 39 36 * 1
8/17/09 20 40 37 2 1
7/18/09 20 39 38 2 1
6/21/09 22 40 36 1 *
4/24/09 23 39 35 2 2
3/29/09 20 38 38 2 2
2/22/09 23 38 37 1 1
1/16/09 24 42 32 * 1
12/14/08 22 37 37 1 2
10/11/08 RV 22 44 34 * 1
9/29/08 RV 19 44 34 1 1
9/22/08 RV 23 41 32 2 1
9/7/08 RV 22 39 36 1 2
8/22/08 22 41 33 2 2
7/13/08 19 43 35 2 1
6/15/08 21 43 33 1 2
5/11/08 24 39 34 2 1
4/13/08 24 38 35 1 2
3/2/08 19 48 30 2 2
2/1/08 25 38 34 2 1
1/12/08 24 36 36 2 1
12/9/07 24 38 36 1 1
11/1/07 24 41 32 1 1
9/30/07 24 45 30 1 1
9/7/07 20 39 39 1 2
7/21/07 25 39 32 3 1
6/1/07 24 36 37 2 1
4/15/07 24 42 32 1 1
2/25/07 23 40 35 1 1
1/19/07 23 41 33 1 1
12/11/06 23 42 33 2 1
11/4/06 19 42 36 2 1
10/22/06 22 42 32 2 2
10/8/06 21 43 33 1 1
9/7/06 24 39 33 2 2
8/6/06 18 42 38 1 1
6/25/06 21 41 35 1 1
5/15/06 19 48 31 1 1
5/11/06 18 49 33 * *
4/9/06 21 41 35 2 1
3/5/06 22 42 33 2 1
1/26/06 21 40 37 1 1
1/8/06 20 40 37 2 1
12/18/05 22 42 34 1 1
11/2/05 23 44 32 1 *
9/11/05 22 44 31 2 2
8/28/05 20 44 34 2 1
6/26/05 21 44 33 1 1
6/5/05 23 40 35 1 *
4/24/05 20 47 30 1 1
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