Washington Post-ABC News Poll

The following are responses to selected questions from a Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted by telephone Jan. 5-8, 2006 among 1,001 randomly selected adults nationwide. Margin of sampling error for overall results is plus or minus three percentage points. Sampling error is only one of many sources of error in this or any other public opinion poll. Fieldwork by TNS of Horsham, PA. Results of the entire poll will be posted by Jan. 11. *= less than 0.5 percent Poll Demographic Information 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 Somewhat Strongly opin. 1/8/06 46 29 17 52 13 39 2 12/18/05 47 29 17 52 12 40 1 11/2/05 39 20 18 60 13 47 1 10/29/05 39 22 17 58 13 45 3 9/11/05 42 27 15 57 12 45 1 8/28/05 45 27 18 53 12 41 2 6/26/05 48 27 21 51 11 40 1 6/5/05 48 27 21 52 14 38 1 4/24/05 47 25 22 50 13 38 3 3/13/05 50 31 19 48 11 37 3 1/31/05 50 34 15 45 11 34 5 1/16/05 52 33 19 46 11 35 2 12/19/04 48 27 21 49 12 38 2 10/20/04 50 30 20 46 11 35 4 10/17/04 LV 54 35 19 45 9 36 2 10/16/04 LV 54 35 19 44 10 34 2 10/15/04 LV 54 35 19 44 10 34 2 10/3/04 LV 53 36 17 46 11 34 1 9/26/04 50 33 18 45 13 32 5 9/8/04 52 35 17 43 11 32 5 8/29/04 50 31 19 47 13 34 3 8/1/04 47 28 18 49 13 36 5 7/25/04 50 32 19 47 13 34 3 7/11/04 48 31 17 50 11 39 2 6/20/04 47 30 17 51 13 39 1 5/23/04 47 31 17 50 14 36 3 4/18/04 51 33 18 47 13 34 1 3/7/04 50 32 18 48 12 36 2 2/11/04 50 30 21 47 14 34 2 1/18/04 58 35 24 40 9 30 2 12/21/03 59 39 21 38 15 23 3 12/14/03 57 37 20 39 10 29 5 12/7/03 53 32 21 40 13 27 7 11/16/03 57 34 23 39 11 28 4 10/29/03 56 30 26 42 13 29 2 10/13/03 53 33 20 43 13 29 4 9/30/03 54 34 20 44 15 29 2 9/13/03 58 35 23 40 14 27 2 9/7/03 56 34 22 41 13 28 4 8/11/03 59 37 22 37 14 23 4 7/10/03 59 35 24 38 13 25 3 6/22/03 68 45 23 29 11 18 4 4/30/03 71 50 22 26 17 9 3 4/16/03 74 52 22 23 9 14 3 4/9/03 77 58 19 20 6 14 4 4/3/03 71 54 16 25 7 19 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 13 22 4 2/23/03 60 NA NA 34 NA NA 6 2/9/03 64 42 21 34 14 20 3 2/1/03 62 41 21 34 13 22 4 1/28/03 62 43 19 36 13 23 2 1/27/03 59 39 21 37 15 22 4 1/20/03 59 36 23 38 16 22 2 12/15/02 66 37 28 32 12 20 2 11/4/02 LV 67 45 23 31 12 20 1 11/3/02 LV 67 45 22 32 12 20 1 11/2/02 LV 67 47 20 32 9 23 1 10/27/02 67 39 28 29 13 16 4 9/26/02 67 42 25 30 12 18 3 9/8/02 71 42 28 27 12 15 3 7/28/02 69 39 31 28 14 14 3 7/15/02 72 42 31 25 12 13 2 6/17/02 74 42 32 22 9 13 4 6/9/02 77 41 36 20 9 11 3 5/19/02 76 48 28 22 8 13 3 4/21/02 78 47 31 20 9 10 2 3/28/02 79 49 30 18 8 10 3 3/10/02 82 52 30 16 9 7 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 4 5 1 11/6/01 89 65 24 9 5 4 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 5 6 2 9/9/01 55 26 29 41 20 22 3 8/12/01 61 28 33 31 14 17 8 7/30/01 59 28 30 38 17 22 3 6/3/01 55 27 28 40 18 22 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 (ITEM)? Approve Disapprove No op. a. Ethics in government 45 52 3 b. The US campaign against terrorism 53 45 2 Trend: a. Ethics in government Approve Disapprove No opinion 1/8/06 45 52 3 12/18/05 48 49 3 b. The US campaign against terrorism Approve Disapprove No opinion 1/8/06 53 45 2 12/18/05 56 44 1 11/2/05 48 51 1 9/11/05 50 47 3 8/28/05* 56 43 2 6/5/05 50 49 1 4/24/05 56 41 3 3/13/05 59 38 3 1/16/05 61 38 2 12/19/04 53 43 3 9/26/04 RV 59 38 3 8/29/04 RV 60 37 3 7/25/04 57 40 4 6/20/04 50 48 2 5/23/04 58 39 4 4/18/04 63 35 2 3/7/04 63 34 3 2/11/04 64 34 2 1/18/04 66 33 2 12/21/03 70 28 2 10/29/03 63 35 2 10/13/03 66 30 4 9/13/03 70 27 3 9/7/03 67 28 5 4/30/03 79 19 2 2/9/03 74 23 4 2/1/03 75 21 3 1/27/03 72 26 2 1/20/03 71 25 4 12/15/02 79 20 1 11/4/02 LV 76 22 1 11/3/02 LV 77 22 3 11/2/02 LV 78 21 2 10/27/02 74 23 4 9/26/02 70 28 2 9/8/02 74 24 2 7/28/02 81 17 2 7/15/02 83 15 2 5/19/02* 79 19 3 4/21/02* 81 18 2 3/10/02* 88 10 2 1/27/02 88 10 2 12/19/01* 89 9 2 10/15/01* 92 5 3 *Asked very/somewhat follow-up 3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the U.S. Congress is doing its job? Approve Disapprove No opinion 1/8/06 41 55 5 12/18/05 43 53 4 11/2/05 37 59 4 8/28/05 37 59 4 6/5/05 41 54 4 10/29/03 40 52 9 4/30/03 57 37 6 9/26/02 51 43 6 7/15/02 57 36 7 2/21/02 57 39 4 1/27/02 58 35 7 12/19/01 59 34 7 9/9/01 45 48 7 7/30/01 48 48 4 4/22/01 58 33 8 10/31/99 42 53 6 9/2/99 46 47 7 6/6/99 48 46 6 3/14/99 44 49 7 2/14/99 46 50 4 12/20/98 44 51 5 12/19/98 45 50 5 12/13/98 49 46 5 11/7/98 41 55 4 11/1/98 49 47 5 10/25/98 45 44 11 10/18/98 46 45 8 9/28/98 52 44 4 8/21/98 55 39 6 7/12/98 46 44 11 5/12/98 45 45 9 4/4/98 47 45 8 1/31/98 55 35 10 1/30/98 55 35 10 1/25/98 56 37 8 1/24/98 55 38 7 1/19/98 47 49 5 10/13/97 36 57 7 8/27/97 39 54 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 *1/23/88 and previous: Gallup 4. 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? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat? --- Worth fighting --- --- Not worth fighting -- No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly op. 1/8/06 43 30 13 55 12 43 2 12/18/05 46 33 14 52 11 42 1 11/2/05 39 25 13 60 12 48 1 8/28/05 46 33 12 53 9 44 1 6/26/05 46 33 13 53 10 43 1 6/5/05 41 29 12 58 12 46 1 4/24/05 44 31 13 54 12 42 2 3/13/05 45 34 11 53 11 42 2 1/16/05 44 32 12 55 10 45 1 12/19/04 42 31 11 56 10 47 2 10/3/04 LV 49 34 15 48 11 37 3 9/26/04 RV 46 35 12 51 8 42 3 9/8/04 RV 51 38 13 45 10 34 4 8/29/04 RV 48 34 14 50 11 39 2 7/25/04 49 36 13 48 11 37 3 6/20/04 47 32 14 52 13 39 2 5/23/04 48 35 13 50 13 37 1 5/6/04 49 NA NA 47 NA NA 5 4/18/04 51 47 2 3/7/04 52 44 3 2/11/04 48 50 2 1/18/04 56 41 3 12/21/03 59 39 2 12/14/03 53 42 5 11/16/03 52 44 4 10/29/03 54 44 2 10/13/03 54 44 2 9/13/03 61 37 2 9/7/03 54 42 4 8/24/03 57 37 5 8/11/03 61 35 4 7/10/03 57 40 3 6/22/03 64 33 3 4/30/03 70 " " 27 " " 4 2/2/92* 66 NA NA 32 NA NA 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 5. As it investigates terrorism, do you think the federal government is doing too much, not enough or about the right amount to protect the rights of (READ ITEM)? 1/8/06 - Summary Table Too Not Right No much enough amount opin. a. American citizens 8 42 48 2 b. People suspected of involvement in terrorism 11 40 46 3 6. What do you think is more important right now - (for the federal government to investigate possible terrorist threats, even if that intrudes on personal privacy); or (for the federal government not to intrude on personal privacy, even if that limits its ability to investigate possible terrorist threats)? Investigate Respect No threats privacy opin. 1/8/06 65 32 3 Compare to: What do you think is more important right now - (for the FBI to investigate possible terrorist threats, even if that intrudes on personal privacy); or (for the FBI not to intrude on personal privacy, even if that limits its ability to investigate possible terrorist threats)? Investigate Respect No threats privacy opin. 9/7/03 73 21 5 9/8/02 78 18 4 6/9/02 79 18 3 7. In investigating terrorism, do you think federal agencies are or are not intruding on some Americans' privacy rights? Are Are not No opinion 1/8/06 64 32 4 8. (IF FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE INTRUDING, Q7) Do you think those intrusions are justified or not justified? Justified Not justified No opinion 1/8/06 49 46 5 Q7/8 NET: ------ Intrusion -------- Not an No NET Just. Not just. DK intrusion opin. 1/8/06 64 31 30 4 32 4 Compare to: In investigating terrorism, do you think the federal agencies like the FBI are or are not intruding on some Americans' privacy rights? -----Intrusion------- Not an No NET Just. Not just. intrusion opin. 9/7/03 58 36 17 33 8 9. Which worries you more: (that Bush will not go far enough to investigate terrorism because of concerns about constitutional rights), or (that Bush will go too far in compromising constitutional rights in order to investigate terrorism)? Will not go Will go Neither No far enough too far (vol.) opinion 1/8/06 48 44 6 2 10. According to recent news reports, the National Security Agency has been investigating people suspected of involvement with terrorism by secretly listening in on telephone calls and reading e-mails between some people in the United States and other countries, without first getting court approval to do so. How closely have you been following this story - 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 opinion 1/8/06 66 20 46 34 21 13 * 11. Would you consider this wiretapping of telephone calls and e-mails without court approval as an acceptable or unacceptable way for the federal government to investigate terrorism? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat? ------Acceptable------ ------Unacceptable------ No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opin. 1/8/06 51 35 15 47 14 33 2 12. Generally, do you think members of Congress are more honest than most people, more dishonest, or about the same? More More About the No honest dishonest same opinion 1/8/06 2 44 52 2 8/8/93 2 33 65 * 13. When it comes to the level of ethics and honesty among politicians, do you think (the Democrats are generally better than the Republicans), (the Republicans are generally better than the Democrats), or isn't there much difference between them when it comes to ethics and honesty? Democrats better Republicans better Not much No than Republicans than Democrats difference opin. 1/8/06 15 11 73 1 11/2/05 16 12 71 1 3/27/94 10 8 81 1 5/23/89 13 8 79 1 14. Do you think it should be legal or illegal for registered lobbyists to (ITEM)? a. Make campaign contributions to members of Congress or congressional candidates Legal Illegal No opinion 1/8/06 29 67 4 b. Organize fundraisers on behalf of congressional candidates Legal Illegal No opinion 1/8/06 41 54 5 c. Give members of Congress gifts, trips or other things of value Legal Illegal No opinion 1/8/06 8 90 2 15. As you may know, a prominent lobbyist in Washington named Jack Abramoff has pleaded guilty to corruption charges allegedly involving a U.S. congressman. Do you think this case (is limited to a few corrupt individuals); or do you think it (is evidence of widespread corruption in Washington)? Limited to a Neither/None No few individuals Widespread (vol.) opinion 1/8/06 34 58 2 6 15a. Now thinking about (ITEM) - if it occurs at all, do you think corruption in (REPEAT ITEM) (is limited to a few corrupt individuals) or (is widespread)? a. The local government in your area Limited to a Neither/None No few individuals Widespread (vol.) opinion 1/8/06 68 27 3 2 b. Your state government Limited to a Neither/None No few individuals Widespread (vol.) opinion 1/8/06 60 35 2 2 16. On another subject, as you may know, Bush has nominated federal judge Samuel A. Alito to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Do you think the U.S. Senate should or should not confirm Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court? Should Should not No opinion Alito, 1/8/06 53 27 20 Alito, 12/18/05 54 28 19 Alito, 11/2/05 49 29 22 Roberts, 9/11/05* 55 26 19 Roberts, 8/28/05 57 22 20 Roberts, 7/21/05 59 23 17 Breyer, 5/15/94 52 10 37 Thomas, 10/14/91** 59 28 14 Thomas, 10/13/91 56 29 15 Thomas, 10/12/91 50 29 20 Thomas, 10/9/91 47 23 30 Thomas, 10/8/91 50 25 24 Thomas, 9/15/91 63 24 14 *as chief justice **No opin. for Thomas includes "wait and see" (vol.) 17. How closely will you be following the Senate confirmation hearings for Alito, which start (next/this) week - 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 opinion 1/8/06 60 18 43 39 24 15 * 20. The Supreme Court legalized abortion 33 years ago in the ruling known as Roe versus Wade. Do you think that if Alito is confirmed to the court, he would vote to (overturn Roe versus Wade entirely); vote to (keep abortion legal but with greater restrictions); or vote to leave current abortion law as it is? Overturn Greater restrictions Leave as is No opinion 1/8/06 18 26 38 18 20a. (AMONG THOSE WHO GAVE AN ANSWER AT Q20) Is that what you would want him to do, or not? Yes No No opinion 1/8/06 58 39 3 Related Story: In Abramoff Case, Most See Evidence of Wider Problem.