Washington Post-ABC News Poll: Growing Doubts About Bush, Iraq
Friday, February, 13, 2004 | | | | This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone February 10- 11, 2004, among 1,003 randomly selected adults nationwide. Margin of sampling error for overall results is plus or minus 3 percentage points. Fieldwork by TNS Intersearch of Horsham, PA. *= less than 0.5 percent 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 Strongly Somewhat opin.
2/11/04 50 30 21 47 34 14 2
1/18/04 58 35 24 40 30 9 2
12/21/03 59 39 21 38 23 15 3
12/14/03 57 37 20 39 29 10 5
12/7/03 53 32 21 40 27 13 7
11/16/03 57 34 23 39 28 11 4
10/29/03 56 30 26 42 29 13 2
10/13/03 53 33 20 43 29 13 4
9/30/03 54 34 20 44 29 15 2
9/13/03 58 35 23 40 27 14 2
9/7/03 56 34 22 41 28 13 4
8/11/03 59 37 22 37 23 14 4
7/10/03 59 35 24 38 25 13 3
6/22/03 68 45 23 29 18 11 4
4/30/03 71 50 22 26 9 17 3
4/16/03 74 52 22 23 14 9 3
4/9/03 77 58 19 20 14 6 4
4/3/03 71 54 16 25 19 7 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 22 13 4
2/23/03 60 NA NA 34 NA NA 6
2/9/03 64 42 21 34 20 14 3
2/1/03 62 41 21 34 22 13 4
1/28/03 62 43 19 36 23 13 2
1/27/03 59 39 21 37 22 15 4
1/20/03 59 36 23 38 22 16 2
12/15/02 66 37 28 32 20 12 2
11/4/02 LV 67 45 23 31 20 12 1
11/3/02 LV 67 45 22 32 20 12 1
11/2/02 LV 67 47 20 32 23 9 1
10/27/02 All 67 39 28 29 16 13 4
10/27/02 LV 68 47 21 30 16 14 3
9/26/02 67 42 25 30 18 12 3
9/8/02 71 42 28 27 15 12 3
7/28/02 69 39 31 28 14 14 3
7/15/02 72 42 31 25 13 12 2
6/17/02 74 42 32 22 13 9 4
6/9/02 77 41 36 20 11 9 3
5/19/02 76 48 28 22 13 8 3
4/21/02 78 47 31 20 10 9 2
3/28/02 79 49 30 18 10 8 3
3/10/02 82 52 30 16 7 9 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 5 4 1
11/6/01 89 65 24 9 4 5 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 6 5 2
9/9/01 55 26 29 41 22 20 3
8/12/01 61 28 33 31 17 14 8
7/30/01 59 28 30 38 22 17 3
6/3/01 55 27 28 40 22 18 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)? 2/11/04 - Summary Table
Approve Disapprove No op.
a. The economy 44 54 2
b. The situation in Iraq 47 52 1
c. Creating jobs 38 57 5
d. The US campaign against terrorism 64 34 2
e. Education 47 45 8
f. The cost, availability and coverage
of health insurance 32 62 6
Trend where available: a. The economy
Approve Disapprove No opinion
2/11/04 44 54 2
1/18/04 51 47 2
12/21/03 51 44 5
11/16/03 48 49 3
10/29/03 45 53 2
10/13/03 45 52 2
9/13/03 42 56 3
9/7/03 44 51 5
8/11/03 45 51 5
7/10/03 47 49 4
4/30/03 52 45 3
2/9/03 47 49 4
2/1/03 44 52 4
1/28/03 46 49 4
1/27/03 47 47 5
1/20/03 43 53 4
1/5/03 50 43 7
12/15/02 50 46 4
11/4/02 LV 53 45 2
11/3/02 LV 52 46 2
11/2/02 LV 55 43 2
10/27/02 51 43 6
10/27/02 LV 53 44 3
9/26/02 51 47 3
9/8/02 57 40 4
7/28/02 57 39 4
7/15/02 58 38 3
4/21/02 64 33 3
1/27/02 62 34 4
12/19/01 67 27 6
11/6/01 72 23 5
9/9/01 48 48 4
7/30/01 52 45 3
6/3/01 53 41 6
4/22/01 55 38 7
3/25/01 50 42 8
b. The situation in Iraq
Approve Disapprove No opinion
2/11/04 47 52 1
1/18/04 55 42 2
12/21/03 60 39 2
12/14/03 58 38 4
11/16/03 48 48 4
10/29/03 47 51 2
10/13/03 51 47 2
9/29/03 50 47 3
9/13/03 52 46 2
9/7/03 49 47 4
8/24/03 56 37 7
8/11/03 56 41 3
7/10/03 58 41 2
6/22/03 67 30 2
4/30/03 75 22 2
Compare to: The situation with Iraq and Saddam Hussein
3/27/03 69 26 5
3/23/03 71 26 3
3/20/03 65 29 5
3/17/03 64 29 7
3/9/03 55 38 8
2/23/03 55 39 6
2/9/03 61 37 2
2/5/03 61 32 7
2/1/03 61 35 3
1/28/03 58 38 4
1/27/03 57 40 3
1/20/03 50 46 4
12/15/02 58 37 5
11/4/02 LV 56 40 4
11/3/02 LV 57 40 4
11/2/02 LV 56 41 3
10/27/02 57 38 5
9/26/02 58 39 3
9/14/02 65 31 4
8/29/02 52 36 12
c. Creating jobs
Approve Disapprove No opinion
2/11/04 38 57 5
9/13/03 39 55 6
d. The US campaign against terrorism
Approve Disapprove No opinion
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 All 74 23 4
10/27/02 LV 78 20 2
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
e. Education
Approve Disapprove No opinion
2/11/04 47 45 8
1/18/04 55 37 9
12/21/03 47 37 15
10/29/03 55 38 7
9/13/03 56 39 6
4/30/03 59 34 7
12/15/02 62 30 8
9/26/02 61 32 7
7/15/02 62 31 6
1/27/02 71 21 8
9/9/01 61 32 7
7/30/01 63 31 5
6/3/01 57 35 8
4/22/01 60 28 12
f. The cost, availability and coverage of health insurance
Approve Disapprove No opinion
2/11/04 32 62 6
1/18/04 37 55 8
12/21/03 34 56 10
10/29/03 28 63 9
10/13/03 30 60 10
9/13/03 32 61 7
4/30/03 34 57 9
1/28/03 40 47 13
1/20/03 36 51 13
12/15/02 33 58 9
3. How closely are you following the 2004 presidential race: very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not closely at all?
Very Somewhat Not too Not closely No
closely closely closely at all opin.
2/11/04 30 45 15 10 *
1/18/04 22 44 22 13 *
10/29/03 15 39 30 15 0
9/13/03 16 40 27 17 *
Compare to: How closely are you following the 2000 presidential race: very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not closely at all? Very Somewhat Not too Not closely No
closely closely closely at all opin.
Likely Voters:
11/6/00 54 38 6 2 *
11/5/00 53 38 6 2 *
11/4/00 52 39 7 2 *
11/3/00 51 40 6 3 *
11/2/00 48 42 7 3 *
11/1/00 48 43 7 2 *
10/31/00 46 44 7 2 *
10/30/00 47 44 7 2 *
10/29/00 47 43 7 3 *
10/28/00 47 42 7 3 *
10/27/00 48 41 7 4 *
10/26/00 47 42 8 3 *
10/25/00 47 42 8 3 0
10/24/00 44 43 10 3 0
10/23/00 44 45 8 3 0
10/22/00 44 44 9 3 0
10/21/00 46 41 9 4 *
10/20/00 46 40 11 4 *
10/19/00 44 41 10 4 *
10/18/00 42 45 10 3 *
10/17/00 40 46 10 3 *
Registered Voters:
10/15/00 33 44 15 8 *
10/9/00 30 45 16 9 *
10/1/00 27 48 17 8 *
9/6/00 26 48 17 9 *
8/20/00 28 46 16 10 1
8/10/00 29 43 18 11 *
General Population:
8/6/00 17 36 22 25 *
7/29/00 16 35 25 24 *
7/23/00 14 36 25 25 *
6/11/00 13 36 26 25 0
4/2/00 17 36 24 23 0
3/11/00 21 40 21 17 0
2/27/00 24 46 20 10 *
2/6/00 19 48 21 13 0
1/16/00 11 39 26 24 *
12/15/99 12 33 31 24 *
10/31/99 16 45 25 13 * 4. If the 2004 presidential election were being held today, would you vote for (George W. Bush, the Republican), or for (John Kerry, the Democrat)? Net Leaned Vote:
Other Neither Would No
Bush Kerry (vol.) (vol.) not vote op.
2/11/04 All 43 51 1 3 1 1
RV 43 52 1 2 1 1
10/29/03 All 50 44 * 2 1 3
RV 52 43 0 2 1 2
9/13/03 54 39 * 3 2 2
4/30/03 60 34 * 2 1 2
4b. (ASKED OF UNLEANED BUSH SUPPORTERS) Do you support Bush strongly or not strongly?
Strongly Not strongly No opinion
2/11/04 85 14 1
4c. (ASKED OF UNLEANED KERRY SUPPORTERS) Do you support Kerry strongly or not strongly?
Strongly Not strongly No opinion
2/11/04 62 34 4
5. Who do you trust to do a better job handling (ITEM), (Bush) or (Kerry)? 2/11/04 - Summary Table
Both Neither No
Bush Kerry (vol.) (vol.) op.
a. The economy 41 49 1 4 5
b. The situation in Iraq 48 41 1 6 5
c. Creating jobs 37 51 1 5 6
d. The US campaign against
terrorism 53 37 1 4 5
e. Education 40 49 1 6 5
f. The cost, availability and
coverage of health insurance 34 52 1 7 6
Compare to: Who do you trust to do a better job handling (ITEM), (Bush) or (the Democrats in Congress)? a. The economy
Both Neither No
Bush Kerry (vol.) (vol.) opin.
2/11/04 41 49 1 4 5
Compare to:
Both Neither No
Bush Dems (vol.) (vol.) opin.
1/18/04 43 50 1 4 3
4/30/03 51 41 2 2 3
11/6/01 51 36 5 4 5
9/9/01 44 50 1 3 2
7/30/01 47 46 1 4 1
6/3/01 44 46 2 6 2
b. The situation in Iraq
Both Neither No
Bush Kerry (vol.) (vol.) opin.
2/11/04 48 41 1 6 5
Compare to:
Both Neither No
Bush Dems (vol.) (vol.) opin.
1/18/04 56 36 1 4 3
4/30/03 72 20 2 3 3
c. Creating jobs
Both Neither No
Bush Kerry (vol.) (vol.) opin.
2/11/04 37 51 1 5 6
Compare to: Who do you trust to do a better job creating jobs, (Bush) or (the Democrats in Congress)?
Both Neither No
Bush Dems (vol.) (vol.) opin.
4/30/03 40 51 1 4 4
d. The U.S. campaign against terrorism
Both Neither No
Bush Kerry (vol.) (vol.) opin.
2/11/04 53 37 1 4 5
Compare to:
Both Neither No
Bush Dems (vol.) (vol.) opin.
1/18/04 60 31 2 4 3
4/30/03 72 21 3 2 3
e. Education
Both Neither No
Bush Kerry (vol.) (vol.) opin.
2/11/04 40 49 1 6 5
Compare to:
Both Neither No
Bush Dems (vol.) (vol.) opin.
1/18/04 43 44 3 6 5
4/30/03 45 46 3 2 4
9/9/01 55 36 1 3 6
7/30/01 50 42 2 4 2
6/3/01 43 43 1 7 6
f. The cost, availability, and coverage of health insurance
Both Neither No
Bush Kerry (vol.) (vol.) opin.
2/11/04 34 52 1 7 6
Compare to:
Both Neither No
Bush Dems (vol.) (vol.) opin.
1/18/04 33 52 1 6 7
4/30/03 35 56 1 4 4
6. Would you say most Americans are better off financially than they were in 2001 when Bush became president, not as well off, or in about the same shape as then financially?
Better Not as The No
off well off same opinion
2/11/04 14 47 38 1
1/18/04 13 42 43 2
12/21/03 17 40 41 2
10/29/03 9 49 41 1
9/13/03 9 52 38 1
4/30/03 10 48 42 1
George H. W. Bush
8/9/92 6 61 31 1
10/21/91 7 48 41 4
3/4/91 7 35 56 2
1/16/89 33 26 38 3
7. Please tell me whether the following statement applies to Bush or not. 2/11/04 - Summary Table
Yes No No opin.
a. He is honest and trustworthy 52 45 2
b. He understands the problems of
people like you 41 57 2
c. He is a strong leader 61 38 1
Trend: a. He is honest and trustworthy
Yes No No opin.
2/11/04 52 45 2
10/29/03 59 40 2
9/13/03 60 39 2
12/15/02 70 26 4
7/15/02 71 26 3
7/30/01 63 34 3
4/22/01 62 32 6
11/5/00 LV 60 33 7
11/4/00 LV 61 33 7
10/24/00 LV 65 30 5
10/15/00 LV 57 34 9
10/15/00 RV 53 35 12
9/6/00 RV 62 30 7
7/23/00 RV 61 30 8
7/23/00 59 31 10
12/15/99 63 28 9
10/31/99 68 22 10
9/2/99 63 23 14
3/14/99 67 12 22
b. He understands the problems of people like you
Yes No No opin.
2/11/04 41 57 2
1/18/04 43 56 1
12/21/03 45 53 2
10/29/03 40 58 2
9/13/03 48 51 1
4/30/03 51 48 1
12/15/02 51 47 2
7/15/02 57 41 2
1/27/02 61 37 2
7/30/01 45 54 2
4/22/01 47 51 2
11/4/00 LV 49 46 5
10/24/00 LV 50 46 3
10/15/00 RV 46 46 7
10/9/00 RV 50 44 6
9/6/00 RV 47 49 4
8/20/00 RV 50 46 5
7/23/00 RV 44 51 5
7/23/00 44 51 5
6/11/00 48 47 5
4/2/00 48 46 6
3/11/00 47 47 6
2/27/00 43 51 6
2/6/00 43 52 5
1/16/00 46 49 6
12/15/99 47 46 7
10/31/99 54 39 7
9/2/99 50 39 11
3/14/99 52 27 21
c. He is a strong leader
Yes No No opin.
2/11/04 61 38 1
12/21/03 67 32 2
10/29/03 62 37 1
9/13/03 66 34 *
4/30/03 74 25 *
12/15/02 75 23 2
7/15/02 75 24 1
7/30/01 55 43 2
4/22/01 53 42 5
10/9/00 RV 62 33 5
9/6/00 RV 65 28 7
8/20/00 RV 65 29 5
8/10/00 RV 67 29 5
7/23/00 RV 61 33 6
7/23/00 62 32 5
6/11/00 65 30 6
4/2/00 68 27 5
3/11/00 63 31 6
2/27/00 62 32 6
2/6/00 65 30 7
1/16/00 65 28 7
12/15/99 67 26 7
10/31/99 77 18 5
9/2/99 70 18 12
3/14/99 68 13 20
8. Do you think (ITEM) are or are not a legitimate issue in this year's presidential election? 2/11/04
Legitimate Not legitimate No
issue issue opin.
a. Questions about Bush's service
in the National Guard during
the Vietnam War 30 66 4
b. Questions about Kerry's
fundraising while a
U.S. Senator 42 46 11
9. On another subject, 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?
Worth Not worth No
fighting fighting opinion
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
Gulf War:
2/2/92* 66 32 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
10. Do you think the war with Iraq has or has not contributed to the long- term security of the United States? IF YES: Has it contributed to the long-term security of the United States a great deal or somewhat?
----------Contributed---------- Has No
NET Great deal Somewhat not opin.
2/11/04 58 32 26 38 4
1/18/04 59 34 25 38 3
12/21/03 62 34 29 34 4
7/10/03* 62 33 29 35 3
*"did or did not"
11. Do you think the United States can justify the war only if it finds weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical or biological weapons, in Iraq; or do you think the United States can justify the war for other reasons, even if it does not find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?
Justify only Justify even Neither/No No
if find WMD if no WMD justification opinion
2/11/04 24 57 17 2
12/21/03 20 63 14 3
6/22/03* 23 63 11 3
4/3/03 22 69 6 3
3/20/03 35 53 7 6
*"this war"
12. Before the war began, do you think the Bush administration did or did not intentionally exaggerate its evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction?
Did Did not No opinion
2/11/04 54 42 5
7/10/03* 50 46 4
*"such as biological or chemical weapons"
13. (Asked of those who said 'did intentionally exaggerate' in Q12) Do you think the Bush administration lied about its evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, or exaggerated without lying?
Exaggerated
Lied without lying No opinion
2/11/04 39 57 3
12/13 NET
----------Exaggerated--------- Did No
NET Lied Exagg. DK/REF not opin.
2/11/04 54 21 31 2 42 5
14. Regardless of whether or not it exaggerated the evidence do you think the Bush administration honestly believed that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, or not?
Honestly Did not honestly
believed believe No opinion
2/11/04 68 27 4
15. Which of these do you think is a more important issue: The accuracy of the intelligence about Iraq that the administration received from the CIA and other sources, or the way the administration used that intelligence?
Accuracy of the Way intelligence Both Not imp. No
intelligence was used (vol.) (vol.) opin.
2/11/04 35 53 7 1 4
16. Do you think Iraq did have weapons of mass destruction that have not been found, or do you think Iraq did not have any weapons of mass destruction?
Did have weapons Did not have weapons No opinion
2/11/04 61 33 5
Compare to: Do you think Iraq currently does or does not have weapons of mass destruction - meaning chemical, biological or nuclear weapons?
Yes, has No, does not No
weapons have weapons opinion
12/15/02 89 6 5
17. Which of these do you think is more important right now: (to have a commission look into the accuracy and use of pre-war intelligence about Iraq, with a report BEFORE the November election) or (to have a commission take a wider look at the accuracy of U.S. intelligence overall, with a report AFTER the November election)?
Iraq intelligence, Overall intelligence, Both Neither No
before election after election (vol.) (vol.) opin.
2/11/04 51 35 5 6 3
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