This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone July 15-18, 2009, among a random national sample of 1,001 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 three points. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by TNS of Horsham, Pa.
*= less than 0.5 percent
1. 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
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. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling [ITEM]? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?
7/18/09 - Summary Table* -------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly op.
a. The economy 52 29 23 46 10 35 3
b. Health care 49 25 24 44 11 33 7
c. The federal
budget deficit 43 19 24 49 11 38 8
d. Unemployment 52 26 26 42 11 31 6
e. The situation
in Afghanistan 62 33 29 30 13 17 8
*Full sample asked item a; half sample asked items b-c; other half sample asked items d-e.
Trend where available:
a. The economy
-------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
7/18/09 52 29 23 46 10 35 3
6/21/09 56 28 28 41 13 27 3
4/24/09 58 31 28 38 13 25 4
3/29/09 60 34 25 38 12 26 3
2/22/09 60 NA NA 34 NA NA 6
-------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
7/18/09 49 25 24 44 11 33 7
6/21/09 53 27 26 39 10 29 9
4/24/09 57 NA NA 29 NA NA 13
-------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
7/18/09 43 19 24 49 11 38 8
6/21/09 48 22 26 48 13 35 5
4/24/09 51 NA NA 43 NA NA 7
3/29/09 52 NA NA 43 NA NA 5
d. No trend.
e. The situation in Afghanistan
-------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
7/18/09 62 33 29 30 13 17 8
4/24/09 63 NA NA 26 NA NA 11
Question 3 held for future release.
4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way (ITEM) are doing their job?
7/18/09 - Summary Table
Approve Disapprove No opinion
a. The Democrats in Congress 47 48 5
b. The Republicans in Congress 36 58 6
Trend:
a. The Democrats in Congress
Approve Disapprove No opinion 7/18/09 47 48 5 4/24/09 45 49 6 2/22/09 50 44 6 7/13/08 35 57 8 2/1/08 39 54 7 12/9/07 40 53 6 11/1/07 36 58 6 9/30/07 38 57 5 7/21/07 46 51 2 6/1/07 44 49 6 4/15/07 54 44 2 10/8/06 48 50 3 5/15/06 39 58 4 11/2/05 41 54 5 6/5/05 42 56 3 6/6/99 51 42 7 3/14/99 51 42 7 7/8/97 45 49 6 4/5/95 36 60 4 10/31/94 39 53 8 10/23/94 36 59 5 9/11/94 41 53 6
b. The Republicans in Congress
Approve Disapprove No opinion 7/18/09 36 58 6 4/24/09 30 64 6 2/22/09 38 56 6 7/13/08 25 69 6 2/1/08 30 63 7 12/9/07 32 63 5 11/1/07 32 63 6 9/30/07 29 67 4 7/21/07 34 64 2 6/1/07 36 58 6 4/15/07 39 59 2 10/8/06 35 63 2 5/15/06 33 64 3 11/2/05 35 61 4 6/5/05 42 56 2 6/6/99 41 52 7 3/14/99 40 56 4 7/8/97 40 54 6 9/15/96 RV 46 48 6 6/30/96 38 56 6 4/5/95 45 50 5 10/31/94 33 59 7 10/23/94 31 64 5 9/11/94 35 59 6
5. Who do you trust to do a better job handling [ITEM] - (Obama) or the (Republicans in Congress)?
7/18/09 - Summary Table*
Both Neither No
Obama Reps (vol.) (vol.) opinion
a. The economy 56 33 1 9 2
b. Health care reform 54 34 1 10 1
c. The federal budget deficit 54 35 * 9 2
*Full sample asked item a; half sample asked item b; other half sample asked item c.
Trend where available:
a. The economy
Both Neither No
Obama Reps (vol.) (vol.) opinion
7/18/09 56 33 1 9 2
6/21/09 55 31 2 9 2
4/24/09 61 24 2 11 2
3/29/09 58 25 1 14 2
2/22/09 61 26 1 9 3
Compare to:
G.W. Bush or the Democrats in Congress:
Both Neither No
Bush Dems (vol.) (vol.) opinion
6/1/07 36 54 1 6 2
2/25/07 36 56 1 6 2
1/19/07 32 60 1 4 2
12/11/06 34 58 1 5 2
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
Clinton or the Republicans in Congress:*
Both Neither No
Clinton Reps (vol.) (vol.) opinion
1/23/96 51 34 11 3 2
10/30/95 38 50 9 1 2
10/1/95 44 44 8 2 3
7/17/95 42 51 4 1 2
3/19/95 43 47 7 1 2
1/4/95 34 56 3 1 5
12/20/94 36 59 NA NA 5
11/14/93 45 37 3 12 3
8/8/93 48 35 1 13 3
6/28/93 45 40 1 10 4
4/26/93 59 29 4 7 1
G.H.W. Bush or the Democrats in Congress:*
Both Neither No
Bush Dems (vol.) (vol.) opinion
3/11/92 37 36 1 20 7
3/8/92 32 44 3 14 6
2/2/92 40 44 1 9 5
1/29/92 38 41 2 13 5
12/15/91 36 46 2 12 4
* "on the economy"
b. Health care reform
Both Neither No
Obama Reps (vol.) (vol.) opinion
7/18/09 54 34 1 10 1
6/21/09 55 27 2 11 4
c. The federal budget deficit
Both Neither No
Obama Reps (vol.) (vol.) opinion
7/18/09 54 35 * 9 2
6/21/09 56 30 2 9 2
6. Do you think Obama is placing (too much) of a priority on [ITEM], (too little) or about the right amount?
7/18/09 - Summary Table
Too Too About the No
much little right amount opinion
a. The economy 9 29 58 3
b. The federal budget deficit 13 39 44 4
c. Health care 25 21 51 3
7. How confident are you that Obama's economic program will improve the economy - very confident, fairly confident, not very confident or not confident at all?
---- Confident ---- ------ Not confident ------ No
NET Very Fairly NET Not very Not at all opinion
7/18/09 56 22 34 43 17 26 1
3/29/09 64 23 41 35 18 17 1
1/16/09 72 23 48 28 17 11 *
Compare to: Reagan
4/12/83 52 13 38 48 24 23 1 1/22/83 45 13 32 53 28 25 2 10/11/82 LV 49 12 37 48 23 25 3
8. Which of these do you think is more important right now - (increasing federal spending to try to improve the economy, even if it sharply increases the federal budget deficit); or (avoiding a big increase in the federal budget deficit, even if it means not increasing federal spending to try to improve the economy)?
Increasing spending Avoiding deficit No opinion
7/18/09 40 55 5
3/29/09 49 47 5
1/16/09 51 44 4
9. How much blame do you think [ITEM] deserves for the country's economic situation - a great deal, a good amount, only some or hardly any?
7/18/09 - Summary Table
a. The Bush administration, for inadequate regulation of the financial industry
b. The Obama administration, for not doing enough to turn the economy around
- Grt deal/Gd amt- -- Some/Hardly any/None ---
Great Good Only Hardly None No
NET deal amt NET some any (vol.) opinion
a. Bush 62 42 20 36 23 11 1 2
b. Obama 32 14 17 66 28 34 4 2
Trend:
a. The Bush administration, for inadequate regulation of the financial industry
- Grt deal/Gd amt- -- Some/Hardly any/None ---
Great Good Only Hardly None No
NET deal amt NET some any (vol.) opinion
7/18/09 62 42 20 36 23 11 1 2
3/29/09 70 47 23 29 21 7 1 2
b. The Obama administration, for not doing enough to turn the economy around
- Grt deal/Gd amt- -- Some/Hardly any/None ---
Great Good Only Hardly None No
NET deal amt NET some any (vol.) opinion
7/18/09 32 14 17 66 28 34 4 2
3/29/09 26 13 13 72 27 39 6 2
10. Would you support or oppose additional federal spending above the 787 billion dollars already set aside to try to stimulate the economy? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
-------- Support -------- --------- Oppose -------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
7/18/09 35 18 17 61 18 43 3
Compare to:
Would you support or oppose new federal spending of about 800 billion dollars on tax cuts, construction projects, energy, education, and health care to try to stimulate the economy? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
-------- Support -------- --------- Oppose -------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
1/16/09 70 43 27 27 9 17 3
12/14/08* 65 37 28 32 13 18 3
* "up to 700 billion dollars on construction projects and other programs"
11. Would you say you, yourself are better off financially than you were in when Obama became president, not as well off, or in about the same shape as then financially?
Better off Not as well off About the same No opinion
7/18/09 8 27 64 *
Compare to:
G.W. Bush
10/5/04 LV 30 30 40 1
10/29/03 22 27 50 1
9/13/03 21 30 49 *
8/11/03 17 25 58 1
Clinton
6/11/00 34 14 50 2
7/19/98 30 15 52 3
3/1/98 32 9 57 1
6/23/96 29 22 49 0
2/27/94 12 17 71 *
G.H.W. Bush
8/9/92 22 32 45 1
6/7/92 19 32 49 *
3/11/92 20 33 46 1
2/2/92 19 31 49 *
10/21/91 20 27 53 1
3/4/91 19 18 63 1
Reagan
1/16/89 42 18 39 1
1/18/87 37 23 40 1
9/8/86 41 20 39 1
12. How do you feel about [ITEM] - very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried or not worried at all?
7/18/09 - Summary Table*
----- Worried ---- ----- Not worried ---- No
NET Very Smwt. NET Not too At all opin.
a. The direction of the
nation's economy over
the next few years 77 36 42 22 16 6 *
b. Your own family's
financial situation 63 23 41 37 25 12 0
*Half sample asked item a; other half sample asked item b.
Trend:
a. The direction of the nation's economy over the next few years
----- Worried ---- ----- Not worried ---- No
NET Very Smwt. NET Not too At all opinion
7/18/09 77 36 42 22 16 6 *
1/16/09 81 35 46 18 15 4 *
10/19/08 LV 85 44 42 14 9 5 1
10/11/08 88 48 40 11 8 3 1
9/22/08 79 40 39 17 13 5 3
1/5/03 67 27 40 31 22 10 1
11/4/02 LV 76 34 42 23 17 6 1
11/3/02 LV 75 33 42 24 17 7 1
11/2/02 LV 73 32 41 26 19 8 1
10/27/02 75 27 48 23 16 7 2
b. Your own family's financial situation
7/18/09 63 23 41 37 25 12 0 1/16/09 70 27 43 30 20 10 * 10/19/08 LV 66 24 43 33 21 12 * 10/11/08 67 23 43 33 22 11 1 9/22/08 60 22 38 40 26 14 *
13. Thinking about health care, one proposal to insure nearly everyone would require all Americans to have health insurance or pay a penalty on their income tax, excluding those with lower incomes. It would require most employers to offer health coverage or pay a fee. There would be a government-run plan to compete with private insurers. And income taxes on people earning more than 280-thousand dollars a year would be raised to help fund the program. Taken together, would you support or oppose this plan? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
-------- Support -------- --------- Oppose -------- No
NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion
7/18/09 54 32 23 43 10 33 3
14. Please tell me whether the following statement applies to Obama, or not?
7/18/09 - Summary Table
Yes No No opinion
a. He understands the problems of people like you 63 35 1
b. He is a strong leader 71 27 2
c. He has brought needed change to Washington 62 35 3
Trend:
a. He understands the problems of people like you
Yes No No opinion 7/18/09 63 35 1 4/24/09 73 25 1 1/16/09 72 24 4
b. He is a strong leader
7/18/09 71 27 2 4/24/09 77 22 2 1/16/09 72 18 10
c. He has brought needed change to Washington
7/18/09 62 35 3 4/24/09 63 34 2 1/16/09* 76 22 3 *"will bring"
Item d held for future release.
15. Which of these statements comes closer to your view: (Beneath it all, Obama is an old-style, tax-and-spend Democrat) OR (Obama is a new-style Democrat who will be careful with the public's money).
Neither
Old-style New-style (vol.) No opinion
7/18/09 43 52 3 2
6/21/09 36 58 4 3
3/29/09 32 62 3 3
Compare to: Clinton
5/22/96 44 50 NA 6
1/29/95 40 54 4 2
1/4/95 48 45 3 3
2/27/94 40 52 6 3
1/23/94 40 49 6 5
11/14/93 48 44 5 2
8/8/93 45 50 3 2
6/28/93 45 50 3 2
5/23/93 48 48 2 2
4/26/93 37 59 3 1
2/28/93 35 61 3 1
Questions 16 through 24 held for future release.
25. (HALF SAMPLE) On another subject, do you think the U.S. government's space program has brought enough benefits to this country to justify its costs, or don't you think so?
Yes No No opinion
7/18/09 51 43 6
2/9/03 65 29 5
7/14/99* 55 40 5
11/22/98* 58 36 6
10/27/98** 58 38 4
7/9/97 60 38 2
1/21/96 56 36 8
7/17/94* 47 47 7
7/17/79*** 41 53 6
*Gallup. **NBC/WSJ. ***NBC/AP; gIt is now XX years since the United States first landed men on the moon.h
26. (HALF SAMPLE) On another subject, forty years ago, the United States spent a great deal of time, effort, and money to land men on the moon. Looking back now, do you think that effort was worth it, or not?
Yes No No opinion
7/18/09 70 27 3
8/3/99* 71 24 5
7/14/97 68 28 4
6/22/94 66 31 3
7/11/79 47 49 4
*1999 and previous CBS: gXX years agoch
Question 27 held for future release.
28. Do you consider yourself to be a feminist, or not?
Yes No No opinion 7/18/09 23 73 4 6/15/08 19 77 3 9/30/07 22 75 3 4/30/06* 24 69 7 5/24/05* 19 75 6 6/17/01** 23 73 4 12/16/99* 17 77 6 9/20/97* 19 75 6 10/11/91** 30 60 10 *CBS News **Gallup901. 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 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 12908a. 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. 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 1INCOME. Which of the following CATEGORIES best describes your total annual household income before taxes, from all sources?
-------Less than $50k------- --------More than $50k-------- NET <20k 20-35k 35-50k NET 50-75k 75-100k 100k+ 7/18/09 49 18 17 14 48 19 12 19 6/21/09 51 18 16 17 47 17 12 18 4/24/09 50 16 16 18 48 17 12 19 3/29/09 49 15 16 17 48 18 13 17 2/22/09 48 16 16 17 50 19 13 19 1/16/09 52 17 18 17 48 16 13 19 12/14/08 44 14 15 15 54 18 15 21 10/11/08 RV 41 12 14 16 56 20 15 22 9/29/08 RV 42 10 14 17 56 18 16 22 9/22/08 RV 40 12 14 14 57 21 14 22 9/22/08 46 16 16 14 50 18 12 20 9/7/08 RV 44 13 14 17 56 17 15 24 8/22/08 RV 39 10 11 18 59 19 16 24 8/22/08 43 15 12 17 53 18 15 21 7/13/08 RV 43 14 14 15 54 16 14 24 7/13/08 48 18 15 15 50 16 12 21 6/15/08 47 18 15 15 51 18 15 18 5/11/08 47 15 16 17 50 18 13 19 4/13/08 47 17 13 17 51 18 14 18 3/2/08 44 14 13 17 52 17 13 22 2/1/08 48 17 16 15 48 18 12 18 1/12/08 46 12 18 16 51 19 13 19 12/9/07 49 14 17 18 48 15 15 18 11/1/07 48 14 16 17 49 16 13 21 9/30/07 53 17 16 20 44 18 12 14 9/7/07 43 10 17 16 54 19 15 20 7/21/07 46 16 14 16 51 18 13 19 6/1/07 49 15 18 16 49 18 13 18 4/15/07 46 15 16 15 51 20 13 18 2/25/07 46 10 16 20 51 20 14 17 1/19/07 49 16 17 15 49 16 13 20 12/11/06 46 11 16 19 51 18 16 17 10/22/06 52 16 20 17 45 16 11 17 10/8/06 46 13 16 17 51 22 13 16 9/7/06 51 16 18 17 47 17 15 15 8/6/06 49 14 16 18 48 20 12 16 6/25/06 50 16 16 19 47 19 11 17 5/15/06 52 14 18 21 46 16 13 17 5/11/06 46 9 18 18 53 18 15 20 4/9/06 53 16 20 17 47 19 12 16 3/5/06 50 16 18 16 48 20 12 16 1/26/06 52 20 15 17 46 18 12 16 12/18/05 54 17 19 18 44 18 12 15 11/2/05 52 14 18 20 46 19 13 14 9/11/05 55 18 20 17 42 18 11 14 8/28/05 52 18 15 19 46 18 11 16 6/26/05 49 14 17 18 49 19 14 16 6/5/05 55 15 20 20 43 17 13 14 4/24/05 55 15 21 19 45 18 12 15 ***END*** -------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion 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 72. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling [ITEM]? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?
7/18/09 - Summary Table* -------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly op. a. The economy 52 29 23 46 10 35 3 b. Health care 49 25 24 44 11 33 7 c. The federal budget deficit 43 19 24 49 11 38 8 d. Unemployment 52 26 26 42 11 31 6 e. The situation in Afghanistan 62 33 29 30 13 17 8 *Full sample asked item a; half sample asked items b-c; other half sample asked items d-e. Trend where available: a. The economy -------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion 7/18/09 52 29 23 46 10 35 3 6/21/09 56 28 28 41 13 27 3 4/24/09 58 31 28 38 13 25 4 3/29/09 60 34 25 38 12 26 3 2/22/09 60 NA NA 34 NA NA 6 b. Health care -------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion 7/18/09 49 25 24 44 11 33 7 6/21/09 53 27 26 39 10 29 9 4/24/09 57 NA NA 29 NA NA 13 c. The federal budget deficit -------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion 7/18/09 43 19 24 49 11 38 8 6/21/09 48 22 26 48 13 35 5 4/24/09 51 NA NA 43 NA NA 7 3/29/09 52 NA NA 43 NA NA 5 d. No trend. e. The situation in Afghanistan -------- Approve -------- ------- Disapprove ------ No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion 7/18/09 62 33 29 30 13 17 8 4/24/09 63 NA NA 26 NA NA 11Question 3 held for future release.
4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way (ITEM) are doing their job?
7/18/09 - Summary Table Approve Disapprove No opinion a. The Democrats in Congress 47 48 5 b. The Republicans in Congress 36 58 6 Trend: a. The Democrats in Congress Approve Disapprove No opinion 7/18/09 47 48 5 4/24/09 45 49 6 2/22/09 50 44 6 7/13/08 35 57 8 2/1/08 39 54 7 12/9/07 40 53 6 11/1/07 36 58 6 9/30/07 38 57 5 7/21/07 46 51 2 6/1/07 44 49 6 4/15/07 54 44 2 10/8/06 48 50 3 5/15/06 39 58 4 11/2/05 41 54 5 6/5/05 42 56 3 6/6/99 51 42 7 3/14/99 51 42 7 7/8/97 45 49 6 4/5/95 36 60 4 10/31/94 39 53 8 10/23/94 36 59 5 9/11/94 41 53 6 b. The Republicans in Congress Approve Disapprove No opinion 7/18/09 36 58 6 4/24/09 30 64 6 2/22/09 38 56 6 7/13/08 25 69 6 2/1/08 30 63 7 12/9/07 32 63 5 11/1/07 32 63 6 9/30/07 29 67 4 7/21/07 34 64 2 6/1/07 36 58 6 4/15/07 39 59 2 10/8/06 35 63 2 5/15/06 33 64 3 11/2/05 35 61 4 6/5/05 42 56 2 6/6/99 41 52 7 3/14/99 40 56 4 7/8/97 40 54 6 9/15/96 RV 46 48 6 6/30/96 38 56 6 4/5/95 45 50 5 10/31/94 33 59 7 10/23/94 31 64 5 9/11/94 35 59 65. Who do you trust to do a better job handling [ITEM] - (Obama) or the (Republicans in Congress)?
7/18/09 - Summary Table* Both Neither No Obama Reps (vol.) (vol.) opinion a. The economy 56 33 1 9 2 b. Health care reform 54 34 1 10 1 c. The federal budget deficit 54 35 * 9 2 *Full sample asked item a; half sample asked item b; other half sample asked item c. Trend where available: a. The economy Both Neither No Obama Reps (vol.) (vol.) opinion 7/18/09 56 33 1 9 2 6/21/09 55 31 2 9 2 4/24/09 61 24 2 11 2 3/29/09 58 25 1 14 2 2/22/09 61 26 1 9 3 Compare to: G.W. Bush or the Democrats in Congress: Both Neither No Bush Dems (vol.) (vol.) opinion 6/1/07 36 54 1 6 2 2/25/07 36 56 1 6 2 1/19/07 32 60 1 4 2 12/11/06 34 58 1 5 2 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 Clinton or the Republicans in Congress:* Both Neither No Clinton Reps (vol.) (vol.) opinion 1/23/96 51 34 11 3 2 10/30/95 38 50 9 1 2 10/1/95 44 44 8 2 3 7/17/95 42 51 4 1 2 3/19/95 43 47 7 1 2 1/4/95 34 56 3 1 5 12/20/94 36 59 NA NA 5 11/14/93 45 37 3 12 3 8/8/93 48 35 1 13 3 6/28/93 45 40 1 10 4 4/26/93 59 29 4 7 1 G.H.W. Bush or the Democrats in Congress:* Both Neither No Bush Dems (vol.) (vol.) opinion 3/11/92 37 36 1 20 7 3/8/92 32 44 3 14 6 2/2/92 40 44 1 9 5 1/29/92 38 41 2 13 5 12/15/91 36 46 2 12 4 * "on the economy" b. Health care reform Both Neither No Obama Reps (vol.) (vol.) opinion 7/18/09 54 34 1 10 1 6/21/09 55 27 2 11 4 c. The federal budget deficit Both Neither No Obama Reps (vol.) (vol.) opinion 7/18/09 54 35 * 9 2 6/21/09 56 30 2 9 26. Do you think Obama is placing (too much) of a priority on [ITEM], (too little) or about the right amount?
7/18/09 - Summary Table Too Too About the No much little right amount opinion a. The economy 9 29 58 3 b. The federal budget deficit 13 39 44 4 c. Health care 25 21 51 37. How confident are you that Obama's economic program will improve the economy - very confident, fairly confident, not very confident or not confident at all?
---- Confident ---- ------ Not confident ------ No NET Very Fairly NET Not very Not at all opinion 7/18/09 56 22 34 43 17 26 1 3/29/09 64 23 41 35 18 17 1 1/16/09 72 23 48 28 17 11 * Compare to: Reagan 4/12/83 52 13 38 48 24 23 1 1/22/83 45 13 32 53 28 25 2 10/11/82 LV 49 12 37 48 23 25 38. Which of these do you think is more important right now - (increasing federal spending to try to improve the economy, even if it sharply increases the federal budget deficit); or (avoiding a big increase in the federal budget deficit, even if it means not increasing federal spending to try to improve the economy)?
Increasing spending Avoiding deficit No opinion 7/18/09 40 55 5 3/29/09 49 47 5 1/16/09 51 44 49. How much blame do you think [ITEM] deserves for the country's economic situation - a great deal, a good amount, only some or hardly any?
7/18/09 - Summary Table a. The Bush administration, for inadequate regulation of the financial industry b. The Obama administration, for not doing enough to turn the economy around - Grt deal/Gd amt- -- Some/Hardly any/None --- Great Good Only Hardly None No NET deal amt NET some any (vol.) opinion a. Bush 62 42 20 36 23 11 1 2 b. Obama 32 14 17 66 28 34 4 2 Trend: a. The Bush administration, for inadequate regulation of the financial industry - Grt deal/Gd amt- -- Some/Hardly any/None --- Great Good Only Hardly None No NET deal amt NET some any (vol.) opinion 7/18/09 62 42 20 36 23 11 1 2 3/29/09 70 47 23 29 21 7 1 2 b. The Obama administration, for not doing enough to turn the economy around - Grt deal/Gd amt- -- Some/Hardly any/None --- Great Good Only Hardly None No NET deal amt NET some any (vol.) opinion 7/18/09 32 14 17 66 28 34 4 2 3/29/09 26 13 13 72 27 39 6 210. Would you support or oppose additional federal spending above the 787 billion dollars already set aside to try to stimulate the economy? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
-------- Support -------- --------- Oppose -------- No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion 7/18/09 35 18 17 61 18 43 3 Compare to:Would you support or oppose new federal spending of about 800 billion dollars on tax cuts, construction projects, energy, education, and health care to try to stimulate the economy? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
-------- Support -------- --------- Oppose -------- No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion 1/16/09 70 43 27 27 9 17 3 12/14/08* 65 37 28 32 13 18 3 * "up to 700 billion dollars on construction projects and other programs"11. Would you say you, yourself are better off financially than you were in when Obama became president, not as well off, or in about the same shape as then financially?
Better off Not as well off About the same No opinion 7/18/09 8 27 64 * Compare to: G.W. Bush 10/5/04 LV 30 30 40 1 10/29/03 22 27 50 1 9/13/03 21 30 49 * 8/11/03 17 25 58 1 Clinton 6/11/00 34 14 50 2 7/19/98 30 15 52 3 3/1/98 32 9 57 1 6/23/96 29 22 49 0 2/27/94 12 17 71 * G.H.W. Bush 8/9/92 22 32 45 1 6/7/92 19 32 49 * 3/11/92 20 33 46 1 2/2/92 19 31 49 * 10/21/91 20 27 53 1 3/4/91 19 18 63 1 Reagan 1/16/89 42 18 39 1 1/18/87 37 23 40 1 9/8/86 41 20 39 112. How do you feel about [ITEM] - very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried or not worried at all?
7/18/09 - Summary Table* ----- Worried ---- ----- Not worried ---- No NET Very Smwt. NET Not too At all opin. a. The direction of the nation's economy over the next few years 77 36 42 22 16 6 * b. Your own family's financial situation 63 23 41 37 25 12 0 *Half sample asked item a; other half sample asked item b. Trend: a. The direction of the nation's economy over the next few years ----- Worried ---- ----- Not worried ---- No NET Very Smwt. NET Not too At all opinion 7/18/09 77 36 42 22 16 6 * 1/16/09 81 35 46 18 15 4 * 10/19/08 LV 85 44 42 14 9 5 1 10/11/08 88 48 40 11 8 3 1 9/22/08 79 40 39 17 13 5 3 1/5/03 67 27 40 31 22 10 1 11/4/02 LV 76 34 42 23 17 6 1 11/3/02 LV 75 33 42 24 17 7 1 11/2/02 LV 73 32 41 26 19 8 1 10/27/02 75 27 48 23 16 7 2 b. Your own family's financial situation 7/18/09 63 23 41 37 25 12 0 1/16/09 70 27 43 30 20 10 * 10/19/08 LV 66 24 43 33 21 12 * 10/11/08 67 23 43 33 22 11 1 9/22/08 60 22 38 40 26 14 *13. Thinking about health care, one proposal to insure nearly everyone would require all Americans to have health insurance or pay a penalty on their income tax, excluding those with lower incomes. It would require most employers to offer health coverage or pay a fee. There would be a government-run plan to compete with private insurers. And income taxes on people earning more than 280-thousand dollars a year would be raised to help fund the program. Taken together, would you support or oppose this plan? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
-------- Support -------- --------- Oppose -------- No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Somewhat Strongly opinion 7/18/09 54 32 23 43 10 33 314. Please tell me whether the following statement applies to Obama, or not?
7/18/09 - Summary Table Yes No No opinion a. He understands the problems of people like you 63 35 1 b. He is a strong leader 71 27 2 c. He has brought needed change to Washington 62 35 3 Trend: a. He understands the problems of people like you Yes No No opinion 7/18/09 63 35 1 4/24/09 73 25 1 1/16/09 72 24 4 b. He is a strong leader 7/18/09 71 27 2 4/24/09 77 22 2 1/16/09 72 18 10 c. He has brought needed change to Washington 7/18/09 62 35 3 4/24/09 63 34 2 1/16/09* 76 22 3 *"will bring" Item d held for future release.15. Which of these statements comes closer to your view: (Beneath it all, Obama is an old-style, tax-and-spend Democrat) OR (Obama is a new-style Democrat who will be careful with the public's money).
Neither Old-style New-style (vol.) No opinion 7/18/09 43 52 3 2 6/21/09 36 58 4 3 3/29/09 32 62 3 3 Compare to: Clinton 5/22/96 44 50 NA 6 1/29/95 40 54 4 2 1/4/95 48 45 3 3 2/27/94 40 52 6 3 1/23/94 40 49 6 5 11/14/93 48 44 5 2 8/8/93 45 50 3 2 6/28/93 45 50 3 2 5/23/93 48 48 2 2 4/26/93 37 59 3 1 2/28/93 35 61 3 1 Questions 16 through 24 held for future release.25. (HALF SAMPLE) On another subject, do you think the U.S. government's space program has brought enough benefits to this country to justify its costs, or don't you think so?
Yes No No opinion 7/18/09 51 43 6 2/9/03 65 29 5 7/14/99* 55 40 5 11/22/98* 58 36 6 10/27/98** 58 38 4 7/9/97 60 38 2 1/21/96 56 36 8 7/17/94* 47 47 7 7/17/79*** 41 53 6 *Gallup. **NBC/WSJ. ***NBC/AP; gIt is now XX years since the United States first landed men on the moon.h26. (HALF SAMPLE) On another subject, forty years ago, the United States spent a great deal of time, effort, and money to land men on the moon. Looking back now, do you think that effort was worth it, or not?
Yes No No opinion 7/18/09 70 27 3 8/3/99* 71 24 5 7/14/97 68 28 4 6/22/94 66 31 3 7/11/79 47 49 4 *1999 and previous CBS: gXX years agochQuestion 27 held for future release.
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 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 12908a. 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. 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 1INCOME. Which of the following CATEGORIES best describes your total annual household income before taxes, from all sources?
-------Less than $50k------- --------More than $50k-------- NET <20k 20-35k 35-50k NET 50-75k 75-100k 100k+ 7/18/09 49 18 17 14 48 19 12 19 6/21/09 51 18 16 17 47 17 12 18 4/24/09 50 16 16 18 48 17 12 19 3/29/09 49 15 16 17 48 18 13 17 2/22/09 48 16 16 17 50 19 13 19 1/16/09 52 17 18 17 48 16 13 19 12/14/08 44 14 15 15 54 18 15 21 10/11/08 RV 41 12 14 16 56 20 15 22 9/29/08 RV 42 10 14 17 56 18 16 22 9/22/08 RV 40 12 14 14 57 21 14 22 9/22/08 46 16 16 14 50 18 12 20 9/7/08 RV 44 13 14 17 56 17 15 24 8/22/08 RV 39 10 11 18 59 19 16 24 8/22/08 43 15 12 17 53 18 15 21 7/13/08 RV 43 14 14 15 54 16 14 24 7/13/08 48 18 15 15 50 16 12 21 6/15/08 47 18 15 15 51 18 15 18 5/11/08 47 15 16 17 50 18 13 19 4/13/08 47 17 13 17 51 18 14 18 3/2/08 44 14 13 17 52 17 13 22 2/1/08 48 17 16 15 48 18 12 18 1/12/08 46 12 18 16 51 19 13 19 12/9/07 49 14 17 18 48 15 15 18 11/1/07 48 14 16 17 49 16 13 21 9/30/07 53 17 16 20 44 18 12 14 9/7/07 43 10 17 16 54 19 15 20 7/21/07 46 16 14 16 51 18 13 19 6/1/07 49 15 18 16 49 18 13 18 4/15/07 46 15 16 15 51 20 13 18 2/25/07 46 10 16 20 51 20 14 17 1/19/07 49 16 17 15 49 16 13 20 12/11/06 46 11 16 19 51 18 16 17 10/22/06 52 16 20 17 45 16 11 17 10/8/06 46 13 16 17 51 22 13 16 9/7/06 51 16 18 17 47 17 15 15 8/6/06 49 14 16 18 48 20 12 16 6/25/06 50 16 16 19 47 19 11 17 5/15/06 52 14 18 21 46 16 13 17 5/11/06 46 9 18 18 53 18 15 20 4/9/06 53 16 20 17 47 19 12 16 3/5/06 50 16 18 16 48 20 12 16 1/26/06 52 20 15 17 46 18 12 16 12/18/05 54 17 19 18 44 18 12 15 11/2/05 52 14 18 20 46 19 13 14 9/11/05 55 18 20 17 42 18 11 14 8/28/05 52 18 15 19 46 18 11 16 6/26/05 49 14 17 18 49 19 14 16 6/5/05 55 15 20 20 43 17 13 14 4/24/05 55 15 21 19 45 18 12 15 ***END***