ABC News/Washington Post Poll, May 2000 (ICPSR 3056)

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This poll, fielded May 7, 2000, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they intended to vote in the November 7, 2000, presidential election and for whom they would vote if the election were held that day, given a choice between Vice President Al Gore (Democrat), Texas governor George W. Bush (Republican), conservative commentator Pat Buchanan (Reform), and consumer advocate Ralph Nader (Green). Their views were sought on the importance of gun control, protecting Social Security, and prescription drug benefits for the elderly in making their decision for whom to vote and which candidate could be trusted most in these areas. Respondents were asked whether they supported or opposed having Medicare cover prescription drugs for senior citizens, even if they had to pay more for Medicare. A series of questions addressed Social Security, including whether respondents believed Social Security would be there when they retired and whether they supported or opposed a plan in which people could choose to invest some of their Social Security contributions in the stock market. Respondents were asked for their opinions of the April 22, 2000, removal by federal agents of Elian Gonzalez, the six-year-old Cuban boy whose mother drowned when they attempted to immigrate to Florida, from the home of his Miami relatives and whether the relatives or Elian's father should be granted custody of him. A series of questions focused on gun control. Specific items addressed respondent support for laws requiring background checks at gun shows, trigger locks on stored guns, the registration of firearms, licenses for handgun owners, and banning the sale of assault weapons and the sale of handguns except to law enforcement. Additional questions addressed whether respondents lived in fear of guns, spoke with their children about guns, and had been threatened by a gun. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, political orientation, voter registration, education, religion, labor union membership, household gun ownership, Hispanic origin, household income, children in household, and whether respondents regularly took prescription drugs.

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