CBS News/New York Times Florida State Poll, October 2000 (ICPSR 3223)

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This special topic poll was designed to assess respondents' views on the upcoming elections. Residents of the state of Florida were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency and the situation in the Middle East, as well as their views on Florida governor Jeb Bush, Vice President Al Gore, Texas governor George W. Bush, Connecticut senator Joseph Lieberman, former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, and Florida senatorial candidates Bill Nelson, Bill McCollum, and Willie Randolph. Those queried were asked whether they intended to vote in the November 7, 2000, elections, and for whom they would vote if the presidential election were held that day, given a choice among Gore (Democratic Party), Bush (Republican Party), conservative commentator Pat Buchanan (Reform Party), and consumer advocate Ralph Nader (Green Party), as well as for whom they would vote if the election for United States senator were held that day, given a choice among Nelson (Democratic Party), McCollum (Republican Party), and Randolph (Independent Party). A series of questions addressed the presidential campaigns of Gore and Bush, including which candidate cared about the needs of people like the respondent and had spent more time explaining his proposals than attacking his opposition. Views on the candidates' proposed policies were also elicited, including which candidate was more likely to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for the elderly, reduce taxes, make health care affordable for everyone, preserve Social Security, and protect the environment. A series of questions addressed the state of the nation, with items on the direction the country was headed, the most important problems facing the federal government, the state of the United States economy, and whether the anticipated budget surplus should be used to reduce income taxes, pay down the national debt, or preserve Social Security/Medicare. Other questions focused on the presidential campaign, including respondents' interest level in the campaign, why they supported their candidate, who they thought would actually win the election, and the influence that a candidate's stance on reducing prescription drug costs for the elderly and preserving Social Security had on their decision-making. Respondents' views were also sought on the proposed plans to allow individuals to invest portions of their Social Security taxes in the stock market, the April return of Elian Gonzalez to his father in Cuba, the reestablishment of diplomatic trade relations with Cuba, and whether the fact that Jeb Bush was George W.'s brother made the respondent more or less likely to vote for him. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, political orientation, race, Hispanic descent, marital status, education, voter registration and participation history, religion, Cuban descent, stock ownership, children in household, years in community, and household income.

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This data collection may not be used for any purpose other than statistical reporting and analysis. Use of these data to learn the identity of any person or establishment is prohibited.