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Curated

The 1974-1979-1980 Canadian National Elections and Quebec Referendum Panel Study (ICPSR 8079)

Released/updated on: 1992-02-16

Geographic coverage: Canada

This study is a continuation of the 1974 Canadian Election Study, which consisted of extensive personal interviews with a national sample of 2,562 respondents following the federal election of July 8, 1974. Immediately following the federal election of May 22, 1979, 1,295 of the original respondents were successfully contacted and interviewed, thereby creating a 1974-1979 panel study. In addition, a new national sample of the l979 electorate and a supplementary sample of young voters (aged 18-23) were drawn and personal interviews utilizing the same questionnaire were conducted with respondents in these samples. After the federal election of February 18, 1980, 1,748 respondents in both the panel and cross-section samples were contacted by telephone and reinterviewed. No new respondents were added to the 1980 sample. When the Quebec referendum was called for May 20, 1980, a decision was made to contact by telephone Quebec respondents originally sampled in l974 or 1979 and interviewed in 1980. Of these respondents, 325 were successfully contacted and reinterviewed. Approximately half of the interviews were conducted immediately prior to the referendum, and the remaining half immediately afterward. The 1974 post-election survey covered a wide range of topics related to citizen participation in politics. The 1979 survey continued the theme of citizen interest and involvement in politics and probed respondents' attitudes about regions, provinces, and national unity. The 1980 telephone interview asked about vote choice in 1980, party identification, and the issue of energy. Questions on the Quebec referendum centered around the respondents' views on constitutional options for Quebec.

Curated

ABC News 9/11 Anniversary Poll, September 2006 (ICPSR 4665)

Released/updated on: 2008-01-24

Geographic coverage: United States

This special topic poll, conducted September 5-7, 2006, is a part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of political and social issues. The focus of this poll was the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the presidency and issues such as the campaign against terrorism and the situation in Iraq. Information was collected on how closely respondents were following the upcoming congressional and gubernatorial election, whether they would vote for a Democratic or Republican candidate if the election for the United States House of Representatives were being held that day, and the single most important issue in their vote for Congress members. Other questions asked which political party they trusted to do a better job handling the main problems the nation would face over the next few years, and whether they approved of the way Congress and their own representative to the United States House of Representatives were handling their jobs. Views were also sought on the war in Iraq and Donald Rumsfield's handling of his job as Secretary of Defense. Respondents were asked how well they thought the campaign against terrorism was going, whether the country was safer from terrorism compared to before September 11, 2001, and whether Osama bin Laden would have to be captured or killed for the war on terrorism to be a success. Information was collected about the impact of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on respondents' lives, how concerned they were about the possibility of more major terrorist attacks in the United States, how much confidence they had in the government's ability to prevent another major terrorist attack, whether the federal government was intruding on the privacy rights of Americans in its investigation of possible terrorist attacks, and whether this intrusion was justified. Additional topics addressed the religion of Islam, new airport security measures, and how proud they felt to be an American. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, household income, voter registration and participation history, political party affiliation, political philosophy, employment status, marital status, and type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural).

Curated

ABC News Clinton Credibility Poll, August 1994 (ICPSR 3851)

Released/updated on: 2007-03-15

Geographic coverage: United States

This special topic poll, conducted August 16, 1994, was undertaken to assess public opinion of President Bill Clinton, his presidency, and his administration. Respondents were queried on whether they approved of his performance as president, whether they felt that his administration had begun to alter the political atmosphere that hindered progress, whether they trusted Democrats or Republicans to better handle the problems the nation was facing, whether President Clinton's proposed changes were right for the country, whether they were satisfied with President Clinton's honesty and integrity, how much they felt President Clinton had accomplished during his presidency, and whether, based on his performance so far, he deserved a second term as president. Opinions were solicited on Bill Clinton's strength as a leader, his vision for the country, his effectiveness, and trustworthiness. Additional opinions were gathered on whether President Clinton or congressional Republicans were more responsible for the successes during his presidency, whether President Clinton made more or fewer mistakes than usual as president, whether he was able to deal with the nation's problems, and whether the media treated him fairly. Background information includes education, ethnicity, political orientation, sex, and year of birth.

Curated

ABC News "Good Morning America" Health Care Poll, July 1994 (ICPSR 3850)

Released/updated on: 2006-12-01

Geographic coverage: United States

This special topic poll, fielded July 14-17, 1994, was undertaken to assess respondents' views of health care in the United States and proposed changes to the health care system. Respondents were asked to name the most important issue facing President Bill Clinton and the United States Congress, to give an assessment of President Clinton's proposed health care plan, to rate their level of knowledge of the proposed plan, whether they felt they would pay more, less, or the same costs under the proposed plan, and whether the quality of health care would improve, worsen, or stay the same under the proposed plan. Opinions were gathered on the state of the health care system, the most important goal for the health care system, whether it was more important to lower health care costs or to have guaranteed health care available to all, and whether basic insurance should cover abortion. Respondents were queried on whether they had health care coverage, whether they were on Medicare, their level of satisfaction with the quality, costs, and system of health care, whether they worried that their health care costs would not be taken care of in the future, whether they approved or disapproved of proposed health care changes, and whether individuals and groups like the American Medical Association, Hillary Clinton, hospitals, and political parties helped or hurt efforts to improve the health care system. Background variables include sex, year of birth, education, ethnicity, political orientation, employment status, and gross household income.

Curated

ABC News Media Poll, January 1997 (ICPSR 2171)

Released/updated on: 2008-08-05

Geographic coverage: United States

This special topic poll, conducted January 6-7, 1997, sought respondents' views on national and local media practices. Respondents were asked to rate the ethics and honesty of television and print news media, as well as of politicians, corporations, average Americans, and the Clinton Administration. Those polled were asked whether they approved of the way national network television and local television stations reported the news, and whether the news media cared more about the accuracy of a story or being the first to report it. Views were also sought on the media's treatment of politicians, various socioeconomic classes, religious and political groups, celebrities, the military, the police, the government, and corporations. Respondents also rated their enjoyment of news reports on celebrities and politicians, and commented on the relevance of news stories to their lives. Additional topics covered the influence of network television news on viewers, the benefits and drawbacks of investigative news reporting, the media's respect or disrespect of privacy, the power of the media to limit political corruption and unfair business practices, and how often respondents watched television evening news programs. Demographic variables included sex, race, age, education level, household income, employment status, political party affiliation, political philosophy, and type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural).

Curated

ABC News "Nightline" GOP Strategy Poll, May 1998 (ICPSR 2490)

Released/updated on: 2009-10-16

Geographic coverage: United States

This special topic poll sought respondents' views on the presidency and on the GOP (Republican Party), specifically in regard to the actions of Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton, Gingrich, and the United States Congress, and to compare Clinton and Gingrich in the areas of honesty, personal moral and ethical standards, and the ability to understand the problems of the American people. Respondents were asked whether they believed Gingrich's charge of a White House cover-up of Clinton wrongdoing, including possible lawbreaking, and what motivated Gingrich to make such allegations. The results of the poll were announced on the ABC television program "Nightline." Background information on respondents includes sex, political party, political orientation, and impression of the conservative Christian political movement.

Curated

ABC News Poll, November 1990 (ICPSR 9561)

Released/updated on: 2007-07-03

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-11-01--1990-11-04

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Topics covered include approval ratings for public officials (George Bush, Congress, the respondent's representative in Congress, Democrats, and Republicans) on the issues of job performance, handling of the economy, and handling of the situation caused by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the budget deficit reduction plan (and the income group that would be most affected by it), and the income group that Bush, Democrats, and Republicans cared most about. Respondents also were asked how important various political issues were to their vote choice on election day, if they planned to vote in the upcoming general election, for which party they would vote, and whether they would vote to re-elect their own representative. Other questions focusing on the situation in the Persian Gulf addressed the issues of the use of military force if necessary to ensure Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait, long-term military presence of the United States in the Gulf region, the use of military force should the economic embargo prove unsuccessful, the likelihood that the United States would go to war with Iraq, and Americans and other foreigners being held hostage by Iraq. Background information provided includes political alignment, registered voter status, 1988 presidential and congressional vote choices, education, age, race, income, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News Poll, September 1994 (ICPSR 3854)

Released/updated on: 2006-11-30

Geographic coverage: Cuba, Haiti, United States

This poll 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. Questions included the respondent's opinion on what the most important problem facing the United States was and approval ratings for President Clinton's handling of the presidency, the economy, foreign affairs, crime, and health care. Approval ratings were also tallied for the United States Congress and the Democrats and Republicans in Congress. Respondents were asked how much Congress had accomplished in the past year compared to years before and who was responsible (i.e., President Clinton or the parties in Congress). Respondents were asked if they believed certain political figures, including President Clinton, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, and the respondent's representative in Congress, were doing what was best for the country, their district, or their own political lives. Those polled were asked what they believed their representative in Congress should or should not be doing, and which political party was better at handling issues such as the economy and helping the middle class. Queries included the general functioning of the federal government and what, if any, changes were needed. Respondent opinions on the crime bill were gathered, as well as approval ratings on Congress's handling of the health care system. Other questions concerning health care included whether the respondent supported proposed changes to the health care system and whether the respondent believed that significant improvements would be made to the health care system. Respondents were also queried on what changes they would like to see in Congress -- for example, whether they would vote for their incumbent representative or the challenger. Respondents were asked if they believed that America's vital interests were at stake in the situation in Cuba and/or in Haiti and whether the United States should end its economic embargo against Cuba if certain conditions were met. Questions also solicited respondent views on whether they would support a military invasion of Haiti and if they believed that the United States would go to war with Haiti. Respondents' knowledge of bills passed in Congress within the past year was also assessed. Demographic information gathered includes political affiliation, voter registration status, voting record, political philosophy, level of education, religious preference, urban or rural residence, marital status, labor union status, working status, ethnicity, age, sex, yearly income, and willingness for call-back.

Curated

ABC News Powell "No Go" Poll, November 1995 (ICPSR 6682)

Released/updated on: 1998-05-20

This special topic poll sought respondents' views on the 1996 presidential election, specifically on retired General Colin Powell's decision not to run for election. Given a ballot that offered President Bill Clinton, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, and Colin Powell as candidates for the presidency, respondents were asked to identify for whom they would vote. Those queried were asked for their opinions regarding Powell's decision not to run for election, the power and role of a Powell endorsement of another candidate, and whether Powell made the right decision. Additional topics covered the Republican primaries and the possibility of a third-party candidate. Demographic variables include sex, race, political party, political orientation, and voter registration history.

Curated

ABC News Pre-Election Poll, November 1994 (ICPSR 3871)

Released/updated on: 2006-11-13

Geographic coverage: United States

This special topic poll, conducted November 3-6, 1994, was undertaken to assess public opinion prior to election day. Respondents were polled on President Bill Clinton's handling of the presidency, their satisfaction with the way the federal government worked, whether the Democrats or the Republicans would do a better job dealing with the main problems facing the country, and the condition of the national economy. Questions regarding the upcoming United States House of Representatives election asked respondents how closely they were following it, the likelihood that they would vote, whether they would vote for the Democratic or Republican candidate, whether they planned to re-elect their own representative in Congress, and how often they voted in state elections when there was no presidential race. Background variables include sex, age, ethnicity, education, household income, political party affiliation, and voter participation and registration history.

Curated

ABC News Pre-Election Poll, November 2002 (ICPSR 3768)

Released/updated on: 2003-10-09

Geographic coverage: United States

This special topic poll, conducted October 31, 2002, was undertaken to assess respondents' views prior to the November 2002 elections. Respondents were asked about their past voting history, the likelihood that they would vote in the November 2002 elections, and their political party preference. Respondents were also asked to give their opinions on how President George W. Bush and his administration were handling the following: the war on terrorism, Social Security, the economy, health care, prescription drug benefits, and the war with Iraq. They were asked whether these issues affected their voting selections and if so, in what way. Opinions of President George W. Bush, his effectiveness as a leader, and his effect on the November 2002 elections were solicited. In addition, respondents asked about what the priorities of the nation should be, the current state of the national economy, and their personal financial situation. Background information includes age, education, ethnicity, household income, sex, religious orientation, political orientation, and whether the respondent lived in an urban, suburban, or rural area.

Curated

ABC News Terri Schiavo Poll, March 2005 (ICPSR 4320)

Released/updated on: 2006-06-09

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll was conducted in response to the controversy regarding the cessation of life support for Florida resident Terri Schiavo. Respondents were asked whether or not they had been following the case and if they supported or opposed the decision to remove the feeding tube. They were also asked if federal courts should be involved in this case, if Congress should get involved in similar cases, and whether politicians were more concerned for Schiavo or for gaining political advantage. The survey also contained questions about whether respondents would want to be kept alive if in a similar situation, if the case caused them to have discussions with friends and family regarding their wishes, and if any friends or family had passed away after terminating life support. Other information collected included political party affiliation, political philosophy, religious affiliation, and gender.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post 2004 Voters Poll, October 2003 (ICPSR 3943)

Released/updated on: 2004-04-07

Geographic coverage: United States

This special topic poll, conducted October 26-29, 2003, was undertaken to gather voters' opinions regarding the upcoming 2004 presidential election. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way George W. Bush was handling the presidency, the economy, education, Social Security, taxes, health insurance, and international affairs, and how they rated the importance of these issues in deciding whom to vote for in the 2004 presidential election. Those polled were asked whether they believed President Bush understood people like themselves, whether he was a strong leader, and whether he was honest and trustworthy. A series of questions addressed the condition of the national economy, whether the respondent and most Americans were better or worse off financially than when George W. Bush first became president, and the degree to which President Bush was responsible for the federal budget deficit. Specific questions asked whether the war with Iraq was worth fighting, if it was separate from or part of the war on terrorism, whether the number of military casualties was acceptable or unacceptable, whether respondents would support or oppose Congress spending an additional 87 billion dollars for the war and rebuilding of Iraq, and whether it was more important to keep United States military forces in Iraq until civil order could be restored or to withdraw forces to avoid further military casualties. Questions were posed regarding how closely respondents followed the 2004 presidential election, whether they would vote for George W. Bush or a Democratic nominee for president, how likely they were to vote, whether the Republican and Democratic parties were being led in the right direction, how closely each party reflected the respondents' beliefs on important issues, whether the Democratic Party was too willing or not willing enough to compromise with President Bush, and whether there should be more than two major political parties. Democratic-leaning respondents were asked whom they would vote for in the Democratic presidential primary (Senator Joe Lieberman, United States Representative Dick Gephardt, Senator John Kerry, Senator John Edwards, civil rights activist Al Sharpton, former Vermont governor Howard Dean, United States Representative Dennis Kucinich, former Senator Carol Moseley Braun, or General Wesley Clark), how satisfied they were with the choice of Democratic nominees, which candidate had the best chance of defeating Bush, and whether respondents preferred a candidate who agreed with them on most issues or one who would have an easier time defeating Bush. Respondents were also polled on how much they felt they knew about the Democratic nominees and whether a candidate's personal qualities or positions on issues was most important. Additional questions asked respondents if they approved of the way the U.S. Congress was doing its job, how satisfied they were with the way the federal government and the political process worked, how well the United States campaign against terrorism was progressing, and whether they felt the federal government was threatening their own personal rights and freedoms. Background variables include age, sex, religion, education, ethnicity, subjective size of community, household income, political orientation, political party affiliation, if respondents were registered to vote, if they voted in the 2000 presidential election and if so, for whom (Republican George W. Bush, Democrat Al Gore, Green Party candidate Ralph Nader, or Reform Party candidate Pat Buchanan), and if a household member was in military service, a military veteran, a reservist, or belonged to a labor union.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Congressional District Poll, 1986 (ICPSR 8638)

Released/updated on: 1992-02-16

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1986-09-01--1986-10-01

In this study of voting practices and preferences respondents were asked: if they voted in the last election, who they voted for, if they were planning to vote in the upcoming election for the House of Representatives, and who they were likely to vote for in that election. They were asked to rate Reagan's performance as president on issues such as the economy, foreign affairs, and aid to the poor. They were also questioned about which political party they generally support and what they believe to be the nation's worst problem. Respondents to the follow-up questionnaire were again asked who they would be voting for as well as whether they perceived the state of the economy as getting better or worse. Demographic characteristics were also recorded.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Election Poll #2, October 1992 (ICPSR 6020)

Released/updated on: 2006-11-13

Geographic coverage: United States

This election poll focuses primarily on public perceptions of the 1992 presidential campaign. Respondents were queried concerning the likelihood of their voting in the election, their vote intentions, the strength of their support for a preferred candidate, the possibility of changing to support a different candidate before the election, the candidate the respondent might change to, and the respondent's level of satisfaction regarding his/her choice for president. A major portion of the survey evaluated the 1992 campaign in terms of whether, in comparison with other recent presidential campaigns, it had dealt with the biggest problems facing the country, whether issues that the respondent really cared about had been addressed, and whether the campaign had been more positive or negative than past presidential campaigns. Presidential candidates were evaluated along a similar line of questioning. Those surveyed were also asked to describe their level of worry in response to a variety of issues including pollution and environmental problems, the Republicans or Democrats having too much political power, the American education system getting worse, and the federal government running out of money, and to indicate whether these issues had received enough attention during the campaign. In addition, respondents were asked about the helpfulness of the presidential debates in deciding on a candidate, whether Ross Perot's running for president was a good or a bad thing, whether they would have voted for Perot if they thought there was a chance he could have won, whether the next president would take the country in a new direction, whether things in the United States were currently going in the right direction, and whether they would want the job of president for themselves or their children. Background information on respondents includes voter registration status, party preference, education, age, race and Hispanic origin, household income, and sex.

Curated

Simple Crosstabs

ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll, April 2011 (ICPSR 35092)

Released/updated on: 2014-06-12

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll, fielded April 2011, is a part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicits public opinion on a range of political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the performances of President Obama and Congress on a range of topics including: the economy, the budget deficit, interventions in Afghanistan and Libya, taxes, and protecting the middle class. Queries also investigated respondents' opinions of the Tea Party movement, Medicare and Social Security reform, economic recovery, partisan cooperation, and the quality of leadership provided by the political parties. Additional subjects included: nuclear power, the price of gasoline, military involvement in Libya, and the candidates for the 2012 presidential primary and election process. Political partisanship, left-right political self-placement, and voting intentions were also gathered. Demographic and other background information includes age, gender, race, religious affiliation, education, and locality of residence.

Curated

Simple Crosstabs

ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll, January 2011 (ICPSR 35090)

Released/updated on: 2014-06-12

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll, fielded January 2011, is a part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicits public opinion on a range of political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the performances of President Obama and Congress on a range of topics including: the economy, health care, Afghanistan, the budget deficit, taxes, and international relations. Additional queries investigated respondents' opinions of China, the Tea Party movement, the prioritization of political issues, the Affordable Care Act, gun control, partisan cooperation, and the quality of leadership provided by the political parties. Participants were asked if race relations have improved since Barack Obama took office, and whether the current state of political discourse encouraged violence, specifically referencing the shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Additional questions included political partisanship, left-right political self-placement, and voting intentions. Demographic and other background information includes age, gender, race, religious affiliation, education, and locality of residence.

Curated

Simple Crosstabs

ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll, June 2011 (ICPSR 35093)

Released/updated on: 2014-07-08

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll, fielded June 2011, is a part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicits public opinion on a range of political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the performance of President Obama and Congress on a range of topics including: the economy, the budget deficit, interventions in Afghanistan and Libya, terrorism, and job creation. Queries also investigated respondents' opinions of the Tea Party movement, health care and Social Security reform, economic recovery, and the quality of leadership provided by the political parties. Additional subjects included: nuclear power, the price of gasoline, and the 2012 elections, political partisanship, left-right political self-placement, and voting intentions. Demographic and other background information includes age, gender, race, religious affiliation, income, education, and locality of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll #1, April 2006 (ICPSR 4659)

Released/updated on: 2007-11-19

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll, conducted April 6-9, 2006, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the current presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. A national sample of 1,229 adults was surveyed, including an oversample of 27 Black respondents and 202 respondents aged 65 and older. Part 1 contains data on non-oversample respondents and Black oversample respondents, while Part 2 contains information asked only of respondents aged 65 and older, including the aged 65 and older oversample. Respondents were queried on whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the presidency, and issues such as the economy and the campaign against terrorism. Respondents were also asked whether they approved of the way the United States Congress and their own representatives were handling their jobs, whether they would vote for a Democratic or Republican candidate in the upcoming United States House of Representatives election, the importance of issues such as health care in their voting choice, and which party they trusted to handle the main problems the nation would face over the next few years. Views were also sought on the war in Iraq, whether United States military forces in Iraq should be withdrawn, and whether Iraq was currently in a state of civil war. A series of questions asked how much respondents knew about the new Medicare prescription drug program, whether they approved of it, and who was responsible for its creation. Respondents aged 65 and older were asked whether they took prescription drugs, whether they had signed up for the new Medicare prescription drug program, whether it saved them money, and whether the enrollment deadline should be extended. Other topics addressed the recent increase in gasoline prices, illegal immigration, government waste, a new Massachusetts law requiring all residents to have health insurance, and whether Congress should officially reprimand or impeach President Bush for authorizing wiretaps on suspected terrorists without court approval. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, household income, marital status, education level, political party affiliation, political philosophy, voter registration status, religious preference, whether respondents considered themselves born-again or evangelical Christians, and whether they and their parents were born in the United States.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll #1, August 2006 (ICPSR 4663)

Released/updated on: 2007-11-30

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll, conducted August 3-6, 2006, is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the presidency and issues such as the situation in Iraq and the economy. Those registered to vote were asked how closely they were following the upcoming congressional elections in November, whether they would vote for a Democrat or Republican candidate for the United States House of Representatives if the election were held that day, and which issue was most important in their vote. All respondents were polled on which political party they trusted to handle issues such as the United States campaign against terrorism, which party was more concerned with the needs of people like themselves, whether they approved of the way the United States Congress was handling its job, and whether the Democrats were offering a clear direction that was different from that of the Republicans. Views were also sought on the war in Iraq, whether Iraq was in a state of civil war, and whether the Bush Administration and the Democrats in the United States Congress had a clear plan for handling the situation. A series of questions regarding the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon asked which group was to more to blame, whether Israel was justified in bombing Hezbollah targets in civilian areas, whether Israel should agree to an immediate, unconditional cease-fire in Lebanon, whether the conflict would make Israel more secure from attacks, and whether it would help or hurt the situation for the United States in Iraq. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, household income, political party affiliation, political philosophy, voter registration status, religious preference, and whether respondents considered themselves born-again or evangelical Christians.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll #1, June 2006 (ICPSR 4661)

Released/updated on: 2007-11-30

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll, conducted June 22-25, 2006, is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the presidency and issues such as the economy and the situation in Iraq. Several questions asked which political party respondents trusted to handle the main problems the country would face in the next few years, whether they would vote for a Democrat or Republican candidate if the November 2006 election for the United States House of Representatives were being held that day, and which issue was most important in their vote. Views were sought on the war in Iraq and whether it had improved the lives of the Iraqi people, encouraged democracy in other Arab nations, and contributed to the long-term security of the United States. Respondents were polled on whether the Bush Administration and the Democrats in the United States Congress had a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq, how well the United States campaign against terrorism was going, whether the country was safer from terrorism than before September 11, 2001, and whether President Bush would be remembered more for the United States campaign against terrorism or the war in Iraq. A series of questions asked respondents whether they approved of the way United States military forces in Iraq were doing their job, whether a deadline should be set for their withdrawal from Iraq, and respondents' reactions to the alleged killings of Iraqi civilians by United States military forces. Additional topics addressed the death penalty, the federal government's detention of suspected terrorists without trial in the United States military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the federal government's progress in its efforts to rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, household income, political party affiliation, political philosophy, voter registration status, religious preference, and whether respondents considered themselves born-again or evangelical Christians.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll #1, March 2006 (ICPSR 4657)

Released/updated on: 2007-06-01

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll, conducted March 2-5, 2006, is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency as well as his handling of issues such as the situation in Iraq and health care. Those polled also gave their opinions of the condition of the national economy, the United States Congress, Vice President Dick Cheney, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John McCain, and the Democratic and Republican parties. A series of questions asked whether the war in Iraq was worth fighting, whether United States military forces should be increased, decreased, or maintained, whether progress was being made to restore civil order in Iraq and establish a democratic government, and whether the Bush Administration and the Democrats in Congress had a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq. Views were also sought on the use of wiretapping and surveillance by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Security Agency in conducting the war on terrorism, whether the government was doing enough to protect the rights of American citizens, and whether the country was safer from terrorism now, as compared to before September 11, 2001. Additional topics addressed the bird flu virus, the Terri Schiavo case, the recent controversy surrounding a merger deal that would give management of six United States ports to a company owned by the United Arab Emirates, the religion of Islam, and whether respondents and any of their friends and relatives were prejudiced against Muslims and Arabs. Demographic variables included sex, age, race, household income, education level, religious affiliation, political party affiliation, political philosophy, and type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural).

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll #1, May 2006 (ICPSR 4660)

Released/updated on: 2007-10-08

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll, conducted May 11-15, 2006, is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the presidency and issues such as the federal budget deficit and the economy, whether they approved of the way the United States Congress and their own representative were doing their jobs, and which political party they trusted to handle the main problems the country would face in the next few years. Several questions asked how closely respondents were following the upcoming November 2006 election, whether they would vote for a Democratic or Republican candidate for the United States House of Representatives, the reasons for their choice, and which political party they hoped would win control of Congress. Views were also sought on the war in Iraq, and whether the Bush administration intentionally misled the American public in making its case for war with Iraq. A series of questions asked respondents whether the country, their state, and their local community were headed in the right direction, how satisfied they were with their life, and whether they felt optimistic about the future. Those polled also gave their impressions of Senator Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, and Senator John McCain, as well as the likelihood that they would vote for Hillary Clinton and John McCain if they ran for president in 2008. Additional questions addressed Hillary Clinton's views on issues, whether she possessed qualities such as leadership and trustworthiness, and whether Bill Clinton had too much political influence over her. Other topics addressed illegal immigration, Bush administration policies, the recent increase in gasoline prices, and the secret collection of domestic telephone records by the National Security Agency. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, household income, political party affiliation, political philosophy, voter registration status, religious preference, and whether respondents considered themselves born-again or evangelical Christians.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll #2, October 1991 (ICPSR 9754)

Released/updated on: 2008-02-04

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1991-10-24--1991-10-27

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Topics covered include respondents' confidence in certain institutions, federal, state, and local taxes, government spending, Dan Quayle's work as vice president, and the things they liked and disliked about the Democratic and Republican parties. Respondents also were asked whether they ever voted for a Democratic or Republican presidential candidate in a general election, which problems were important in deciding how to vote for president, whom they would vote for as president if the 1992 election were held that day, and toward which candidate they were leaning. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, origin of ancestors, social class, marital status, number of people in household, labor union membership, employment status, race, income, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll #2, September 1990 (ICPSR 9558)

Released/updated on: 2007-07-30

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-09-20--1990-09-24

This data collection focuses on the federal budget deficit and on issues dealing with the rich and the poor in America. Respondents were asked if they approved of the way George Bush, Democrats in Congress, and Republicans in Congress were handling the the federal budget deficit, and who was more to blame for the larger deficit. Additionally, respondents were asked how much money it takes to be rich in the United States, whether they would want to be rich, how likely it was that they would ever be rich or poor, whether the percentage of Americans who are rich was increasing, and whether they respected and admired rich people. Other questions asked respondents if they characterized rich people as more likely to be honest, snobbish, intelligent, and a variety of other traits, whether respondents would be more or less likely to vote for a candidate who was a millionaire/self-made millionaire, and which political party better represented the interests of poor, rich, and middle class people. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, registered voter status, education, age, religion, social class, marital status, number of people in the household, labor union membership, employment status, race, income, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, August 1996 (ICPSR 2003)

Released/updated on: 2007-05-17

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll, conducted August 1996, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on a range of political and social issues. Views were gathered on the 1996 presidential and congressional elections, as well as on President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, the economy, and foreign affairs. Respondents were polled on whether they were better or worse off financially compared to three years ago, whether it was more important to cut federal taxes or balance the federal budget, and whether they supported middle class tax cuts, even if it meant cutting spending on federal programs. Questions involving the upcoming presidential election polled respondents on the likelihood that they would vote, whom they would vote for (President Bill Clinton, Republican Bob Dole, or Reform Party candidate Ross Perot), whether each candidate had the qualities needed to be an effective president, the success of their political campaigns, and who the Republican vice-presidential candidate should be. Opinions were solicited on whether the presidential candidates had a vision for the future of the country, had high moral and ethical standards, cared about people like the respondent, had new ideas, and stood up for what they believed in, and which one would do a better job handling issues such as the economy, crime, the environment, and Medicare. Respondents were queried on whether they would vote for a Democratic or Republican candidate in the upcoming United States House of Representatives election, whether they approved of the way the United States Congress was doing its job, and whether Pat Buchanan should be allowed to make a speech at the Republican convention. Respondents were also asked which political party best represented their ideal of how the United States should be governed, whether the views of each party were too conservative or too liberal, whether respondents supported Ross Perot's new Reform Party, and whether the country needed a new political party. Views were also elicited on issues such as a federal balanced budget amendment, the death penalty, congressional term limits, gun control, organized prayer in public schools, a flat-tax system, recent changes to the welfare system, affirmative action, gay rights, and whether respondents would prefer a smaller government with fewer services or a larger government with many services. Several questions addressed whether abortion should be legal, whether the Republican vice-presidential candidate should support legal abortion, and whether the Republican platform should support a constitutional amendment to ban abortion. Other topics addressed respondents' level of confidence in the United States government to prevent future terrorist attacks, how worried they were about the possibility of major terrorist attacks in the United States, and whether the government should mount a war against terrorism, even if it cost billions of dollars and intruded on personal freedoms. Background variables include sex, age, ethnicity, marital status, employment status, education, religion, household income, social class, subjective size of community, labor union membership, political orientation, political party affiliation, and voter registration and participation history.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, December 1991 (ICPSR 9890)

Released/updated on: 2006-12-22

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1992-12-11--1992-12-15

This poll is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved or disapproved of Bush's handling of the presidency and why, whether the nation's economy could be described as excellent, good, not so good, or poor, whether they were better off financially than in 1989 when Bush became president, and whether Bush cared equally about serving people of all income levels. Concerning political parties, respondents were asked whether the Democrats or Republicans could do a better job of coping with the main problems the nation would face in the coming years and which party could better handle issues such as the economy, crime, foreign affairs, education, defense, and health care. Concerning Congress, respondents were asked whether they approved of the way their own United States Representative was handling his or her job, whether they approved of the way Congress in general was doing its job and why, and whether they approved of the way the Democrats in Congress were handling the nation's economy. In addition, those surveyed were asked whether Bush or the Democrats in Congress could be trusted to do a better job on the economy, whether Bush and the Democrats in Congress were more interested in doing what's best for the economy or what's best for themselves politically, and whether the United States needed a new president that would set the nation in another direction. Respondents were also asked whether cutting taxes or increasing domestic spending was more important at the present time, whether their biggest problem was high taxes, slow income growth, or too much debt, whether it had become more difficult to get a promotion or a better job in the past year, whether their hours and overtime had been reduced in the past year, and if their latest pay raise had been higher or lower than usual. Concerning the 1992 presidential election, respondents were asked for whom they would vote if their state held a Democratic or Republican primary/caucus for president, toward whom they were leaning for the primary/caucus at the time of the interview, what the chances were that they would vote in the 1992 presidential election, whether they would vote for Bush or various other prospective candidates/nominees were the national election held at the time of the interview, and toward whom they were leaning for the national election at the time of the interview. Additionally, respondents were asked whether they would consider voting for David Duke, whether they would like to see the 1992 national elections result in a Republican president with a Democratic majority in Congress or various other combinations and how important that was, and how much a candidate's position on health care influenced the respondent's vote. Other topics included living wills, the cost and availability of health care, approaches to financing health care, and health benefits provided by employers. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, voter registration status, most recent presidential vote choice, education, age, race, income, economic class, religion, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, urban/suburban/rural residence, and sex.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, December 2005 (ICPSR 4525)

Released/updated on: 2006-12-11

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll, conducted December 15-18, 2005, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the current presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency and issues such as the economy, health care, and the situation in Iraq. Views were sought on the most important problem for President Bush and the United States Congress to deal with in the upcoming year, and respondents rated their level of optimism in regard to issues such as the nation's defense against natural disasters and possible terrorist attacks. Respondents were asked whether they would be more likely to vote for a Democratic or Republican candidate if the November 2006 congressional election were held today, and whether they approved of the way the members of Congress and their own representative were doing their jobs. The poll also elicited views on whether the war with Iraq was worth fighting, whether United States military forces in Iraq should be increased, decreased, or remain the same, and whether a deadline should be set for their withdrawal. Other questions asked whether progress was being made in Iraq and whether its recent elections brought the United States closer to the withdrawal of its military forces. Additional topics focused on illegal immigration, abortion, recent Supreme Court Justice nominee Samuel Alito, the use of torture on and secret detainment of suspected terrorists in the United States campaign against terrorism, and whether respondents preferred the greeting "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." Demographic variables include age, sex, race, education level, voter registration status, household income, political party affiliation, political philosophy, religious affiliation, type of residential area, and frequency of religious service attendance.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, December 2006 (ICPSR 22165)

Released/updated on: 2008-08-04

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll, conducted December 7-11, 2006, is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on various political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way George W. Bush was handling his job as president and issues such as the economy, whether they approved of the way members of United States Congress and their own representative were handling their jobs, and to rate the condition of the national economy. Views were sought on the upcoming switch to Democratic control of Congress, what was the most important problem for President Bush and Congress to deal with in the next year and whether they trusted President Bush or Congress more to handle these problems. Several questions asked whether Congress should hold hearings on how the Bush Administration handled issues related to the war with Iraq and the United States' campaign against terrorism, whether the war with Iraq was worth fighting, whether the number of United States military casualties in Iraq was acceptable, and whether the war in Iraq has contributed to the long-term security of the United States. A series of questions asked whether the United States should keep its military forces in Iraq until civil order is restored there, whether the United States was winning the war in Iraq, whether respondents would describe the situation in Iraq as a civil war, and whether the United States should hold direct talks with Syria and Iran about the situation in Iraq. Respondents were asked whether they supported certain plans and decisions, such as the Iraq Study Group report, changing the primary mission of United States forces to supporting and training the Iraqi army, or reducing United States military and financial support of the Iraqi government. Several questions asked for respondents' opinions of current political leaders and the 2008 presidential candidates, which candidate they would vote for if the 2008 Democratic and Republican primaries were held that day, and whether a presidential candidate's gender, race, or religion would affect their vote. Additional topics included immigration, privacy rights, and whether respondents were hopeful about the upcoming year for themselves and the world. Demographic variables include sex, age, religion, race, education level, household income, whether anyone in the household was a military veteran, voter registration and participation history, political party affiliation, political philosophy, and type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural).

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, February 1985 (ICPSR 8560)

Released/updated on: 2006-11-28

Geographic coverage: United States

In this survey respondents were asked to assess the performance of President Reagan and other top government officials and to give their opinions on proposed restrictions on federal student loans, Attorney General designee Edwin Meese, and the Democratic and Republican parties. In a series of questions relating to national political parties, respondents were asked to designate the party and its leaders best able to handle the major problems facing the county, to rate each party's concern with its own political power, and to describe the differences between the two parties. Other topics included in the survey were the 55 mile per hour speed limit, the Vietnam war, Nicaragua, and respondent's preference for and history of residence in different types of communities. Demographic characteristics also are included.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, February 1994 (ICPSR 6618)

Released/updated on: 1997-05-16

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll 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 to identify the biggest problems facing the country and to comment on whether they thought the United States was generally going in the right direction or was on the wrong track. They were also asked whether they approved of Bill Clinton's handling of his job as president, the nation's economy, the federal budget deficit, foreign affairs, crime, the situation involving the former Yugoslavian republics of Serbia and Bosnia, and Clinton's health care plan. The health care plan was closely examined with questions on whether it was better or worse than the present system and whether the respondent supported federal price controls on medical expenses, an insurance program that would not pay for some medically unnecessary or low-success treatments, and federal laws requiring all employers to provide health insurance to full-time employees and pay some costs for part-time employees. Respondents were asked whether groups such as the American Medical Association, the health insurance industry, Republicans in Congress, Democrats in Congress, and the Clinton administration were helping or hurting efforts to improve the nation's health care system. They were also asked which political party they would trust to do a better job of handling the nation's economy, crime, foreign affairs, improving education and schools, maintaining a strong national defense, helping the middle class, holding taxes down, helping the poor, providing affordable health care, encouraging high moral standards and values, creating jobs, reducing the federal budget deficit, and making American industry competitive. Other topics covered neighborhood crime, prisons, the respondent's impression of Japan, and the arrest of an official of the Central Intelligence Agency accused of spying for the Russians. Demographic background variables include political orientation, age, race, income, and education.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, January 1985 (ICPSR 8516)

Released/updated on: 2009-11-18

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll, conducted January 11-16, 1985, 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 to rate Reagan's performance as president over the past four years and to describe their expectations for his performance in his second term in office. Respondents also were asked a series of questions relating to the nation's economy, their personal financial situation and expectations, and whether they trusted the Democrats or Republicans to do a better job in coping with the nation's problems. A series of questions asked about the federal budget deficit and ways to reduce it, federal income tax system and the Treasury Department's tax reform proposal. Additional subjects addressed support for nuclear power, the apartheid protests in South Africa, the New York City subway shooting, and gun ownership. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, marital status, religious preference, voter registration status and participation history, political party affiliation, political philosophy, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), household income, the number of household members over the age of 18, whether respondents considered themselves to be middle or working class, and whether any member of the household was a veteran, a labor union member, or employed by the government.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, January 1988 (ICPSR 9061)

Released/updated on: 2006-12-12

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1988-01-17--1988-01-23

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluates the Reagan presidency and solicits opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Topics covered include trust in the government and the two major political parties, the environment, the nation's health, public education, crime, the quality of life, world peace, and the economy. In addition, opinions were solicited regarding the respondent's favorable or unfavorable impression of various public figures, the respondent's choice for presidential candidate, the debates that had taken place among the various presidential candidates, the most important issue in choosing a candidate, and which party's candidate would do a better job in dealing with problems such as reducing the trade deficit, unemployment, holding down taxes, and providing leadership. Respondents also were asked a detailed series of questions comparing the Republican candidates George Bush and Robert Dole. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1984 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, employment status, race, income, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, January 1990 (ICPSR 9436)

Released/updated on: 2006-11-28

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-01-11--1990-01-16

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Respondents were asked to name the two most important problems facing the country, if they approved of the way George Bush was handling the nation's economy, the environment, the illegal drug problem, and foreign affairs, and if they trusted federal, state, and local governments to do what was right. Respondents also were questioned as to which political party they trusted to do a better job handling a variety of political, economic, and social problems, if they thought things would get better in the next ten years, and how they would rate the military and economic power of the United States vis-a-vis Japan and the Soviet Union over the past 20 years. Other topics covered include the United States military action in Panama, Manuel Noriega, the illegal drug problem, and respondents' satisfaction with careers, marriage, children, and cultural life. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, social class, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, employment status, race, sex, income, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, January 1992 (ICPSR 9887)

Released/updated on: 1993-10-11

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1992-01-30--1992-02-02

This poll is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Respondents were asked to identify the most important problem facing the country, to indicate whether they approved or disapproved of Bush's handling of the presidency in general and of his handling of foreign affairs and the economy in particular, and to offer opinions on whether Bush was able to deal with the big issues that faced the country. Those surveyed were also asked if they approved of the way their own United States Representative was handling his or her job, and whether they approved of the way Congress was doing its job. Concerning economic matters, respondents were asked how the money from potential cuts in military spending should be used, whether they were better off financially than in 1989 when Bush became president, and whether Bush or the Democrats in Congress could be trusted to do a better job on the economy. Concerning political parties, respondents were asked whether the Democrats or Republicans better represented the interests of various groups of people, and whether the Democrats or Republicans could do a better job of coping with the main problems the nation would face in the coming years. Focusing on health care, respondents were asked whether they trusted Bush or the Democrats in Congress to do a better job of improving the health care system in this country, whether they could vote for a candidate whose position on health care was different from theirs, and if a candidate's position on health care was the most important issue to consider in deciding whether to support that candidate. With respect to Bush's 1992 State of the Union address, those surveyed were asked if they approved of most of the proposals made in the speech, how much Bush's economic proposals would help the economy and the respondent's own financial situation, and whether Bush would be able to accomplish most of the goals he outlined in his speech. Concerning the Persian Gulf War, the survey asked respondents whether the war had been worth fighting considering its cost to the United States versus its benefit, and whether the respondent was more likely to support Bush for a second term as a result of the Gulf War. Regarding the issue of extramarital affairs involving a presidential candidate, respondents were asked if they could vote for a candidate who had had an affair, whether the allegation that Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton had had an affair would have an effect on their vote, and if that should be an issue in the presidential election. Respondents were also asked whether Clinton should withdraw from the race if it turned out that he did have an affair with Gennifer Flowers, whether his withdrawal should be based on having had an affair or having denied it, and whether Clinton or Flowers had told the truth. Concerning the 1992 presidential election, respondents were asked for whom they would vote if their state held a Democratic or Republican primary/caucus for president, toward whom they were leaning at the time of the interview, whether they would vote for Bush or various other prospective candidates/nominees if the national election were held at the time of the interview, and toward whom they were leaning at the time of the interview. Those surveyed were also asked their views concerning presidential primaries and caucuses, and about their expectations for the 1992 presidential campaign. Additional campaign questions asked respondents if who is elected in 1992 really made any difference, and whether they thought that they were being referred to when Republican and Democratic candidates for political office talked about the middle class. Other questions dealt with the respondent's impression of various candidates involved in the 1992 presidential election, the reelection of the respondent's representative in Congress, and the chances of the respondent's voting in the 1992 presidential election. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, voter registration status, most recent presidential vote choice, education, age, race, income, economic class, religion, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, urban/suburban/rural residence, and sex.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, January 2002 (ICPSR 3429)

Released/updated on: 2002-06-27

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll 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 to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, the economy, education, environmental issues, the federal budget, the campaign against terrorism, and Social Security, as well as their views on Congress, the Republican party, the Democratic party, First Lady Laura Bush, and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. Those queried were asked which domestic and foreign policy issues should receive the administration's attention, which political party could be trusted to address these issues, and on what topics Bush should focus in his upcoming State of the Union speech. Respondents were asked to identify Bush's two most significant accomplishments and to assess his job performance during his first year in office. They were also asked whether Bush understood the problems of the average American, and whether big business, environmental groups, the oil/gas industry, and/or the American people had the appropriate amount of influence in the Bush administration. Opinions were elicited on the state of the nation's economy, how long the current economic recession would last, whether military spending or spending on social programs should be reduced to balance the federal budget, and whether the Bush administration was responsible for the budget deficit. Respondent views were sought on the 2001 collapse of the energy trading giant Enron Corporation. Topics covered whether the Enron situation was an isolated incident, whether new laws regulating corporate accounting practices or the enforcement of existing laws were necessary, the Bush administration's dealings with Enron, whether recipients of campaign contributions from Enron should disclose communications with Enron officials, and whether a full-scale federal investigation should be conducted. A series of questions addressed the ongoing war on terrorism. Topics covered respondent confidence in the ability of the United States government to prevent further terrorist attacks against Americans and to capture/kill Osama Bin Laden, whether his capture was necessary for the war to be considered a success, possible military action against Iraq to force Saddam Hussein from power, and whether non-citizens charged with terrorism should be put on trial in the United States court system or in a military tribunal. A series of questions focused on the benefits given to families of the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Items focused on whether payments should be reduced for families that had other sources of financial benefits, whether victims of previous terrorist attacks should be paid similar benefits, and whether payments should be made to the families and victims of all future terrorist attacks. Respondents expressed their degree of confidence in the federal government's ability to actually solve a problem. Those queried gave their opinions on the amount of waste in military and domestic program spending by the United States government, whether they would rather work in the public or private sector, and whether a smaller government with fewer services or a larger government with many services was preferred. A series of questions focused on Saudi Arabia. Topics covered whether Saudi Arabia was an ally or enemy of the United States, the importance of maintaining good relations with them, and whether the United States was dependent on the oil it buys from Saudi Arabia. In addition, respondents were asked to give their views on whether the federal government should allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, education, race, Hispanic descent, marital status, children in household, religion, labor union membership, urban/suburban/rural area of residence, whether close family/friends lost a job in the previous six months, and household income.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, June 1991 (ICPSR 9611)

Released/updated on: 2008-01-08

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1991-05-30--1991-06-02

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Respondents were questioned regarding the condition of the national, state, and local economies, financial conditions of the federal and state governments, the most important thing they thought should be done to improve these conditions, and which political party they trusted to do a better job of coping with the main problems facing the nation over the next few years. Respondents also were questioned in depth about civil rights, including whether they thought Blacks and other minorities were discriminated against in hiring, whether Blacks had a better chance of advancing to management or supervisory positions than whites, and whether they thought the Democrats or the Republicans generally came closest to reflecting their views on civil rights. Other topics covered include abortion, financial aid to and free trade with the Soviet Union, and the Persian Gulf War. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, social class, marital status, number of people in household, labor union membership, employment status, race, income, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, June 2001 (ICPSR 3286)

Released/updated on: 2002-04-19

Geographic coverage: United States

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, March 1999 (ICPSR 2724)

Released/updated on: 1999-06-23

Geographic coverage: United States

This monthly poll, fielded March 11-14, 1999, 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 for their opinions of President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, their state's governor, the United States Congress, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Texas governor George W. Bush, former Red Cross president Elizabeth Dole, former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley, former Vice President Dan Quayle, Arizona Senator John McCain, former Tennessee governor Lamar Alexander, multimillionaire publisher Steve Forbes, and conservative commentator Pat Buchanan. Respondents were asked to assess the importance of a political candidate's stance on a variety of issues as well as which party is best able to handle those issues. Topics included crime, the economy, foreign affairs, the middle class, moral values, Medicare, the environment, partisanship, and tolerance. Those queried were asked whether they believed the 1994 switch of congressional balance to the Republican party had been a good or a bad thing. Given possible 2000 presidential races between Democratic hopefuls Gore and Bradley and Republican hopefuls Bush and Dole, respondents were asked for whom they would vote. Those queried were also asked for whom they would vote in a Republican primary or caucus consisting of Bush, Dole, Quayle, Buchanan, Forbes, Alexander, McCain, Family Research Council president Gary Bauer, Ohio Congressman John Kasich, radio talk show host Alan Keyes, and New Hampshire Senator Bob Smith. They were also asked for whom they would vote in a Democratic primary or caucus consisting of Gore, Bradley, and Reverend Jesse Jackson. Respondents were asked whether the following characteristics made them more or less likely to vote for a candidate for president: the candidate is a woman, has used cocaine, has smoked marijuana, has never before held elected office, is an environmentalist, has cheated on a spouse, has lived and/or worked in Washington, DC, most of his/her life, has been accused of improper campaign fundraising, supports legalized abortion, was once a heavy drinker, and/or is supported by labor unions. A series of questions addressed the situation in Kosovo, including whether United States vital interests were at stake in the region, whether the United States should bomb Serbia if Serbia did not agree to a peace plan for Kosovo, and whether the United States and Europe should use ground forces to enforce a peace treaty. Additional topics covered the state of the nation's economy, possible uses for the federal budget surplus, respondent enthusiasm for a 2000 presidential race between Gore and Bush, and the 2000 congressional elections. Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, religion, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, and labor union membership.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, May 1996 (ICPSR 6822)

Released/updated on: 2008-05-14

Geographic coverage: United States

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, May 2007 (ICPSR 24588)

Released/updated on: 2009-04-17

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll, conducted May 29-June 1, 2007, 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. A national sample of 1,205 adults was surveyed, including an oversample of 204 Black respondents. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way George W. Bush was handling the presidency and issues such as the economy. Views were sought on whether the country was moving in the right direction, how well members of the United States Congress were doing their jobs, and whether President Bush or the Democrats in Congress could be trusted to do a better job handling important issues. Respondents were asked how closely they were following the 2008 presidential race, for whom they would vote if the presidential primary or caucus was held that day, their opinions of the presidential candidates, and the single most important issue in their choice for president. A series of questions addressed the Iraq war, including the number of United States military forces in Iraq, the effect of the war in Iraq on the campaign against terrorism, and possible outcomes if the United States were to withdraw from Iraq before civil order was restored there. Other topics addressed immigration policy and United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' handling of the firing of nine chief federal prosecutors. Demographic information includes sex, age, race, marital status, household income, household union membership, education level, political party affiliation, voter registration status, political philosophy, religious preference, whether respondents considered themselves to be born-again Christians, and whether respondents and their parents were born in the United States.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, October 1990 (ICPSR 9560)

Released/updated on: 2008-07-31

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1990-10-11--1990-10-14

This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Major topics covered include Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the federal budget deficit, the upcoming general election, and issues regarding Israel. Questions focusing on the situation in the Persian Gulf addressed the issues of the use of military force if necessary to ensure Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait, long-term military presence of the United States in the Gulf region, the use of military force should the economic embargo prove unsuccessful, the likelihood that the United States would go to war with Iraq, and Americans and other foreigners being held hostage by Iraq. Respondents also were asked if they approved of the way George Bush, the Democrats, and the Republicans in Congress were handling the budget deficit, who was more to blame for the large deficit, who was working harder to reduce it, and if they thought the congressional committees would come up with a better budget plan after the rejection of the plan drawn up by Bush and leaders of Congress. In addition, respondents were asked which candidate and political party they would vote for on election day, if they approved of the way their public officials (congressional representative, governor, Congress, and state legislature) were doing their jobs, if they approved of proposals to limit the number of years a person could serve as an elected public official at the state and national levels, and what they thought about a number of issues related to Israel and the Palestinians. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, registered voter status, education, age, religion, social class, marital status, number of people in the household, labor union membership, employment status, race, income, sex, and state/region of residence.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Poll, September 1995 (ICPSR 6677)

Released/updated on: 2008-07-25

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll is part of a series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, the economy, foreign affairs, and the situation in Bosnia, as well as their views on Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, retired General Colin Powell, Pope John Paul II, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, Jesse Jackson, former head of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) Benjamin Chavis, and Ross Perot. Those queried were asked for their opinions on the 1996 presidential and congressional elections, the differences among the Republican, Democratic, and United We Stand parties, the possibility of a third-party victory, and the qualities of an effective president. Questions regarding the Roman Catholic Church addressed the role of the Pope and whether the church's positions on the following topics truly reflected the beliefs of its members: birth control, divorce, premarital sexual relations, homosexuals, priests and marriage, and female priests. Other topics covered the current state of Medicare, Republican plans to alter Medicare, and the Million Man March and the absence of women as participants in it. Background information includes age, sex, race, education, religion, political party, voter registration and participation history, family income, employment status, marital status, political orientation, Medicare coverage, and the demographics of the respondent's community.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Post-Democratic National Committee (DNC) Convention Poll, August 2000 (ICPSR 3071)

Released/updated on: 2001-03-15

Geographic coverage: United States

This special topic poll, fielded August 18, 2000, queried respondents following the August 14-17 Democratic National Committee (DNC) Convention in Los Angeles, CA. Respondents were asked how much attention they had paid to the 2000 presidential race and whether they intended to vote in the November election. Those queried were asked for whom they would vote, given a choice among candidates Vice President Al Gore (Democratic Party), Texas governor George W. Bush (Republican Party), conservative commentator Pat Buchanan (Reform Party), and political activist Ralph Nader (Green Party). Their views were sought on whether the nation needed a president who could set it in a new direction or whether the nation needed to keep moving in the direction President Bill Clinton had been taking it. Respondents were asked which candidate they trusted to better handle the national economy, protect the Social Security system, improve education and the schools, help the middle class, improve the health care system, and hold taxes down. Additional topics covered whether Gore and Bush were strong leaders, had appealing personalities, understood the problems of the American people, and possessed sufficient experience to be president, and which political party was more tolerant of different points of view. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, education, religion, and race.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Post-Republican National Committee (RNC) Convention Poll, August 2000 (ICPSR 3068)

Released/updated on: 2001-02-23

Geographic coverage: United States

This special topic poll, fielded August 4, 2000, queried respondents following the July 31-August 4 Republican National Committee (RNC) Convention in Philadelphia, PA. Respondents were asked how much attention they had paid to the 2000 presidential race and whether they intended to vote in the November election. Those queried were asked for whom they would vote, given a choice among candidates Vice President Al Gore (Democratic Party), Texas governor George W. Bush (Republican Party), conservative commentator Pat Buchanan (Reform Party), and political activist Ralph Nader (Green Party). Their views were sought on whether the nation needed a president who could set it in a new direction or whether the nation needed to keep moving in the direction President Bill Clinton had been taking it. Respondents were asked whether they shared Bush's views on most issues, whether they shared the political views of the Republican Party, whether Bush was a different kind of Republican, and which political party was more tolerant of different points of view. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, education, and race.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Pre-Election Poll #1, October 2006 (ICPSR 22163)

Released/updated on: 2008-05-30

Geographic coverage: United States

This special topic poll, conducted October 19-22, 2006, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the current presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way George W. Bush was handling his job as president, whether they approved of the way Congress and their own representative in Congress was handling their job, and to rate the condition of the national economy. Registered voters were asked whether they followed the congressional elections, whether they were likely to vote, and which candidate they would vote for if the election were being held that day. Registered voters who had already voted absentee were asked which candidate they voted for, how enthusiastic they were about their vote, and whether their vote was more for one political party, or more against the other political party. Opinions were solicited on what was the most important issue in congressional elections, whether things in the country were generally going in the right direction, whether their reason for voting for a candidate for Congress included showing support for George W. Bush, which political party they trusted to do a better job handling issues such as the situation in Iraq and the economy, and whether they thought a change of control from the Republicans to the Democrats would be a good thing. Information was collected on whether respondents had been contacted by any organization working in support of a candidate for Congress and which political party they were asked to vote for, whether the 2006 congressional elections were more important to the country than past elections, and whether the war with Iraq was worth fighting. Additional questions asked how much Congress should be blamed for problems relating to the war with Iraq, how much credit Congress should get for preventing terrorist attacks, whether respondents felt optimistic about the situation in Iraq, and if the United States had the same kind of involvement in the war with Iraq as it did the Vietnam war. Demographic variables include sex, age, religion, race, education level, household income, labor union membership, voter registration and participation history, political party affiliation, political philosophy, employment status, marital status, and type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural).

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Pre-Election Poll #2, November 2006 (ICPSR 22164)

Released/updated on: 2008-06-25

Geographic coverage: United States

This poll, conducted November 1-4, 2006, 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 approved of the way George W. Bush was handling his job as president, whether they approved of the way the United States Congress and their own representative in Congress was handling their job, and to rate the condition of the national economy. Registered voters were asked whether they were following the upcoming congressional mid-term elections on November 7, 2006, whether they were likely to vote, and which candidate they would vote for if the election were being held that day. Registered voters who had already voted were asked which candidate they voted for, how enthusiastic they were about their vote, and whether their vote was more for one political party, or more against the other political party. Opinions were solicited on what was the most important issue in the vote for Congress, whether things in the country were generally going in the right direction, whether their reason for voting for Congress included showing support for George W. Bush, and which political party they trusted to do a better job handling issues such as the situation in Iraq and the economy. Information was collected on whether respondents had been contacted by any organization working in support of a candidate for Congress and if so, which political party they were asked to vote for, which political party best represented their own personal values, and whether the war with Iraq was worth fighting. Demographic variables include sex, age, religious preference, race, education level, voter registration and participation history, political party affiliation, political philosophy, marital status, whether anyone in the household was a veteran, and type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural).

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Pre-Election Tracking Poll: California, 1988 (ICPSR 9060)

Released/updated on: 2008-10-10

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1988-06-01--1988-06-06

This survey was conducted prior to the California primary held on May 10, 1988. Respondents were asked if they were registered to vote, their party designation, if they intended to vote in the Democratic or Republican presidential primary, for whom they would vote if the primary were held that day, toward which candidate they were leaning, the strength of their support, and any candidates they definitely would not vote for. Background information on respondents includes education, age, religion, race, sex, income, voting history, and political orientation.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Pre-Election Tracking Poll: Illinois, 1988 (ICPSR 8999)

Released/updated on: 2008-10-31

Geographic coverage: United States

Time period: 1988-03-09--1988-03-14

This survey was conducted prior to the Illinois primary held on March 15, 1988. Respondents were asked if they were registered to vote, their party designation, if they intended to vote in the Democratic or Republican presidential primary, for whom they would vote if the primary were held that day, toward which candidate they were leaning, the strength of their support, and any candidates they definitely would not vote for. Additional questions probed for the respondent's opinions on the Reagan presidency and the two most important issues in the presidential campaign. Background information on respondents includes education, age, religion, race, sex, income, voting history, and political orientation.

Curated

ABC News/Washington Post Pre-State of the Union Speech Poll, January 2007 (ICPSR 24583)

Released/updated on: 2009-05-05

Geographic coverage: United States

This special topic poll, fielded January 16-19, 2007, is a part of continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on various political and social issues. This poll was conducted prior to President Bush's State of the Union speech on January 23, and focuses on his proposals about the war with Iraq, including sending additional United States military forces to Iraq, President Bush's and Congress' handling of the war with Iraq, and whether the United States did the right thing in going to war with Iraq. Respondents were also asked whether they approved of George W. Bush and the way he was handling the presidency and other issues such as the economy, whether they approved of the way Congress was handling its job, and whether things in the country are on the right track. Opinions were solicited on Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the 2008 presidential candidates, whom respondents would vote for if the 2008 Democratic and Republican primaries and the presidential election were held that day, and whether an independent commission should be established to investigate and enforce ethics rules for members of Congress. Respondents were asked what was the most important problem they would like to see Bush and Congress deal with, whether they trust Bush or Congress to do a better job handling issues such as the federal budget, and whether Bush or Congress was taking a stronger leadership role in the government. Additional questions addressed global warming, Medicare, the national minimum wage, embryonic stem cell research, and Iran. Demographic information includes sex, age, race, education level, employment status, household income, religious preference, marital status, whether anyone in the household was a military veteran, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), voter registration status, political party affiliation, political philosophy, and the presence of children under 18 in the household.