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Curated
Simple Crosstabs
2012 Chicago Council Survey on American Public Opinion and Foreign Policy (ICPSR 36230)
Released/updated on: 2015-12-07
Geographic coverage: United States
The Chicago Surveys are part of a long-running series of public opinion surveys conducted by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs every two years. This study is the 2012 Chicago Council Survey, designed to investigate the opinions and attitudes of the general public on matters related to foreign policy, and to define the parameters of public opinion within which decision-makers must operate.
The 2012 Chicago Council Survey focuses on respondents' opinions of the United States' leadership role in the world and the challenges the country faces domestically and internationally.
The survey covers the following international topics: relations with other countries, role in foreign affairs, possible threats to vital interests in the next ten years, foreign policy goals, benefits or drawbacks of globalization, situations that might justify the use of United States troops in other parts of the world, the number and location of United States military bases overseas, respondent feelings toward people of other countries, opinions on the influence of other countries in the world and how much influence those countries should have, United States participation in potential treaties, the United States' role in the United Nations and NATO, which side the United States should take in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, what measures should be taken to deal with Iran's nuclear program, the military effort in Afghanistan, opinions on efforts to combat terrorism, and the rise of China as a global power.
Domestic issues include economic prospects for American children when they become adults, funding for government programs, the fairness of the current distribution of income in the United States, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and United States dependence on foreign energy sources.
Demographic and other background information include age, gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, left-right political self-placement, political affiliation, employment status, highest level of education, and religious preference. Also included are household size and composition, whether the respondent is head of household, household income, housing type, ownership status of living quarters, household Internet access, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) status, and region and state of residence.
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 Terrorism Poll, August 1998 (ICPSR 2634)
Released/updated on: 1999-02-25
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded August 19, 1998, sought respondents' views on the presidency and on the United States' decision, earlier in the day, to launch missile attacks against sites in Afghanistan and Sudan that were suspected to have been used by terrorists who attacked two United States embassies in Africa earlier in the month. Respondents were asked whether they believed that the attacks would prove an effective deterrent against future acts of terrorism, whether they trusted President Bill Clinton to handle the United States' response to terrorism, and whether the attacks were for the purpose of combating terrorism or to shift public attention away from the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Those queried were also asked whether they believed that the situation involving Lewinsky had interfered with Clinton's ability to serve effectively as president. Background information on respondents includes sex and political party.
Curated
ABC News Daniloff Freedom Poll, September 1986 (ICPSR 8640)
Released/updated on: 2007-05-07
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was conducted after the release of Nicholas Daniloff, a reporter who had been held by the Soviet Union on charges of spying. The United States government negotiated his release but denied that there was any connection between his release and the release of Gennadi Zakharov, a Soviet physicist who had been held by the United States on spying charges. Respondents were asked about: their knowledge of the Daniloff case, whether or not they thought there was a swap, if they considered the case a victory or a defeat for the United States, and their evaluation of how Reagan handled the case. Respondents were also asked to evaluate Reagan's handling of the hostage situation in Beirut, Lebanon. In addition, they were asked whether or not they expected any important accomplishments to come from the upcoming summit meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev in Iceland.
Curated
ABC News Iraq Poll, August 1990 (ICPSR 9464)
Released/updated on: 2007-04-02
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1990-08-17--1990-08-20
This survey concentrates on issues surrounding the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and American political, economic, and military reactions to this invasion. Respondents were asked if they approved of the way Bush, King Hussein of Jordan, and Israel were handling the situation caused by Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, how important it was for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, if they approved of Bush's decision to send American military forces to Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf, if they thought Bush had been tough enough with Iraq, if the United States should strike first against Iraq, if the United States would have to get involved in a land war with Iraq, if they thought the economic boycott would make Iraq withdraw from Kuwait, and if they approved of putting some members of United States military reserves on active duty because of the situation. Other questions included who would win the war if the United States went to war with Iraq, if it would be a relatively short war, if the United States should consider using nuclear weapons, if the United States was heading for another Vietnam War, if the situation would lead to increased terrorism against American citizens, if those Americans not allowed to leave Iraq and Kuwait were hostages, and whether moral principle or economic consideration was behind United States actions. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, education, age, race, sex, and state/ region residence.
Curated
ABC News Iraq Poll, September 2002 (ICPSR 3555)
Released/updated on: 2005-12-15
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted September 12-14, 2002, was undertaken to assess public opinion on the potential war against Iraq. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the situation with Iraq and Saddam Hussein, how important it was to force the Iraqi president from power, whether President Bush had a clear policy on Iraq, whether the Bush administration was overstating the level of threat from Iraq, whether it had done enough to win international support for taking military action against Iraq, whether Bush had presented enough evidence on why the United States should remove Saddam Hussein from power, and whether attacking/not attacking Iraq would create a greater risk of further terrorist attacks to the United States. Those polled also indicated their level of support for United States military action against Iraq. They were asked whether they would be for/against it if United States allies opposed such military action, if the United States used ground troops, if there was a significant number of United States military casualties, if Iraq agreed to let United Nations weapons inspectors back into the country, and if Iraq interfered or did not cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors. Background information on respondents includes gender, age, education, political party affiliation, race, and Hispanic origin.
Curated
ABC News Nukes Poll, August 2005 (ICPSR 4516)
Released/updated on: 2006-11-13
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, undertaken August 18-21, 2005, queried respondents on their opinions about the possibilities of a terrorist attack. Respondents were asked if they felt the country was safer today than before September 11, 2001, if the United States was doing all it could to prevent another terrorist attack, how concerned they were about the possibility of another attack and if they might personally become a victim. The survey sought information on how prepared respondents felt for an attack, if they had emergency supplies on hand, and if they had an emergency plan in place. Respondents were also asked how they felt people would react to various types of attacks, how they would react to a nuclear bomb, if they felt nuclear and radiological materials were being protected, and how prepared they thought the government, law enforcement, and hospitals were for an attack. The survey also contained questions regarding respondents' driving habits, what type of vehicle they drove, their opinions of gas prices, whether or not their driving habits were being affected by the gas prices, and their opinions on the impact of gas prices on the national economy. Demographic information included party affiliation, political ideology, education, age, number of children under 18, type of residential area, race, income, and sex.
Curated
ABC News Oklahoma City Bombing Poll, April 1995 (ICPSR 3841)
Released/updated on: 2007-07-03
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded May 30, 1995, was undertaken to assess respondent views on the Oklahoma City bombing that took place on April 19, 1995. Questions gauged the respondent's faith in the government to catch the perpetrators of the bombing and their ability to prevent terrorist attacks against Americans. Respondents were also asked how concerned they were about the possibility of future terrorist attacks. Queries included whether the respondents were afraid that one of their friends or relatives might be the victim of a terrorist attack and whether the respondents would be willing to give up some liberties in order for the government to crack down on terrorism. Those surveyed were also asked to give their opinion on whether they believed the bombing was part of a wider conspiracy or the act of just a few terrorists. Demographic information includes party identification, ethnicity, and sex.
Curated
ABC News Pennsylvania Poll, September 2004 (ICPSR 4131)
Released/updated on: 2005-07-14
Geographic coverage: United States, Pennsylvania
This special topic poll, conducted September 9-12, 2004, is part of a continuing series of surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Residents of Pennsylvania were queried on their opinions regarding the upcoming 2004 presidential election. Questions addressed for whom respondents were going to vote in the 2004 presidential election, whether they considered themselves Democrats or Republicans, what they thought of President George W. Bush's handling of the presidency so far, and for whom they voted in the 2000 presidential election. Respondents were also asked questions comparing Bush and Senator John Kerry, including who would better handle various issues as president in areas such as economy, education, and the campaign against terrorism. Respondents compared Bush and Kerry with respect to traits such as leadership and values. Background information includes age, education, religion, urbanicity, marital status, income, and sex.
Curated
ABC News Post-State of the Union Address Poll, January 2003 (ICPSR 3773)
Released/updated on: 2003-08-07
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted January 28, 2003, was undertaken to assess public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues following the State of the Union Address earlier that evening. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, the economy, the situation with Iraq and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and the cost, availability, and coverage of health insurance. Those polled were asked whether they supported or opposed United States military action against Iraq to force Hussein from power, whether their support or opposition would change if the United Nations opposed such action, and whether they supported or opposed an invasion by United States ground troops with significant military casualties. Views were sought on whether Bush had presented enough evidence to justify the use of military force in Iraq, whether United Nations weapons inspectors should be given additional time to search for weapons of mass destruction, and whether Iraq provided direct support to the al Qaeda terrorist group. A series of questions focusing on the State of the Union Address covered whether respondents approved or disapproved of Bush's message, whether Bush made a good case for going to war with Iraq, and whether the speech made respondents more or less confident in Bush's ability to handle the economy, the situation with Iraq, and the cost, availability, and coverage of health insurance. Background information on respondents includes gender and political party.
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 Pre-State of the Union Address Poll, January 2003 (ICPSR 3772)
Released/updated on: 2003-09-25
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted January 27, 2003, was undertaken to assess public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues on the eve of the State of the Union Address. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, the economy, the United States campaign against terrorism, and the situation with Iraq and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Those polled were asked whether they supported or opposed United States military action against Iraq to force Hussein from power, whether their support or opposition would change if the United Nations opposed such action, and whether they supported or opposed an invasion by United States ground troops with possible military casualties. Views were sought on whether Bush had presented enough evidence to justify the use of military force in Iraq, whether United Nations weapons inspectors should be given additional time to search for weapons of mass destruction, and whether the burden of proof regarding the existence of weapons of mass destruction lay with the United States or with Iraq. Respondents were asked whether they were concerned that the Bush administration would act too quickly and/or without international support, whether Iraq posed an immediate threat to United States interests, and whether Bush had overstated the level of threat facing the United States from Iraq. Background information on respondents includes gender and political party.
Curated
ABC News Reagan Press Conference Poll, November 1986 (ICPSR 8644)
Released/updated on: 2006-12-13
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was conducted on the evening of November 19, 1986 after President Reagan's press conference. Reagan spoke about United States arms shipments to Iran. Respondents were asked to evaluate Reagan's job performance and his handling of world affairs, relations with Iran, and dealings with terrorists. They were also asked whether they believe Reagan was telling the truth about arms shipments and whether Schultz and/or other advisors should resign. Respondents were asked if they watched the press conference and if so, their opinion of what the president said was recorded.
Curated
ABC News September 11th Adult Poll, September 2002 (ICPSR 3553)
Released/updated on: 2005-12-15
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted September 5-8, 2002, was undertaken to assess respondents' feelings a few days before the first anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack, as well as to gauge their opinions on the way the United States was dealing with the war on terrorism. Those polled described their feelings both right after the September 11th attack and one year later. They were asked what they were doing when they first heard about the attacks, whether they had problems sleeping or felt depressed because of terrorist attacks and the war against terrorism, whether they planned to change their normal routines on the first anniversary of the September 11th attack, whether the terrorist attacks changed their country and their personal lives, whether they became suspicious of people of Arab descent, and whether they felt that they personally could be victims of a terrorist attack. Another subject of this survey was the war on terrorism. Respondents commented on the way the United States was handling the campaign against terror, rated the president's performance and that of other officials/institutions/organizations that were dealing with the events of September 11th and the war on terrorism, and indicated whether they thought the campaign against terror was going well in general. They also identified countries that did "enough or not enough" to support the United States campaign against terrorism, and evaluated the job done by the United States in terms of preventing further terrorist attacks, breaking up the al Qaeda network, improving United States intelligence, and reorganizing government agencies. Respondents provided their views on whether the United States was doing enough in its anti-terrorism campaign to win the support of other countries and Muslims around the world, whether the anti-terrorism activities of the federal government were posing a threat to their constitutional rights, and whether the Bush administration was accurately describing the level of threat the country was facing from terrorism. With regard to Osama bin Laden, respondents were asked how confident they were that the United States would capture or kill Osama bin Laden and if the war on terrorism could be a success without capturing or killing him. Those polled expressed their concerns about the possibility of further terrorist attacks, and their confidence in the ability of the United States government to prevent them. Some questions focused on flying, including whether respondents had flown on a commercial airplane after September 11, 2001, whether they worried about flying because of the risk of terrorism, and whether airport security was better than before September 11, 2001. Additionally, respondents were asked whether terrorism or the economy was a bigger problem, whether they were optimistic or pessimistic about the future of their country, whether spending time with their families was important to them, how proud they were to be Americans, whether they were displaying an American flag, and if so, when they started doing that. Background information on respondents includes gender, age, education, religion and religiosity, political party affiliation, political orientation, race, Hispanic origin, children under age 18 living at home, and subjective size of community.
Curated
ABC News September 11th Anniversary Poll, September 2003 (ICPSR 3939)
Released/updated on: 2004-03-30
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted September 4-7, 2003, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on a range of political and social issues. The poll was conducted a few days before the second anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, foreign policy, the economy, the United States campaign against terrorism, and the situation in Iraq. Those polled were asked whether terrorism or the economy was a bigger problem, whether they supported the Bush administration's policy on Iraq and the United States military presence there, whether the number of United States military casualties was acceptable, and how well the United States was doing in restoring order in Iraq. Specific questions asked whether the war in Iraq was worth fighting, whether it was part of or separate from the war against terrorism, whether it would decrease terrorism in the long run, and whether it would be a success if Saddam Hussein was not killed or captured. Respondents were asked to rate the performance of groups, institutions, and individuals in dealing with the events of September 11, 2001, and the war on terrorism. They were also asked to evaluate the job done by the United States in preventing terrorist attacks, winning the cooperation of other countries in fighting terrorism, breaking up the al Qaeda network, improving United States intelligence, and reorganizing government agencies. Questions sought respondent views on whether Osama bin Laden had to be captured or killed in order to win the war on terrorism, and whether other countries had done enough to support the United States campaign against terrorism. Respondents were asked to comment on their feelings about the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, how often they thought about it, whether it changed the United States and the respondent's life, whether the changes were long- or short-term, big or small, positive or negative, if spending time with family was important to them, how concerned they were about being a victim of a terrorist attack, and how concerned they were about the possibility of more terrorist attacks in the United States. A series of questions addressed whether respondents worried about flying because of the risk of terrorism, if the respondent had flown on a commercial airplane since September 11, 2001, if airport security was better than before the attacks, whether security measures were justified, the usefulness of the government's threat alert system, and whether the United States was safer from terrorism than before the attacks. Opinions were also solicited on whether the United States government was doing enough to protect the rights of American citizens, Arab-Americans, non-citizens, and terrorist suspects, if the federal government was intruding on the respondent's personal privacy rights and whether this was justified, and whether it was more important for the FBI to investigate possible terrorist threats even if it intruded on personal privacy, or for the FBI not to intrude on personal privacy, even if it limited its ability to investigate possible threats. Respondents were also polled on whether they would support or oppose the federal government holding suspected terrorists without trial and using physical torture in an attempt to get information from them. Additional questions addressed whether respondents felt they had a good understanding of the beliefs of Islam, whether it taught respect for the beliefs of non-Muslims, and if their opinion of Islam was favorable or unfavorable. Background variables include age, sex, education, ethnicity, religion, political orientation, political party affiliation, subjective size of community, and household income.
Curated
ABC News September 11th Teen Poll, August 2002 (ICPSR 3561)
Released/updated on: 2005-12-15
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted August 25-28, 2002, was undertaken to assess opinions of teens about the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Teens were asked whether they were optimistic or pessimistic about the future of the country, whether they were optimistic or pessimistic about their personal future, how proud they were to be an American, what they planned to do after high school, how involved they felt their parents or guardians were in their lives, how much stress they had in their lives, whether they felt depressed, and how safe they felt in their day-to-day lives. They were also asked how safe they would feel flying in an airplane, being in a tall building, being in a big city, or being in a crowded place. Other survey questions queried the teen respondents about how often they thought about the terrorist attacks that took place in New York and Washington, DC, on September 11, 2001, whether their lives had changed since then, and whether they had made any changes in their personal plans for the future because of the attacks. Respondents were also asked if their parents had made any new rules about where they were allowed to go, whether they had to check in with their parents, whether they felt they knew how their parents felt about what happened September 11, 2001, and whether they felt the same way about the attacks as their parents. Teens were also asked if, right after the attacks, they had felt frightened about what happened, scared that there might be more terrorist attacks, worried about their own personal safety, worried about the safety of any friends or relatives, confused about who would do this and why, angry at the people who had perpetrated the attacks, or confident that the United States would handle the problem, and whether they continued to feel those things now. Additional questions probed for whether they had trouble sleeping right after the attacks or trouble now, whether they felt they had a good basic understanding of Islam, and whether they had heard any other kids or adults say prejudiced things about Muslims, Arabs, or Arab-Americans. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, education, and whether they lived in a large city, suburb, small town, or rural area.
Curated
ABC News State of the Union Poll, January 1986 (ICPSR 8572)
Released/updated on: 2007-09-20
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was conducted after President Reagan's 1986 State of the Union address. Respondents were asked to rate Reagan's performance as president, to identify the country's major problems and to describe the state of the economy. They were also asked their opinion of: the likelihood of a war involving the United States in the near future, the likelihood of a terrorist attack against the United States, whether they favor cutting spending or raising taxes (or both) to reduce the federal budget deficit, and whether they favor tax reform measures that reduce tax rates but eliminate many of the current tax deductions. Political affiliation and sex were also recorded.
Curated
ABC News Timothy McVeigh Verdict Poll, June 1997 (ICPSR 2491)
Released/updated on: 2007-09-17
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted on June 2, 1997--the day that a jury convicted Timothy McVeigh of planning and planting the bomb that killed 168 people in Oklahoma City in 1995--sought respondents' views on the verdict and on terrorist attacks in the United States. Respondents were asked whether they agreed with the verdict, whether McVeigh should receive the death penalty, and whether they believed that the government had caught everyone responsible. A series of questions addressed concern over terrorist attacks in the United States, including whether the respondent believed that he/she or anyone they knew was a potential victim of terrorism. Background information on respondents includes sex.
Curated
ABC News Tylenol Poisoning Poll, February 1986 (ICPSR 8575)
Released/updated on: 2007-09-17
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was conducted after a woman in New York died from taking cyanide-poisoned Tylenol capsules. Respondents were asked if they use non-prescription capsule drugs, if they use Tylenol, if they had heard of the poisoning case, and if it will affect their use of capsule drugs. Additional questions include whether the drug company did enough to ensure the safety of the product, whether drug companies should discontinue the production of all capsules, and whether TV reports of the incident were too sensationalized. They were also asked if they thought the incident was the act of a mentally disturbed person or a terrorist, whether they thought that others might attempt the same thing, and if they were afraid that their own food and drugs might be tampered with. Age and sex were also recorded.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Afghanistan Attack Poll #1, October 2001 (ICPSR 3298)
Released/updated on: 2001-10-31
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted October 7, 2001, was undertaken to assess respondents' reactions to and feelings about the United States military action in Afghanistan. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President Bush was handling the response to terrorist attacks in the United States, and whether they supported United States air strikes on Afghanistan and sending a significant number of United States ground troops into that country. Those polled also gave their opinions on whether capturing or killing Osama bin Laden and his associates was a higher priority than overthrowing the Taliban government and how concerned they were about the possibility of further terrorist attacks in America. Respondents also tried to predict whether it would be a quick military action or a long war, and whether the military action in Afghanistan would make further terrorist attacks against the United States more or less likely. Opinions were elicited on whether the United States should have done more to find a diplomatic solution before attacking Afghanistan, whether the United States should mount a broader war against terrorism, whether the United States government was doing enough in its anti-terrorism campaign to win the support of Muslim people, and whether respondents supported the humanitarian aid for Afghans. Background information on respondents includes gender and political party affiliation.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post AMAL Hijacking Poll, June 1985 (ICPSR 8569)
Released/updated on: 2007-07-03
Geographic coverage: United States
The hijacking of a TWA plane by Arab terrorists on June 14, 1985 is the focus of this survey. Respondents were asked if they approved of Ronald Reagan's handling of the hostage situation, if the United States should be negotiating for the release of the hostages, and if the United States should request Israel to meet the terrorists' demands for the release of Shiite Moslems being held prisoner. Other questions posed include whether the United States should reduce its ties to Israel and whether military action should be undertaken against terrorism in the Middle East even if it risks a larger war. An assessment of the actions of the Israeli government also is provided. Demographic characteristics are included as well.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Anthrax Poll #2, October 2001 (ICPSR 3320)
Released/updated on: 2002-02-22
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted October 24, 2001, was undertaken to assess respondents' reactions to and feelings about the recent anthrax attacks involving letters contaminated with anthrax bacteria being distributed through the mail. Respondents were asked to describe their reaction to the anthrax threat, and their concern that a close relative, friend, or they themselves would contract anthrax. Those queried were asked if they thought that the mail they received at home was safe, if they were satisfied with the way the government was handling the anthrax situation, whether the anthrax situation was an isolated incident or the first of a continuing series of cases, how confident they were in the government's ability to respond to a large-scale biological or chemical attack on the United States, whether the government was as prepared as it reasonably could have been to deal with a biological attack like the anthrax situation, and if the United States was doing all that it reasonably could to prevent further biological attacks. In addition, respondents were asked if they approved of the way the Office of Homeland Security was handling its job, and whether the news media was exaggerating the danger in the anthrax situation. Respondents were asked if, since September 11th, anyone in their household had bought a supply of antibiotics in case of biological attack, spoken with a doctor about anthrax or some other biological attack, started to exercise caution in opening mail, gathered information about what to do in case of an anthrax or other biological attack, started avoiding crowded places such as shopping malls because of the chance of terrorism, or tried to reduce the amount of mail they handled by asking people to send e-mail instead. With respect to exercising caution with the mail, respondents were asked whether someone in their household was currently looking over mail more carefully than usual, throwing away unfamiliar mail without opening it, wearing gloves or a mask when handling mail, washing their hands after handling the mail, or doing anything else with the mail to take precautions. Background information on respondents includes gender and political party.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Anthrax Poll, October 2001 (ICPSR 3300)
Released/updated on: 2001-10-31
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted October 15, 2001, was undertaken to assess respondents' reactions to and feelings about the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC, the United States' war on terrorism, and the recent letters contaminated with anthrax bacteria being distributed through the mail. Respondents were asked how they viewed President George W. Bush and his handling of the United States' campaign against terrorism, whether they believed that the United States government was doing all it could to prevent further terrorist attacks against America, and whether they were concerned about the possibility that there would be more major terrorist attacks in the United States. A series of questions focusing on the anthrax attacks queried respondents on whether they were concerned that they or someone close to them would be a victim of an anthrax attack, how confident they were in the ability of the United States government to respond effectively to a large-scale biological or chemical attack in the United States, and how accurate they thought news media reports on the anthrax situation were. In addition, respondents were asked whether they had purchased or intended to purchase a supply of antibiotics in case of a biological attack, and, if they had purchased antibiotics, what brand they bought. Those queried were asked to assess their level of concern that the United States war on terrorism would grow into a broader war between the United States and its allies and the Arab and Muslim world, and whether the United States was doing all it reasonably could to avoid civilian casualties as a result of the military action in Afghanistan. Background information on respondents includes gender and political party.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Bush Iraq Speech Poll, January 2007 (ICPSR 24582)
Released/updated on: 2009-04-10
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded January 10, 2007, is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on various political and social issues. The focus of this poll was the Iraq war and whether respondents watched President Bush's speech on Iraq on the night of January 10, 2007. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President Bush was handling the situation in Iraq, whether the war with Iraq was worth fighting, and whether President Bush or Congress would do a better job handling the situation in Iraq. Opinions were solicited on Bush's proposal to send additional military forces to Iraq, whether increasing the number of military forces would make a difference in the length of the war, the ability of the Iraqi government to meet its' political and economic commitments, whether the United States is winning the war in Iraq, and whether the United States' involvement in Iraq is similar to the Vietnam war. Demographic information includes sex, age, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), and political party affiliation.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Bush Iraq Speech Poll, June 2005 (ICPSR 4329)
Released/updated on: 2007-03-07
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted June 23-26, 2005, 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 on the effectiveness of United States President George W. Bush in relation to the conflict in Iraq. Questions addressed such issues as whether deploying the United States military in Iraq was worth the human and economic costs, the effect military action in Iraq had on relations with countries like France or Germany that disagreed with the United States on military action in Iraq, the effect military action in Iraq had on the stability and peace in the Middle East, and the effect military action in Iraq had on United States security domestically and internationally. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of the Bush administration's actions and statements prior to military action in Iraq, of the effect of Iraqi elections on the stability of Iraq, whether military action in Iraq was part of the broader "war on terror," when or if the United States military would withdraw or reduce troop size in Iraq, and the effect on world opinion and events if the United States military were to be successful in establishing and maintaining a democratic government in Iraq. Additional questions sought opinions of the death penalty and other punishments for convicted murderers and whether respondents would advise youth to join the United States military. Background information includes age, sex, education, household income, political ideology, political party affiliation, race, religious affiliation, whether that religion was protestant, and whether the respondent considers herself or himself "born-again."
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Bush War Speech Poll, March 2003 (ICPSR 3781)
Released/updated on: 2004-06-04
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll was undertaken to assess public opinion on President George W. Bush's March 17, 2003, speech that threatened military action against Iraq. Respondents were asked whether they had watched or listened to any of the speech that evening, whether they supported or opposed the United States going to war with Iraq and the 48 hour deadline given for Saddam Hussein to leave his country, and how confident they were that President Bush's policy on Iraq was the right one for the United States. Several questions addressed the Bush Administration's decision not to have the United Nations Security Council vote on war with Iraq, whether the administration did enough to try to win support from other countries for taking military action against Iraq, whether the United States should offer Saddam Hussein and his sons amnesty in exchange for leaving Iraq, and whether Iraq could be disarmed and Saddam Hussein removed from power without going to war. Additional questions addressed whether the United States should show less cooperation and support for France and the United Nations in the future or continue its usual relationship, and whether the war with Iraq would increase or decrease the risk of further terrorism in the United States. Background variables include sex and political party affiliation.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Colin Powell Speech to the United Nations Poll, February 2003 (ICPSR 3775)
Released/updated on: 2003-07-30
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted February 5, 2003, was undertaken to assess public opinion on Secretary of State Colin Powell's address to the United Nations about Iraq earlier that day. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the situation with Iraq and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, whether they supported or opposed United States military action against Iraq even without United Nations support, and whether the Bush administration had presented enough evidence to show why military action was necessary. Those polled were asked to assess their familiarity with Powell's address to the United Nations, whether Powell made a convincing case for going to war, and whether the evidence presented proved, or merely suggested, that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Views were sought on whether the United States had presented strong evidence showing that Iraq had chemical and biological weapons, was trying to develop nuclear weapons, had provided direct support to the al Qaeda terrorist group, and had not cooperated with United Nations weapons inspectors. Respondents were asked how much longer the Bush administration should give United Nations weapons inspectors to search for weapons of mass destruction, and whether it was more important for the United States to move quickly against Iraq or wait to gain international support. Background information on respondents includes gender and political party.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Democratic Convention Closer Poll, July 2004 (ICPSR 4118)
Released/updated on: 2005-03-25
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted July 30-August 1, 2004, is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit opinions on the presidency and on other political and social issues. Shortly after the close of the 2004 Democratic National Convention, respondents were asked how closely they were following the 2004 United States presidential election, how likely they were to vote, and which candidate they were likely to vote for or favored. They were queried on their knowledge and opinions of the candidates, Republican incumbent George W. Bush and Democratic Senator John F. Kerry, and their preferences between the candidates concerning domestic and international issues, and personal qualities. Specific questions asked which candidate the respondent trusted to do a better job handling the economy, the situation in Iraq, education, the United States campaign against terrorism, health care, taxes, international relations, and improving United States intelligence agencies. Respondents were also asked which candidate they thought was more honest and trustworthy, understood the problems of people like them, was a strong leader, took a position and stuck with it, would make the country safer and more secure, shared their values, had a vision for the future, and understood complex issues. Background information includes age, education, ethnicity, geographic classification, labor union membership, political party affiliation, political party ideology, religious affiliation, voter registration status, and whether the respondent voted in the 2000 United States presidential election and for whom they voted.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Hostage Release Poll, June 1985 (ICPSR 8585)
Released/updated on: 2008-07-24
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was conducted following the release of the hostages taken during the hijacking of a TWA flight by Arab terrorists on June 14, 1985. Respondents were asked if they approved of Ronald Reagan's handling of the situation and whether they agreed with the following statements: the United States was largely to blame for not having dealt firmly enough with terrorists in the past, ties to Israel should be reduced, military action should be taken against those responsible for the hijacking, the handling of the situation will help to reduce similar occurrences in the future, and Israel helped as much as it could with the situation. Respondents were also asked to assess more specifically Reagan's actions and the media coverage of the interviews with the hostages while they were still being held.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Hurricane Follow-Up Poll, September 2005 (ICPSR 4520)
Released/updated on: 2006-09-19
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted September 9-11, 2005, 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. The focus of this poll was to ascertain the feelings and opinions of respondents surveyed about Hurricane Katrina and the federal government's response to the events leading up to and after the hurricane. This poll, surveying a different sample of respondents, is a follow-up to a post-hurricane Katrina poll (ABC NEWS/WASHINGTON POST HURRICANE KATRINA POLL, SEPTEMBER 2005 [ICPSR 4519]) conducted earlier in the same month. Respondents were queried on the federal government's overall emergency preparedness plan, as well as the government's preparedness and response efforts during Hurricane Katrina in regard to delivering food, water, and medical help, recovering and identifying those who lost their lives, dealing with the oil supply and rising gasoline prices, evacuating and resettling people who had lost their homes, and clearing and repairing the hurricane and flood damage. A series of additional questions dealt with how the government should pay for the hurricane relief effort, whether the government's lack of preparedness in New Orleans was racially or socio-economically driven, and the call by Congress for a full-scale congressional investigation of the government's Hurricane Katrina preparedness and response efforts. Respondents were also asked whether they approved of the way George W. Bush was handling the presidency, the economy, the situation in Iraq, and the United States campaign on terrorism. Demographic variables include race, gender, age, level of education, employment status, income, political party affiliation, political philosophy, and religious affiliation.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Iraq War Polls, January-February 1991 (ICPSR 9563)
Released/updated on: 2009-01-20
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1991-01-13--1991-02-27
This data collection consists of telephone surveys concerning the Persian Gulf war between Iraq and the allied Coalition forces. Part 1, conducted just prior to the January 15th deadline set by the United Nations Security Council for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, asked respondents if the United States should take military action, what the likelihood was that the United States would go to war, how long the war would last, and how many casualties would result. Additional questions included whether the United States should hold further talks with Iraq, whether a diplomatic solution was possible, if the United States should agree to an Arab-Israeli conference, and if respondents approved of actions taken by George Bush and Congress. Parts 2-9 were conducted after the outbreak of war. Respondents were asked if they approved or disapproved of George Bush's and Israel's handling of the situation, of the United States' having gone to war, and of American anti-war protests. They were also asked how long they thought the war would last, how many casualties would result, who would win, if enough had been done to seek a diplomatic solution, and if the United States and her allies had been right to attack Iraq. In addition, respondents were asked how they rated the job the United States military was doing, if the air war would be enough or if a ground war would be necessary, if the government was releasing enough or too much information, if Israel should strike back at Iraq for the missile attacks, if the respondent was afraid to travel or afraid of increased terrorism, if the United States was heading toward another Viet Nam, and whether moral principle or economic reality had been the motive behind American troops' being sent to the Persian Gulf. Other topics covered include the final objective of the war (driving Iraq out of Kuwait or Saddam Hussein from power), allied bombing in Baghdad and issues surrounding hits on possible military targets that would result in civilian casualties, the presence of American reporters in Iraq, talks between Iraq and the Soviet Union seeking a diplomatic solution, and a set of questions addressing possible outcomes for Saddam Hussein and the respondent's personal feelings regarding him. Background information provided includes age, race, sex, political party identification, state/region of residence, and if the respondent had friends or relatives serving in the military in the Gulf region.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Labor Day Poll, September 2007 (ICPSR 24590)
Released/updated on: 2009-06-04
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded September 4-7, 2007, is a 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 he was handling the situation in Iraq, and whether they approved of his handling of the United States campaign against terrorism. Respondent's opinions were solicited on whether they trusted the Democrats or the Republicans to do a better job in handling the war in Iraq and the campaign against terrorism. Respondents were asked for their opinions on multiple issues associated with the war in Iraq such as whether the war was worth fighting, whether respondents thought the United States would win or lose the war, how confident respondents were in the Iraqi government to fulfill their commitment to restore civil order in Iraq, whether the war had contributed to the security of the United States, and whether the United States had made progress toward restoring civil order in Iraq. Questions about the United States military force focused on whether respondents thought the increase in United States forces improved the situation in Iraq and Iraq's security situation within a few months, whether military forces should be further increased or decreased in Iraq, and whether withdrawing from Iraq would do more to increase the risk of a terrorist attack occurring in the United States. Additional questions addressed whether respondents were satisfied with the choice of candidates for the 2008 presidential election and for whom they were going to vote, General David Petraeus' progress report on the war in Iraq, respondent's confidence in the ability of the government to prevent further terrorist attacks against Americans, whether the war on terrorism could be a success without the United States winning the war, and whether the country was safer at the time of this poll versus September 11, 2001. Demographic information includes sex, age, race, education level, household income, military service, religious preference, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), political party affiliation, political philosophy, and voter registration status.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll #1, January 2006 (ICPSR 4654)
Released/updated on: 2008-03-13
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted January 5-8, 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 to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, ethics in government, and the United States campaign against terrorism. Views were sought on whether the war in Iraq was worth fighting, and whether the federal government was doing enough to protect the rights of American citizens and people suspected of involvement in terrorism. A series of questions addressed the level of honesty of members of the United States Congress, the level of corruption in federal, state, and local government, corruption charges against prominent lobbyist Jack Abrahmoff, and whether it should be legal for registered lobbyists to make campaign contributions to congressional members or candidates, give them gifts, or organize fund raisers on their behalf. Additional questions asked about upcoming Senate confirmation hearings for federal Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito and whether Alito would vote to overturn the Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalized abortion. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, political party affiliation, political philosophy, religious preference, and whether respondents considered themselves to be born-again Christians.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll, April 2005 (ICPSR 4326)
Released/updated on: 2006-12-11
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted April 21-24, 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 queried on such topics as Social Security benefits, parenthood, young people joining the military, capital punishment, same-sex marriage, stem cell research, and whether abortion should be legal in all cases. Respondents were asked how President George W. Bush was handling his presidency, the economy, the situation in Iraq, and the United States campaign against terrorism. A series of questions also focused on Tom Delay, the majority leader of the United States House of Representatives, and the ethics charges made against him, and whether he should step down as majority leader.
A random national sample of 1,082 adults were given this poll, including an oversample of 284 Catholic respondents, who were asked an additional group of questions about Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic Church. Questions asked included their feelings about the selection of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as pope, whether they approved or disapproved of the selection, if they thought he should maintain the traditional policies of the Church, and what should be his highest priority (e.g., responding to the concerns of women in the Church, encouraging human rights, or addressing the issue of sexual abuse by priests). Other questions included whether the Roman Catholic Church was in touch with the views of Catholics in America, whether the respondent would want their son to become a priest, and whether they would support the Catholic Church denying communion to Catholic politicians who are in favor of legal abortion.
Demographic variables include race, gender, age, level of education, income, political party affiliation, political philosophy, and religious affiliation.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll, August 2005 (ICPSR 4518)
Released/updated on: 2007-03-08
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded August 25-28, 2005, was undertaken to assess respondents' opinions on issues such as President George W. Bush's job performance on the war in Iraq, terrorism, gas prices, social security, the economy, abortion, and immigration. Respondents were asked similar questions regarding Congress. The survey contained questions concerning terrorist threats and the war in Iraq, including whether or not respondents felt troops should be withdrawn. Related questions asked for respondents' opinions regarding Cindy Sheehan and war protests. The survey also asked for opinions on the nomination of John J. Roberts to the Supreme Court, abortion, immigration, gasoline prices, and gay marriage. Respondents were also queried on how they felt about the Democratic Party's actions on the war, Roberts' nomination, and President Bush's policies. Demographic information includes political affiliation, political ideology, education, age, religious affiliation, military status, sex, race, and income.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll, February 2010 (ICPSR 30202)
Released/updated on: 2011-05-02
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded February 4-8, 2010, 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 1,004 adults was surveyed. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way Barack Obama was handling the presidency, the economy, health care, and the federal budget deficit, and whether they had a favorable opinion of Barack Obama. Respondents were queried on whether they approved of the way the United States Congress was doing its job, which party they trusted more to do a better job coping with the main problems the nation faces over the next few years, and how often they thought republicans in the Senate should use their power to block legislation proposed by President Obama and the Senate democrats. Respondents were asked whether they thought Obama was doing too much or too little to compromise with the republican leaders in Congress on important issues, whether they thought republican leaders were doing too much or too little to compromise with Obama on important issues, whether they thought the recession was over, or not over, and whether they thought the economy has or has not begun to recover. Information was collected on whether respondents support or oppose stricter federal regulations on the way banks and other financial institutions conduct their business, whether they support or oppose the proposed changes to the health care system, whether they think lawmakers in Washington should keep trying to pass a comprehensive health care reform plan, or should give up on it, and whether they have some form of health insurance or health care coverage. Respondents were asked if they had a favorable impression of the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, Sarah Palin, and the Tea Party, and whether or not they thought Palin was qualified to serve as president. Respondents were queried on whether they thought homosexuals who do not publicly disclose their sexual orientation should be allowed to serve in the military, whether they thought homosexuals who do publicly disclose their sexual orientation should be allowed to serve in the military, and whether they thought it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get married. Respondents were asked whether they would rather have suspects accused of involvement in the September 11 terrorist attacks be put on trial in the federal court system in the United States, or in a military tribunal, and whether they support or oppose the recent ruling by the Supreme Court that says corporations and unions can spend as much money as they want to help political candidates win elections. Finally respondents were asked whether they were inclined to vote to re-elect their representative in Congress in the next election, or whether they were inclined to look around for someone else to vote for, which party they would vote for in the upcoming United States House of Representatives elections, and whether their mood was anti-incumbent or pro-incumbent for the upcoming elections. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, household income, education level, political party affiliation, political philosophy, political ideology, religious preference, and whether the respondent is a born-again Christian.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll, January 2010 (ICPSR 30201)
Released/updated on: 2011-04-13
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded January 12-15, 2010, 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 1,083 adults was surveyed, including an oversample of African Americans. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way Barack Obama was handling the presidency, the economy, health care, and the federal budget deficit, and whether they had a favorable opinion of President Obama. Respondents were queried on whether they thought the country was headed in the right direction, and whether they were confident that the Democratic Party and the Republican Party would make the right decisions for the country's future. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way that Nancy Pelosi was handling her job as Speaker of the House, whether they approved of the way Harry Reid was handling his job as Majority Leader of the Senate, and what was the one most important problem they would like to see President Obama and the Congress deal with this year. Information was collected on whether respondents thought Obama had accomplished a lot during his presidency, whether he was keeping most of his major campaign promises, and who they thought was to blame for the country's economic situation. Respondents were queried on how they thought the United States campaign against terrorism was going, whether the federal government should investigate possible terrorist threats, even if that intrudes on personal privacy, and whether police and other authorities should or should not be permitted to use personal characteristics like religion, or ethnicity, or nationality in deciding who to search in security lines at airports or other locations. Respondents were asked whether they approved or disapproved of President Obama's decision to close the United States military prison in Guantanamo Bay, whether they support or oppose the proposed changes to the health care system, whether they preferred the public option, and whether they have health insurance. Respondents were queried on whether they thought the federal government should try to limit the size of the bonuses banks can pay to their top employees, whether they would support or oppose a special tax on bonuses over one million dollars, and whether they would support or oppose higher taxes targeted at banks that do a lot of trading in the stock market. Finally, respondents were asked whether Obama's presidency has helped or hurt race relations in the United States, whether they favor smaller government with fewer services, or larger government with more services, whether they favor or oppose legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal and medical use, and whether they voted in the last presidential election. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, household income, education level, political party affiliation, political philosophy, political ideology, religious preference, and whether the respondent is a born-again Christian.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll, June 2004 (ICPSR 4112)
Released/updated on: 2005-03-25
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll conducted, June 17-20, 2004, is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit opinions on the presidency and on other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to assess the performance of United States President George W. Bush relative to the national economy, the conflict in Iraq, education, the national deficit, health care, terrorism, taxes, and international affairs. They were queried on how closely they were following the 2004 United States presidential election, their knowledge and opinions of the candidates, Republican incumbent George W. Bush and Democratic Senator John F. Kerry, their preferences between the candidates, and their opinions of the conflict in Iraq and its effects on domestic issues, international policy, the Iraqi people, and the Iraqi government and society. Specific questions addressed whether Bush intentionally misled the country about Iraq, the state of the national economy, who should have custody of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, whether Iraq supported al-Qaeda directly, and who should have decision-making power in Iraq. Background information includes age, callback receptivity, education, employment status, ethnicity, geographic classification, labor union membership, marital status, number of children in the home, political party affiliation, political party ideology, religious affiliation, voter registration status, and whether the respondent voted in the 2000 United States presidential election and for whom they voted.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll, June 2009 (ICPSR 27765)
Released/updated on: 2010-11-09
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded June 18-21, 2009, 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 1,001 adults was surveyed. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way Barack Obama was handling the presidency and the economy. Respondents were queried on whether or not they thought the country was headed in the right direction, whether they had a favorable impression of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, and whether they approved of the way Nancy Pelosi was handling her job as Speaker of the House. Information was collected on respondents opinions of having a smaller government with fewer services or having a larger government with more services. Respondents were asked whether they thought the United States Senate should or should not confirm judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court as well as a number of other questions dealing with her. Information was collected on whether respondents had health insurance or health care coverage, how satisfied they were with the overall health care system in the country as well as their own health care, and how concerned they were about their family's health care costs in the future. Respondents were asked a number of questions about health care reform, whether they were concerned about reform, whether they thought the government should require everyone to have health insurance, and whether the government should create a new health insurance plan to compete with private health insurance plans. Information was collected on respondents opinions of the economic stimulus plan, whether they thought the plan has helped or hurt the national economy, and whether they were concerned with the size of the federal budget deficit. Respondents were asked whether they thought Obama's policies were making the United States safer from terrorism and whether they approved or disapproved of closing the United States military prison in Guantanamo Bay. Finally respondents were queried on whether or not the federal government should regulate the release of greenhouse gases to reduce global warming, whether they supported cap and trade, and whether abortion should be legal or illegal. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, household income, education level, political party affiliation, political philosophy, religious preference, whether respondent is a born-again Christian, employment, and union membership.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll, November 2009 (ICPSR 29043)
Released/updated on: 2010-10-21
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded November 12-15, 2009, 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 1,001 adults was surveyed. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way Barack Obama was handling the presidency and the economy, and whether they had a favorable opinion of Barack and Michelle Obama. Respondents were queried on whether they thought the country was headed in the right direction, whether they had a favorable impression of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, and which party they trusted more to do a better job coping with the problems the nation faces over the next few years. Respondents were asked whether they thought President Obama's views on most issues were too liberal or too conservative, whether they thought the leaders of the Republican Party were mainly presenting alternatives to President Obama's proposals or mainly criticizing his proposals without presenting alternatives. Information was collected on whether respondents thought Obama's policies are making the United States safer from terrorism. Respondents were asked a number of questions about the changes to the health care system in the country, whether they had some form of health insurance or health care coverage, and whether they thought the quality of health care would get better, worse, or remain the same. Respondents were queried on whether they would support or oppose having the government create a new health insurance plan to compete with private health insurance plans, whether they would support or oppose a federal law requiring all companies with a payroll of at least $500,000 either to offer health insurance or pay money into a government fund that would provide assistance buying insurance for people who could not get insurance through work, and whether they would be more likely or less likely to support a candidate for Congress if the candidate supported the proposed changes in health care. Respondents were also asked whether they thought someone who bought private health insurance with government assistance should be allowed to use the coverage for abortions, whether they thought insurance companies that use private funds should cover abortions, and whether they had a good basic understanding of the changes being proposed to the health care system or thought the changes were too complicated. Information was collected on respondents opinions of the economic stimulus plan, whether they thought the plan has helped or hurt the national economy, and whether they felt the economy had begun to recover. Respondents were queried on whether anyone living in their household had been laid off or lost their job in the last year, whether the job loss happened to them, and whether they had found a new job. Respondents were asked a number of questions about the war in Afghanistan, whether they thought the war was worth fighting, how confident they were that Obama would come up with a strategy that would succeed, and whether they thought Obama was giving United States military leaders too much or too little influence. Respondents were queried on whether they thought global warming was happening, how serious a problem global warming was, whether they supported cap and trade, whether they had planned to get the swine flu vaccine for themselves or their children, and whether they were confident that the flu vaccine is safe. Finally, respondents were asked if they were inclined to re-elect their representative in Congress, whether they would vote for Sarah Palin if she runs for president 2012, whether they thought she was qualified to serve as president, and whether terror suspects involved in the September 11 attack should be put on trial in federal courts or in a military tribunal set up for that purpose. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, household income, education level, political party affiliation, political philosophy, religious preference, and whether the respondent is a born-again Christian.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll, October 2006 (ICPSR 22162)
Released/updated on: 2008-12-09
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted October 5-8, 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 to give their opinions regarding President George W. Bush's and the United States Congress' handling of the United States campaign against terrorism, of the economy, and of the war in Iraq. Respondents gave their opinions on the upcoming congressional elections, the issues that were the most important to them, and the performance of Democrats and Republicans in Congress, particularly on issues such as the economy, immigration, and health care. Respondents were further asked for their opinions on ethics in Congress, including the Mark Foley scandal. Additional questions addressed the war in Iraq, gas prices, and gun control. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, household income, political party affiliation, political philosophy, voter registration status and participation history, religious preference, whether respondents considered themselves to be born-again Christians, and military service and union membership in the household.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post October Politics Poll, October 2002 (ICPSR 3767)
Released/updated on: 2003-08-27
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted October 24-27, 2002, was undertaken to assess public opinion prior to the November 2002 congressional elections. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the presidency, the economy, the United States campaign against terrorism, and the situation with Iraq and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Those polled were asked whether they had been following the election closely, whether they were going to vote, and if so, whether they would vote for the Democratic or Republican candidate, and whether their vote would be an expression of support for or opposition to the Bush administration. Their views were sought on the extent to which the following would influence their electoral decision-making: the war on terrorism, Social Security, the economy and jobs, education, health care, prescription drug benefits for the elderly, and the situation with Iraq. Those queried were asked how worried they were about the economy, the possibility of another major terrorist attack in the United States, the performance of the stock market, and efforts by North Korea and Iraq to develop nuclear weapons. Additionally, respondents were asked which political party, Democratic or Republican, would better handle the nation's main problems, whether Bush understood the problems of people like them, whether Bush was to blame for the nation's economic problems, and whether they were satisfied with the way the federal government works. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, voter registration and participation history, political party affiliation, political orientation, education, religion, race, Hispanic origin, labor union membership, financial situation compared with two years ago, and household income.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Politics II Poll, January 2003 (ICPSR 3771)
Released/updated on: 2003-12-22
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted January 30, 2003-February 1, 2003, 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 on President George W. Bush's performance in relation to the economy, the war against terrorism, Saddam Hussein and Iraq, the budget, taxes, Medicare, and prescription drug benefits for the elderly. Respondents were also asked to give their opinions on the priorities and effectiveness of Congress, the justification and support for military action against Iraq and its leader Saddam Hussein, the possible economic and human costs of pursuing military action in Iraq, the current condition of Medicare, and the long-term effects of President Bush's proposed tax cuts. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, political orientation, education, ethnicity, and household income.
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, December 2007 (ICPSR 24593)
Released/updated on: 2009-07-13
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded December 6-9, 2007, is a part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on various political and social issues. A national sample of 1,136 adults was surveyed, including an oversample of African Americans, for a total of 205 African Americans respondents. Respondents were asked whether they approved of George W. Bush and the way he was handling the presidency and other issues such as the economy and terrorism, whether they approved of the way Congress was handling its job, and which political party they trusted to handle issues such as the war in Iraq. Opinions were also solicited on the 2008 presidential candidates. Respondents were asked who they would vote for if the 2008 Democratic and Republican primaries were being held that day, what was the single most important issue in their choice for president in the 2008 presidential election, and whether they were more likely to vote for a candidate based on qualities such as religion, race, gender, or political interests. A series of questions asked how closely respondents were following the 2008 presidential race and how likely they were to vote in the 2008 presidential primary in their state, which candidate they thought was most likely to be elected president, and how much candidates' religious beliefs, endorsements, spouses, and professional abilities weighed in deciding who to support for president. Respondents were also asked whether Oprah Winfrey's endorsement of Barack Obama made them more likely to support him. Several questions asked about the war in Iraq, including whether the Iraq War was worth fighting, whether United States military forces should remain in Iraq until civil order is restored there, and whether the war in Iraq has contributed to the long-term security of the United States. Additional topics included abortion, whether the respondents considered themselves feminists, whether respondents had a good, basic understanding of the Mormon religion, respondents' own financial situation, and the state of the national economy. Demographic information includes sex, age, race, education level, household income, religious preference, frequency of religious attendance, marital status, whether respondents own or rent their home, 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.
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 #1, September 2008 (ICPSR 27325)
Released/updated on: 2010-11-22
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded September 5-7, 2008, 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 1,133 adults was surveyed, including an oversample of African Americans. Respondents were asked how closely they were following the 2008 presidential race, the probability that they would vote in the presidential election, their opinions of the candidates and their running mates, for whom they would vote if the election was held that day, the most important issue in their choice for president, and who they supported and trusted more to handle various social issues, education issues, international affairs, and the federal budget deficit. Respondents were also asked how enthusiastic they were about the candidates for president, whether they thought McCain would continue George W. Bush's direction of the country, whether a candidate's choice for running mate made them more confident in that candidate's decision-making, whether McCain's age made respondents uncomfortable, and whether they thought their federal taxes would increase based on who was elected as president. Additional topics focused on respondents' personal finances, abortion, gun control, the war with Iraq, and the United States campaign against terrorism. Demographic information includes voter registration status and participation history, sex, age, race, income, marital status, religious preference, whether the respondent considered themselves to be a born-again evangelical Christian, education level, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), political philosophy, political party affiliation, how long the respondent had been a resident in their community, and whether there was children under the age of 18 present in the home.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll #3, September 2008 (ICPSR 27327)
Released/updated on: 2010-11-09
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded September 27-29, 2008, 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 1,271 adults was surveyed, including an oversample of African Americans. Information was collected on how closely respondents were following the 2008 presidential race and the chances that they would vote in the upcoming presidential election in November. Respondents were also queried on which candidate they would vote for in the presidential election and who they would like to see win the Democratic nomination. Information was collected on impressions of the vice presidential nominees Sarah Palin and Joe Biden. Respondents were asked what was the single most important issue in their choice for president. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way George W. Bush was handling the presidency and the economy. Several questions asked respondents to compare Barack Obama and John McCain, and which candidate they trusted to handle issues such as the war in Iraq, energy policy, international affairs, the economy, and taxes. Information was collected on respondents opinions of the presidential debate, specifically who they thought had won and whether it had changed their opinion of either candidate. Respondents were queried on the country's current financial situation and whether they thought it was a serious problem. Respondents were also asked whether they supported the government's bailout of financial institutions and whether they thought the government's efforts would prevent the country's current financial situation from getting worse. Additional questions asked respondents who they thought was to blame for the current financial situation, whether they thought the government's bailout plan did enough to help major financial institutions, the United States economy, and ordinary Americans. Demographic variables include sex, age, marital status, race, income, political ideology, political party affiliation, political philosophy, education level, religious preference, and whether respondents considered themselves to be a born-again Christian.