Showing 1 – 50 of 377 results.
Curated
The 1974-1979-1980 Canadian National Elections and Quebec Referendum Panel Study (ICPSR 8079)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
Geographic coverage: Canada
This study is a continuation of the 1974 Canadian Election Study, which consisted of extensive personal interviews with a national sample of 2,562 respondents following the federal election of July 8, 1974. Immediately following the federal election of May 22, 1979, 1,295 of the original respondents were successfully contacted and interviewed, thereby creating a 1974-1979 panel study. In addition, a new national sample of the l979 electorate and a supplementary sample of young voters (aged 18-23) were drawn and personal interviews utilizing the same questionnaire were conducted with respondents in these samples. After the federal election of February 18, 1980, 1,748 respondents in both the panel and cross-section samples were contacted by telephone and reinterviewed. No new respondents were added to the 1980 sample. When the Quebec referendum was called for May 20, 1980, a decision was made to contact by telephone Quebec respondents originally sampled in l974 or 1979 and interviewed in 1980. Of these respondents, 325 were successfully contacted and reinterviewed. Approximately half of the interviews were conducted immediately prior to the referendum, and the remaining half immediately afterward. The 1974 post-election survey covered a wide range of topics related to citizen participation in politics. The 1979 survey continued the theme of citizen interest and involvement in politics and probed respondents' attitudes about regions, provinces, and national unity. The 1980 telephone interview asked about vote choice in 1980, party identification, and the issue of energy. Questions on the Quebec referendum centered around the respondents' views on constitutional options for Quebec.
Curated
ABC News 9/11 Anniversary Poll, September 2006 (ICPSR 4665)
Released/updated on: 2008-01-24
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted September 5-7, 2006, is a part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of political and social issues. The focus of this poll was the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the presidency and issues such as the campaign against terrorism and the situation in Iraq. Information was collected on how closely respondents were following the upcoming congressional and gubernatorial election, whether they would vote for a Democratic or Republican candidate if the election for the United States House of Representatives were being held that day, and the single most important issue in their vote for Congress members. Other questions asked which political party they trusted to do a better job handling the main problems the nation would face over the next few years, and whether they approved of the way Congress and their own representative to the United States House of Representatives were handling their jobs. Views were also sought on the war in Iraq and Donald Rumsfield's handling of his job as Secretary of Defense. Respondents were asked how well they thought the campaign against terrorism was going, whether the country was safer from terrorism compared to before September 11, 2001, and whether Osama bin Laden would have to be captured or killed for the war on terrorism to be a success. Information was collected about the impact of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on respondents' lives, how concerned they were about the possibility of more major terrorist attacks in the United States, how much confidence they had in the government's ability to prevent another major terrorist attack, whether the federal government was intruding on the privacy rights of Americans in its investigation of possible terrorist attacks, and whether this intrusion was justified. Additional topics addressed the religion of Islam, new airport security measures, and how proud they felt to be an American. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, household income, voter registration and participation history, political party affiliation, political philosophy, employment status, marital status, and type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural).
Curated
ABC News Angry Voter Poll, April 1992 (ICPSR 9942)
Released/updated on: 2007-04-02
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1992-04-08--1992-04-09
In addition to providing an ongoing evaluation of the Bush presidency and the 1992 presidential candidates and campaign, this survey addressed areas of potential discontent among the nation's voters. Respondents were asked to describe their feelings about the way the federal government worked, to express their approval of term limits for members of Congress and to indicate whether they agreed with a series of statements such as "It won't really make much of a difference who's elected this year," and "People like me don't have any say about what government does." Respondents also rated their level of confidence in the ability of government to solve problems and indicated whether their confidence level reflected the difficulty of the problems or the incompetency of the government. Respondents were also asked whether the elected leaders in Washington were really interested in solving the nation's biggest problems, whether the overall level of ethics and honesty in politics had fallen during the past ten years, and whether they thought that government was run by a few big interests looking out for themselves. In addition, respondents were queried on whether they thought that the current system of government needed drastic changes, or that the system itself was good but the people in government were not doing their jobs well enough. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, voter registration status, education, age, Hispanic origin, race, and sex.
Curated
ABC News Bergen Record New Jersey Election Poll, October 1994 (ICPSR 3860)
Released/updated on: 2004-07-09
Geographic coverage: United States, New Jersey
This special topic poll, fielded October 17-October 20, 1994, was undertaken to assess respondents' views on the candidates in November's election for United States Senate in the state of New Jersey. The candidates included Frank Lautenberg and Chuck Haytaian. Residents of New Jersey were asked to rate the likelihood of their voting in the election, to indicate their voting intentions and preferences for candidates in the election, to comment on the job performances of the candidates, and to identify one or two issues or problems that were the most important to them in deciding who to vote for. Respondents were also queried about their views on which candidate would do more to cut taxes, to fight crime, to support change in Congress, and to battle the special interests, as well as which one was more likely to be a strong leader. Additional questions probed respondents' opinions on whether local property taxes had gone up, who was most to blame for the increase in local property taxes, and what would happen to local property taxes in the next 12 months. Opinions were also solicited on whether respondents approved of Governor Christie Whitman's postponing some of her plans to cut taxes for a year, how likely it was that Governor Whitman would succeed in cutting the income tax by 30 percent within four years, and whether they would like to see Governor Whitman run for vice president in 1996. Other topics addressed whether respondents supported legislation to allow riverboat gambling in the Meadowlands, and whether they supported legislation that would require authorities to notify neighbors, schools, and youth groups whenever a convicted sex offender moved into their community. In addition, respondents were asked to comment on the job performance of President Clinton and Governor Whitman, and whether they believed things in New Jersey were generally going in the right direction. Background information on respondents includes voter registration status, party preference, marital status, education, household income, religious orientation, Hispanic origin, race, age, and sex.
Curated
ABC News Bill Bradley Poll, August 1995 (ICPSR 6675)
Released/updated on: 1998-05-11
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll sought respondents' views on the 1996 presidential election, specifically the potential candidacy of New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley. Those queried were asked to give their opinions of presidential hopefuls Senator Bill Bradley, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, Ross Perot, President Bill Clinton, and retired General Colin Powell. Respondents were also asked to express their desire for a third-party candidate to be on the ballot. Demographic variables include sex, age, and political party.
Curated
ABC News Colin Powell Poll, September 1995 (ICPSR 6676)
Released/updated on: 1998-05-20
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll sought respondents' views on the 1996 presidential election, specifically the possible candidacy of retired General Colin Powell. Given President Bill Clinton, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, and Colin Powell as candidates, those queried were asked for whom they would vote. Respondents were also asked to give their opinions on Colin Powell's support of legal abortion, restrictions on gun sales, the death penalty, and having a moment of silent prayer in public schools. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education, political party, political orientation, family income, and voter registration and participation history.
Curated
ABC News Democratic Vice-Presidential Candidate Announcement Poll, August 2000 (ICPSR 3069)
Released/updated on: 2001-02-23
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded August 7, 2000, queried respondents following the announcement by Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore that he had chosen Connecticut senator Joseph Lieberman as his running mate. Respondents were asked for their impressions of Lieberman, how his selection would influence their decision to vote for Gore, whether they would vote for a Jewish candidate for vice president, and whether they had any feelings of prejudice against Jews. Those queried were asked how the following facts about Lieberman affected their views of him: he is an Orthodox Jew, as a senator he voted to keep late-term/"partial birth" abortions legal, he was the first Democrat in Congress to publicly criticize President Bill Clinton for the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and he represented the state of Connecticut as a member of the Senate for 12 years. Additional topics covered whether Lieberman's Orthodox religious practices would interfere with his duties as vice president, and whether Lieberman might try to influence United States policy toward Israel based on his religious beliefs. Background information on respondents includes gender, political party, political orientation, religion, and race.
Curated
ABC News Final Pre-Election Tracking Poll, October 1984 (ICPSR 8517)
Released/updated on: 2007-03-15
Geographic coverage: United States
This survey was conducted prior to the 1984 presidential election involving candidates Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale. Respondents were asked about their voter registration status, whether they intended to vote in the presidential election, the candidate they would vote for if the election were held that day, the candidate they were currently leaning toward voting for, and whether they would vote that way in the November election. Those surveyed were also asked about their party preferences regarding congressional elections in their districts. Background information on respondents includes political party, participation in the 1980 presidential election, education, age, race, Hispanic origin, and sex.
Curated
ABC News First Presidential Debate Poll and Call-Back Poll, September 1988 (ICPSR 9182)
Released/updated on: 2010-02-18
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted September 24-25, 1988, 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 data collection was the opinions of registered voters prior to and immediately following the first presidential debate held September 25, 1988. Registered voters polled prior to the first presidential debate were asked about the likelihood that they would vote in the November 1988 general election, whether they planned to watch the first presidential debate, for whom they would vote if the presidential election were held that day, and the strength of their support for this candidate. Immediately following the debate, 710 respondents were recontacted about whether they had watched the debate, which candidate had won, and for whom they would vote for if the presidential election were held that day. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, household income, political party affiliation, and education level.
Curated
ABC News General Election Exit Surveys, 1984 (ICPSR 8416)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
Geographic coverage: United States
ABC News conducted surveys of voters as they exited the polling places on November 6, 1984. Repondents were asked about their presidential choice and reasons why they voted the way they did. Voters were also asked why they chose not to vote for the other candidate. The surveys included items concerning party identification, ethnic background, liberal/ conservative leaning and demographic information.
Curated
ABC News 'Good Morning America' Five State Poll, October-November 1988 (ICPSR 9185)
Released/updated on: 2008-12-05
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1988-10-29--1988-11-01
Conducted shortly before the November 1988 general election, this data collection focused on the presidential campaign. Respondents in five states were asked if they were registered to vote, if they thought things in their home states and in the country as a whole were moving in the right direction, if they had favorable or unfavorable opinions of George Bush and Michael Dukakis, which ticket (Bush/Quayle or Dukakis/Bentsen) they would vote for if the election were being held that day, and the strength of their support for the candidates named. Respondents in Part 2 (Texas) also were asked which Senate candidate (Beau Boulter or Lloyd Bentsen) they would vote for if the election were held that day. In Parts 1-4 respondents" opinions were solicited on the importance of certain issues in deciding how they would vote for president. These issues included the national economy, foreign policy, drugs, farm policy, health care, the environment, and whether Dukakis or Bush would do a better job addressing these issues. In Part 5 (Pennsylvania) respondents were queried about the applicability of several descriptive statements (e.g., he is a strong leader, he has good judgment, he has the right kind of experience to be president) to the two presidential candidates. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1984 presidential vote choice, education, age, race, income, sex, and state/region of residence.
Curated
ABC News Government Shutdown Poll #2, January 1996 (ICPSR 6827)
Released/updated on: 2006-11-14
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded on January 3, 1996, sought respondents' views on the federal government shutdown and the role that President Bill Clinton and congressional Republicans played in its development and its ongoing status. Those queried were asked whom they blamed for the shutdown and for the failure to end it. Additional topics covered whether the shutdown was a good or a bad thing, whether respondents had been personally inconvenienced, and whether they believed that the White House and Congress were honestly trying to end the shutdown. Background variables include sex and political party.
Curated
ABC News "Nightline" John McCain Poll, February 2000 (ICPSR 2969)
Released/updated on: 2000-10-18
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded February 24, 2000, queried respondents on the 2000 presidential race, with a focus on one of the Republican candidates, Arizona senator John McCain. Those queried were asked to consider candidates McCain, Texas governor George W. Bush, Vice President Al Gore, and former New Jersey senator Bill Bradley, and to compare the candidates' political orientation and stands on the issues. Respondents were asked whether they liked or disliked McCain the more they heard about him, and how familiar they were with McCain's stance on abortion, gun control, organized prayer in public schools, Social Security, protecting patients' rights, and federal education spending. The results of the poll were announced on the ABC television program "Nightline." Background information on respondents includes gender, political party, and political orientation.
Curated
ABC News Post-Debate #1 Poll, October 2000 (ICPSR 3129)
Released/updated on: 2004-09-02
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll sought respondents' views on the presidential debate held on October 6th, 2000. Questions included how closely respondents were following the 2000 race for the presidency and how sure they were that they would vote on election day. Those polled were asked whom they would vote for, whether they had a favorable opinion of the candidates, and which candidate they felt would do a better job on issues such as education and the economy. Respondents were also asked to state which characteristics they believed that Governor Bush and Vice President Gore had, such as leadership and experience, and to indicate which candidate they believed had "won" the debate televised earlier in that week. Questions on popular social issues included whether respondents preferred small or large government, whether they supported the school vouchers initiative, whether they still would support the initiative if it meant less money for public schools, and what course of action they would take if they could receive school vouchers. Background information includes number of children respondent had under the age of 18, political identification, voting record, political philosophy, level of education, age, ethnicity, annual household income, and sex.
Curated
ABC News Post-Debate #2 Poll, October 2000 (ICPSR 3114)
Released/updated on: 2004-08-20
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll sought respondents' views on the presidential debate held on October 11, 2000. Questions included how closely respondents were following the 2000 race for the presidency, how sure they were that they would vote on election day, and whom they would vote for. Respondents were asked how certain they were that they would vote for a particular candidate. Respondents uncertain of whom they would vote for were asked which candidate they leaned towards the most. Questions also included whether the respondent had a favorable opinion of the candidates and which candidate the respondent felt would do a better job on issues such as education and the economy, among others. Respondents were also asked to state which characteristics they believed that Governor Bush and Vice President Gore had, such as honesty and good experience. Questions on voting history included whether the respondents voted in the 1996 election and if so for whom. They were asked which candidate they believed had "won" the debate televised earlier in that week. Background information gathered includes are political identification, voting record, political philosophy, level of education, age, ethnicity, annual household income, and sex.
Curated
ABC News Post-Election Poll #1, November 2000 (ICPSR 3116)
Released/updated on: 2001-05-09
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded November 12, 2000, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. This data collection focused on the presidential election that took place on November 7, 2000. Respondents were asked about the extent of their personal interest in and concern about the situation in the country five days after the election. Questions examined opinions on the way various groups were handling the election, including Vice President Al Gore's and Texas governor George W. Bush's campaigns, local officials in Florida, and the news media. Respondents were also asked whom they wanted to see become the next president. Opinions were elicited on the need for a new presidential election in Palm Beach County, Florida, in the entire state of Florida, in other states where election results were very close, and across the entire country. Additional topics covered whether George W. Bush and Al Gore should accept the recount in Florida or should ask courts to look into whether the voting was unfair and if they should ask for a recount in other states where the results were very close. Those polled expressed their views about electing the president by direct popular vote versus by the Electoral College, their confidence about the accuracy of Florida's recount, and whether the ballot that was used in Palm Beach County was fair. The survey also investigated what impact the unclear post-election situation would have, especially on the country's system of presidential elections. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, education, race, party affiliation, political orientation, and voter registration.
Curated
ABC News Post-Election Poll #2, November 2000 (ICPSR 3117)
Released/updated on: 2001-05-09
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded November 16, 2000, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. This data collection focused on the presidential election that took place on November 7, 2000. The poll queried respondents about the situation in the country nine days after the election. Respondents were asked for their opinions on how Vice President Al Gore, Texas governor George W. Bush, and Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris were handling the election situation, as well as whom they wanted to see become the next president. A major topic of the survey was the hand counting of ballots. Questions elicited respondents' views on whether the hand counts should be included in the Florida final vote total, how accurate hand and machine vote recounts were, and the extent to which the result with and without the hand recounts was acceptable to them. Respondents expressed their views about whether Al Gore should concede the election to George W. Bush in the event that Secretary of State Harris declared Bush the winner without including the hand recount, or if Gore should appeal to the courts. The survey also gathered respondents' opinions regarding whether they wanted to end the unclear situation quickly or give both campaigns a chance to make their full case in court, and how confident they were in the accuracy of Florida's recount. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, education, race, income range, party affiliation, political orientation, and voter registration.
Curated
ABC News Post-Election Poll #3, November 2000 (ICPSR 3118)
Released/updated on: 2001-05-09
Geographic coverage: United States
This election poll, fielded November 26, 2000, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. This data collection focused on the presidential election that took place on November 7, 2000. The poll queried respondents about the situation in the country 19 days after the election. Respondents were asked about the extent of their personal interest in the post-election situation in the country, whom they wanted to see become the next president, the legitimacy of this election, and their confidence about the accuracy of Florida's recount. They also expressed their views about whether, after the Secretary of State in Florida had declared George W. Bush the winner, Al Gore should concede or if he should ask the courts to review the vote. Questions elicited respondents' opinions about whether the United States Supreme Court and the Florida state legislature should be involved in determining the winner of the election in Florida and whether ballots with dimpled or indented chads should be counted as votes. Respondents answered additional questions on whether the Secretary of State in Florida did the right thing in denying Palm Beach County officials' request to extend the deadline for a hand recount, and whether respondents wanted to end the unclear situation quickly or give both campaigns a chance to make their full case in court. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, education, race, party affiliation, political orientation, and voter registration.
Curated
ABC News Powell "No Go" Poll, November 1995 (ICPSR 6682)
Released/updated on: 1998-05-20
This special topic poll sought respondents' views on the 1996 presidential election, specifically on retired General Colin Powell's decision not to run for election. Given a ballot that offered President Bill Clinton, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, and Colin Powell as candidates for the presidency, respondents were asked to identify for whom they would vote. Those queried were asked for their opinions regarding Powell's decision not to run for election, the power and role of a Powell endorsement of another candidate, and whether Powell made the right decision. Additional topics covered the Republican primaries and the possibility of a third-party candidate. Demographic variables include sex, race, political party, political orientation, and voter registration history.
Curated
ABC News Sarah Palin Poll, September 2008 (ICPSR 27323)
Released/updated on: 2010-07-19
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll sought respondents' views on Sarah Palin. Respondents where asked for their impressions of Sarah Palin and Joe Biden. They were also asked if they approved or disapproved of John McCain's choice of Palin as his running mate, if McCain's selection of Palin as his running mate made the respondent more or less likely to vote for him, and if having Palin as his running mate made the respondent more or less confident in the choices McCain would make as president. Respondents were queried on whether they thought both Palin and Biden have the kind of experience it takes to serve effectively as president if necessary. Opinions were sought on how recent events in Palin's life and her stance on issues affected the respondent's opinion of her such as giving birth to her fifth child after learning he had Down Syndrome, her 17-year-old daughter keeping her baby and marrying the father, obtaining 27 million dollars in federal funding for projects as mayor in her town of about 7,000 people, opposing legal abortion unless the mother's life is in direct danger, and opposing stricter controls on handgun ownership. Those queried were also asked if, given what they heard about her family situation, they thought Palin made the right choice in agreeing to run for vice president and whether news coverage of Palin has been fair or unfair. Their opinion was also sought on whether they thought Barack Obama's selection of Biden for vice president made them more or less likely to vote for him. Demographic information includes age, race, sex, party affiliation, voter registration status, political ideology, religious affiliation, and whether the respondent is a born-again Christian.
Curated
ABC News Second Presidential Debate Poll and Call-back Poll, October 1988 (ICPSR 9183)
Released/updated on: 2009-12-08
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted October 11-13, 1988, 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 data collection was the opinions of registered voters prior to and immediately following the second presidential debate held October 13, 1988. Registered voters polled prior to the second presidential debate were asked about the likelihood that they would vote in the November 1988 general election, whether they planned to watch the second presidential debate, for whom they would vote if the presidential election were held that day, and the strength of their support for this candidate. Immediately following the second presidential debate, 716 respondents were recontacted about whether they had watched the debate, which candidate had won, and for whom they would vote for if the presidential election were held that day. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, household income, political party affiliation, and education level.
Curated
ABC News Third Party Potential Candidates Poll, October 1999 (ICPSR 3127)
Released/updated on: 2004-07-30
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, fielded October 7-10, 1999, was undertaken to assess public opinion of potential third-party candidates for the 2000 presidential election. Respondents were asked whether they would seriously consider voting for the following candidates for president: Reform Party founder Ross Perot, conservative political commentator Pat Buchanan, professional wrestler and movie actor Jesse Ventura, developer Donald Trump, movie actor Warren Beatty, movie actress and talk show host Oprah Winfrey, and former Connecticut Governor Lowell Weicker. Background information includes sex, age, ethnicity, education, income, and political party affiliation.
Curated
ABC News Vice-Presidential Debate Poll and Call-back Poll, October 1988 (ICPSR 9184)
Released/updated on: 2009-12-08
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted October 3-5, 1988, 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 data collection was the opinions of registered voters prior to and immediately following the vice-presidential debate held October 5, 1988. Registered voters polled prior to the vice-presidential debate were asked about the likelihood that they would vote in the November 1988 general election, whether they planned to watch the vice-presidential debate, for whom they would vote if the presidential election were held that day, and the strength of their support for this candidate. Immediately following the vice-presidential debate, 739 respondents were recontacted about whether they had watched the debate, which candidate had won, for whom they would vote for if the presidential election were held that day, and whether vice-presidential candidates Quayle and Bentsen would be qualified to take over the presidency if needed. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, household income, political party affiliation, and education level.
Curated
ABC News VP Debate Poll and Follow-Up, October 1996 (ICPSR 2166)
Released/updated on: 2008-03-26
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted October 9, 1996, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of political and social issues. Opinions were solicited before and after the vice-presidential debate held October 10, 1996. Prior to the debate, registered voters were asked about the chances that they would vote in the upcoming presidential election, for whom they would vote if the election were being held that day, and whether they planned to watch the vice-presidential debate. A subset of respondents agreed to participate in a follow-up poll conducted immediately after the debate between vice-presidential candidates Al Gore and Jack Kemp. These respondents were asked whether they had watched any of the debate, who they believed won the debate, and for whom they would vote in the upcoming presidential election if the election were held that day. Demographic variables include sex, race, and political party affiliation.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post 2004 Voters Poll, October 2003 (ICPSR 3943)
Released/updated on: 2004-04-07
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted October 26-29, 2003, was undertaken to gather voters' opinions regarding the upcoming 2004 presidential election. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way George W. Bush was handling the presidency, the economy, education, Social Security, taxes, health insurance, and international affairs, and how they rated the importance of these issues in deciding whom to vote for in the 2004 presidential election. Those polled were asked whether they believed President Bush understood people like themselves, whether he was a strong leader, and whether he was honest and trustworthy. A series of questions addressed the condition of the national economy, whether the respondent and most Americans were better or worse off financially than when George W. Bush first became president, and the degree to which President Bush was responsible for the federal budget deficit. Specific questions asked whether the war with Iraq was worth fighting, if it was separate from or part of the war on terrorism, whether the number of military casualties was acceptable or unacceptable, whether respondents would support or oppose Congress spending an additional 87 billion dollars for the war and rebuilding of Iraq, and whether it was more important to keep United States military forces in Iraq until civil order could be restored or to withdraw forces to avoid further military casualties. Questions were posed regarding how closely respondents followed the 2004 presidential election, whether they would vote for George W. Bush or a Democratic nominee for president, how likely they were to vote, whether the Republican and Democratic parties were being led in the right direction, how closely each party reflected the respondents' beliefs on important issues, whether the Democratic Party was too willing or not willing enough to compromise with President Bush, and whether there should be more than two major political parties. Democratic-leaning respondents were asked whom they would vote for in the Democratic presidential primary (Senator Joe Lieberman, United States Representative Dick Gephardt, Senator John Kerry, Senator John Edwards, civil rights activist Al Sharpton, former Vermont governor Howard Dean, United States Representative Dennis Kucinich, former Senator Carol Moseley Braun, or General Wesley Clark), how satisfied they were with the choice of Democratic nominees, which candidate had the best chance of defeating Bush, and whether respondents preferred a candidate who agreed with them on most issues or one who would have an easier time defeating Bush. Respondents were also polled on how much they felt they knew about the Democratic nominees and whether a candidate's personal qualities or positions on issues was most important. Additional questions asked respondents if they approved of the way the U.S. Congress was doing its job, how satisfied they were with the way the federal government and the political process worked, how well the United States campaign against terrorism was progressing, and whether they felt the federal government was threatening their own personal rights and freedoms. Background variables include age, sex, religion, education, ethnicity, subjective size of community, household income, political orientation, political party affiliation, if respondents were registered to vote, if they voted in the 2000 presidential election and if so, for whom (Republican George W. Bush, Democrat Al Gore, Green Party candidate Ralph Nader, or Reform Party candidate Pat Buchanan), and if a household member was in military service, a military veteran, a reservist, or belonged to a labor union.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Check-In Poll, September 2000 (ICPSR 3073)
Released/updated on: 2001-04-17
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 2000-09-28--2000-10-01
This poll, fielded September 28-October 1, 2000, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they intended to vote in the November 7, 2000, presidential election and for whom they would vote if the election were held that day, given a choice between Vice President Al Gore and Connecticut senator Joseph Lieberman (Democratic Party), Texas governor George W. Bush and former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney (Republican Party), conservative commentator Pat Buchanan and educator Ezola Foster (Reform Party), and consumer advocate Ralph Nader and activist Winona LaDuke (Green Party). Respondents were asked which candidate they trusted to do a better job holding taxes down, improving education and the schools, holding down the cost of gasoline and home heating oil, holding down health care costs, and helping the middle class. Views were sought on whether the United States emergency supply of oil should be used to contain costs this winter or saved for a larger emergency, and whether President Clinton released 5 percent of the nation's oil reserves because it was best for the country or to boost Gore's presidential campaign. Additional topics covered the respondents' impression of Clinton as a person and his policies and programs, whether a smaller government with fewer services was preferable to a larger government with many services, and whether respondents intended to watch the televised October 3 presidential debate and the televised October 5 vice-presidential debate. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, education, religion, Hispanic origin, urban/rural residence, and household income.
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
Simple Crosstabs
ABC News/Washington Post Government Shutdown Poll, November 1995 (ICPSR 6684)
Released/updated on: 2013-12-18
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll sought respondents' views on the 1995 federal government shutdown as well as their opinions of President Bill Clinton, the United States Congress, the Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, and the Senate majority leader Bob Dole. Respondents were asked to indicate their level of trust in the federal government, with whom they placed blame for the federal government shutdown, and whether they supported the latest Republican budget proposal. Respondents were also asked if they experienced any personal inconvenience as a result of the shutdown and if they considered the country to be in a state of crisis. Demographic variables include respondent's sex, race, level of education, political orientation, and family income.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Labor Day Poll, September 2000 (ICPSR 3072)
Released/updated on: 2001-05-29
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 2000-09-04--2000-09-06
This poll, fielded September 4-6, 2000, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they intended to vote in the November 7, 2000, presidential election and for whom they would vote if the election were held that day, given a choice between Vice President Al Gore and Connecticut senator Joseph Lieberman (Democratic Party), Texas governor George W. Bush and former Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney (Republican Party), conservative commentator Pat Buchanan and educator Ezola Foster (Reform Party), and consumer advocate Ralph Nader and activist Winona LaDuke (Green Party). Respondents were asked to assess the importance of the following issues in their electoral decision-making and to specify which candidate they most trusted to do a better job addressing them: holding taxes down, protecting the Social Security system, improving education, improving the health care system, handling the economy, handling gun control, handling foreign affairs, encouraging high moral standards and values, reforming election campaign finance laws, handling abortion, managing the federal budget, handling the issue of prescription drug benefits for the elderly, handling national defense and the military budget, helping the middle class, handling crime, protecting the environment, and reducing political partisanship in Washington. Views were sought on whether presidential debates should be held and which candidates should be invited to participate. Respondents were also asked which candidate understood the problems of the American people, was a strong leader, would bring needed change to Washington, had the knowledge of world affairs it takes to serve effectively as president, could keep the economy strong, would say or do anything to get elected, had new ideas, was honest and trustworthy, would be a good commander- in-chief, had high personal, moral, and ethical standards, would unite people, had taken a clear stand on the issues, cared about the less fortunate, had an appealing personality, and had the right kind of experience to be president. Respondents' opinions were sought on whether the top priority for the federal budget surplus should be cutting federal taxes, reducing the national debt, strengthening Social Security, or increasing spending on domestic programs. Support for the following proposals was assessed: a large tax cut across the board or smaller tax cuts for the lower and middle class, a plan that would allow people to invest some of their Social Security earnings in the stock market, and a federal plan that would give parents money to send their children to private or religious schools instead of local public schools that were not meeting state standards. Additional topics covered abortion, the status of United States military strength over the past eight years, whether presidential candidates should discuss their religious beliefs, voter intentions in terms of the 2000 Congressional elections, whether the candidates were conducting positive or negative campaigns, and whether the country needed a fresh start after the Clinton era. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, education, religion, labor union membership, Hispanic origin, household income, marital status, children in household, neighborhood characteristics, number of hours per day spent watching television, and whether the respondent considered himself/herself a morning person.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll, May 2008 (ICPSR 24607)
Released/updated on: 2009-09-10
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded May 8-11, 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 1,122 adults was surveyed, including an oversample of African Americans, for a total of 206 African American respondents. Views were sought on how well George W. Bush was handling the presidency, whether the country was moving in the right direction, and whether the Democratic or Republican party could be trusted to do a better job coping with the main problems the nation would face over the next few years. Respondents were asked how closely they were following the 2008 presidential race, their opinions of presidential candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain, for whom they would vote in the general election in November, which candidate had the best chance of getting elected, and how comfortable respondents would be with a president who was African American, a president who was a woman, and a president over the age of 72. Other questions asked whether Hillary Clinton should drop out of the Democratic primary, whether Democrats would be able to unite if Obama were nominated, and who Obama and McCain should choose as vice presidential running mates if nominated by their parties. Additional topics addressed the controversy over comments made by Barack Obama's minister, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, how concerned respondents were that they could maintain their current standard of living, the most difficult economic issue affecting their family, particularly recent increases in the price of gasoline, and whether they supported a summer suspension of the federal gasoline tax. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, marital status, political party affiliation, voter registration status, political philosophy, education level, religious preference, and whether respondents considered themselves to be a born-again Christian.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll, October 2008 (ICPSR 27326)
Released/updated on: 2010-03-15
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded October 8-11, 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 1,101 adults was surveyed, including oversamples of African Americans and 18- to 29-year-olds, for a total of 150 African American respondents and 201 respondents aged 18 to 29 years. Respondents were asked whether the Democratic or Republican party could be trusted to do a better job coping with the main problems the nation would face over the next few years. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way George W. Bush was handling his job as president, whether things in the country were going in the right direction, and how concerned they were about the national economy. Views were sought on whether the Democratic or Republican party could be trusted to do a better job coping with the main problems the nation would face over the next few years. Respondents were also asked how closely they were following the 2008 presidential race, their opinions of presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, for whom they would vote in the general election in November, which candidate had the best chance of getting elected, and how comfortable respondents would be with a president who was African American and a president over the age of 72. Economic topics addressed how concerned respondents were that they could maintain their current standard of living, the most difficult economic issue affecting their family, particularly personal finances, the stock market, and the ability to obtain bank loans. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, marital status, political party affiliation, voter registration status and participation history, political philosophy, education level, religious preference, military service, household income, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), and whether respondents considered themselves to be a born-again Christian.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll, September 2008 (ICPSR 27328)
Released/updated on: 2010-04-08
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded September 19-22, 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 1,082 adults was surveyed, including oversamples of African Americans for a total of 163 African American respondents. Respondents were asked whether the Democratic or Republican party could be trusted to do a better job coping with the main problems the nation would face over the next few years, whether things in the country were going in the right direction, and how concerned they were about the national economy. Respondents were also asked how closely they were following the 2008 presidential race, their opinions of presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, their opinion of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, for whom they would vote in the general election in November, which candidate had the best chance of getting elected, and how comfortable respondents would be with a president who was African American or a president over the age of 72. Respondents identifying with the Democratic party, were asked for whom they originally voted for to be the party nominee: Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Economic topics addressed how concerned respondents were that they could maintain their current standard of living, the most difficult economic issue affecting their family, particularly personal finances, the stock market, and the ability to obtain bank loans. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, marital status, political party affiliation, voter registration status and participation history, political philosophy, education level, religious preference, military service, household income, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), home ownership and whether respondents considered themselves to be a born-again Christian.
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 Poll #1, August 2006 (ICPSR 4663)
Released/updated on: 2007-11-30
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted August 3-6, 2006, is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President George W. Bush was handling the presidency and issues such as the situation in Iraq and the economy. Those registered to vote were asked how closely they were following the upcoming congressional elections in November, whether they would vote for a Democrat or Republican candidate for the United States House of Representatives if the election were held that day, and which issue was most important in their vote. All respondents were polled on which political party they trusted to handle issues such as the United States campaign against terrorism, which party was more concerned with the needs of people like themselves, whether they approved of the way the United States Congress was handling its job, and whether the Democrats were offering a clear direction that was different from that of the Republicans. Views were also sought on the war in Iraq, whether Iraq was in a state of civil war, and whether the Bush Administration and the Democrats in the United States Congress had a clear plan for handling the situation. A series of questions regarding the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon asked which group was to more to blame, whether Israel was justified in bombing Hezbollah targets in civilian areas, whether Israel should agree to an immediate, unconditional cease-fire in Lebanon, whether the conflict would make Israel more secure from attacks, and whether it would help or hurt the situation for the United States in Iraq. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, household income, political party affiliation, political philosophy, voter registration status, religious preference, and whether respondents considered themselves born-again or evangelical Christians.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll #1, February 2000 (ICPSR 2966)
Released/updated on: 2000-12-22
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded February 1, 2000, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they intended to vote in the November 7, 2000, presidential election and for whom they would vote if the election were held that day, given a choice between Democratic candidates Vice President Al Gore and former New Jersey senator Bill Bradley, Republican candidates Texas governor George W. Bush and Arizona senator John McCain, and the Reform Party candidate, conservative commentator Pat Buchanan. Views were sought on which of the candidates could be described as understanding the problems of people such as the respondent, a strong leader, possessing the experience to be president, capable of bringing needed change to Washington, DC, inspiring, most knowledgeable on world affairs, making the best commander-in-chief, and which candidate worried them. Respondents were asked for whom they would vote in a Republican primary or caucus given a choice between Bush, McCain, radio talk show host Alan Keyes, and publisher Steve Forbes, and for whom they would vote in a Democratic primary or caucus given a choice between Gore and Bradley. A final question sought respondents' views on which of the following issues was most important in deciding for whom to vote in a presidential primary: world affairs, campaign finance reform, abortion, Social Security/Medicare, moral values, taxes, or education. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political orientation, voter registration status, education, Hispanic origin, labor union membership, military status, and household income.
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 #2, February 2000 (ICPSR 2967)
Released/updated on: 2001-07-03
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded February 22, 2000, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they intended to vote in the upcoming November 7, 2000, presidential election and for whom they would vote if the election were held that day, given a choice between Democratic candidates Vice President Al Gore or former New Jersey senator Bill Bradley, and Republican candidates Texas governor George W. Bush or Arizona senator John McCain. Views were sought on which of the candidates could be described as understanding the problems of people such as the respondent, a strong leader, saying what he thinks even if it is not popular, capable of bringing needed change to Washington, DC, innovative, most knowledgeable on world affairs, running a positive campaign, has a chance of winning the election, and is best able to maintain a strong economy. Respondents were asked for whom they would vote in a Republican primary or caucus given a choice between Bush, McCain, and radio talk show host Alan Keyes, and for whom they would vote in a Democratic primary or caucus given a choice between Gore and Bradley. Additional questions addressed whether personal character or position on the issues was more important when choosing a president, whether the candidates had explained what they would do if elected, whether Bush would be able to keep the federal budget balanced and cut income taxes at the same time, whether the fact that Gore had served with President Clinton for eight years made respondents more or less likely to vote for him, and whether respondents intended to vote for the Democratic or Republican candidate in the 2000 congressional election. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political orientation, political party, education, Hispanic origin, labor union membership, military status, voter registration history, and household income.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll #2, October 1991 (ICPSR 9754)
Released/updated on: 2008-02-04
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1991-10-24--1991-10-27
This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Topics covered include respondents' confidence in certain institutions, federal, state, and local taxes, government spending, Dan Quayle's work as vice president, and the things they liked and disliked about the Democratic and Republican parties. Respondents also were asked whether they ever voted for a Democratic or Republican presidential candidate in a general election, which problems were important in deciding how to vote for president, whom they would vote for as president if the 1992 election were held that day, and toward which candidate they were leaning. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, origin of ancestors, social class, marital status, number of people in household, labor union membership, employment status, race, income, sex, and state/region of residence.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll #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.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, April 2000 (ICPSR 3053)
Released/updated on: 2001-03-26
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded March 28, 2000, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they intended to vote in the November 7, 2000, presidential election and for whom they would vote if the election were held that day, given a choice between Vice President Al Gore (Democrat) and Texas governor George W. Bush (Republican). Views were sought on the importance of a list of issues to the respondent's electoral decision and which candidate could be trusted to address them. The list of issues included gun control, campaign finance reform, protecting patients' rights in the health care system, Social Security, taxes, the economy, crime, foreign affairs, education, encouraging high moral standards, the federal budget, protecting the environment, abortion, the death penalty, and women's issues. Respondents were asked whether federal spending on education should be increased, whether they supported or opposed a plan to reduce federal education spending in school districts whose students don't improve on standardized tests, and whether federal money should be used to send children to private schools in areas where the local public schools were not improving. A series of questions addressed crime control, including respondent support for gun control, whether stricter gun control laws would reduce the amount of violent crime, the best way to reduce violent crime, and the influence of the National Rifle Association (NRA). Attitudes were also elicited regarding whether campaign finance reform would reduce the influence of money in politics and the most effective ways to reduce improper campaign fundraising. Respondents were asked whether they favored a smaller government with fewer services or a larger government with more services and how often they trusted the government. An additional question sought respondents' opinions on whether Elian Gonzalez, the six-year-old Cuban boy whose mother drowned when they attempted to immigrate to Florida, should be returned to his father in Cuba or allowed to remain with his relatives in Miami. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, education, religion, labor union membership, household gun ownership, Hispanic origin, household income, and children in household.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, December 1991 (ICPSR 9890)
Released/updated on: 2006-12-22
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1992-12-11--1992-12-15
This poll is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved or disapproved of Bush's handling of the presidency and why, whether the nation's economy could be described as excellent, good, not so good, or poor, whether they were better off financially than in 1989 when Bush became president, and whether Bush cared equally about serving people of all income levels. Concerning political parties, respondents were asked whether the Democrats or Republicans could do a better job of coping with the main problems the nation would face in the coming years and which party could better handle issues such as the economy, crime, foreign affairs, education, defense, and health care. Concerning Congress, respondents were asked whether they approved of the way their own United States Representative was handling his or her job, whether they approved of the way Congress in general was doing its job and why, and whether they approved of the way the Democrats in Congress were handling the nation's economy. In addition, those surveyed were asked whether Bush or the Democrats in Congress could be trusted to do a better job on the economy, whether Bush and the Democrats in Congress were more interested in doing what's best for the economy or what's best for themselves politically, and whether the United States needed a new president that would set the nation in another direction. Respondents were also asked whether cutting taxes or increasing domestic spending was more important at the present time, whether their biggest problem was high taxes, slow income growth, or too much debt, whether it had become more difficult to get a promotion or a better job in the past year, whether their hours and overtime had been reduced in the past year, and if their latest pay raise had been higher or lower than usual. Concerning the 1992 presidential election, respondents were asked for whom they would vote if their state held a Democratic or Republican primary/caucus for president, toward whom they were leaning for the primary/caucus at the time of the interview, what the chances were that they would vote in the 1992 presidential election, whether they would vote for Bush or various other prospective candidates/nominees were the national election held at the time of the interview, and toward whom they were leaning for the national election at the time of the interview. Additionally, respondents were asked whether they would consider voting for David Duke, whether they would like to see the 1992 national elections result in a Republican president with a Democratic majority in Congress or various other combinations and how important that was, and how much a candidate's position on health care influenced the respondent's vote. Other topics included living wills, the cost and availability of health care, approaches to financing health care, and health benefits provided by employers. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, voter registration status, most recent presidential vote choice, education, age, race, income, economic class, religion, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, urban/suburban/rural residence, and sex.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, December 1999 (ICPSR 2902)
Released/updated on: 2001-03-26
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1999-12-12--1999-12-15
This poll, fielded December 12-15, 1999, 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 for their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, as well as their views on the upcoming November 7, 2000, presidential election and the current presidential primary/caucus season. Respondents were asked how much attention they had paid to the 2000 presidential race and whether they intended to vote in the election. Given a choice among Vice President Al Gore, former New Jersey senator Bill Bradley, Texas governor George W. Bush, and Arizona senator John McCain, those queried were asked for whom they would vote. Their views were also sought on the most important issues of this presidential election and which candidate was best suited to handle issues such as education, the economy, taxes, Social Security/Medicare, campaign finance reform, international affairs, and health care. Respondents were asked if the following statements applied to Bradley, Bush, Gore, or McCain: typical politician, understands the average American, strong leader, experienced enough to be president, would bring needed change to Washington, DC, knowledgeable of world affairs, could be trusted in a crisis, has a clear idea of where to lead the nation, and says what he thinks regardless of what is popular. Respondents were asked for whom they would vote in a Democratic primary or caucus, given a choice between Gore and Bradley, and for whom they would vote in a Republican primary or caucus, given a choice among Bush, publisher Steve Forbes, McCain, radio talk show host Alan Keyes, Family Research Council president Gary Bauer, and Utah senator Orrin Hatch. Additional topics focused on whether the amount of money that people could contribute to political parties should be limited, whether the people of New Hampshire had too much influence in determining who wins the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations, whether Bradley's irregular heartbeat for which he took medication was considered serious by the American people, and which candidate would best handle campaign finance reform, taxes, and balancing the federal budget. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, education, political party, political orientation, Hispanic descent, voter registration and participation history, military service, and family income.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, December 2006 (ICPSR 22165)
Released/updated on: 2008-08-04
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted December 7-11, 2006, is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on various political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way George W. Bush was handling his job as president and issues such as the economy, whether they approved of the way members of United States Congress and their own representative were handling their jobs, and to rate the condition of the national economy. Views were sought on the upcoming switch to Democratic control of Congress, what was the most important problem for President Bush and Congress to deal with in the next year and whether they trusted President Bush or Congress more to handle these problems. Several questions asked whether Congress should hold hearings on how the Bush Administration handled issues related to the war with Iraq and the United States' campaign against terrorism, whether the war with Iraq was worth fighting, whether the number of United States military casualties in Iraq was acceptable, and whether the war in Iraq has contributed to the long-term security of the United States. A series of questions asked whether the United States should keep its military forces in Iraq until civil order is restored there, whether the United States was winning the war in Iraq, whether respondents would describe the situation in Iraq as a civil war, and whether the United States should hold direct talks with Syria and Iran about the situation in Iraq. Respondents were asked whether they supported certain plans and decisions, such as the Iraq Study Group report, changing the primary mission of United States forces to supporting and training the Iraqi army, or reducing United States military and financial support of the Iraqi government. Several questions asked for respondents' opinions of current political leaders and the 2008 presidential candidates, which candidate they would vote for if the 2008 Democratic and Republican primaries were held that day, and whether a presidential candidate's gender, race, or religion would affect their vote. Additional topics included immigration, privacy rights, and whether respondents were hopeful about the upcoming year for themselves and the world. Demographic variables include sex, age, religion, race, education level, household income, whether anyone in the household was a military veteran, voter registration and participation history, political party affiliation, political philosophy, and type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural).
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, December 2008 (ICPSR 27329)
Released/updated on: 2010-11-09
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded December 11-14, 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 1,003 adults was surveyed. Respondents were asked whether they thought the country was headed in the right direction, whether they approved of the way George W. Bush was handling the presidency and the economy, and whether they approved of the federal government's overall response to the economic situation. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way Barack Obama was handling the upcoming presidential transition and what they thought was the most important issue they would like to see recently elected President Obama and the Congress deal with. Respondents were also asked several questions about the economy, the federal budget deficit, and the federal government's plan to stimulate the economy. Views were sought on the United States economic system, whether respondents thought the United States was in a long-term economic decline or whether they thought the economy was pretty solid. Respondents were also asked which party they trusted more to do a better job in coping with the main problems the nation faces over the next few years, and whether they thought the current financial situation was a crisis or not. Several questions asked respondents about the federal government's plan to bailout the Big Three United States automakers, whether they supported this plan, and whether they thought the automakers' problems were mainly the fault of the bad economy or the fault of their own mismanagement. Respondents were queried on how concerned they were about being able to maintain their current standard of living, how much they would spend on Christmas presents this year compared to last year, and how confident they were that they will be able to retire with enough income to last the rest of their life. Respondents were also asked several questions about their employment, whether they have been laid off or fired, whether they have had pay cuts or hours cut, and how likely they thought they would be laid off or fired in the next 12 months. Other questions focused on whether respondents thought the war in Iraq and in Afghanistan were worth fighting, whether significant progress was being made toward restoring civil order, and whether they thought the United States must win the war in Iraq and in Afghanistan for the war on terrorism to be a success. Finally, respondents were asked whether they voted in the presidential election and who they voted for. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, income, political ideology, political party affiliation, education level, and labor union membership.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, January 1988 (ICPSR 9061)
Released/updated on: 2006-12-12
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1988-01-17--1988-01-23
This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluates the Reagan presidency and solicits opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Topics covered include trust in the government and the two major political parties, the environment, the nation's health, public education, crime, the quality of life, world peace, and the economy. In addition, opinions were solicited regarding the respondent's favorable or unfavorable impression of various public figures, the respondent's choice for presidential candidate, the debates that had taken place among the various presidential candidates, the most important issue in choosing a candidate, and which party's candidate would do a better job in dealing with problems such as reducing the trade deficit, unemployment, holding down taxes, and providing leadership. Respondents also were asked a detailed series of questions comparing the Republican candidates George Bush and Robert Dole. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1984 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, employment status, race, income, and state/region of residence.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, January 1992 (ICPSR 9887)
Released/updated on: 1993-10-11
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1992-01-30--1992-02-02
This poll is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Respondents were asked to identify the most important problem facing the country, to indicate whether they approved or disapproved of Bush's handling of the presidency in general and of his handling of foreign affairs and the economy in particular, and to offer opinions on whether Bush was able to deal with the big issues that faced the country. Those surveyed were also asked if they approved of the way their own United States Representative was handling his or her job, and whether they approved of the way Congress was doing its job. Concerning economic matters, respondents were asked how the money from potential cuts in military spending should be used, whether they were better off financially than in 1989 when Bush became president, and whether Bush or the Democrats in Congress could be trusted to do a better job on the economy. Concerning political parties, respondents were asked whether the Democrats or Republicans better represented the interests of various groups of people, and whether the Democrats or Republicans could do a better job of coping with the main problems the nation would face in the coming years. Focusing on health care, respondents were asked whether they trusted Bush or the Democrats in Congress to do a better job of improving the health care system in this country, whether they could vote for a candidate whose position on health care was different from theirs, and if a candidate's position on health care was the most important issue to consider in deciding whether to support that candidate. With respect to Bush's 1992 State of the Union address, those surveyed were asked if they approved of most of the proposals made in the speech, how much Bush's economic proposals would help the economy and the respondent's own financial situation, and whether Bush would be able to accomplish most of the goals he outlined in his speech. Concerning the Persian Gulf War, the survey asked respondents whether the war had been worth fighting considering its cost to the United States versus its benefit, and whether the respondent was more likely to support Bush for a second term as a result of the Gulf War. Regarding the issue of extramarital affairs involving a presidential candidate, respondents were asked if they could vote for a candidate who had had an affair, whether the allegation that Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton had had an affair would have an effect on their vote, and if that should be an issue in the presidential election. Respondents were also asked whether Clinton should withdraw from the race if it turned out that he did have an affair with Gennifer Flowers, whether his withdrawal should be based on having had an affair or having denied it, and whether Clinton or Flowers had told the truth. Concerning the 1992 presidential election, respondents were asked for whom they would vote if their state held a Democratic or Republican primary/caucus for president, toward whom they were leaning at the time of the interview, whether they would vote for Bush or various other prospective candidates/nominees if the national election were held at the time of the interview, and toward whom they were leaning at the time of the interview. Those surveyed were also asked their views concerning presidential primaries and caucuses, and about their expectations for the 1992 presidential campaign. Additional campaign questions asked respondents if who is elected in 1992 really made any difference, and whether they thought that they were being referred to when Republican and Democratic candidates for political office talked about the middle class. Other questions dealt with the respondent's impression of various candidates involved in the 1992 presidential election, the reelection of the respondent's representative in Congress, and the chances of the respondent's voting in the 1992 presidential election. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, voter registration status, most recent presidential vote choice, education, age, race, income, economic class, religion, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, urban/suburban/rural residence, and sex.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, January 2000 (ICPSR 2965)
Released/updated on: 2000-10-18
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded January 10, 2000, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, foreign policy, and the economy, as well as their views on the upcoming November 7, 2000, presidential election and the current presidential primary/caucus season. Respondents were asked how much attention they had paid to the 2000 presidential race and whether they intended to vote. Given a choice between Vice President Al Gore, former New Jersey senator Bill Bradley, Texas governor George W. Bush, and Arizona senator John McCain, those queried were asked for whom they would vote. Their views were sought on the most important issues of this presidential election and which candidate was best suited to handle issues such as education, the economy, taxes, Social Security/Medicare, campaign finance reform, international affairs, and health care. Respondents were asked if the following statements applied to Bradley, Bush, Gore, or McCain: typical politician, understands the average American, strong leader, experienced enough to be president, would bring needed change to Washington, DC, knowledgeable of world affairs, loyal to his political party, inspiring, and has a chance of winning the election. Respondents were asked for whom they would vote in a Democratic primary or caucus, given a choice between Gore and Bradley, and for whom they would vote in a Republican primary or caucus, given a choice among Bush, conservative commentator Pat Buchanan, publisher Steve Forbes, McCain, radio talk show host Alan Keyes, Family Research Council president Gary Bauer, and Utah senator Orrin Hatch. Additional topics covered whether respondents were pleased with the choice of candidates for the 2000 election, whether they would support a plan whereby candidates agreed to participate in twice-weekly debates and agreed not to run televised political advertisements, and whether they believed homosexuals should be allowed to serve in the military. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, education, political party, political orientation, Hispanic descent, voter registration and participation history, military service, labor union membership, and family income.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, July 1988 (ICPSR 9067)
Released/updated on: 2007-01-26
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1988-07-06--1988-07-11
This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluates the Reagan presidency and solicits opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Topics covered include the drought occurring in the United States, recent charges of corruption at the Pentagon, the resignation of Edwin Meese as attorney general, the United States military presence in the Persian Gulf, and the downing of an Iranian airliner by the United States Navy. In addition, respondents were asked if they would vote for Michael Dukakis or George Bush if the election were held that day, if they had a favorable or unfavorable impression of various political figures, if the political views of Bush and Dukakis were too liberal or too conservative for the respondent, who the respondent would like to see as running mates if Bush and Dukakis won their parties' nominations, and how the candidates compared with respect to their positions on income taxes. Respondents also were asked if they agreed or disagreed with statements pertaining to a number of issues such as the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, raising taxes to deal with the federal budget deficit, government provision of a national health care program, reducing the military budget, outlawing abortion, using the CIA to undermine hostile foreign governments, reinstituting the military draft, and calling South Africa a terrorist state. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1984 presidential vote choice, sex, education, age, religion, marital status, household composition, labor union membership, employment status, race, income, and state/region of residence.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, July 1990 (ICPSR 9461)
Released/updated on: 2007-05-07
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1990-07-19--1990-07-24
This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Bush presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Topics covered include taxes, the price of consumer goods, interest rates, and Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev. In addition, respondents were asked a detailed series of questions relating to federally insured savings and loan associations. Questions included whether respondents had any savings in one of these institutions, how much confidence they had in this country's savings and loan institutions, whether enough was being done to solve the S&L crisis, what caused the savings and loan crisis, if they thought S&L executives convicted of crimes would go to jail, who the five senators being investigated in the S&L scandal were, and if President Bush had done anything wrong in connection with the failure of his son's savings and loan. Respondents also were asked how important a number of factors were in deciding how to vote for the House of Representatives, if they supported abortion rights, if they would be more likely to vote for a political candidate who supported abortion rights, and if a pregnant teenager under age 18 should be able to get permission from a judge to obtain a legal abortion instead of notifying a parent. Background information on respondents includes political alignment, 1988 presidential vote choice, education, age, religion, social class, marital status, number of people in the household, labor union membership, employment status, race, income, sex, and state/region of residence.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Poll, June 1987 (ICPSR 8847)
Released/updated on: 2008-01-09
Geographic coverage: United States
This data collection is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that evaluate the Reagan presidency and solicit opinions on a variety of political and social issues. Topics covered include the federal budget deficit and possible ways to reduce it, the Iran-contra affair, the congressional hearings investigating the affair and questions relating to the involvement of Reagan and Bush, issues important to the 1988 presidential election, characteristics of candidates that might influence the respondent's vote, and United States involvement in the Persian Gulf. Demographic characteristics of respondents also were recorded.