CBS News Monthly Poll #2, August 2003 (ICPSR 3918)

Summary View help for Summary

This poll, conducted August 26-28, 2003, is part of a continuing series of monthly polls that solicit opinions on political and social issues. Views were gathered on the 2004 presidential election, as well as President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, foreign policy, and the economy. Respondents were asked about the condition of the economy and whether it was better, worse, or the same as when George W. Bush first took office, how concerned respondents were that a member of their household would lose his or her job in the next year, and the degree of progress made by the Bush Administration in making the United States safe from terrorism, improving the economy, reducing taxes, creating new jobs, and improving the environment. A series of questions addressed whether the war with Iraq was worth it, if the number of troops in Iraq should be increased, decreased, or maintained, whether the Bush Administration told the entire truth, the success of United States efforts to bring order and stability to Iraq, and whether the United States or the United Nations should be responsible for Iraq's new government. Additional questions asked if respondents believed that the threat of terrorism increased, decreased, or stayed the same as a result of United States military action against Iraq, how concerned they were about the loss of civil liberties as a result of the measures enacted by the Bush Administration, whether government warnings about possible terrorist attacks on Americans were useful or harmful, and the likelihood of another terrorist attack in the United States in the next few months. Respondents were queried on how much attention they paid to the 2004 presidential campaign, whether they would vote to re-elect George W. Bush, whether George W. Bush or a Democratic nominee would likely win the election in 2004, whether foreign policy or domestic issues mattered more in deciding who to vote for, whether candidates should spend more time talking to voters or explaining their positions, and what one issue candidates should discuss. Respondents were asked for their opinions of Democratic presidential nominees John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, John Edwards, Howard Dean, and Dick Gephardt, who the Democratic Party should nominate as its candidate, whether this candidate should be liberal, moderate, or conservative, which Democratic presidential candidate had the best chance of winning, whether the respondent was satisfied with the Democratic nominees, and the likelihood that the respondent would vote in a Democratic or Republican presidential primary or caucus. Specific questions addressed whether respondents preferred a Democratic presidential candidate who would support the war in Iraq or oppose it, seek common ground with George W. Bush or challenge him, support gun control or oppose it, and eliminate recent federal tax cuts or keep them in place. Background variables include age, sex, ethnicity, marital status, religion, education, household income, political orientation, political ideology, if the respondent was registered to vote, if the respondent voted in the 2000 presidential election, and if so, for whom (Democrat Al Gore, Republican George W. Bush, Reform Party candidate Pat Buchanan, or Green Party candidate Ralph Nader).

Citation View help for Citation

Export Citation:

• RIS (generic format for RefWorks, EndNote, etc.)
• EndNote

Subject Terms View help for Subject Terms

Geographic Coverage View help for Geographic Coverage

Restrictions View help for Restrictions

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

Distributor(s) View help for Distributor(s)