Hot Topics
Survey Reports
September 20, 2000
Religion and Politics: the Ambivalent Majority
Questionnaire
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS
CAMPAIGN 2000 TYPOLOGY SURVEY
FINAL TOPLINE
August 24 - September 10, 2000
N = 2,799 General Public
N = 1,999 Registered Voters
NOTE: ALL NUMBERS IN SURVEY, INCLUDING TREND FIGURES, ARE BASED ON REGISTERED
VOTERS EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS
CAMPAIGN 2000 TYPOLOGY SURVEY
FINAL TOPLINE
August 24 - September 10, 2000
N = 2,799 General Public
N = 1,999 Registered Voters
NOTE: ALL NUMBERS IN SURVEY, INCLUDING TREND FIGURES, ARE BASED ON REGISTERED
VOTERS EXCEPT WHERE NOTED
ASK FORM 2 ONLY: [N=974]
Q.22F2 Now I'd like your opinion of some religious groups. (First,) would you say
your overall opinion of... (INSERT ITEM; ROTATE. ITEM h SHOULD ALWAYS COME LAST) is
very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly UNfavorable, or very unfavorable?
(INTERVIEWERS: PROBE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN "NEVER HEARD OF" AND "CAN'T RATE")
Very Mostly Mostly Very
Favor- Favor- Unfavor- Unfavor- Never Can't
able able able able Heard Of Rate
d.F2 Evangelical Christians 21 42 13 3 3 18=100
February, 1996 14 27 24 13 10 12=100
May, 1990 13 33 20 17 6 11=100
e.F2 Jews 27 50 5 3 * 15=100
June, 1997 25 59 6 2 * 8=100
f.F2 Catholics 29 49 6 3 * 13=100
g.F2 Muslim Americans 11 39 13 8 2 27=100
h.F2 Atheists, that is, people
who don't believe in God 8 24 20 32 * 16=100
On another subject...
ASK FORM 1 ONLY: [N=1,025]
Q.23F1 These days, how much do you think churches, synagogues and mosques contribute to
solving important social problems... a great deal, some, not much, nothing at all?
28 A great deal
44 Some
21 Not much
4 Nothing at all
3 Don't know/Refused
100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY: [N=974]
Q.24F2 In your opinion, is either the Democratic party or the Republican party TOO CLOSELY
tied to religious leaders these days, or not? IF YES, ASK: Which party would you say is too
closely tied to religious leaders these days?
June 1996
13 YES, Republican 20
6 YES, Democratic 3
7 Both equally (VOL.) 5
65 NO, Neither is too closely tied 63
9 Don't know/Refused 9
100 100
Now on another subject...
Q.30 I'd like your opinion of some programs and proposals being discussed in this country today.
Please tell me if you strongly favor, favor, oppose, or strongly oppose each one. The first
one is... (READ AND ROTATE)
Strongly Strongly
Favor Favor Oppose Oppose DK/Ref.
ASK FORM 1 ONLY: [N=1,025]
b.F1 Giving government funding to
religious organizations so they
can provide social services such
as job training or drug treatment
counseling to people who need them 21 33 27 17 2=100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY: [N=974]
c.F2 Allowing religious organizations to
apply, along with other organizations,
for government funding to provide
social services such as job training
or drug treatment counseling to people
who need them 32 35 17 12 4=100
On a different subject...
Q.35 In your opinion, should the churches keep out of political matters or should they
express their views on day-to-day social and political questions?
--- General Public ---
June 1996 June 1996 Gallup: 1968
45 Should keep out 44 43 53
51 Should express views 53 54 40
4 No opinion 3 3 7
100 100 100 100
Q.36 Do you think it is ever right for clergymen to discuss political candidates or
issues from the pulpit?
--- General Public ---
June 1996 June 1996 Gallup: 1965
32 Yes 29 29 22
64 No 67 66 68
4 Don't know/Refused 4 5 10
100 100 100 100
Q.37 Aside from weddings and funerals how often do you attend religious services... more
than once a week, once a week, once or twice a month, a few times a year, seldom, or never?
June 1997 June 1996
17 More than once a week 13 15
28 Once a week 29 28
16 Once or twice a month 17 17
17 A few times a year 19 20
13 Seldom 13 12
8 Never 9 7
1 Don't know/Refused * 1
100 100 100
IF RESPONDENT ATTENDS CHURCH AT LEAST A FEW TIMES A YEAR (Q.37=1-4), ASK: [N=1,584]
Q.38 Aside from attending religious services, how involved are you in church activities,
would you say you're very involved, somewhat involved, not too involved, or not at all
involved?
25 Very involved
34 Somewhat involved
25 Not too involved
16 Not at all involved
* Don't know/Refused
100
ASK FORM 1 ONLY: [N=1,025]
Q.39F1 Thinking about the two major political parties in this country, which one would
you say is most concerned with protecting religious values... the Republicans or the
Democrats? (ROTATE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS)
June 1996
39 The Republicans 47
30 The Democrats 32
6 Neither (VOL.) 8
7 Both equally (VOL.) 3
18 Don't know/Refused 10
100 100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY: [N=974]
Q.40F2 Thinking about the two major political parties in this country, which one would
you say is most concerned with protecting religious freedom... the Republicans or the
Democrats? (ROTATE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS)
32 The Republicans
35 The Democrats
5 Neither (VOL.)
6 Both equally (VOL.)
22 Don't know/Refused
100
ASK ALL:
Q.50 Now I am going to read some statements about the candidates and political parties.
For each, please tell me if you completely agree with it, mostly agree with it, mostly
DISagree with it, or completely DISagree with it. (The first one is...) (INSERT ITEM;
ROTATE ITEMS)
Completely Mostly Mostly Completely Don't
Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Know
FORM 1 ONLY: [N=1,025]
h.F1 It makes me uncomfortable when politicians
talk about how religious they are 25 25 26 19 5=100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY: [N=974]
q.F2 It's important to me that a president
have strong religious beliefs 35 35 17 10 3=100
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