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Survey Reports
November 15, 1996
CAMPAIGN '96 GETS LOWER GRADES FROM VOTERS
Questionnaire
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE PRESS
NOVEMBER 1996 RE-INTERVIEW SURVEY
-- FINAL TOPLINE--
November 7 - 10, 1996
N= 1,012 Voters
Hello, I am _____ calling for Princeton Survey Research Associates in Princeton, New
Jersey. (IF OCTOBER: A month or so ago...; IF JUNE: A few months ago...) we were
conducting a telephone opinion survey for leading newspapers and TV stations around the
country, and we spoke with a (INSERT SEX AND AGE) in your household. I'd like to ask
(HIM/HER) a few additional questions to follow up on that previous interview. Is (HE/SHE)
available?
IF PEW RESPONDENT DOES NOT ANSWER THE PHONE, USE THE FOLLOWING INTRODUCTION WHEN
HE OR SHE DOES GET ON THE LINE:
Hello, I am _____ calling for Princeton Survey Research Associates
in Princeton, New Jersey. (IF OCTOBER: A month or so ago...; IF
JUNE: A few months ago...) you participated in a telephone opinion
survey we were conducting for leading newspapers and TV stations
around the country. I'd like to ask you a few additional questions
to follow up on that previous interview.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS...
Q.1 A lot of people have been telling us they didn't get a chance
to vote in the election on November 5. How about you... did
things come up that kept you from voting, or did you happen to
vote?
Yes, voted -- CONTINUE WITH INTERVIEW
No, did not vote -- THANK RESPONDENT AND END
Don't remember -- THANK RESPONDENT AND END
Refused -- THANK RESPONDENT AND END
Q.1a All in all, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way
things are going in this country today?
51 Satisfied
42 Dissatisfied
7 No Opinion
100
NOW, THINKING ABOUT THE RECENT ELECTION...
Q.2 Did you happen to vote for Bill Clinton, for Bob Dole or for
Ross Perot for President?
Nov Nov
1992 1988
45 Bill Clinton 45 43*
39 Bob Dole 32** 53
7 Ross Perot 17 n/a
9 Other/DK/Can't remember 6 4
100 100 100
* These percentages refer to Dukakis/Bentsen in 1988.
** These percentages refer to Bush/Qualye in 1992 and 1988.
IF RESPONDENT CHOSE CLINTON, DOLE OR PEROT IN Q.2 ASK:
Q.3 Would you say that your vote was more a vote FOR (INSERT
CANDIDATE VOTED FOR IN Q.2) or more a vote AGAINST (INSERT
NAMES OF OTHER TWO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES)?
Nov Nov
1992 1988
45 Clinton Supporters 45 43*
31 Pro-Clinton 33 25
13 Anti-Others 10 16
1 Undecided 2 2
39 Dole Supporters 32** 53
17 Pro-Dole 21 39
20 Anti-Others 10 12
2 Undecided 1 2
7 Perot Supporters 17 n/a
2 Pro-Perot 13 n/a
5 Anti-Others 4 n/a
* Undecided * n/a
9 Other/DK/Can't remember 6 4
100 100 100
* These percentages refer to Dukakis/Bentsen in 1988.
** These percentages refer to Bush/Qualye in 1992 and 1988.
IF "VOTE FOR" IN Q.3 ASK:
Q.3a Was your choice more a vote for (INSERT CHOICE FROM Q.2)
personally or more a vote for his party?
IF "PERSONALLY" IN Q.3a ASK:
Q.3b What do you like most about (INSERT CHOICE FROM Q.2), his
personality and character, his leadership ability, his
experience or his stand on issues?
------ 1996 ------ ------ 1992 ------ Clinton Dole Perot Bush Clinton Perot
Clinton Dole Perot Clinton Bush Perot
Total positive support 69 44 34 66 72 77
Candidate total personal
qualities 39 24 21 43 43 77
Personality and character 5 5 4 7 6* 10**
Leadership 12 6 1 12 6 14
Experience 2 4 4 10 2 9
Stand on issues 18 9 9 14 27 43
Other/Can't say 2 * 3 -- -- --
Party 26 19 13 19 26 n/a
Other/Can't say 4 1 0 4 3 0
* The following % do not add up to total candidate qualities (43%) due
to the exclusion of respondents who answered don't know.
** The following % do not add up to total candidate qualities (77%) due
to the exclusion of respondents who answered don't know.
ASK ONLY THOSE WHO CHOSE EITHER CLINTON OR DOLE IN Q.2 AND ANSWERED
'2' OR '5' AGAINST OTHER CANDIDATES IN Q.3
Q.4 Was your choice more of a vote against (INSERT NAME OF MAJOR
PARTY CANDIDATE NOT CHOSEN IN Q.2 -- CLINTON/DOLE) personally,
more of a vote against his running mate, or more of a vote
against the (INSERT APPROPRIATE PARTY --
DEMOCRATIC/REPUBLICAN) party?
Clinton Dole
Total negative support 28 51
More against other opponent personally 13 38
More against opponent's running mate * *
More against opponent's party 14 11
None of the above (VOL) 0 0
Vote against Perot (VOL) 0 0
Other/Can't say 1 2
ASK ALL EXCEPT THOSE WHO ANSWERED '9' DON'T KNOW/CAN'T REMEMBER IN Q.2:
Q.5 When did you make up your mind definitely to vote for (INSERT
CHOICE FROM Q.2; IF 'OTHER' IN Q.2 INSERT 'THE CANDIDATE OF
YOUR CHOICE')? (Open-end) (INTERVIEWER: GET TIME AS
SPECIFICALLY AS POSSIBLE)
Nov Nov
Total Clinton Dole Perot 1992 1988
6 2 2 1 On Election Day 9 6
3 1 1 1 On Monday (day before the election) 4 3
2 * 1 * Over the last week-end 4 2
6 3 2 1 In the last week 8 4
During or just after
3 2 1 * the Presidential debates 12 --
0 0 0 0 After the Vice-Presidential debate 1 1
12 5 5 1 In September, after the Conventions 4 17
During or after the Democratic
1 1 * 0 Convention 6 --
During or after the Republican
7 1 6 * Convention 3 --
This year, before the summer,
13 6 6 1 during the primaries 18 20
39 22 14 2 Before 1996 12 9
1 1 0 0 Other 8 --
2 1 1 * Don't know/Can't remember 2 2
NO QUESTION 6 OR 7
ASK ALL:
Q.8 Now that the campaign is over, how satisfied were you with the
choice of presidential candidates? Would you say that you
were very satisfied, fairly satisfied, not very satisfied, or
not at all satisfied?
Nov Nov
1992 1988
18 Very satisfied 24 26
33 Fairly satisfied 37 36
24 Not very satisfied 21 20
22 Not at all satisfied 16 17
3 Don't know/Refused 2 1
100 100 100
Q.9 During this campaign, did you feel you learned enough about
the candidates and the issues to make an informed choice
between Clinton, Dole and Perot or did you find it difficult
to choose because you felt you did not learn enough from the
campaign?
Nov Nov
1992 1988
75 Learned enough to make an informed choice 77 59
23 Did not learn enough from the campaign 20 39
2 Don't know/Refused 3 2
100 100 100
Q.10 How helpful were the presidential debates to you in deciding
which candidate to vote for? Would you say they were very
helpful, somewhat helpful, not too helpful, or not at all
helpful?
Nov Nov
1992 1988
13 Very helpful 31 13
28 Somewhat helpful 39 35
23 Not too helpful 11 24
25 Not at all helpful 13 25
10 Did not watch the debates (VOL) 5 3
1 Don't know/Refused 1 *
100 100 100
Q.11 Students are often given the grades A, B, C, D, or Fail to
describe the quality of their work. Looking back over the
campaign, what grade would you give to each of the following
groups for the way they conducted themselves in the campaign?
First... (READ AND ROTATE)
A B C D F DK
a. The press 6 22 33 19 18 2=100
November 1992 11 25 29 16 15 4=100
November 1988 8 22 33 19 16 2=100
b. The pollsters 11 23 29 11 10 16=100
November 1992 15 31 27 9 6 12=100
November 1988 13 29 29 12 11 6=100
c. The talk show hosts 6 15 25 13 16 25=100
November 1992 10 29 25 8 9 19=100
d. The campaign
consultants 4 18 33 11 8 26=100
November 1992 7 26 31 7 4 25=100
November 1988 5 20 37 14 8 16=100
e. The Republican
Party 4 23 39 18 13 3=100
November 1992 4 25 34 18 15 4=100
November 1988 11 34 31 12 10 2=100
f. The Democratic
Party 12 36 29 11 9 3=100
November 1992 18 40 26 6 6 4=100
November 1988 7 26 45 13 7 2=100
g. Bill Clinton 20 37 22 8 11 2=100
November 1992 26 38 21 7 5 3=100
DUKAKIS:November 1988 9 29 40 13 7 1=100
h. Bob Dole 7 26 34 20 12 1=100
BUSH: November 1992 4 26 33 18 16 3=100
BUSH: November 1988 15 34 26 13 11 1=100
i. Ross Perot 8 18 30 20 17 7=100
November 1992 17 30 27 13 10 3=100
j. The voters 12 27 29 13 10 9=100
November 1992 32 29 20 5 5 9=100
November 1988 18 31 28 10 7 6=100
Q.12 How helpful were the candidates' commercials to you in
deciding which candidate to vote for? Would you say they were
very helpful, somewhat helpful, not too helpful, or not at all
helpful?
Nov
1992
4 Very helpful 10
21 Somewhat helpful 28
27 Not too helpful 28
46 Not at all helpful 31
2 Don't know/Refused 3
100 100
Q.13 Compared to past presidential elections, would you say there
was more discussion of issues in this campaign or less
discussion of issues?
Nov
1992
25 More 59
65 Less 34
6 Same (VOL) 4
4 DK/Refused 3
100 100
Q.14 Compared to past presidential elections, would you say there
was MORE mud slinging or negative campaigning in this campaign
or LESS mud slinging or negative campaigning in this campaign?
Nov
1992
49 More 68
36 Less 16
12 Same (VOL) 14
3 DK/Refused 2
100 100
Q.15 How did you get most of your news about the Presidential
election campaign? From television, from newspapers, from
radio, from magazines or from computer on-line sources?
(ACCEPT TWO ANSWERS. IF ONLY ONE RESPONSE IS GIVEN, PROBE FOR
ADDITIONAL RESPONSE)
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED '1' TELEVISION IN Q.15 ASK:
Q.15a Did you get most of your news about the presidential
campaign from network TV news, from local TV news, or
from CNN? (ACCEPT TWO ANSWERS; DO NOT PROBE)
Nov
1992
72 Television 82
36 Network 55
23 Local 29
21 CNN 29
4 Other (VOL) 2
2 Can't say 1
60 Newspapers 57
19 Radio 12
11 Magazines 9
3 On-line sources --
4 Other 6
1 Can't say 1
ASK ALL EXCEPT THOSE WHO ANSWERED '5' ON-LINE SOURCES IN Q.15
Q.15b Did you happen to get any news or information about the
1996 elections from computer on-line sources, or not?
7 Yes
90 No
* Don't know/Refused
97
ASK ALL:
Q.16 Which gave you a better idea of where the presidential
candidates stood on issues -- news reports OR TV commercials
and advertisements about the candidates?
Nov Nov
1992 1990
77 News reports 74 63
Candidates' commercials
16 and advertisements 22 28
7 Don't know/Refused 4 9
100 100 100
Q.17 Which gave you a better idea of what the candidates were like
personally... news reports OR candidates' TV commercials and
advertisements?
Nov Nov
1992 1990
67 News reports 58 53
Candidates' commercials
26 and advertisements 35 38
7 Don't know/Refused 7 9
100 100 100
Q.18 How much influence do you think news organizations had on the
outcome of this year's presidential election... too much, too
little or about the right amount?
Nov
1992
47 Too much 46
4 Too little 2
46 About the right amount 49
3 Don't know/Refused 3
100 100
ROTATE Q.19 AND Q.20
Q.19 Would you say the press has been fair or unfair in the way it
has covered Bill Clinton's election campaign?
Nov
1992
73 Fair 77
24 Unfair 19
3 DK/Refused 4
100 100
Q.20 Would you say the press has been fair or unfair in the way it
has covered Bob Dole's election campaign?
BUSH
Nov
1992
65 Fair 61
32 Unfair 35
3 DK/Refused 4
100 100
Q.21 Would you say the press has been fair or unfair in the way it
has covered Ross Perot's election campaign?
Nov
1992
46 Fair 67
44 Unfair 27
10 DK/Refuse 6
100 100
Q.22 Now thinking about your vote for Congress... Did you happen to
vote for the Republican Party's candidate OR the Democratic
Party's candidate for Congress in your district?
50 Republican
41 Democrat
2 Other candidate (VOL)
1 Didn't vote for Congress (VOL)
6 Don't know/Can't remember
100
ASK Q.23 ONLY OF THOSE WHO ANSWERED '1' REPUBLICAN IN Q.22
Q.23 Would you say your vote for the Republican from your district
was mostly a vote for him or her personally, for the
Republican Party, or was it a vote to try to control President
Clinton's power?
53 Personally
21 Party
22 Control Clinton's power
3 None of the above (VOL)
1 Don't know/Refused
100
(N=515)
ROTATE Q. 24 AND Q.25
ASK ALL: GENERALLY...
Q.24 Are you happy or unhappy that the Republican Party maintained
control of the U.S. Congress?
Based on General Public
Dec 1994
65 Happy 57
27 Unhappy 31
8 DK/Refused 12
100 100
Q.25 Are you happy or unhappy that Bill Clinton was reelected as
President?
53 Happy
42 Unhappy
5 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.26 Who in Washington do you think should take the lead in solving
the nation's problems -- President Clinton, or the Republican
Congressional leaders?
Based on General Public
Dec 1994
45 President Clinton 39
30 Republican Congressional leaders 43
19 Both (VOL) 10
6 Don't know/Refused 8
100 100
Q.27 Next year should the Democratic leaders in Washington... (READ)
BASED ON DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS:
Based on General Public
Dec 1994
Dem Ind Dem Ind
Try as best they can to work
with Republican leaders to
accomplish things, even if it means
disappointing some groups of
63 73 Democratic supporters? 61 69
OR
Should they stand up to the
Republicans on issues that are
important to Democratic supporters,
even if it means less gets
29 22 done in Washington? 33 24
8 5 Don't know/Refused 6 7
100 100 100 100
(N=349)(N=292) (N=442)(N=471)
Q.28 Now some questions about the future... As I name a problem,
tell me whether you think the country will make progress on
this problem over the next four years, whether it will lose
ground on the problem over the next four years, or whether
things will stay about the same. (First,) (READ AND
ROTATE)... do you think the country will make progress, lose
ground, or will things stay about the same?
Make Lose Stay
Progress Ground Same DK
a. Drug abuse 28 29 40 3=100
b. The way the health
care system works 32 22 43 3=100
c. Reforming the
tax system 23 17 56 4=100
d. Families staying
together 24 23 48 5=100
e. Protecting the
Medicare system 39 19 40 2=100
f. Poverty, hunger and
homelessness in the US 28 21 48 3=100
g. Crime 31 27 40 2=100
h. The quality of public
education 42 18 38 2=100
i. The availability of a
good paying job 31 23 43 3=100
j. The budget deficit 40 23 35 2=100
k. Reforming the campaign
finance system 32 13 51 4=100
ON ANOTHER SUBJECT...
Q.29 Do you think Congress has gone too far or not far enough in
investigating ethical charges against the Clinton
administration, or has Congress handled this about right?
30 Too far
31 Not far enough
35 About right
4 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.29a You may have heard stories in the news about charges of
improper campaign contributions made to the Democratic
Party. Do you think a special committee should be set up
in Congress to investigate these charges, or not?
54 Yes
42 No
4 Don't know/Refused
100
ASK Q.30-Q.32 ONLY OF THOSE RESPONDENTS WHO SAID IN PREVIOUS
INTERVIEW THAT THEY ATTEND CHURCH AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH
(JUNE 1996 Q.25=1,2,3; OCTOBER 1996 Q.26=1,2,3)
IF RESPONDENT DOES NOT FIT THAT DESCRIPTION, SKIP TO D.1.
ON A DIFFERENT SUBJECT...
Q.30 Was information on political parties or candidates for the
recent election made available in your place of worship, or
not?
BASED ON THOSE WHO ATTEND CHURCH: [N=630]
28 Yes
69 No
3 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.31 And did the clergy at your place of worship or any other
religious groups urge you to vote a particular way in the
recent election, or not?
IF '1' YES IN Q.31, ASK:
Q.32 Were you urged to vote for a particular candidate or party in
the presidential race, a Congressional race, a state race, or
a local race? (ACCEPT MORE THAN ONE RESPONSE)
BASED ON THOSE WHO ATTEND CHURCH: [N=630]
7 Yes
5 Presidential
3 Congressional
3 State
3 Local
2 Don't know/Refused
91 No
2 Don't know/Refused
100
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