Hot Topics
Survey Reports
November 11, 1999
Retro-Politics
Questionnaire Part 3
Now thinking about your personal life...
Q.53(B) Please tell me which of the following activities, if any, you
personally do. First, do you...(READ AND ROTATE)
Yes No DK/Ref
a. Exercise regularly 65 35 *=100
b. Regularly watch the daytime talk shows
Ricki Lake, Jerry Springer, or Jenny Jones 14 86 *=100
c. Trade stocks or bonds in the stock markets 25 75 *=100
d. Attend Bible study or prayer group meetings 34 66 *=100
e. Work with, lead, or coach a youth group 21 79 *=100
f. Follow professional or college
sports closely 49 51 *=100
g. Do volunteer work for a charity or other
non-profit organization 50 50 *=100
h. Attend theater, ballet, opera or
classical music concerts 40 60 *=100
Q.54(B) For each description I read, please tell me if it applies to you or
not. (First,)... (INSERT ITEM; ROTATE ITEMS)
Yes No DK/Ref
a. Were you or either of your parents born
in a country other than the United States
or Canada? 15 84 1=100
b. Do you smoke cigarettes on a regular basis? 24 76 *=100
c. Are you the parent or guardian of a child
who plays in an organized sports league? 22 78 *=100
d. Do you have a friend, colleague, or
family member who is gay? 39 60 1=100
e. Are you the owner of a small business? 14 86 *=100
f. Are you a member of a country club? 5 95 *=100
Q.55(T) These days, many people are so busy they can't find time to register to vote,
or move around so often they don't get a chance to re-register... Are you NOW registered
to vote in your precinct or election district, or haven't you been able to register so far?
77 Yes, registered
22 No, not registered
1 Don't know/Refused
100
IF "1" YES, REGISTERED ASK [N=3148]:
Q.56(T) Are you absolutely certain you are registered to vote, or is there
a chance your registration has lapsed because you moved or for some other reason?
95 Absolutely certain
5 Chance registration has lapsed
* Don't know/Refused
100
Q.57(T) How often would you say you vote...(READ)
41 Always
27 Nearly always
14 Part of the time, OR
10 Seldom?
7 Never vote (VOL.)
1 Other response (DO NOT READ)
* Don't know/Refused
100
Q.58(T) Thinking back to the 1996 presidential election, when Clinton ran against Dole
and Perot, did things come up that kept you from voting, or did you happen to vote?
(IF YES, ASK: Did you vote for Clinton, Dole, or Perot?)
38 Yes, Clinton
20 Yes, Dole
8 Yes, Perot
1 Yes, other candidate
1 Yes, don't remember which candidate
27 No, didn't vote/too young
2 Don't Remember if voted
3 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.59(T) Thinking back to the 1992 presidential election, when Clinton ran
against Bush and Perot, did things come up that kept you from voting, or did
you happen to vote? (IF YES, ASK: Did you vote for Clinton, Bush, or Perot? )
31 Yes, Clinton
28 Yes, Bush
6 Yes, Perot
* Yes, other candidate
2 Yes, don't remember which candidate
28 No, didn't vote/too young
2 Don't Remember if voted
3 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.60(T) And just this past year, in the 1998 elections for CONGRESS, did things
come up which kept you from voting, or did you happen to vote?
50 Yes, voted
44 No, didn't vote
3 No, too young to vote
3 Don't know/Refused
100
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED "1" YES, ASK [N=2100]:
Q.61(T) Are you absolutely certain you voted, or is there a chance you may not have?
92 Absolutely certain
7 Did not vote/ May not have voted
1 Don't know/Refused
100
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED "1" YES, CERTAIN, ASK [N=1939]:
Q.62(T) Did you happen to vote for a Republican candidate or a Democratic
candidate for U.S. Congress in your district?
43 Republican
45 Democrat
2 Other/Independent Candidate
1 Didn't vote for Congress
9 Don't know/Refused
100
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS
POLITICAL TYPOLOGY 1999 RE-INTERVIEW SURVEY
FINAL TOPLINE
October 7-11, 1999
N=1,411
Hello, I am _____ calling for Princeton Survey Research Associates in
Princeton, New Jersey. A few weeks 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. A few weeks 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.
ROTATE Q.1 AND Q.2
Q.1 What MAN living in America today, who you've heard or read about,
do you admire MOST? (OPEN-END; RECORD RESPONSE. ACCEPT ONLY ONE RESPONSE;
IF ANSWERS DK, PROBE ONCE. )
Q.2 What WOMAN living in America today, who you've heard or read about,
do you admire MOST? (OPEN-END; RECORD RESPONSE. ACCEPT ONLY ONE RESPONSE;
IF ANSWERS DK, PROBE ONCE. )
Top 15 Men Frequency* Top 15 Women Frequency*
Bill Clinton 84 Hillary Clinton 161
Billy Graham 62 Elizabeth Dole 138
George Bush (unspecific) 52 Oprah Winfrey 80
Ronald Reagan 51 Barbara Bush 57
Colin Powell 45 Nancy Reagan 39
Bill Gates 41 My Wife 27
Jimmy Carter 38 Madeleine Albright 17
Jesse Ventura 34 My Mother 16
Bill Bradley 24 Maya Angelou 13
John McCain 24 Mother Theresa 10
My Father/Dad 21 Christie Todd Whitman 7
Al Gore 15 Shania Twain 6
Michael Jordan 13 Barbara Walters 4
George Bush, Sr. 12 Princess Diana 4
Donald Trump 12 Meryl Streep 2
None 28 None 19
Not Sure/DK/Refused 8 Not Sure/DK/Refused 15
* The "frequency" column is the number of respondents who offered each
response; the numbers are not percentages.
On another subject...
Q.3 How closely have you been following news about the 2000 presidential
election campaign... (READ)?
Very Fairly Not too Not at all DK
Closely Closely Closely Closely (VOL.)
October, 1999 10 35 38 17 0=100
September, 1999 15 31 33 20 1=100
July, 1999 15 38 24 22 1=100
June, 1999 11 25 29 34 1=100
ROTATE Q.4/4a-4e AND Q.5/5a-5b IN BLOCKS
Q.4 Suppose the 2000 presidential election were being held TODAY, and
the candidates were Al Gore, the Democrat, and George W. Bush, the Republican.
Who would you vote for?
IF "3" OTHER, "8" DON'T KNOW, OR "9" REFUSED, ASK:
Q.4a As of TODAY, do you LEAN more to Gore, the Democrat or Bush, the Republican?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS [N=1134]:
Sept July March Jan Early Sept
1999 1999 1999 1999 1998
39 Gore/Lean Gore 39 42 41 44 40
54 Bush/Lean Bush 54 53 54 50 53
7 Undecided/Other/DK 7 5 5 6 7
100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.4b What do you like most about (INSERT NAME FROM Q.4 OR Q.4a) — his personality,
his leadership ability, his experience, or his stand on issues?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS WHO CHOSE GORE OR BUSH IN Q.4/4a:
Stand on
Personality Leadership Experience issues DK
Al Gore 8 11 32 43 6=100 (N=431)
George W. Bush 13 25 11 42 9=100 (N=625)
Bill Clinton
September, 1996 14 24 6 49 7=100
Bob Dole
September, 1996 3 25 33 35 4=100
Ross Perot
September, 1996 8 17 13 54 8=100
Q.4c What do you like LEAST about (INSERT NAME NOT CHOSEN IN Q.4 OR Q.4a) — his personality,
his leadership ability, his experience, or his stand on issues?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS WHO CHOSE GORE OR BUSH IN Q.4/4a:
Stand on
Personality Leadership Experience issues DK
Al Gore 24 22 5 39 10=100 (N=625)
George W. Bush 19 11 13 41 16=100 (N=431)
Q.4d Which of the following is the most important reason why you (IF Q.4 OR Q.4a=1,
ASK: support ; IF Q.4 OR Q.4a > 1, ASK:don't support ) Al Gore for president — his
personality and leadership abilities, OR his ties to the Clinton administration?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS:
Why Support Gore Why Don't Support Gore
Personality and leadership abilities 55 38
Ties to the Clinton administration 36 51
(DO NOT READ) Other/Neither 7 7
Don't Know/Refused 2 4
100 100
(N=431) (N=703)
Q.4e Regardless of who you might support, who do you think is most likely
to win the coming presidential election if the candidates are Al Gore and George W. Bush?
23 Al Gore
70 George W. Bush
1 Other (VOL.)
6 DK/Refused
100
Q.5 Suppose the 2000 presidential election were being held TODAY, and the
candidates were Bill Bradley, the Democrat, and George W. Bush, the Republican.
Who would you vote for?
IF "3" OTHER, "8" DON'T KNOW, OR "9" REFUSED, ASK:
Q.5a As of TODAY, do you LEAN more to Bradley, the Democrat or Bush, the Republican?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS [N=1134]:
July
1999
41 Bradley/Lean Bradley 36
54 Bush/Lean Bush 57
5 Undecided/Other 7
100 100
Q.5b What do you like (IF Q.5 OR Q.5a=1, ASK: most ; IF Q.5 OR Q.5a =2, ASK: least )
about Bill Bradley — his personality, his leadership ability, his experience, or his stand on issues?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS:
Like Most About Bradley Like Least About Bradley
Personality 9 6
Leadership 15 8
Experience 14 13
Stand on Issues 49 36
Don't know/Refused 13 37
100 100
(N=453) (N=617)
Still thinking about the 2000 elections...
Q.6 If the elections for U.S. CONGRESS were being held TODAY, would you vote
for the Republican Party's candidate or the Democratic Party's candidate for
Congress in your district?
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERS "3" OR "9" ASK:
Q.6a As of TODAY, do you LEAN more to the Republican or the Democrat?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS [N=1134]:
Republican/ Democrat/ Other/
Lean Rep. Lean Dem. Undecided
October, 1999 43 49 8=100
June, 1999 40 50 10=100
November, 1998 42 48 10=100
Late October, 1998 40 47 13=100
Early October, 1998 43 44 13=100
Early September, 1998 45 46 9=100
Late August, 1998 44 45 11=100
Early August, 1998 42 49 9=100
June, 1998 44 46 10=100
March, 1998 40 52 8=100
February, 1998 41 50 9=100
January, 1998 41 51 8=100
August, 1997 45 48 7=100
Early November, 1996 44 48 8=100
October, 1996 42 49 9=100
Late September, 1996 43 49 8=100
Early September, 1996 43 51 6=100
July, 1996 46 47 7=100
June, 1996 44 50 6=100
March, 1996 44 49 7=100
January, 1996 46 47 7=100
October, 1995 48 48 4=100
August, 1995 50 43 7=100
November, 1994 45 43 12=100
October, 1994 47 44 9=100
Early October, 1994 52 40 8=100
September, 1994 48 46 6=100
July, 1994 45 47 8=100
ASK ALL:
Q.7 Generally speaking, would you say that YOU PERSONALLY care a good deal which
party wins control of Congress in the elections this fall, or don't you care very
much which party wins?
May 1990
59 Care a good deal 49
40 Don't care very much 46
1 Don't know 5
100 100
On a different subject...
[THURSDAY RESPONDENTS ASKED SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WORDING FOR Q.8/Q.8a]*
Q.8 As I read from a list, tell me which ONE of the following items is
the most important thing for the next president to do. Please wait until
I read the entire list before you respond. (READ LIST; ROTATE ORDER)
Q.8a And which should be the president's second highest priority? (READ
ITEMS AGAIN IF NECESSARY — USE SAME ORDER AS IN Q.8. OMIT RESPONSE FROM Q.8)
First Second
Priority Priority
The economy 12 12
Health care 11 15
Education 15 15
Morality 13 7
Crime 7 10
Taxes 6 8
Poverty 9 8
Social Security and Medicare 20 16
The nuclear threat 4 6
Other (DO NOT READ: SPECIFY) 2 2
None of the above (DO NOT READ) * *
Don't know (DO NOT READ) 1 1
100 100
(N=1399)+
[*NOTE: For Q.8 and Q.8a, respondents interviewed Thursday night ONLY (October 7, 1999)
were read a slightly different list of items (using the same codes): "Keep the
economy strong; Improve the nation's health care system; Improve the educational
system; Deal with the moral breakdown in the country; Work to reduce crime; Deal
with taxes; Deal with the problems of poor and needy people; Keep Social Security
and Medicare financially strong; Prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction."
The DO NOT READ codes 10 (Other), 11 (None of the above), and 99 (Don't Know/Refused)
were the same.
[+NOTE: If respondent did not choose a first priority in Q.8, they were skipped out of this question.]
Q.9 Which political party do you think can do a better job of on — (INSERT
ITEM SELECTED IN Q.8)? The Republican Party, or the Democratic Party?
36 Republican Party
46 Democratic Party
8 (DO NOT READ) No difference
10 Don't know/Refused
100
(N=1399)
ROTATE Q.10 AND Q.11
INTERVIEWER NOTE: LEAD OFF THE 1ST SERIES WITH "Now,..." FOR THE SECOND
SERIES INSERT THE WORD "more"BEFORE "pairs of opposite phrases."
Q.10 As I read some pairs of opposite phrases, tell me which ONE
best reflects your impression of Al Gore so far. (First,) does Al Gore impress
you as... (READ AND ROTATE)
a. Trustworthy or NOT trustworthy?
59 Trustworthy
33 Not trustworthy
2 Neither particularly (VOL.)
6 Don't know/Refused
100
b. Personally likeable or NOT personally likeable?
63 Personally likeable
31 Not personally likeable
2 Neither particularly (VOL.)
4 Don't know/Refused
100
c. Someone who has new ideas or someone who DOESN'T have new ideas?
40 Has new ideas
49 Doesn't have new ideas
2 Neither particularly (VOL.)
9 Don't know/Refused
100
d. Someone who cares about people like you or someone who DOESN'T care
about people like you?
60 Cares about people like you
31 Doesn't care about people like you
2 Neither particularly (VOL.)
7 Don't know/Refused
100
e. A strong leader or NOT a strong leader?
33 A strong leader
59 Not a strong leader
2 Neither particularly (VOL.)
6 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.11 As I read some pairs of opposite phrases, tell me which ONE best
reflects your impression of George W. Bush so far. (First,) does
George W. Bush impress you as... (READ AND ROTATE)
a. Trustworthy or NOT trustworthy?
63 Trustworthy
29 Not trustworthy
2 Neither particularly (VOL.)
6 Don't know/Refused
100
b. Personally likeable or NOT personally likeable?
74 Personally likeable
20 Not personally likeable
2 Neither particularly (VOL.)
4 Don't know/Refused
100
c. Someone who has new ideas or someone who DOESN'T have new ideas?
55 Has new ideas
34 Doesn't have new ideas
2 Neither particularly (VOL.)
9 Don't know/Refused
100
d. Someone who cares about people like you or someone who DOESN'T care about people like you?
54 Cares about people like you
37 Doesn't care about people like you
2 Neither particularly (VOL.)
7 Don't know/Refused
100
e. A strong leader or NOT a strong leader?
68 A strong leader
24 Not a strong leader
3 Neither particularly (VOL.)
5 Don't know/Refused
100
On another subject...
Q.12 In your opinion, should the federal government create national standards
to protect the rights of patients in HMOs and managed health care plans, OR
would this get the government too involved in health care?
Early Sept Early Aug
1998 1998
64 Government should create national standards 48 53
30 Too much government involvement 44 35
6 Don't know/Refused 8 12
100 100 100
Q.13 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; ITEM c. SHOULD ALWAYS COME LAST)
Strongly Strongly
Favor Favor Oppose Oppose DK/Ref.
a. An increase in the minimum wage,
from $5.15 an hour to $6.45 an hour 48 34 12 4 2=100
February, 1998 48 32 14 5 1=100
b. Banning the unlimited campaign
contributions that corporations
and unions can now make to
political parties 29 27 24 15 5=100
c. Allowing patients to sue insurance
companies which deny or delay
medical treatments 47 35 11 4 3=100
Q.14 Now I'd like you to think about some concerns that people may have.
How concerned are you, if at all, about (INSERT ITEM; ROTATE ITEMS)?
Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not
at all concerned about this? (What about...?)
Does Not
Very Somewhat Not too Not at all Apply Don't
Concerned Concerned Concerned Concerned (VOL.) Know
a. Not having enough money
for your retirement? 51 27 13 8 1 *=100
May, 1997 42 26 15 13 3 1=100
October, 1996 (RVs) 56 24 11 7 1 1=100
March, 1996 59 23 9 7 2 *=100
October, 1995 48 29 10 8 4 1=100
May, 1988 34 35 15 8 4 4=100
b. Being unable to save enough
money to put a child through
college? 47 23 11 13 6 *=100
May, 1997 39 17 10 14 19 1=100
October, 1996 (RVs) 47 18 9 13 12 1=100
October, 1995 44 19 9 12 15 1=100
May, 1988 23 22 11 11 29 4=100
c. Being unable to afford
necessary health care when
a family member gets sick? 60 19 13 7 1 *=100
May, 1997 50 20 16 13 1 *=100
October, 1996 (RVs) 61 18 12 7 1 1=100
March, 1996 68 16 10 6 * *=100
October, 1995 66 17 9 7 1 *=100
d. Becoming a victim of
a crime? 39 32 22 7 * *=100
May, 1997 38 29 22 10 0 1=100
October, 1995 51 30 15 4 * *=100
May, 1988 36 36 21 5 * 2=100
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- Questionnaire Part 3