Hot Topics
Survey Reports
November 11, 1999
Retro-Politics
Questionnaire Part 5
ON A DIFFERENT SUBJECT...
Q.16 In politics TODAY, do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or Independent?
(VOL.) (VOL.)
No Other
Republican Democrat Independent Preference Party Don't know
Late Sept, 1999 24 31 36 5 1 3=100
August, 1999 25 33 37 3 * 2=100
November, 1997 25 32 38 3 * 2=100
June, 1996 30 33 34 2 * 1=100
February, 1996 30 32 32 3 1 2=100
October, 1995 30 30 35 3 * 2=100
April, 1995 30 29 37 3 * 1=100
March, 1995 35 28 32 -- 2 3=100
February, 1995 33 30 33 -- 2 2=100
December, 1994 35 31 30 -- 2 2=100
November, 1994 28 31 35 4 * 2=100
October, 1994 31 32 33 3 * 1=100
Early October, 1994 33 30 32 -- 2 3=100
July, 1994 29 33 35 2 * 1=100
June, 1992 28 32 36 1 * 3=100
May, 1990 28 33 28 9 * 2=100
February, 1989 31 38 23 7 * 1=100
May, 1988 28 38 26 6 * 2=100
January, 1988 27 39 26 6 * 2=100
May, 1987 25 37 28 8 * 2=100
Q.17 ASKED ONLY OF THOSE WHO ANSWERED "REPUBLICAN" IN Q.16:
Q.17 Do you consider yourself a STRONG Republican, or NOT a strong Republican?
Aug Nov Oct April Oct July June May Feb May Jan May
1999 1997 1995 1995 1994 1994 1992 1990 1989 1988 1988 1987
10 Strong 11 11 11 15 16 13 11 13 15 13 12 11
14 Not strong 14 14 19 15 15 16 17 15 16 15 15 14
24 25 25 30 30 31 29 28 28 31 28 27 25
Q.18 ASKED ONLY OF THOSE WHO ANSWERED "DEMOCRAT" IN Q.16:
Q.18 Do you consider yourself a STRONG Democrat, or NOT a strong Democrat?
Aug Nov Oct April Oct July June May Feb May Jan May
1999 1997 1995 1995 1994 1994 1992 1990 1989 1988 1988 1987
15 Strong 15 14 14 14 18 15 14 16 17 19 19 18
16 Not strong 18 18 16 15 14 18 18 17 21 19 20 19
31 33 32 30 29 32 33 32 33 38 38 39 37
Q.19 ASKED ONLY OF THOSE WHO ANSWERED "INDEPENDENT," "NO PREFERENCE,"
"OTHER," OR "DK," IN Q.16
Q.19 As of TODAY, do you LEAN more to the Republican Party or the Democratic Party?
BASED ON INDEPENDENTS/OTHER (Q. 16=3,4,5,9) [N=335]:
42 Republican
47 Democrat
0 Neither (VOL.)
11 Don't know/Refused
100
ASK ALL:
Q.20 When you were growing up, did your parents usually vote for Republicans
or Democrats? (IF PARENTS VOTED DIFFERENTLY, ASK: How did the parent you
felt closer to usually vote?)
Aug 1999 Nov 1997 July 1994
25 Republicans 26 28 28
43 Democrats 43 43 47
8 Both/Split ticket (VOL.) 8 6 6
6 Didn't vote/Not eligible (VOL.) 5 5 4
3 Other response 2 1 2
15 Don't know/Refused 16 17 13
100 100 100 100
Q.21 I'm going to read you some more statements on a different topic.
Please tell me how much you agree or disagree with each of these
statements. The first one is... (READ ITEMS, IN ORDER. DO NOT ROTATE)
Do you completely agree, mostly agree, mostly disagree, or completely disagree?
Completely Mostly Mostly Completely Don't
Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Know
a. Prayer is an important part
of my daily life 55 23 15 6 1=100
November, 1997 53 25 14 7 1=100
July, 1994 52 26 14 8 *=100
Nov, 1991 50 30 13 6 1=100
May, 1990 46 31 16 6 1=100
May, 1988 46 32 15 6 1=100
May, 1987 41 35 17 6 1=100
b. We all will be called before
God at the Judgment Day to
answer for our sins 61 22 7 6 4=100
November, 1997 64 21 7 5 3=100
July, 1994 61 23 7 7 2=100
May, 1993 56 26 6 5 7=100
June, 1992 62 21 7 7 3=100
May, 1990 52 29 9 5 5=100
Feb, 1989 62 22 6 5 5=100
May, 1988 52 28 8 6 6=100
May, 1987 52 29 9 5 5=100
c. Even today miracles are performed
by the power of God 58 26 6 5 5=100
November, 1997 61 24 8 4 3=100
July, 1994 58 26 8 6 2=100
June, 1992 58 25 8 6 3=100
May, 1990 49 33 9 4 5=100
Feb, 1989 53 30 7 5 5=100
May, 1988 51 29 9 6 5=100
May, 1987 47 35 9 4 5=100
d. I never doubt the existence of God 69 19 6 4 2=100
November, 1997 71 17 8 3 1=100
July, 1994 72 16 6 5 1=100
Nov, 1991 71 17 8 3 1=100
May, 1990 60 27 8 3 2=100
Feb, 1989 66 22 6 4 2=100
May, 1988 63 24 7 4 2=100
May, 1987 60 28 7 3 2=100
e. School boards ought to have the
right to fire teachers who are
known homosexuals 20 12 26 36 6=100
November, 1997 20 13 29 34 4=100
July, 1994 24 15 29 29 3=100
May, 1993 17 17 34 26 6=100
June, 1992 24 16 27 28 5=100
Nov, 1991 23 16 28 28 5=100
May, 1990 29 20 24 21 6=100
Feb, 1989 28 20 26 21 5=100
May, 1988 29 22 25 18 6=100
May, 1987 27 24 28 14 7=100
f. Books that contain dangerous
ideas should be banned from
public school libraries 36 19 20 23 2=100
November, 1997 32 18 23 23 4=100
July, 1994 30 21 23 24 2=100
May, 1993 26 26 23 21 4=100
June, 1992 30 18 22 27 3=100
Nov, 1991 29 20 20 28 3=100
May, 1990 29 21 24 21 5=100
Feb, 1989 26 24 23 23 4=100
May, 1988 29 22 22 22 5=100
May, 1987 24 26 25 19 6=100
g. Nude magazines and X-rated movies
provide harmless entertainment for
those who enjoy it 15 28 24 29 4=100
November, 1997 14 27 26 30 3=100
July, 1994 15 29 25 29 2=100
May, 1990 12 29 27 27 5=100
May, 1988 15 30 28 23 5=100
May, 1987 14 34 26 21 5=100
h. Freedom of speech should not extend
to groups like the Communist Party
or the Ku Klux Klan 21 18 28 29 4=100
November, 1997 21 17 31 26 5=100
July, 1994 21 20 29 28 2=100
May, 1990 17 18 32 27 6=100
May, 1988 17 20 32 26 5=100
May, 1987 16 23 36 19 6=100
i. The police should be allowed to
search the houses of known drug
dealers without a court order 28 17 22 31 2=100
November, 1997 31 18 23 26 2=100
July, 1994 33 18 22 26 1=100
May, 1990 33 24 23 18 2=100
May, 1988 31 23 21 22 2=100
May, 1987 25 26 27 18 4=100
j. Women should return to their
traditional roles in society 9 16 23 48 4=100
November, 1997 10 14 30 43 3=100
July, 1994 12 18 27 40 3=100
Nov, 1991 10 13 26 49 2=100
May, 1990 10 20 32 35 3=100
Feb, 1989 10 16 30 41 3=100
May, 1988 11 20 30 36 3=100
May, 1987 9 21 37 29 4=100
k. Too many children are being raised
in day care centers these days 39 36 15 7 3=100
November, 1997 39 35 17 6 3=100
July, 1994 39 36 16 7 2=100
May, 1990 26 47 17 5 5=100
May, 1988 29 40 19 7 5=100
May, 1987 23 45 22 5 5=100
l. AIDS might be God's punishment
for immoral sexual behavior 13 19 20 41 7=100
November, 1997 13 19 22 41 5=100
July, 1994 17 22 21 36 4=100
May, 1993 13 22 24 33 8=100
June, 1992 17 19 19 38 7=100
May, 1990 16 22 19 33 10=100
May, 1988 20 24 20 28 8=100
May, 1987 17 26 22 25 10=100
m. I have old-fashioned values
about family and marriage 53 31 9 5 2=100
November, 1997 50 35 8 6 1=100
July, 1994 53 31 10 4 2=100
Nov, 1991 49 32 10 8 1=100
May, 1990 49 38 8 4 1=100
Feb, 1989 46 37 9 6 2=100
May, 1988 50 35 9 4 2=100
May, 1987 45 42 9 2 2=100
n. There are clear guidelines about
what's good or evil that apply
to everyone regardless of their
situation 47 35 11 5 2=100
November, 1997 45 37 10 6 2=100
July, 1994 44 36 12 6 2=100
June, 1992 41 35 12 9 3=100
Nov, 1991 42 34 13 9 2=100
May, 1990 36 43 11 6 4=100
May, 1988 38 41 12 6 4=100
May, 1987 34 45 12 4 5=100
o. Labor unions are necessary to
protect the working person 28 42 18 7 5=100
November, 1997 29 41 19 8 3=100
May, 1990 25 46 19 6 4=100
May, 1988 26 43 19 7 5=100
May, 1987 19 48 21 6 6=100
p. Labor unions have too much power 18 34 30 10 8=100
November, 1997 20 34 29 11 6=100
May, 1990 18 37 28 10 7=100
May, 1988 20 38 26 8 8=100
May, 1987 19 40 26 7 8=100
q. Today it's really true that the
rich just get richer while the
poor get poorer 33 39 20 6 2=100
November, 1997 34 36 22 6 2=100
July, 1994 33 38 20 7 2=100
June, 1992 38 40 16 4 2=100
Nov, 1991 45 35 13 5 2=100
May, 1990 38 40 16 3 3=100
Feb, 1989 40 38 15 4 3=100
May, 1988 34 42 18 3 3=100
May, 1987 31 43 19 3 4=100
r. I can usually tell whether I'll
have a lot in common with someone
by knowing how much education he
or she has 8 21 42 27 2=100
November, 1997 8 22 43 26 1=100
July, 1994 8 25 42 25 *=100
Nov, 1991 10 22 40 27 1=100
May, 1990 7 23 46 21 3=100
Feb, 1989 8 25 42 22 3=100
May, 1988 6 24 44 23 3=100
May, 1987 5 23 49 18 5=100
s. I don't have much in common
with people of other races 3 9 45 40 3=100
November, 1997 3 9 48 38 2=100
July, 1994 3 9 45 41 2=100
May, 1990 5 19 50 22 4=100
May, 1988 6 19 46 26 3=100
May, 1987 3 20 54 18 5=100
t. I often don't have enough money
to make ends meet 16 20 40 22 2=100
November, 1997 18 22 40 19 1=100
July, 1994 19 24 37 19 1=100
May, 1993 25 29 30 14 2=100
June, 1992 26 26 31 16 1=100
Nov, 1991 27 24 32 16 1=100
May, 1990 19 28 41 11 1=100
Feb, 1989 20 30 37 12 1=100
May, 1988 17 28 42 12 1=100
May, 1987 14 29 44 11 2=100
u. Money is one of my most
important concerns 11 26 39 23 1=100
November, 1997 8 22 43 26 1=100
November, 1997 13 26 38 23 *=100
July, 1994 15 25 36 24 *=100
Nov, 1991 23 29 29 18 1=100
May, 1990 18 35 35 11 1=100
Feb, 1989 19 34 32 14 1=100
May, 1988 17 35 35 12 1=100
May, 1987 13 34 39 12 2=100
v. I'm pretty well satisfied with
the way things are going for
me financially 16 52 22 9 1=100
November, 1997 18 47 23 12 *=100
July, 1994 17 47 24 11 1=100
May, 1993 12 46 28 13 1=100
June, 1992 16 42 25 16 1=100
Nov, 1991 16 41 26 16 1=100
May, 1990 9 49 28 13 1=100
Feb, 1989 13 49 25 12 1=100
May, 1988 13 52 25 9 1=100
May, 1987 11 52 27 8 2=100
w. I feel it's my duty as a
citizen to always vote 64 27 5 3 1=100
November, 1997 63 26 7 4 *=100
July, 1994 66 27 4 3 *=100
May, 1993 66 28 4 1 1=100
June, 1992 69 22 6 2 1=100
Nov, 1991 72 21 4 2 1=100
May, 1990 50 35 9 4 2=100
Feb, 1989 64 26 6 2 2=100
May, 1988 56 32 7 2 3=100
May, 1987 46 39 9 3 3=100
x. I'm interested in keeping up
with national affairs 37 45 12 4 2=100
November, 1997 40 46 10 3 1=100
July, 1994 46 43 9 2 *=100
June, 1992 51 40 6 2 1=100
Nov, 1991 46 44 7 2 1=100
May, 1990 33 49 12 4 2=100
Feb, 1989 34 50 12 2 2=100
May, 1988 39 47 10 2 2=100
May, 1987 28 53 12 3 4=100
y. I'm generally bored by what
goes on in Washington 19 39 28 12 2=100
November, 1997 14 37 34 14 1=100
July, 1994 17 34 33 15 1=100
June, 1992 20 35 31 13 1=100
Nov, 1991 16 36 30 16 2=100
May, 1990 12 36 38 12 2=100
Feb, 1989 10 37 37 13 3=100
May, 1988 11 37 38 12 2=100
May, 1987 8 34 41 13 4=100
z. I'm pretty interested in
following local politics 18 48 26 6 2=100
November, 1997 20 48 25 6 1=100
July, 1994 24 52 18 5 1=100
June, 1992 26 47 21 5 1=100
Nov, 1991 29 48 16 5 2=100
May, 1990 17 53 23 6 1=100
Feb, 1989 24 49 21 5 1=100
May, 1988 21 51 22 5 1=100
May, 1987 16 54 22 4 4=100
aa. Most issues discussed in
Washington don't affect me
personally 8 30 42 18 2=100
November, 1997 8 27 45 19 1=100
July, 1994 5 25 42 27 1=100
June, 1992 7 26 43 22 2=100
Nov, 1991 8 25 41 23 3=100
May, 1990 7 28 46 16 3=100
Feb, 1989 7 26 44 20 3=100
May, 1988 7 29 45 17 2=100
May, 1987 5 26 50 15 4=100
bb. I feel guilty when I don't
get a chance to vote 36 32 20 9 3=100
November, 1997 36 32 17 12 3=100
July, 1994 38 32 18 9 3=100
June, 1992 39 30 16 9 6=100
Nov, 1991 46 28 14 8 4=100
May, 1990 30 37 22 8 3=100
Feb, 1989 38 34 17 7 4=100
May, 1988 32 37 18 8 5=100
May, 1987 25 41 22 6 6=100
cc. Sometimes I vote for a
candidate without really
knowing enough about him or her 12 42 26 17 3=100
November, 1997 14 38 26 20 2=100
July, 1994 14 38 27 20 1=100
June, 1992 14 38 25 20 3=100
Nov, 1991 18 36 22 22 2=100
May, 1990 12 41 27 15 5=100
Feb, 1989 15 41 24 17 3=100
May, 1988 12 44 24 15 15=100
May, 1987 9 44 28 13 6=100
Q.22 Some people seem to follow what's going on in government and public
affairs most of the time, whether there's an election or not. Others
aren't that interested. Would you say you follow what's going on in
government and public affairs...(READ)
Most of Some of Only Now Hardly Don't know/
The Time the Time and Then at All Refused
Late September, 1999 39 32 20 9 *=100
August, 1999 40 35 17 8 *=100
November, 1998 46 27 14 13 *=100
Early September, 1998 45 34 15 6 *=100
June, 1998 36 34 21 9 *=100
November, 1997 41 36 16 7 *=100
November, 1996 (RVs) 52 32 12 4 *=100
October, 1996 (RVs) 43 37 13 6 1=100
June, 1996 41 34 17 8 *=100
October, 1995 46 35 14 5 *=100
April, 1995 43 35 16 6 *=100
November, 1994 49 30 13 7 1=100
October, 1994 45 35 14 6 *=100
July, 1994 46 33 15 6 *=100
May, 1990 39 34 18 9 *=100
February, 1989 47 34 14 4 1=100
October, 1988 52 33 11 4 *=100
September, 1988 58 32 8 2 *=100
May, 1988 37 37 17 6 3=100
January, 1988 37 35 18 8 2=100
November, 1987 49 32 14 4 1=100
May, 1987 41 35 15 7 2=100
July, 1985 36 33 18 12 1=100
Q.23 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?
Nov 1997
39 Yes, Clinton 37
22 Yes, Dole 22
6 Yes, Perot 8
1 Yes, other candidate 1
1 Yes, don't remember which candidate 2
27 No, didn't vote/Too young 26
1 Don't Remember if voted 1
3 Refused 3
100 100
ASK ALL:
Q.24 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
29 Yes, Bush
6 Yes, Perot
* Yes, other candidate
1 Yes, don't remember which candidate
28 No, didn't vote/Too young
2 Don't Remember if voted
3 Refused
100
Q.24a 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?
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED "1" YES, ASK:
Q.24b Are you absolutely certain you voted, or is there a chance you may not have?
IF RESPONDENT ANSWERED "1" YES, CERTAIN, ASK:
Q.24c Did you happen to vote for a Republican candidate or a Democratic
candidate for U.S. Congress in your district?
51 Yes, voted
90 Absolutely certain
46 Republican
44 Democrat
2 Other/Independent Candidate
* Didn't vote for Congress
8 Don't know/Refused
9 Did not vote/ may not have voted
1 Don't know/Refused
45 No, didn't vote
2 No, too young to vote
2 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.25 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?
IF YES, ASK:
Q.26 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?
Yes, Absolutely Chance No, Not
Registered Certain Lapsed DK/Ref Registered DK/Ref.
Late September, 1999 74 69 5 * 24 2=100
Early September, 1998 77 74 3 * 22 1=100
Late August, 1998 78 75 3 * 22 *=100
June, 1998 78 73 4 1 22 *=100
November, 1997 80 75 4 1 20 *=100
September, 1997 79 76 3 * 20 1=100
November, 1996 76 69 2 * 24 *=100
June, 1996 79 75 4 0 21 *=100
October, 1995 76 73 3 * 23 1=100
April, 1995 76 74 2 0 23 1=100
December, 1994 74 70 3 1 24 2=100
November, 1994 73 70 2 1 26 1=100
Late October, 1994 77 74 3 0 22 1=100
Early October, 1994 76 72 4 * 23 1=100
July, 1994 79 75 4 0 20 1=100
May, 1993 82 -- -- -- 17 1=100
June, 1992 76 73 3 0 23 1=100
November, 1990 80 -- -- -- 20 *=100
ASK ALL:
Q.27 How often would you say you vote...(READ)
Nearly Part of (VOL.)
Always Always The time Seldom Other Never DK/Ref.
Late September, 1999 28 41 15 9 1 5 1=100
Early September, 1998 43 29 13 11 3 0 1=100
Late August, 1998 38 30 16 14 * 6 *=100
June, 1998 40 29 15 12 4 0 *=100
November, 1997 33 38 15 9 * 5 *=100
September, 1997 51 23 11 10 * 5 *=100
June, 1996 41 30 12 12 1 4 *=100
February, 1996 32 34 15 11 1 6 1=100
October, 1995 41 32 12 11 * 3 1=100
April, 1995 42 29 12 11 * 6 *=100
November, 1994 43 24 11 13 1 8 *=100
October, 1994 43 28 13 10 5 1 *=100
July, 1994 40 30 14 11 * 5 *=100
June, 1992 47 26 10 11 1 5 *=100
May, 1992 41 32 13 11 * 3 *=100
November, 1991 38 37 13 9 0 3 *=100
May, 1990 33 35 12 10 1 8 1=100
February, 1989 45 30 10 8 1 6 *=100
January, 1988 39 33 12 8 1 6 1=100
May, 1987 34 37 11 6 2 9 1=100
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