Hot Topics
Survey Reports
December 20, 2004
Public Opinion Little Changed by Presidential Election
Questionnaire
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE PRESS
DECEMBER 2004 POLITICAL TYPOLOGY SURVEY
FINAL TOPLINE
December 1 - 16, 2004
N=2000
ON FORM ONE Q.1/1a PRECEDES Q.2 --- ON FORM TWO, Q.2 PRECEDES Q.1/1a
Q.1 Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president?
[IF DK ENTER AS DK. IF DEPENDS PROBE ONCE WITH: Overall do you approve or disapprove of
the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? IF STILL DEPENDS ENTER AS DK]
Dis- Don't
Approve approve know
December, 2004 48 44 8=100
Mid-October, 2004 44 48 8=100
August, 2004 46 45 9=100
July, 2004 46 46 8=100
June, 2004 48 43 9=100
May, 2004 44 48 8=100
Late April, 2004 48 43 9=100
Early April, 2004 43 47 10=100
Late March, 2004 47 44 9=100
Mid-March, 2004 46 47 7=100
February, 2004 48 44 8=100
Mid-January, 2004 56 34 10=100
Early January, 2004 58 35 7=100
2003
December, 2003 57 34 9=100
November, 2003 50 40 10=100
October, 2003 50 42 8=100
September, 2003 55 36 9=100
Mid-August, 2003 56 32 12=100
Early August, 2003 53 37 10=100
Mid-July, 2003 58 32 10=100
Early July, 2003 60 29 11=100
June, 2003 62 27 11=100
May, 2003 65 27 8=100
April 10-16, 2003 72 22 6=100
April 9, 2003 74 20 6=100
April 2-7, 2003 69 25 6=100
March 28-April 1, 2003 71 23 6=100
March 25-27, 2003 70 24 6=100
March 20-24, 2003 67 26 7=100
March 13-16, 2003 55 34 11=100
February, 2003 54 36 10=100
January, 2003 58 32 10=100
2002
December, 2002 61 28 11=100
Late October, 2002 59 29 12=100
Early October, 2002 61 30 9=100
Mid-September, 2002 67 22 11=100
Early September, 2002 63 26 11=100
Late August, 2002 60 27 13=100
August, 2002 67 21 12=100
Late July, 2002 65 25 10=100
July, 2002 67 21 12=100
June, 2002 70 20 10=100
April, 2002 69 18 13=100
Early April, 2002 74 16 10=100
February, 2002 78 13 9=100
January, 2002 80 11 9=100
2001
Mid-November, 2001 84 9 7=100
Early October, 2001 84 8 8=100
Late September, 2001 86 7 7=100
Mid-September, 2001 80 9 11=100
Early September, 2001 51 34 15=100
August, 2001 50 32 18=100
July, 2001 51 32 17=100
June, 2001 50 33 17=100
May, 2001 53 32 15=100
April, 2001 56 27 17=100
March, 2001 55 25 20=100
February, 2001 53 21 26=100
IF APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE (1,2 IN Q.1) ASK:
Q.1a Do you (approve/disapprove) very strongly, or not so strongly?
Nov 2003 Sept 2003 June 2002 April 2001
48 Approve 50 55 70 56
34 Very strongly 34 35 46 34
12 Not so strongly 14 18 21 20
2 Don't know (VOL) 2 2 3 2
44 Disapprove 40 36 20 27
35 Very strongly 30 27 8 18
8 Not so strongly 9 9 12 9
1 Don't know (VOL) 1 * 0 *
8 Don't know/Refused 10 9 10 17
100 100 100 100 100
ASK ALL:
Q.2 All in all, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in this
country today?
Sat- Dis- No
isfied satisfied Opinion
December, 2004 39 54 7=100
Mid-October, 2004 36 58 6=100
July, 2004 38 55 7=100
May, 2004 33 61 6=100
Late February, 2004 39 55 6=100
Early January, 2004 45 48 7=100
December, 2003 44 47 9=100
October, 2003 38 56 6=100
August, 2003 40 53 7=100
April, 2003 50 41 9=100
January, 2003 44 50 6=100
November, 2002 41 48 11=100
September, 2002 41 55 4=100
Late August, 2002 47 44 9=100
May, 2002 44 44 12=100
March, 2002 50 40 10=100
Late September, 2001 57 34 9=100
Early September, 2001 41 53 6=100
June, 2001 43 52 5=100
March, 2001 47 45 8=100
February, 2001 46 43 11=100
January, 2001 55 41 4=100
October, 2000 (RV's) 54 39 7=100
September, 2000 51 41 8=100
June, 2000 47 45 8=100
April, 2000 48 43 9=100
August, 1999 56 39 5=100
January, 1999 53 41 6=100
November, 1998 46 44 10=100
Early September, 1998 54 42 4=100
Late August, 1998 55 41 4=100
Early August, 1998 50 44 6=100
February, 1998 59 37 4=100
January, 1998 46 50 4=100
September, 1997 45 49 6=100
August, 1997 49 46 5=100
January, 1997 38 58 4=100
July, 1996 29 67 4=100
March, 1996 28 70 2=100
October, 1995 23 73 4=100
June, 1995 25 73 2=100
April, 1995 23 74 3=100
July, 1994 24 73 3=100
March, 1994 24 71 5=100
October, 1993 22 73 5=100
September, 1993 20 75 4=100
May, 1993 22 71 7=100
January, 1993 39 50 11=100
January, 1992 28 68 4=100
November, 1991 34 61 5=100
Late Feb, 1991 (Gallup) 66 31 3=100
August, 1990 47 48 5=100
May, 1990 41 54 5=100
January, 1989 45 50 5=100
September, 1988 (RVs) 50 45 5=100
May, 1988 41 54 5=100
January, 1988 39 55 6=100
QUESTIONS 3 - 6 HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE
Q.7 Here are some stories covered by news organizations this past month. For each, please tell
me if you happened to follow this news story very closely, fairly closely, not too closely,
or not at all closely. [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE WITH ITEMS a FIRST, FOLLOWED BY RANDOMIZED
ITEMS b THRU e; OBSERVE FORM SPLITS AND DATES]
Very Fairly Not too Not at all
Closely Closely Closely Closely DK/Ref
a. News about the current situation in Iraq 34 44 15 6 1=100
Mid-October, 2004 42 38 11 8 1=100
Early September, 2004 47 37 9 6 1=100
August, 2004 39 42 12 6 1=100
July, 2004 43 40 11 6 *=100
June, 2004 39 42 12 6 1=100
April, 2004 54 33 8 5 *=100
Mid-March, 2004 47 36 12 4 1=100
Early February, 2004 47 38 10 4 1=100
Mid-January, 2004 48 39 9 4 *=100
December, 2003 44 38 11 6 1=100
November, 2003 52 33 9 5 1=100
October, 2003 38 40 14 7 1=100
September, 2003 50 33 10 6 1=100
Mid-August, 2003 45 39 10 5 1=100
Early July, 2003 37 41 13 8 1=100
June, 2003 46 35 13 6 *=100
May, 2003 63 29 6 2 *=100
April 11-16, 2003 47 40 10 2 1=100
April 2-7, 2003 54 34 9 2 1=100
March 20-24, 2003 57 33 7 2 1=100
March 13-16, 2003 62 27 6 4 1=100
February, 2003 62 25 8 4 1=100
January, 2003 55 29 10 4 2=100
December, 2002 51 32 10 6 1=100
Late October, 2002 53 33 8 5 1=100
Early October, 2002 60 28 6 5 1=100
Early September, 2002 48 29 15 6 2=100
ASK FORM 1 ONLY, DECEMBER 1-7, 2004 ONLY [N=523]:
b1.F1 A fistfight between players and fans
at an NBA game 24 25 25 26 *=100
ASK FORM 1 ONLY, DECEMBER 8-15, 2004 ONLY [N=419]:
b2.F2 Recent reports of steroid use by some
Major League Baseball players 22 28 23 27 0=100
ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=993]:
c.F1 Controversy over the results of the recent
election in Ukraine 10 22 29 38 1=100
Very Fairly Not too Not at all
Closely Closely Closely Closely DK/Ref
ASK FORM 2 ONLY, DECEMBER 1-7, 2004 ONLY [N=523]:
d1.F2 The conviction of Scott Peterson for the
murder of his wife, Laci Peterson 21 27 27 24 1=100
April, 2004 20 37 24 17 2=100
July, 2003 22 34 26 17 1=100
May, 2003 31 31 21 16 1=100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY, DECEMBER 8-15, 2004 ONLY [N=436]:
d2.F2 The debate in Washington over reorganizing
the nation's intelligence system 16 31 29 22 2=100
ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=1007]:
e.F2 The death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat 18 38 25 17 2=100
NO QUESTION 8
ASK ALL:
Q.9 Can you tell me the name of the person George W. Bush has nominated to replace Colin Powell as
Secretary of State?
43 Yes, Correct, Condoleeza Rice / Condi / Rice
5 Yes, Incorrect, any other person
52 No, Don't know/Refused
100
Q.10 Do you happen to know when Iraq is scheduled to hold its first national elections? Will it be
this winter, sometime in the spring, or later in the summer?
57 This winter
10 Sometime in the spring
5 Later in the summer
28 Don't know/Refused
100
QUESTIONS 11 - 14 HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE
Q.15 How would you rate economic conditions in this country today as excellent, good, only fair,
or poor?
Only Don't know/
Excellent Good Fair Poor Refused
December, 2004 3 33 43 20 1=100
Early November, 2004 (RVs) 5 31 37 26 1=100
Mid-September, 2004 4 34 40 20 2=100
August, 2004 3 30 45 21 1=100
Late April, 2004 4 34 38 22 2=100
Late February, 2004 2 29 42 26 1=100
February 9-12, 2004 (Gallup) 2 31 46 21 0=100
January 12-15, 2004 (Gallup) 3 34 42 21 0=100
January 2-5, 2004 (Gallup) 3 40 41 16 *=100
December 11-14, 2003 (Gallup) 3 34 44 19 *=100
November 3-5, 2003 (Gallup) 2 28 49 21 *=100
October 24-26, 2003 (Gallup) 2 24 44 30 *=100
October 6-8, 2003 (Gallup) 2 20 50 27 1=100
September 8-10, 2003 (Gallup) 1 20 49 30 *=100
August 4-6, 2003 (Gallup) 1 24 52 23 *=100
August 5-8, 2002 (Gallup) 1 27 52 19 1=100
August 16-19, 2001 (Gallup) 2 34 49 14 1=100
August 18-19, 2000 (Gallup) 25 49 21 4 1=100
August 24-26, 1999 (Gallup) 14 50 28 7 1=100
September 1, 1998 (Gallup) 11 54 25 9 1=100
August 22-25, 1997 (Gallup) 8 41 38 13 *=100
October 26-29, 1996 (Gallup) 5 42 39 13 1=100
November 6-8, 1995 (Gallup) 2 28 47 22 1=100
July 15-17, 1994 (Gallup) 1 26 52 21 *=100
June 29-30, 1993 (Gallup) 1 14 52 32 1=100
Aug. 31-Sept., 1992 (Gallup) (RVs) 1 9 37 53 *=100
QUESTION 16 - 44 HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE
Q.45 Do you think the U.S. made the right decision or the wrong decision in using military force
against Iraq?
Right Wrong Don't know/
decision decision Refused
December, 2004 49 44 7=100
November, 2004 (RVs) 48 41 11=100
Mid-October, 2004 46 42 12=100
Early October, 2004 50 39 11=100
Early September, 2004 53 39 8=100
August, 2004 53 41 6=100
July, 2004 52 43 5=100
June, 2004 55 38 7=100
May, 2004 51 42 7=100
Early April, 2004 57 35 8=100
Mid-March, 2004 55 39 6=100
Late February, 2004 60 32 8=100
Early February, 2004 56 39 5=100
Mid-January, 2004 65 30 5=100
Early January, 2004 62 28 10=100
December, 2003 67 26 7=100
October, 2003 60 33 7=100
September, 2003 63 31 6=100
August, 2003 63 30 7=100
Early July, 2003 67 30 7=100
May, 2003 74 20 6=100
Q.46 How well is the U.S. military effort in Iraq going? [READ IN ORDER]
Very Fairly Not too Not at all Don't know/
well well well well Refused
December, 2004 10 40 28 18 4=100
Mid-October, 2004 13 38 26 17 6=100
Early September, 2004 12 40 26 18 4=100
August, 2004 12 41 28 16 3=100
July, 2004 13 42 26 16 3=100
June, 2004 16 41 25 14 4=100
May, 2004 10 36 32 19 3=100
Late April, 2004 12 43 26 15 4=100
Early April, 2004 14 43 26 13 4=100
Mid-March, 2004 16 45 26 11 2=100
Early February, 2004 17 46 23 11 3=100
Mid-January, 2004 22 51 18 6 3=100
Early January, 2004 23 47 18 7 5=100
December, 2003 28 47 16 6 3=100
October, 2003 16 44 25 11 4=100
September, 2003 15 47 26 9 3=100
August, 2003 19 43 24 11 3=100
Early July, 2003 23 52 16 5 4=100
April 10-16, 2003 61 32 3 1 3=100
April 8-9, 2003 60 32 3 3 2=100
April 2-7, 2003 55 37 3 2 3=100
March 25-April 1, 2003 39 46 8 2 5=100
March 23-24, 2003 45 41 6 2 6=100
March 20-22, 2003 65 25 2 1 7=100
Q.47 Do you think the U.S. should keep military troops in Iraq until the situation has stabilized, or do you think
the U.S. should bring its troops home as soon as possible?
Mid- Early Late Early Early
Oct Sept Aug July June May April April Jan Oct Sept
2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2003 2003
56 Keep troops in Iraq 57 54 54 53 51 53 53 50 63 58 64
40 Bring troops home 36 40 42 43 44 42 40 44 32 39 32
4 Don't know/Refused 7 6 4 4 5 5 7 6 5 3 4
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
QUESTIONS 48-49 HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE
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