battleground 2008 xxxvi - gwu.edunewsctr/battlegroundoct2008/gwu-bg-poll-… · battleground 2008...
TRANSCRIPT
BATTLEGROUND 2008 BATTLEGROUND 2008 XXXVIXXXVI
September 28-October 2, 2008
N=1,000 Registered “Likely” Voters/±3.1% M.O.E.
Q2
43%
41%42%
13%13%13%
45%
43%41%
1% 1%1%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
McCain 42% 43% 41%Undecided 13% 13% 13%Obama 41% 43% 45%Other 1% 1% 1%
9/11 9/25 10/2
If the election for President were held today, and you had to If the election for President were held today, and you had to make a choice, for which candidate would you probably vote? make a choice, for which candidate would you probably vote?
(UNAIDED BALLOT)(UNAIDED BALLOT)
If the election for Congress were being held today, and you had If the election for Congress were being held today, and you had to to make a choice, would you be voting for the Republican candidate make a choice, would you be voting for the Republican candidate
or the Democratic candidate in your district?or the Democratic candidate in your district?
40% 41%37%
11% 12% 13% 14%
48% 46%49%
40%40%40%40%41%41% 40%41%
13%13% 14%10%
14%13%15%
47%49%46%47%49%
46%46%44%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Republican 41% 41% 40% 41% 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 41% 37%Undecided 15% 13% 14% 10% 13% 14% 11% 13% 12% 13% 14%Democrat 44% 46% 46% 49% 47% 46% 49% 47% 48% 46% 49%
Mar-05 Oct-05 Feb-06 Sep-06 Jul-07 Dec-07 5/1 8/14 9/11 9/25 10/2
Please tell me which Please tell me which oneone issue is issue is mostmost important for Congress to important for Congress to work on? work on?
6%5%
5%2%
5%5%
9%7%5%
26% 38%34%
5%5%
6%8%
5%8%
5%3%5%
10%8%8%
3%3%2%
4%5%
4%8%8%8%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
Iraq War
Illegal immigration
Taxes
Terrorism/homeland security
Education
Health care costs
Federal budget deficit
Economy/jobs
Gas/energy prices
Mortgage crisis
Retirement security
9/11/2008 9/25/2008 10/2/2008Q3
How would you rate the job Congress has been doing this year? How would you rate the job Congress has been doing this year?
Do you approve or disapprove of the job they are doing?Do you approve or disapprove of the job they are doing?
Q4
16%19% 17%19%
9%6%9%
8%
74%77%
72%
74%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Approve 19% 19% 17% 16%Unsure 8% 9% 6% 9%Disapprove 74% 72% 77% 74%
8/14 9/11 9/25 10/2
Please tell me if you have heard of this person, and if so, whetPlease tell me if you have heard of this person, and if so, whether her you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person.you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person.
““Barack ObamaBarack Obama””
Q5
38%
0%
57%57%57%57%54%59% 57%
46%
39%39% 37%40%33%28%21%
4%3%
6%5%6%7%8%
12% 0%0%0%0%3%6%0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Favorable 46% 59% 57% 54% 57% 57% 57% 57%Unfavorable 21% 28% 33% 40% 39% 37% 39% 38%No Opinion 12% 8% 7% 6% 5% 6% 3% 4%Never heard of 21% 6% 3% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Jan-07 Jul-07 Dec-07 5/7 8/1 9/11 9/25 10/2
Q6
55%
41%
5%0%
58%58%57%54%58%54%52%
62%65%
38%37%36%29%39%
33%25%
29%
18%
4%4%6%6%8%9%8%
12%11%
0%1%0% 0%5%4%6%7%7%0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Favorable 65% 52% 62% 54% 58% 54% 57% 58% 58% 55%Unfavorable 18% 29% 25% 33% 29% 39% 36% 37% 38% 41%No Opinion 11% 12% 8% 9% 8% 6% 6% 4% 4% 5%Never heard of 7% 7% 6% 4% 5% 0% 0% 1% 0% 0%
Feb-06 Sep-06 Jan-07 Jul-07 Dec-07 5/7 8/1 9/11 9/25 10/2
Please tell me if you have heard of this person, and if so, whetPlease tell me if you have heard of this person, and if so, whether her you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person.you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person.
““John McCainJohn McCain””
Q7
49% 48%48%
34%29%
36%
11%13%
9%7%9%8%
0%
20%
40%
60%
Favorable 48% 49% 48%Unfavorable 36% 29% 34%No Opinion 9% 13% 11%Never heard of 8% 9% 7%
9/25 9/11 10/2
Please tell me if you have heard of this person, and if so, whetPlease tell me if you have heard of this person, and if so, whether her you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person.you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person.
““Joe BidenJoe Biden””
Q8
53%48%
53%
41%
35%37%
8%7%7%
3%5%4%0%
20%
40%
60%
Favorable 53% 53% 48%Unfavorable 37% 35% 41%No Opinion 7% 7% 8%Never heard of 4% 5% 3%
9/25 9/11 10/2
Please tell me if you have heard of this person, and if so, whetPlease tell me if you have heard of this person, and if so, whether her you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person.you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of that person.
““Sarah Sarah PalinPalin””
If, for some reason, the candidates that you just mentioned chosIf, for some reason, the candidates that you just mentioned chose e not to run, which of the other candidates would be your next chonot to run, which of the other candidates would be your next choice?ice?
(Barr and Nader voters only)(Barr and Nader voters only)
Q9
54%
41%
29%
44%
7%
3%
13%10%
0%
20%
40%
60%
McCain-Palin 41% 54%Obama-Biden 44% 29%Other 3% 7%Unsure 13% 10%
9/25 10/2
If the election for President and Vice President were held todayIf the election for President and Vice President were held todayand you had to make a choice for whom would you vote?and you had to make a choice for whom would you vote?
Q9
48%
44%
47%
44% 45%
48%
1%1% 1%
2% 2%5%5%5%
0%
20%
40%
60%
McCain-Palin 48% 47% 44%Obama-Biden 44% 45% 48%Barr-Root 1% 1% 1%Nader-Gonzalez 1% 2% 2%Undecided 5% 5% 5%
9/11 9/25 10/2
If the election for President and Vice President were held todayIf the election for President and Vice President were held todayand you had to make a choice for whom would you vote?and you had to make a choice for whom would you vote?
(2(2--way ballot with Barr/Nader voters redistributed)way ballot with Barr/Nader voters redistributed)
Q9
48% 46%46% 49%
6%6%
0%
20%
40%
60%
McCain-Palin 48% 46%Obama-Biden 46% 49%Undecided 6% 6%
9/25 10/2
Q10
16%
9% 9%
26%25%20%
31%
22%
44%43%41%
35%35%
19%21%17%
28%
24%
18%
7%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Very Satisfied 22% 20% 31% 25% 26%Somewhat Satisfied 35% 35% 41% 43% 44%Somewhat Dissatisfied 24% 28% 17% 21% 19%Very Dissatisfied 18% 16% 7% 9% 9%
5/7 8/1 9/11 9/25 10/2
Overall, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the choice oOverall, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the choice of f candidates for president this year candidates for president this year ---- are you very satisfied, somewhat are you very satisfied, somewhat
satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied? satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied?
Q23
7%9% 10%11%
16%17%18%19%
40%40%
39%40%
25%25%27%21%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Extremely comfortable 11% 9% 10% 7%Very Comfortable 19% 18% 17% 16%Somewhat Comfortable 40% 39% 40% 40%Not at all Comfortable 27% 25% 21% 25%
8/8 9/11 9/25 10/2
Putting aside your own personal feelings for a moment, how Putting aside your own personal feelings for a moment, how comfortable do you think that your friends or neighbors would becomfortable do you think that your friends or neighbors would be
voting for a Presidential candidate who is 72 years old?voting for a Presidential candidate who is 72 years old?
Putting aside your own personal feelings for a moment, how Putting aside your own personal feelings for a moment, how comfortable do you think that your friends or neighbors would becomfortable do you think that your friends or neighbors would be
voting for a Presidential candidate who is African American?voting for a Presidential candidate who is African American?
Q23
6% 5%
19%20%18%
18%
31%27%
32%
27%
32%35%
31%
37%
6%7%
0%
20%
40%
Extremely comfortable 18% 20% 18% 19%Very Comfortable 27% 32% 27% 31%Somewhat Comfortable 37% 31% 35% 32%Not at all Comfortable 7% 6% 6% 5%
8/8 9/11 9/25 10/2
Q12
Thinking about what you might have seen, read or heard recently Thinking about what you might have seen, read or heard recently about about John McCainJohn McCain, has it made you more likely or less likely to , has it made you more likely or less likely to
vote for him?vote for him?
42%46%
43%
48%
37%
50%49%
44%
47%44%
4%
2%4%
8%13%
4%3%5%3%6%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
More Likely 37% 43% 48% 46% 42%Less Likely 44% 47% 44% 49% 50%No Difference 13% 8% 4% 2% 4%Unsure 6% 3% 5% 3% 4%
5/7 8/1 9/11 9/25 10/2
Q13
Thinking about what you might have seen, read or heard recently Thinking about what you might have seen, read or heard recently about about Barack ObamaBarack Obama, has it made you more likely or less likely to , has it made you more likely or less likely to
vote for him?vote for him?
51%49%
42%
48%
37%43%
46%46%
46%47%
2%1%2%
7%12%4%3%5%
5%4%0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
More Likely 37% 42% 48% 49% 51%Less Likely 47% 46% 46% 46% 43%No Difference 12% 7% 2% 1% 2%Unsure 4% 5% 5% 3% 4%
5/7 8/1 9/11 9/25 10/2
Regardless of who you intend to vote for, which candidate Regardless of who you intend to vote for, which candidate ---- John John McCain, or Barack Obama McCain, or Barack Obama ---- do you think is running a more do you think is running a more
negative campaign?negative campaign?
Q14
9%
32%28%
47%42% 44%50%
13%12%12%
10%4%5%
9%
9%
8%10%11%
21%
28%
0%
20%
40%
60%
McCain 50% 42% 44% 47%Both 10% 12% 12% 13%Neither / No difference 9% 9% 5% 4%Undecided 11% 10% 8% 9%Obama 21% 28% 32% 28%
8/8 9/11 9/25 10/2
Q15
Who better represents this quality: Who better represents this quality: Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?
IS A STRONG LEADERIS A STRONG LEADER
46%
50%52% 51%
48%
41%41%
37%37%
43%
30%
40%
50%
60%
McCain 48% 52% 51% 50% 46%Obama 43% 37% 37% 41% 41%
5/7 8/1 9/11 9/25 10/2
Q16
Who better represents this quality: Who better represents this quality: Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?
SHARES YOUR VALUESSHARES YOUR VALUES
43%45%
46%
45%43%
47%46%46%
43%
46%
30%
40%
50%
60%
McCain 43% 46% 45% 45% 43%Obama 46% 43% 46% 46% 47%
5/7 8/1 9/11 9/25 10/2
Q17
Who better represents this quality: Who better represents this quality: Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?
FIGHTS FOR PEOPLE LIKE MEFIGHTS FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME
37%39%39%
42%
33%
52%51%48%48%
53%
30%
40%
50%
60%
McCain 33% 39% 42% 39% 37%Obama 53% 48% 48% 51% 52%
5/7 8/1 9/11 9/25 10/2
Q18
Who better represents this quality: Who better represents this quality: Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?
WILL UNITE THE COUNTRYWILL UNITE THE COUNTRY
34%37%36%
39%
33%
52%49%
47%
50%53%
30%
40%
50%
60%
McCain 33% 36% 39% 37% 34%Obama 53% 50% 47% 49% 52%
5/7 8/1 9/11 9/25 10/2
Q18
Who better represents this quality: Who better represents this quality: Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?
WILL BRING CHANGE TO WASHINGTONWILL BRING CHANGE TO WASHINGTON
32%
29%
34%
57%55%
52%
25%
35%
45%
55%
McCain 34% 32% 29%Obama 52% 55% 57%
9/11 9/25 10/2
Q20
Who better represents this quality: Who better represents this quality: Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?
SAYS WHAT HE BELIEVESSAYS WHAT HE BELIEVES
41%42%
44%
44% 45%44%42%
40%
30%
40%
50%
60%
McCain 44% 42% 44% 41%Obama 40% 42% 44% 45%
8/1 9/11 9/25 10/2
Q21
Who better represents this quality: Who better represents this quality: Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?
HANDLING THE HEALTH CARE ISSUEHANDLING THE HEALTH CARE ISSUE
31%33%35% 34%
24%
55%53%52%54%61%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
McCain 24% 35% 34% 33% 31%Obama 61% 54% 52% 53% 55%
5/7 8/1 9/11 9/25 10/2
Q22
Who better represents this quality: Who better represents this quality: Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?
CAN REDUCE GAS AND ENERGY PRICESCAN REDUCE GAS AND ENERGY PRICES
35%
36%
40% 38%
31%
40%40%
37%37%
50%
30%
40%
50%
60%
McCain 31% 40% 38% 36% 35%Obama 50% 37% 37% 40% 40%
5/7 8/1 9/11 9/25 10/2
Q23
Who better represents this quality: Who better represents this quality: Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?
WILL KEEP AMERICA PROSPEROUSWILL KEEP AMERICA PROSPEROUS
38%41%
43% 43%41%
46%45%44%43%
47%
30%
40%
50%
60%
McCain 41% 43% 43% 41% 38%Obama 47% 43% 44% 45% 46%
5/7 8/1 9/11 9/25 10/2
Q24
Who better represents this quality: Who better represents this quality: Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?
WILL CREATE JOBS AND IMPROVE THE ECONOMYWILL CREATE JOBS AND IMPROVE THE ECONOMY
34%38%39% 39%
33%
52%49%47%
48%
54%
30%
40%
50%
60%
McCain 33% 39% 39% 38% 34%Obama 54% 48% 47% 49% 52%
5/7 8/1 9/11 9/25 10/2
Q24
Who better represents this quality: Who better represents this quality: Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama?
KEEPING AMERICA SAFE AND SECUREKEEPING AMERICA SAFE AND SECURE
55%55%
57%
37%36%
33%
30%
40%
50%
60%
McCain 57% 55% 55%Obama 33% 36% 37%
9/11 9/25 10/2