Posted on 09/01/2002 4:02:43 PM PDT by Timesink
NEW YORK, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly a year after the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., the majority of Americans (61%) still approve of the way President George W. Bush is handling his job, according to the latest Newsweek Poll though that number is slightly lower from the last Poll on July 18-19, when his rating was 65 percent and has slipped from 73 percent in the Newsweek Poll in May and from the high 80s, where he polled just after Sept. 11. The president also gets high ratings for his fight against the war on terrorism overseas (68% approve, 26% disapprove), and on policies to prevent and minimize terrorism at home (72% approve, 23% disapprove). And with focus shifting to Iraq, a 62-percent majority of Americans say they would support military action against Iraq (31% would not), the Poll shows.
Majorities would also support using air strikes against Iraq without any troops (63%), sending in commandos or special forces to capture Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein or work with local anti-Saddam forces (70%), and organizing an international force to force Saddam from power and take control of the country (69%). And more people (49%) favor sending in large numbers of U.S. ground troops to ensure control of the country than oppose doing so (45%). However, majorities also think it's important for the president to get various levels of approval before any action against Iraq is taken. Eightyfive percent say it's somewhat important (24%) to very important (61%) for President Bush to get Congressional approval first; 86 percent say it's somewhat important (28%) to very important (58%) for him to get support from most of our European allies; 81 percent say it's somewhat important (26%) to very important (55%) to get formal support from the United Nations; and 81 percent say it's somewhat important (30%) to very important (51%) to get support from most of the Arab countries that are friendly to the United States.
As to the threat of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, a 77-percent majority thinks he is still alive and 54 percent of those polled say removing top Al Qaeda leaders will not be enough to eliminate the threat against the U.S. because too many cells and potential leaders would remain. Twenty-seven percent say it will be necessary not only to capture or kill bin Laden to remove the threat, but to also capture or kill other top leaders in his organization. The majority of people (66%) think it is somewhat (48%) to very likely (18%) that more terrorist attacks will be carried out against major U.S. cities, buildings or national landmarks between now and the end of the year. Most people think such an attack could be carried out by chemical or biological weapons (34%), conventional weapons (26%), or a "dirty bomb" that spreads
Radioactive material (14%). Only three percent think it could be carried out by airliners and skyjacking, and four percent say nuclear weapons (4%). The majority (60%) are also somewhat (47%) to very confident (13%) that U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies will be able to prevent future terrorist attacks in this country. Twenty-six percent say they are not too confident and 15 percent say they are not confident at all.
Still, 42 percent of Americans say they feel safe, with only 9 percent saying they feel a lot less safe since September 11, and 19 percent saying somewhat less safe. The majority of Americans (63%) is more worried about the economy and the job situation than they are about the threat of another terrorist attack (19%). And the overwhelming majority of Americans have not changed their habits because of concerns about terrorism. Seventy-seven percent say they are not avoiding air travel, or staying close to home (84%), avoiding large cities (83%), crowded public places (84%), or people who appear to be Arab or Middle Eastern (87%). However, more people say they feel more patriotic (75%) and more are spending more time with family (56%).
And most people think there have been at least some to a lot of safety and security improvements since September 11 at airports and on commercial airplanes (33% say some, 52% say a lot); at major business and government buildings (38% say some, 38% say a lot); at national landmarks (34% say some, 35% say a lot); at nuclear power plants (30% say some, 33% say a lot); at stadiums and sports arenas (38% say some, 28% say a lot); at major dams and reservoirs (35% say some, 19% say a lot); at major bridges and tunnels (34% say some, 19% say a lot), and at postal facilities (37% say some, 26% say a lot).
On the issue of civil liberties, opinion is evenly split on whether it will be necessary for the average person to give some up in order to curb terrorism, with 47 percent saying it's necessary and 47 percent saying it is not. However, 58 percent say what the Bush administration has done so far in restricting civil liberties in response to terrorism has been about right. Only 16 percent say it has gone too far. But the majority (62%) says making it easier for intelligence and law enforcement agents to monitor people's private telephone conversations and e-mail goes too far, as does using race, religion, or ethnicity as a factor in determining who is a suspected terrorist (59%). Eighty percent say detaining people at airports solely because of their religion goes too far and 63 percent say giving government the power to detain American citizens suspected of crimes indefinitely without review by a judge also goes too far.
Public opinion is more evenly split on President Bush's handling of the economy (48% approve, 45% disapprove), taxes (49% approve, 42% disapprove), the environment (52% approve, 36% disapprove) and energy policy (47% approve, 33% disapprove). And when asked if the November election for U.S. Congress were held today, opinion was almost evenly split with 40 percent saying they would choose the Democratic Party's candidate and 45 percent saying they would choose the Republican Party's candidate.
For this Newsweek Poll, Princeton Survey Research Associates interviewed by telephone 1,005 adults aged 18 and older on August 28-29, 2002. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points. This Newsweek Poll is part of the September 9 issue (on newsstands Monday, September 2).
(Poll attached. Read Newsweek's news releases at
http://www.newsweek.msnbc.com/. Click "Pressroom.")
Newsweek Poll
One Year After 9/11
Princeton Survey Research Associates
Final Topline Results
(8/30/02)
N = 1005 adults, 18 and over
Margin of error: plus or minus 3 percentage points
Interviewing dates: 8/28-29/02
SAMPLE SIZE/MARGIN OF ERROR FOR KEY SUBGROUPS:
842 Registered Voters (plus or minus 4)
NOTE: An asterisk (*) indicates a value less than one percent.
Question 1 for classification purposes only.
2a/b. If the November election 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 OTHER/UNDECIDED, RESPONDENTS WERE ASKED] As of TODAY, do you
LEAN more toward...the Republican or the Democrat?
BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS
Total Rep Total Dem Undecided/Other
Current Total 45 40 15 = 100
Trends
June 2002 44 46 10 = 100
February 2002 46 45 9 = 100
10/8-9/98 43 45 12 = 100
9/24-25/98 43 48 9 = 100
9/10-11/98 43 45 12 = 100
8/20-21/98 41 47 12 = 100
NOTE: Trends from June and February 2002 from Pew Research Center.
Trend question wording read "If the elections for U.S. Congress ..."
3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his
job as president?
Approve Disapprove DK
Current Total 61 30 9 = 100
Trends
(7/18-19/02) 65 25 10 = 100
(7/11-12/02) 68 22 10 = 100
(6/27-28/02) 70 19 11 = 100
(5/16-17/02) 73 20 7 = 100
(4/25-26/02) 71 16 13 = 100
(3/21-22/02) 74 16 10 = 100
(2/12-18/02)** 78 13 9 = 100
(1/31-2/1/02) 83 12 5 = 100
(12/13-14/01) 81 11 8 = 100
(12/6-7/01) 82 12 6 = 100
(11/29-30/01) 85 9 6 = 100
(11/15-16/01) 85 10 5 = 100
(11/8-9/01) 85 8 7 = 100
(11/1-2/01) 85 11 4 = 100
(10/25-26/01) 85 10 5 = 100
(10/18-19/01) 88 8 4 = 100
(10/11-12/01) 88 8 4 = 100
(10/4-5/01) 84 11 5 = 100
(9/27-28/01) 86 9 5 = 100
(9/20-21/01) 86 10 4 = 100
(9/13-14/01) 82 11 7 = 100
(8/25-9/5/01)** 51 34 15 = 100
(8/2-8/01)** 50 32 18 = 100
(7/2-12/01)** 51 32 17 = 100
(6/13-17/01) 50 33 17 = 100
(5/10-11/01) 50 31 19 = 100
(5/3-4/01) 57 30 13 = 100
(4/12-13/01) 57 28 15 = 100
(3/15-16/01) 55 30 15 = 100
(2/15-16/01) 56 21 23 = 100
(2/8-9/01) 52 25 23 = 100
**NOTE: Bush approval trends for June-early September 2001 and February
12-18, 2002 from Pew Research Center.
4. Next, please tell me whether you approve or disapprove of the way
George W. Bush is handling each of the following specific aspects of
his job. (First,) do you approve or disapprove of the way he is
handling...(INSERT-READ ITEMS IN ORDER)
Approve Disapprove DK
a. The war against terrorism overseas
Current Total 68 26 6 = 100
Trends
(5/16-17/02) 76 20 4 = 100
(1/31-2/1/02) 86 11 3 = 100
b. Policies to prevent and minimize
terrorism at home
Current Total 72 23 5 = 100
Trends
(5/16-17/02) 71 23 6 = 100
(1/31-2/1/02) 82 14 4 = 100
c. The economy
Current Total 48 45 7 = 100
Trends
(5/3-5/4/2001) 53 34 13 = 100
(4/12-13/01) 48 36 16 = 100
d. Taxes
Current Total 49 42 9 = 100
Trends
(5/3-5/4/2001) 53 37 10 = 100
(4/12-13/01) 48 40 12 = 100
e. The environment
Current Total 52 36 12 = 100
Trends
(5/3-5/4/2001) 45 41 14 = 100
(4/12-13/01) 42 39 19 = 100
f. Energy policy
Current Total 47 33 20 = 100
Trends
(5/3-5/4/2001) 44 39 17 = 100
(4/12-13/01) 41 3 21 =100
5. In the fight against terrorism, the Bush Administration has talked
about using military force against Saddam Hussein and his military in
Iraq. Would you support using military force against Iraq, or not?
Yes No DK
Current Total 62 31 7 = 100
Trends
(4/25-26/02) 68 24 8 = 100
(12/13-14/01) 78 15 7 = 100
(10/11-12/01) 81 15 4 = 100
6. Please tell me whether or not you would support each of the following
kinds of U.S. military action against IRAQ and its leader Saddam
Hussein. (First,) what about...(READ ITEMS IN ORDER)?
(Would you support this kind of military action or not?)
Yes No DK
a. Using air strikes against Iraq without any troops
on the ground
Current Total 63 30 7 = 100
Trend
(11/29-30/01) 68 23 9 = 100
b. Sending in commandos or special forces to capture
Saddam Hussein or work with local anti-Saddam
forces
Current Total 70 23 7 = 100
Trend
(11/29-30/01) 74 19 7 = 100
c. Sending in large numbers of U.S. ground troops to
ensure control of the country
Current Total 49 45 6 = 100
Trend
(11/29-30/01) 56 40 4 = 100
d. Organizing an INTERNATIONAL force to force Saddam
Hussein from power and take control of the country
Current Total 69 25 6 = 100
Trend
(11/29-30/01) 65 28 7 = 100
7. How important do you think it is that President Bush first get ...
(READ ITEMS IN ORDER) before taking military action against Iraq?
Is it very important, somewhat important, not too important or not at
all important?
Very Somewhat Not too Not at all DK
a. The approval of Congress
Current Total 61 24 6 7 2 = 100
Trends
(2/19-20/98) 66 19 6 6 3 = 100
(1/10-11/91) 60 22 6 9 3 = 100
b. Formal support from the
United Nations
Current 55 26 8 9 2 = 100
c. Support from most of our
European allies
Current 58 28 7 5 2 = 100
d. Support from most of the
Arab countries that are
friendly to the
United States
Current 51 30 8 8 3 = 100
NOTE: Trend from 1998 asked about Clinton and trend from 1991 asked about
George Bush Sr.
8. What do you think it will take for the United States to eliminate the
threat of future acts of terrorism against this country by Al Queda,
Osama bin Laden's organization? (READ)
Current 1/31-2/1/02 11/15-16/01
10 Will it be enough to capture or 9 11
kill bin Laden, OR
27 Will it ALSO be necessary to capture 32 43
or kill other top leaders in his
organization, OR
54 Will removing top leaders NOT eliminate 53 40
the threat because too many cells and
potential leaders would remain?
9 Don't know 6 6
100 100 100
Maybe Newsweek is polling their own staff ... :-)
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