The AP's Poll on politics and the congressional elections

Yahoo ^ | 9/17/02

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

The Associated Press poll on politics is based on telephone interviews with 758 randomly selected registered voters from all states except Alaska and Hawaii. The interviews were conducted Sept. 6-10 by ICR/International Communications Research of Media, Pa.

The results were weighted to represent the population by key demographic factors such as age, sex, region and education.

In the poll, no more than one time in 20 should chance variations in the sample cause the results to vary by more than 3.5 percentage points from the answers that would be obtained if all Americans were polled.

This margin of error is larger for responses of subgroups, such as income categories. There are other sources of potential error in polls, including the wording and order of questions.

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1. If the elections for Congress were held today, which party's candidate would you vote for in your district? Would you vote for ...

_The Democratic Party candidate, 40 percent.

_The Republican Party candidate, 40 percent.

_Neither, 5 percent.

_Don't know, 14 percent.

_Refused, 1 percent.

2. Which one of the following issues do you think is the most important in the elections for Congress?

_The economy, 23 percent.

_Education, 19 percent.

_Health care, 18 percent.

_Fighting terrorism, 17 percent.

_Social Security, 9 percent.

_Taxes, 8 percent.

_Decline of the stock market, 1 percent.

_Don't know-refused, 5 percent.

3. When it comes to dealing with the economy and jobs, which party do you think would do a better job?

_Democratic Party, 23 percent.

_Republican Party, 21 percent.

_Both about the same, 38 percent.

_Neither, 13 percent.

_Don't know-refused, 5 percent.

4. When it comes to dealing with national security and the war on terrorism, which party do you think would do a better job?

_Democratic Party, 15 percent.

_Republican Party, 37 percent.

_Both about the same, 36 percent.

_Neither, 8 percent.

_Don't know-refused, 4 percent.

5. In general, do you think it is better for the same political party to control both the Congress and the presidency so they can work together more closely or do you think it is better to have different political parties controlling the Congress and the presidency to prevent either one from going too far?

_Better if same party controls Congress and the presidency, 32 percent.

_Better if different parties control Congress and the presidency, 61 percent.

_Don't know-refused, 7 percent.

[PhiKapMom]

These national polls really don't tell a lot because Congressional politics is local to a State or a district. What someone thinks in CA is not even close to what someone thinks here in OK.

That is why in 1994, the Republican landslide was missed. You have to take district and State polls to really tell what is going on and even then most of the people I know what answer their phone when pollsters call which seem to come in "unavailable."

Just my two cents worth what I think of National polls for Congressional seats! Not Much!

[eureka!]

PKM--spot on analysis--you have become quite the astute observer/pundit. ;^) Politics are indeed local at this level. In any event, I can live with these numbers....

[The Vast Right Wing]

Not too mention that it was taken before GWB's bofo performance on Sept 12.

[KC_Conspirator]

That is why in 1994, the Republican landslide was missed.

That was part of the reason. The other reason was the incredulity of the left and the media (but I repeat myself). They just could not believe that there was so much displeasure at Klinton and the democrats for raising taxes, gays in the military, Jocelyn Elders, Somalia, Travelgate, and a whole host of other liberal ideas.

[Wait4Truth]

Yeah, I hope we have another "temper tantrum" in November. The leftist media will never see it coming. By the way, off the subject, but The New York Juvenile Diabetes Foundation just made clinton their man of the year. Another charity to cross off the list.

[TexasRepublicans]

Tell me sages, what IS going to happen in November? I would especially like to hear from someone who correctly predicted the 1994 landslide if you are out there....of the pundits, I think only Kondracke correctly that.

[KC_Conspirator]

Ah yes, the old Peter Jennings "America threw a temper tantrum" quote from the Republican Revolution of 94'. I also remember a talking head repeating in disbelief that a Christian Bookstore owner had been elected to Congress.

[Wait4Truth]

Mort Kondrake is about the only honest Democrat on tv today. I will be watching what he has to say closer to November. And Peter Jennings can kiss my Republican butt! I detest him and his anti-Americanism - I wish he'd go back to Canada where he belongs. He disgusts me. His comments about President Bush not returning immediately to the White House on 9-11 made my blood boil. Thankfully, he has been outed by the truth of what really happened that day and he was forced to eat crow. I think it may be close in November but I honestly have some hope that we will retake the Senate and I do think we will keep the House. The governorships are more of a problem. Might not be any good news there but I don't think we'll lose as many as the lib media predicts.

[Wait4Truth]

Christians are bad, bad, bad! Saddam and Castro are good, good, good! The fact that the media is defending those three in Florida against that patriotic lady that reported the conversation she overheard tells the whole story. I do not believe for one moment that this lady is lying and I hope and pray those three get whats coming to them. Some joke! In fact, I'm not so sure it was a joke! Why did the dogs react as they did? Good question.

[KQQL]

@

[newfreep]

What's the latest battleground poll results?

[Coop]

The governorships are more of a problem. Might not be any good news there but I don't think we'll lose as many as the lib media predicts.

HI, MD and CA.

[Wait4Truth]

You know what? I feel almost as much in a turmoil as I did in November of 2000! Also, I wish Scott Ritter would fall into a hole. He is on CNN and he makes me sick. Just venting...grrrrrr!