NBC/WSJ Poll
NBC News/Wall Street Journal
Study #6057
HART/MCINTURFF
NBC News/Wall Street Journal
October 2005
1. All in all, do you think that things in the nation are generally headed
in the right direction, or do you feel that things are off on the wrong
track?
10/05
Headed in the right direction 28
Off on the wrong track 59
Mixed (VOL) 10
Not sure 3
3a. In general, do you approve or disapprove of the job that George W. Bush
is doing as president?
10/05
Approve 39
Disapprove 54
Not sure 7
4. What is your preference for the outcome of the 2006 congressional
elections--a Congress controlled by Republicans or a Congress controlled by
Democrats?
10/05+
Republican-controlled Congress 39
Democrat-controlled Congress 48
Not sure 13
7. I'm going to read you several issues. For each one, please tell me
whether you think that the worst is still ahead, that we are slowly putting the
worst behind us with a long way to go, that we are quickly putting the worst
behind us and better times are near, or that we have turned the corner and
better times are here.
THIS TABLE HAS BEEN RANKED BY THE PERCENTAGE WHO
SAY THE WORST IS STILL AHEAD |
|
The Worst
Is Still
Ahead |
We Are Slowly
Putting The
Worst Behind
Us With A Long
Way To Go |
We Are Quickly
Putting The
Worst Behind
Us And Better
Times Are Near |
We Have
Turned The
Corner And
Better Times
Are Here |
Not
Sure |
|
Energy and fuel prices *..... |
69 |
22 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
[158] |
Gas prices ** ............... |
61 |
30 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
[162] |
* Asked of one-half the respondents (FORM A).
** Asked of one-half the respondents (FORM B). |
9. As you may know, President Bush recently nominated Harriet Miers to serve
as a justice on the Supreme Court. Do you strongly support, somewhat support,
somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose Harriet Miers' serving as a justice on the
Supreme Court, or do you not know enough about her to say?
Strongly support................. 11 [164]
Somewhat support..................16
Somewhat oppose...................10
Strongly oppose...................11
Do not know enough to say.........51
Not sure ..........................1
JOHN ROBERTS – SEPTEMBER 9-12, 2005 As you may know, President Bush
recently nominated John Roberts to serve as the next Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court. Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or
strongly oppose John Roberts' serving as the next Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, or do you not know enough about him to say?
10. Based on what you have heard so far, do you think that Harriet Miers is
qualified or not qualified to be a Supreme Court justice, or do you not know
enough about her to say?
Qualified.........................29 [165]
Not qualified.....................24
Do not know enough to say.........46
Not sure ......................... 1
11. I'm going to read you several things about Harriet Miers. For each one,
please tell me whether this makes you feel more positive about Harriet Miers
sitting on the Supreme Court, less positive, or does it make no difference to
you either way?
THIS TABLE HAS BEEN RANKED BY THE PERCENTAGE WHO
SAY MORE POSITIVE |
|
More Positive |
Less Positive |
No Difference |
Either Way |
Not Sure |
She was the first woman to be president of the Texas Bar Association |
47 |
10 |
42 |
1 |
[166] |
She has been named one of America's one hundred most powerful lawyers |
45 |
14 |
39 |
2 |
[169] |
She has worked for President Bush as his personal lawyer for many years,
previously while he was governor of Texas, and most recently as White House
counsel |
24 |
40 |
35 |
1 |
[167] |
She has not previously served as a judge |
8 |
50 |
40 |
2 |
[168] |
Her positions on many legal issues facing the Court are unknown. |
8 |
52 |
37 |
3 |
[170] |
12. When it comes to appointing people to positions in the government, which
of the following things do you think President Bush puts greater emphasis
on?
A: Personal friendships and partisan loyalty, OR
B: Competence and qualifications to do the job.
A: Personal friendships/partisan loyalty................54 [171]
B: Competence/qualifications to do the job..............37
Depends/some of both (VOL)...............................6
Not sure ................................................3
13. Recently, a series of charges have been raised against public officials.
For each one I mention, please tell me whether this is nothing more than the
usual kind of partisan political charge that has little merit, or whether you
think this charge indicates potential illegal activity.
|
Usual Political Charge/Has Little Merit |
Indicates Potential Illegal Activity |
Depends/Some Of Both (VOL) |
Not Sure |
|
Congressman Tom DeLay being indicted for illegal use of corporate
contributions to political campaigns |
24 |
65 |
4 |
7 |
[172] |
Senator Bill Frist's sale of stock in a company his family runs just before
the value of the stock declined |
28 |
57 |
3 |
12 |
[173] |
Turning to the war in Iraq . . .
14. When it comes to the war in Iraq, do you think that removing Saddam Hussein
from power was or was not worth the number of U.S. military casualties and the
financial cost of the war?
10/05
Worth it.............................40
Not worth it.........................51
Depends (VOL).........................4
Not sure..............................5
15. Do you think that the United States should maintain its current troop
level in Iraq to help secure peace and stability, or should the United States
reduce its number of troops once new elections have been held?
10/05
Maintain current troop level.........34
Reduce number of troops .............58
Depends/some of both (VOL) .......... 3
Not sure..............................5
16. And do you feel more confident or less confident that the war in Iraq
will come to a successful conclusion?
10/05
More confident.......................35
Less confident.......................56
Depends/some of both (VOL)........... 4
Not sure..............................5
The Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll was based on nationwide
telephone interviews of 807 American adults, conducted Oct. 8-10 by the polling
organizations of Peter Hart and Bill McInturff.
The sample was drawn in the following manner: 300 geographic
points were randomly selected proportionate to the population of each region
and, within each region, by size of place. Individuals were selected by a
method that gave all telephone numbers, listed and unlisted, an equal chance of
being included.
One adult, 18 years or older, was selected from each household
by a procedure to provide a balance of respondents by sex. The data's margin of
error is plus or minus 3.4 percentage points. Sample tolerances for subgroups
are larger.
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