Friday, April 21, 2006 : Today's National Polls

Today's polls are compiled by NationalJournal.com staff
and gathered in conjunction with The Hotline.
Questions and polling press releases should be directed
to polls@nationaljournal.com.

Please click here for links to other recently released national polls.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER
President Bush, Congress, Iraq, Midterm Elections

Conducted 4/7-16/06; surveyed 1,501 adults; margin of error +/-3% (release, 4/20). A response of * indicates less than 0.5 percent.

Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? Do you approve/disapprove very strongly, or not so strongly?

Approve, very strongly          23%
Approve, not so strongly        11
Disapprove, very strongly       45
Disapprove, not so strongly     10
Don't know/Refused              10

Now thinking about a few groups. Is your overall opinion of ________ very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable or very unfavorable?

The Republican Party:

Very favorable                  10%
Mostly favorable                30
Very unfavorable                21
Mostly unfavorable              29
Never heard of (vol.)            *
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)       10

The Democratic Party:

Very favorable                  12%
Mostly favorable                35
Very unfavorable                14
Mostly unfavorable              28
Never heard of (vol.)            *
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)       11

The news media:

Very favorable                   8%
Mostly favorable                40
Very unfavorable                15
Mostly unfavorable              31
Never heard of (vol.)            *
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)        6

(Asked of Form A half-sample) What is the first news story that comes to mind when you think about what's been in the news lately? (open-ended)

Iraq war/Troop casualties                   31%
Immigration/Border issues                   15
Other local news                             9
Recent hurricanes and response               3
Weather/natural disasters                    3
Iran/Nuclear program                         3
CIA Leak/Leak of classified information/
 Libby scandal                               3
Gas prices/Energy costs/Oil                  3
Crime (general)                              3
Tornadoes                                    3
Bush (general)                               2
Zacarias Moussaoui trial                     1
Terrorism (general)                          1
Duke rape story/Scandal                      1
Tom Delay/Resign/Retire                      1
All others                                   6
Don't Know/Refused                          12

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Aside from the president, can you tell me the name of someone you've heard about in the news lately? (open-ended)

Dick Cheney                                 13%
Condoleezza Rice                             6
Tom DeLay                                    6
Donald Rumsfeld                              4
Lewis "Scooter" Libby                        2
Arnold Schwarzenegger                        2
John McCain/AZ Senator                       2
Hillary Clinton/The Clintons                 2
Zacarias Moussaoui                           1
Saddam Hussein                               1
Katie Couric                                 1
Barry Bonds                                  1
George W. Bush                               1
Cynthia McKinney                             1
Ted Kennedy                                  1
Bill Frist                                   1
John Kerry                                   1
Other                                       23
Don't Know/None                             31

Now I will read a list of some stories covered by news organizations this past month. As I read each item, tell me if you happened to follow this news story very closely, fairly closely, not too closely or not at all closely. (rotated)

News about the current situation in Iraq:

Very closely                    43%
Fairly closely                  36
Not too closely                 13
Not at all closely               7
Don't know/Refused               1

The issue of immigration:

Very closely                    39%
Fairly closely                  34
Not too closely                 16
Not at all closely              10
Don't know/Refused               1

Protests by students in France:

Very closely                     8%
Fairly closely                  20
Not too closely                 31
Not at all closely              40
Don't know/Refused               1

Tom DeLay retiring from Congress:

Very closely                    14%
Fairly closely                  20
Not too closely                 28
Not at all closely              36
Don't know/Refused               2

Katie Couric leaving the Today Show to work 
 at CBS:

Very closely                    12%
Fairly closely                  19
Not too closely                 26
Not at all closely              42
Don't know/Refused               1

Accused terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui's death
 penalty trial:

Very closely                    23%
Fairly closely                  33
Not too closely                 24
Not at all closely              19
Don't know/Refused               1

In general, do you think news reports are making the situation in Iraq seem worse than it really is or better than it really is, or are reports showing the situation about the way it really is?

Worse                           37%
Better                          17
About the way it really is      35
Don't know/Refused              11

(Asked of Form A half-sample) In your opinion, are the news organizations you are familiar with being fair or unfair to the Bush administration?

Fair                            56%
Unfair                          31
Don't know/Refused              13

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Do you think the press has been too critical of the Bush administration policies and performance, not critical enough or do you think that the press has handled this about right?

Press too critical              30%
Not critical enough             30
About right                     34
Don't know/Refused               6

Thinking about the Democratic and Republican parties, would you say there is a great deal of difference in what they stand for, a fair amount of difference or hardly any difference at all?

A great deal                    33%
A fair amount                   42
Hardly any                      21
Don't know/Refused               4

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Please tell me what one word best describes your impression of the Republican Party. Tell me just the one best word that comes to mind. (open-ended)

Conservative                                53%
Fair                                        22
Good                                        19
Greedy                                      17
Rich                                        15
Business                                    14
Crooks                                      10
Corrupt                                      9
Money                                        9
Confused                                     7
For rich people                              7
Dishonest                                    6
Great                                        6
Liars                                        6
Okay                                         6
Suck                                         6
Disappointed                                 5
Lousy                                        5
Out of touch                                 5
Poor                                         5
Arrogant                                     4
Bad                                          4
Disorganized                                 4
Moral                                        4
Realistic                                    4
Stinks                                       4
Untruthful                                   4
Weak                                         4

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Please tell me what one word best describes your impression of the Democratic Party. Tell me just the one best word that comes to mind. (open-ended)

Liberal                                     57%
Fair                                        31
Good                                        20
Weak                                        18
Too liberal                                 13
Okay                                        11
Confused                                     7
Disorganized                                 7
Favorable                                    7
Crooks                                       6
Hopeful                                      6
Poor                                         6
People                                       5
Socialist                                    5
Stupid                                       5
Communists                                   4
Conservative                                 4
Dishonest                                    4
Great                                        4
Hypocritical                                 4
Slow                                         4
Struggling                                   4
Unorganized                                  4
Untruthful                                   4

If the 2006 elections 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? As of today, do you lean more to the Republican or the Democrat?

Republican/Lean Republican      41%
Democrat/Lean Democrat          51
Other/Undecided                  8

(Asked of registered voters) Would you like to see your representative in Congress be re-elected in the next congressional election, or not?

Yes                                         57%
No                                          28
Congressperson not running (vol.)            1
Don't know/Refused                          14

(Asked of registered voters) Regardless of how you feel about your own representative, would you like to see most members of Congress re-elected in the next congressional election, or not?

Yes                                         34%
No                                          53
Don't know/Refused                          13

(Asked of registered voters) Will the issue of which party controls Congress, the Republicans or the Democrats, be a factor in your vote for Congress this year, or not?

Yes, will be a factor                       56%
No, will not                                39
Don't know/Refused                           5

(Asked of registered voters) Do you think of your vote for Congress this fall as a vote for George W. Bush, as a vote against George W. Bush, or isn't George W. Bush much of a factor in your vote?

For                                         17%
Against                                     34
Not a factor                                46
Don't know/Refused                           3

Some people say we should have a third major political party in this country in addition to the Democrats and Republicans. Do you agree or disagree?

Agree                                       53%
Disagree                                    40
Don't know/Refused                           7

(Asked of registered voters) Compared to recent Congresses, would you say this Congress has accomplished more, accomplished less or accomplished about the same amount?

More                                         7%
Less                                        41
Same                                        47
Don't know/Refused                           5

(If "less") Who do you think is most to blame for this? (rotated)

Republican leaders in Congress              58%
Democratic leaders in Congress              13
Both/Neither/Someone else (vol.)            24
Don't know/Refused                           5

Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the nation's immigration policy?

Approve                         25%
Disapprove                      62
Don't know/Refused              13

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling the nation's immigration policy?

Approve                         21%
Disapprove                      64
Don't know/Refused              15

One proposal would allow undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. for several years to gain legal working status and the possibility of citizenship in the future. Would you favor or oppose this proposal?

Favor                           58%
Oppose                          35
Don't know/Refused               7

One proposal would make it a criminal offense for an American to assist an undocumented immigrant to remain in the U.S. Would you favor or oppose this proposal?

Favor                           45%
Oppose                          47
Don't know/Refused               8

Please tell me if you think each phrase I read better describes the Republican Party and its leaders or the Democratic Party and its leaders? (rotated)

Able to manage the federal government well:

Republican Party                35%
Democratic Party                39
Both equally (vol.)              3
Neither (vol.)                  15
Don't know/Refused               8

Governs in an honest and ethical way:

Republican Party                28%
Democratic Party                36
Both equally (vol.)              4
Neither (vol.)                  23
Don't know/Refused               9

Can bring about the kind of changes the country
 needs:

Republican Party                32%
Democratic Party                47
Both equally (vol.)              2
Neither (vol.)                  12
Don't know/Refused               7

Is concerned with the needs of people like me:

Republican Party                28%
Democratic Party                52
Both equally (vol.)              3
Neither (vol.)                  10
Don't know/Refused               7

Is more influenced by lobbyists and special
 interests:

Republican Party                45%
Democratic Party                28
Both equally (vol.)             14
Neither (vol.)                   2
Don't know/Refused              11

Do you think the Republican Party or the Democratic Party could do a better job of ________? (rotated)

Reforming government in Washington:

Republican Party                28%
Democratic Party                44
Both equally (vol.)              5
Neither (vol.)                  15
Don't know/Refused               8

Dealing with immigration:

Republican Party                27%
Democratic Party                43
Both equally (vol.)              6
Neither (vol.)                  11
Don't know/Refused              13

(Asked of Form A half-sample) In your view, does the Republican Party or the Democratic Party have better political leaders? (rotated)

Republican Party                38%
Democratic Party                40
Both equally (vol.)              4
Neither (vol.)                   9
Don't know/Refused               9

(Asked of Form B half-sample) In your view, does the Republican Party or the Democratic Party have stronger political leaders? (rotated)

Republican Party                53%
Democratic Party                26
Both equally (vol.)              4
Neither (vol.)                   8
Don't know/Refused               9

Thinking about the Democratic Party, who do you think of as the leader of the Democratic Party these days?

Hillary Clinton                 16%
Ted Kennedy                      7
Harry Reid                       1
Bill Clinton                     4
John Kerry                       3
Howard Dean                      3
John Edwards                     2
Barack Obama                     2
Harry Reid                       1
Joseph Biden                     1
Nancy Pelosi                     1
Joseph Lieberman                 1
Other (vol.)                     5
Nobody is (vol.)                30
Don't know/Refused              24

Now I'd like your views on some people. Would you say your overall opinion of ________ is very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable or very unfavorable? (rotated)

George W. Bush:

Very favorable                  15%
Mostly favorable                25
Very unfavorable                35
Mostly unfavorable              22
Never heard of (vol.)            *
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)        3

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Bill Clinton:

Very favorable                  27%
Mostly favorable                34
Very unfavorable                18
Mostly unfavorable              18
Never heard of (vol.)            0
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)        3

(Asked of Form A half-sample) John Kerry:

Very favorable                  10%
Mostly favorable                35
Very unfavorable                20
Mostly unfavorable              24
Never heard of (vol.)            2
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)        9

(Asked of Form A half-sample) John Edwards:

Very favorable                  10%
Mostly favorable                37
Very unfavorable                 9
Mostly unfavorable              18
Never heard of (vol.)           11
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)       15

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Dick Cheney:

Very favorable                  11%
Mostly favorable                25
Very unfavorable                29
Mostly unfavorable              26
Never heard of (vol.)            3
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)        6

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Condoleezza Rice:

Very favorable                  26%
Mostly favorable                33
Very unfavorable                10
Mostly unfavorable              17
Never heard of (vol.)            6
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)        8

(Asked of Form A half-sample) John McCain:

Very favorable                  14%
Mostly favorable                40
Very unfavorable                 7
Mostly unfavorable              19
Never heard of (vol.)            8
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)       12

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Bill Frist:

Very favorable                   5%
Mostly favorable                19
Very unfavorable                12
Mostly unfavorable              17
Never heard of (vol.)           32
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)       15

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Mark Warner:

Very favorable                   3%
Mostly favorable                18
Very unfavorable                 4
Mostly unfavorable              12
Never heard of (vol.)           43
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)       20

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Hillary Clinton:

Very favorable                  20%
Mostly favorable                34
Very unfavorable                21
Mostly unfavorable              21
Never heard of (vol.)            1
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)        3

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Howard Dean:

Very favorable                   5%
Mostly favorable                26
Very unfavorable                15
Mostly unfavorable              23
Never heard of (vol.)           19
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)       12

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Joe Biden:

Very favorable                   7%
Mostly favorable                21
Very unfavorable                 5
Mostly unfavorable              15
Never heard of (vol.)           38
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)       14

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Donald Rumsfeld:

Very favorable                  10%
Mostly favorable                28
Very unfavorable                21
Mostly unfavorable              25
Never heard of (vol.)            8
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)        8

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Rudy Giuliani:

Very favorable                  26%
Mostly favorable                44
Very unfavorable                 4
Mostly unfavorable              10
Never heard of (vol.)           10
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)        6

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Tom DeLay:

Very favorable                   5%
Mostly favorable                18
Very unfavorable                25
Mostly unfavorable              24
Never heard of (vol.)           15
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)       13

(Asked of Form B half-sample) George Allen:

Very favorable                   4%
Mostly favorable                16
Very unfavorable                 4
Mostly unfavorable              10
Never heard of (vol.)           49
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)       17

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Russell Feingold:

Very favorable                   4%
Mostly favorable                15
Very unfavorable                 7
Mostly unfavorable              12
Never heard of (vol.)           43
Can't rate/Refused (vol.)       19

Looking ahead to the next presidential election, would you like to see a president who offers policies and programs similar to those of the Bush administration, or would you like to see a president who offers different policies and programs?

Policies and programs similar
 to the Bush administration     23%
Different policies and programs 70
Don't know/Refused (vol.)        7

Now I am going to read you a couple of statements. For each, please tell me if you completely agree with it, mostly agree with it, mostly disagree with it, or completely disagree with it. (rotated)

I am tired of all the problems associated with
 the Bush administration:

Completely agree                36%
Mostly agree                    26
Mostly disagree                 23
Completely disagree             12
Don't know/Refused               3

I wish George W. Bush could run for a third term:

Completely agree                 8%
Mostly agree                    13
Mostly disagree                 21
Completely disagree             56
Don't know/Refused               2

Last week, documents were released indicating that President Bush may have authorized his staff to leak pre-war intelligence about Iraq to the press in order to undermine war critics. How much have you heard about this: a lot, a little or nothing at all?

A lot                           32%
A little                        46
Nothing at all                  22
Don't know/Refused               *

(If "a lot" or "a little") From what you've read and heard about this, do you think President Bush acted improperly, or don't you think so?

Yes, acted improperly           57%
No, did not act improperly      34
Too early to tell (vol.)         2
Don't know/Refused (vol.)        7

How concerned are you, if at all, about the influence of lobbyists and special interest groups in Washington these days?

Very concerned                  46%
Somewhat concerned              29
Not too concerned               13
Not at all concerned             9
Don't know/Refused               3

Do you think bribery and corruption in Congress is more common now than it used to be, or no different from the past?

More common now                 47%
No different from the past      49
Don't know/Refused               4

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Congress is considering a law which would place stricter limits on the value of gifts that House and Senate members can accept from lobbyists. Do you favor or oppose this proposal?

Favor                           76%
Oppose                          19
Don't know/Refused               6

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Congress is considering a law which would place stricter limits on the value of gifts that House and Senate members can accept from lobbyists. Do you think a law like this would help to reduce the influence of special interests, or do you think it wouldn't make much difference?

Would reduce influence          45%
Wouldn't make much difference   52
Don't know/Refused (vol.)        3

Which comes closer to your view about the tax cuts passed under President Bush over the past few years?

All of the tax cuts should be 
 made permanent                             25%
Tax cuts for the wealthy should be
 repealed while others stay in place        36
All of the tax cuts should be repealed      28
Don't know/Refused                          11

Do you think the U.S. made the right decision or the wrong decision in using military force against Iraq?

Right decision                  47%
Wrong decision                  46
Don't know/Refused               7

How well is the U.S. military effort in Iraq going?

Very well                       13%
Fairly well                     34
Not too well                    29
Not at all well                 21
Don't know/Refused               3

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?

Keep troops in Iraq             48%
Bring troops home               48
Don't know/Refused               4

Do you think more troops are needed in Iraq right now, or do you think there are already enough troops there to do the job?

More troops needed                          13%
Have enough there to do the job             27
Reduce number of troops (vol.)               *
Don't know/Refused                           8

(If "bring troops home") Should the U.S. remove all troops from Iraq immediately, or should the withdrawal of troops be gradual over the next year or two?

Remove all troops immediately               18%
Gradual withdrawal over the next
 year or two                                29
Don't know/Refused                           1

In the long run, do you think the war in Iraq has increased the chances of terrorist attacks in the U.S., lessened the chances, or has it made no difference?

Increased                       37%
Lessened                        27
No difference                   33
Don't know/Refused               3

Thinking about the people you know, would you say they are becoming less emotionally involved in the news from Iraq than they were, more emotionally involved, or are the people you know about as involved as they had been?

Less emotionally involved                   37%
More emotionally involved                   21
About as involved as they have been         38
Mixed/Some more, some less (vol.)            1
Don't know/Refused (vol.)                    3

Some people are comparing Iraq to the war in Vietnam. Do you think Iraq will turn out to be another Vietnam, or do you think the U.S. will accomplish its goals in Iraq?

Will be another Vietnam         41%
U.S. will accomplish its goals  43
Too early to tell (vol.)         5
Don't know/Refused              11

Do you think the U.S. should or should not set a timetable for when troops will be withdrawn from Iraq?

Should set a timetable          53%
Should not set a timetable      40
Should get out now (vol.)        2
Don't know/Refused               5

As I read a few specific things about Iraq, tell me if you think we are making progress or losing ground in each area.

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Training Iraqi
 security forces so they can replace U.S. troops:

Making progress                 55%
Losing ground                   30
No change (vol.)                 1
Don't know/Refused              14

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Reducing the
 number of civilian casualties there:

Making progress                 28%
Losing ground                   56
No change (vol.)                 3
Don't know/Refused              13

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Preventing
 terrorists from using Iraq as a base for attacks
 against the U.S. and its allies:

Making progress                 44%
Losing ground                   43
No change (vol.)                 3
Don't know/Refused              10

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Establishing
 democracy in Iraq:

Making progress                 51%
Losing ground                   38
No change (vol.)                 3
Don't know/Refused               8

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Defeating the
 insurgents militarily:

Making progress                 40%
Losing ground                   46
No change (vol.)                 2
Don't know/Refused              12

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Preventing civil
 war between various religious and ethnic groups:

Making progress                 26%
Losing ground                   59
No change (vol.)                 3
Don't know/Refused              12

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Rebuilding roads
 power plants and other services in Iraq:

Making progress                 55%
Losing ground                   26
No change (vol.)                 1
Don't know/Refused              18

Since the start of military action in Iraq, about how many U.S. soldiers have been killed? To the best of your knowledge, have there been around 500, around 1,500, around 2,500, or around 3,500 military deaths in Iraq?

Around 500                       4%
Around 1,500                    16
Around 2,500                    53
Around 3,500                    19
Other (vol.)                     1
Don't know/Refused               7

Do you think the people of Iraq will be better off or worse off in the long run than they were now that Saddam Hussein has been removed from power by the U.S. and its allies?

Better off                      78%
Worse off                       13
Don't know/Refused               9

(Asked of Republican respondents) How good a job is the Republican Party doing these days in standing up for its traditional positions on such things as reducing the size of government, cutting taxes and promoting conservative social values -- would you say the Party is doing an excellent job, a good job, only a fair job or a poor job?

Excellent                        6%
Good                            41
Only fair                       41
Poor                            10
Don't know/Refused               2

(Asked of Democrat respondents) How good a job is the Democratic Party doing these days in standing up for its traditional positions on such things as protecting the interests of minorities, helping the poor and needy, and representing working people -- would you say the Party is doing an excellent job, a good job, only a fair job or a poor job?

Excellent                        5%
Good                            35
Only fair                       48
Poor                            11
Don't know/Refused               1