Thursday, December 14, 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.

ABC NEWS/WASHINGTON POST
President Bush, Congress, Iraq

Conducted 12/7-11/06; surveyed 1,005 adults; margin of error +/-3% (release, 12/12). 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 strongly or somewhat?

Approve, strongly           18%
Approve, somewhat           18
Disapprove, somewhat        13
Disapprove, strongly        49
No opinion                   2

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bush is handling ________?

The situation in Iraq:

Approve, strongly           12%
Approve, somewhat           16
Disapprove, somewhat        13
Disapprove, strongly        57
No opinion                   2

The U.S. campaign against terrorism:

Approve                     46%
Disapprove                  52
No opinion                   2

The economy:

Approve                     43%
Disapprove                  55
No opinion                   2

Ethics in government:

Approve                     39%
Disapprove                  56
No opinion                   5

Do you approve or disapprove of the way the U.S. Congress is doing its job?

Approve                     37%
Disapprove                  57
No opinion                   6

What would you say is the one most important problem you would like to see Bush and the Congress deal with next year?

Iraq/War in Iraq                            44%
Economy                                     10
Health care                                  6
Immigration                                  5
Terrorism/War on terrorism/
 Homeland security                           4
Education                                    4
Medicare                                     1
Social Security                              2
Jobs/Unemployment                            3
Taxes                                        2
Gasoline prices/Energy prices                3
Federal budget deficit                       *
Environment                                  1
Poverty/Homelessness/Hunger                  2
Ethics/Honesty/Corruption in government      2
Crime/Drugs                                  1
Prescription drug benefits                   *
Global warming/Greenhouse effect             1
None                                         0
Other                                        6
No opinion                                   4

Overall, who do you trust to do a better job coping with the main problems the nation faces over the next few years, Bush or the Democrats in Congress? (rotated)

Bush                        31%
Democrats                   57
Both (vol.)                  1
Neither (vol.)               8
No opinion                   2

Who do you trust to do a better job handling ______, Bush or the Democrats in Congress?

The situation in Iraq:

Bush                        32%
Democrats                   56
Both (vol.)                  1
Neither (vol.)               7
No opinion                   3

The economy:

Bush                        34%
Democrats                   58
Both (vol.)                  1
Neither (vol.)               5
No opinion                   2

The U.S. campaign against terrorism:

Bush                        41%
Democrats                   50
Both (vol.)                  1
Neither (vol.)               6
No opinion                   2

Health care:

Bush                        26%
Democrats                   64
Both (vol.)                  1
Neither (vol.)               5
No opinion                   3

Immigration issues:

Bush                        34%
Democrats                   49
Both (vol.)                  1
Neither (vol.)              10
No opinion                   6

Ethics in government:

Bush                        35%
Democrats                   49
Both (vol.)                  3
Neither (vol.)              10
No opinion                   3

As you may know, control of Congress will switch from the Republicans to the Democrats next month. Do you think that's a good thing, a bad thing, or doesn't it make any difference?

Good thing                  55%
Bad thing                   17
No difference               27
No opinion                   1

(Asked of a half-sample) With control of Congress, do you think the Democrats should work mainly to carry out their agenda, or should work mainly to compromise with Bush and the Republicans? (rotated)

Carry out their agenda                      37%
Compromise with Bush/Republicans            58
No opinion                                   4

(Asked of a half-sample) With the Democrats in control of Congress, do you think Bush should work mainly to carry out his agenda), or should work mainly to compromise with the Democrats? (rotated)

Carry out their agenda                      32%
Compromise with Democrats                   65
No opinion                                   3

Overall, how much do you think Congress will be able to accomplish in the next year: a great deal, a good amount, not too much or nothing at all?

Great deal                  11%
Good amount                 32
Not too much                49
Nothing at all               7
No opinion                   1

(Asked of a half-sample) Do you think Congress should or should not hold hearings on how the Bush administration handled pre-war intelligence, war planning, and related issues in the war in Iraq?

Should                      53%
Should not                  44
No opinion                   3

(Asked of a half-sample) Do you think Congress should or should not hold hearings on how the Bush administration has handled surveillance, treatment of prisoners and related issues in the U.S. campaign against terrorism?

Should                      52%
Should not                  45
No opinion                   3

All in all, considering the costs to the United States versus the benefits to the United States, do you think the war with Iraq was worth fighting, or not?

Worth fighting, strongly                    25%
Worth fighting, somewhat                    11
Not worth fighting, somewhat                12
Not worth fighting, strongly                50
No opinion                                   2

Again thinking about the goals versus the costs of the war, so far in your opinion has there been an acceptable or unacceptable number of U.S. military casualties in Iraq?

Acceptable                  21%
Unacceptable                77
No opinion                   2

Do you think the war with Iraq has or has not contributed to the long-term security of the United States? If so, has it contributed to the long-term security of the United States a great deal, or somewhat?

Contributed, great deal     25%
Contributed, somewhat       21
Has not                     51
No opinion                   3

Do you think the United States should keep its military forces in Iraq until civil order is restored there, even if that means continued U.S. military casualties; OR, do you think the United States should withdraw its military forces from Iraq in order to avoid further U.S. military casualties, even if that means civil order is not restored there? (rotated)

Keep forces                 48%
Withdraw forces             48
No opinion                   4

(Asked of a half-sample) Do you think the Bush administration does or does not have a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq?

Does                        25%
Does not                    72
No opinion                   3

(Asked of a half-sample) Do you think the Democrats in Congress do or do not have a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq?

Do                          26%
Do not                      65
No opinion                   9

Do you think the number of U.S. military forces in Iraq should be increased, decreased, or kept about the same? (rotated)

Increased                   17%
Decreased                   52
Kept about the same         27
No opinion                   1

(If "decreased") Should all U.S. forces in Iraq be withdrawn immediately, or should they be decreased, but not all withdrawn immediately?

Withdrawn immediately                       28%
Decreased but not withdrawn immediately     70
No opinion                                   1

Do you think the United States is or is not making significant progress toward restoring civil order in Iraq?

Is making significant progress              31%
Is not making significant progress          66
No opinion                                   3

In making its case for war with Iraq, do you think the Bush administration told the American public what it believed to be true, or intentionally misled the American public? (rotated)

Told the American public what it believed
 to be true                                 45%
Intentionally misled the American public    52
No opinion                                   3

(Asked of a half-sample) All told, do you think the United States is winning or losing the war in Iraq?

Winning                     34%
Losing                      52
Neither/It's a tie (vol.)    9
No opinion                   4

(Asked of a half-sample) All told, do you think the United States will win or lose the war in Iraq?

Winning                     34%
Losing                      46
Neither/It's a tie (vol.)   11
No opinion                   9

Would you describe Iraq as currently in a civil war, not in a civil war but close to one, or is the situation less severe than that?

Currently in a civil war                    41%
Not in a civil war but close to one         45
Situation less severe than that             11
No opinion                                   3

As you may know a government committee called the Iraq Study Group issued its report on Iraq this week. Given what you've heard and read, overall do you support or oppose the Iraq Study Group report?

Support                     46%
Oppose                      22
No opinion                  32

Do you think the Iraq Study Group does or does not have a clear plan for handling the situation in Iraq?

Does                        32%
Does not                    41
No opinion                  28

Please tell me if you support or oppose each of the following proposals.

Changing the primary mission of U.S. forces in
 Iraq to supporting and training the Iraqi Army,
 rather than on directly fighting insurgents.

Support                     79%
Oppose                      18
No opinion                   3

Withdrawing almost all U.S. combat forces from
 Iraq by early 2008, but keeping military 
 training forces there.

Support                     69%
Oppose                      28
No opinion                   3

Reducing U.S. military and financial support from
 the Iraqi government if the Iraqis fail to make
 progress toward national unity and restoring
 civil order.

Support                     74%
Oppose                      22
No opinion                   4

(If "oppose" withdrawing troops) Is that because you want U.S. forces to be withdrawn sooner, or to stay longer? (rotated)

Withdrawn sooner            53%
Stay longer                 42
No opinion                   4

Do you think the United States is or is not making significant progress in training and equipping the Iraqi Army to be an effective force in Iraq?

Is making significant progress              41%
Is not making significant progress          53
No opinion                                   6

How confident are you that after U.S. training the Iraqi Army will be able to defeat the insurgents in Iraq -- very confident, somewhat confident, not so confident or not confident at all?

Very confident               8%
Somewhat confident          43
Not so confident            31
Not at all confident        17
No opinion                   1

(Asked of a half-sample) Some people say the United States should include direct talks with Syria as part of a regional dialogue about the situation in Iraq because Syria has influence in the region. Others say the United States should not directly engage with Syria because the U.S. has identified Syria as a sponsor of terrorism. What do you think? Do you think the United States should or should not hold direct talks with Syria about the situation in Iraq? (rotated)

Should include Syria in talks               58%
Should not directly engage with Syria       37
No opinion                                   5

(Asked of a half-sample) Some people say the United States should include direct talks with Iran as part of a regional dialogue about the situation in Iraq because Iran has influence in the region. Others say the United States should not directly engage with Iran because the US has identified Iran as a sponsor of terrorism and because of Iran's nuclear program. What do you think? Do you think the United States should or should not hold direct talks with Iran about the situation in Iraq?

Should include Iran in talks                57%
Should not directly engage with Iraq        41
No opinion                                   2

Do you think Bush is or is not willing enough to change his administration's policies in Iraq?

Is                          30%
Is not                      66
Too willing (vol.)           *
No change needed (vol.)      1
No opinion                   3

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of ________? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?

(Asked of half-sample A) Hillary Clinton:

Strongly favorable          27%
Somewhat favorable          29
Somewhat unfavorable        11
Strongly unfavorable        29
No opinion                   4

(Asked of half-sample A) John McCain:

Strongly favorable          17%
Somewhat favorable          33
Somewhat unfavorable        20
Strongly unfavorable        11
No opinion                  19

(Asked of half-sample A) Harry Reid:

Strongly favorable           6%
Somewhat favorable          30
Somewhat unfavorable        12
Strongly unfavorable         6
No opinion                  46

(Asked of half-sample A) John Edwards:

Strongly favorable          13%
Somewhat favorable          36
Somewhat unfavorable        16
Strongly unfavorable        10
No opinion                  25

(Asked of half-sample B) Barack Obama:

Strongly favorable          21%
Somewhat favorable          22
Somewhat unfavorable        17
Strongly unfavorable         6
No opinion                  33

(Asked of half-sample B) Rudy Giuliani:

Strongly favorable          29%
Somewhat favorable          38
Somewhat unfavorable        14
Strongly unfavorable         9
No opinion                  11

(Asked of half-sample B) Nancy Pelosi:

Strongly favorable          16%
Somewhat favorable          30
Somewhat unfavorable        16
Strongly unfavorable        17
No opinion                  21

(Asked of half-sample B) Mitt Romney:

Strongly favorable           5%
Somewhat favorable          17
Somewhat unfavorable        20
Strongly unfavorable         4
No opinion                  54

What do you think is more important right now -- for the federal government to investigate possible terrorist threats, even if that intrudes on personal privacy; or for the federal government not to intrude on personal privacy, even if that limits its ability to investigate possible terrorist threats? (rotated)

Investigate threats         63%
Respect privacy             34
No opinion                   3

In investigating terrorism, do you think the federal agencies like the FBI are or are not intruding on some Americans' privacy rights?

Are                         66%
Are not                     30
No opinion                   4

(If "yes") Do you think those intrusions are justified or not justified?

Justified                   51%
Not justified               43
No opinion                   6

Thinking about the next 12 months, would you say you feel optimistic or pessimistic about ________? (rotated)

The situation in Iraq:

Optimistic                  40%
Pessimistic                 57
No opinion                   3

I'm going to read a few attributes that might be found in a candidate for president. Please tell me if each would make you more likely to vote for that candidate for president, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or if it wouldn't matter. (rotated)

Someone who is a woman:

More likely                 17%
Less likely                 14
Wouldn't matter             69
No opinion                   *

Someone who is black:

More likely                  9%
Less likely                  7
Wouldn't matter             84
No opinion                   *

Someone who is a Mormon:

More likely                  3%
Less likely                 35
Wouldn't matter             61
No opinion                   1

(Asked of leaning Democrats) If the 2008 Democratic presidential primary or caucus in your state were being held today, and the candidates were: Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Barack Obama, John Kerry, Al Gore, Wesley Clark, Tom Vilsack, Evan Bayh, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden or Chris Dodd, for whom would you vote?

Hillary Clinton             39%
Barack Obama                17
John Edwards                12
Al Gore                     10
John Kerry                   7
Bill Richardson              2
Joe Biden                    2
Wesley Clark                 1
Tom Vilsack                  1
Evan Bayh                    1
Chris Dodd                   *
Other (vol.)                 *
None of these (vol.)         2
Would not vote (vol.)        1
No opinion                   4

(Asked of those who lean Democratic) Who would your second choice be?

Hillary Clinton             22%
Al Gore                     20
Barack Obama                18
John Kerry                  13
John Edwards                11
Wesley Clark                 3
Bill Richardson              3
Evan Bayh                    1
Joe Biden                    1
Chris Dodd                   1
Tom Vilsack                  *
Other (vol.)                 1
None of these (vol.)         2
Would not vote (vol.)        *
No opinion                   3

(Asked of leaning Republicans) If the 2008 Republican presidential primary or caucus in your state were being held today, and the candidates were: Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Chuck Hagel, Tommy Thompson, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, George Pataki, Sam Brownback or Tom Tancredo, for whom would you vote?

Rudy Giuliani               34%
John McCain                 26
Newt Gingrich               12
Mitt Romney                  5
George Pataki                3
Tommy Thompson               2
Duncan Hunter                1
Sam Brownback                1
Chuck Hagel                  *
Mike Huckabee                *
Tom Tancredo                 *
Other (vol.)                 *
None of these (vol.)         6
Would not vote (vol.)        *
No opinion                   9

(Asked of those who lean Republican) Who would your second choice be?

Rudy Giuliani               28%
John McCain                 24
Newt Gingrich               13
George Pataki                6
Mitt Romney                  5
Tommy Thompson               3
Mike Huckabee                3
Chuck Hagel                  1
Duncan Hunter                1
Sam Brownback                1
Tom Tancredo                 1
Other (vol.)                 1
None of these (vol.)         5
Would not vote (vol.)        *
No opinion                   8

How much do you feel you know about ________ positions on specific issues -- a great deal, a good amount, only some or little or none?

(Asked of half-sample A) John McCain's:

Great deal                  10%
Good amount                 20
Some                        31
Little                      38
No opinion                   1

(Asked of half-sample A) Hillary Clinton's:

Great deal                  13%
Good amount                 32
Some                        29
Little                      25
No opinion                   *

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

Great deal                   5%
Good amount                 15
Some                        31
Little                      48
No opinion                   1

(Asked of half-sample B) Rudy Giuliani's:

Great deal                   9%
Good amount                 16
Some                        31
Little                      42
No opinion                   2

(Asked of half-sample B) Barack Obama's:

Great deal                   4%
Good amount                 15
Some                        21
Little                      56
No opinion                   3

(Asked of half-sample B) Mitt Romney's:

Great deal                   2%
Good amount                  4
Some                        14
Little                      76
No opinion                   4