Thursday, February 22, 2007 : 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.

Greenberg Quinlan Rosner (D)
Women's Opinion on WH 2008, Congress

Conducted 1/28-30/07 for Women's Voices Women Vote; surveyed 1,000 adult women; margin of error +/-3% (release, 2/22).

Generally speaking, do you think that things in this country are going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track?

Right direction             17%
Wrong track                 74
Don't know/Refused           9

What would you most like to see Congress achieve over the next two years?

Get out of Iraq                             47%
Make health care more affordable            31
Keep America safe from terrorism            19
Improve education                           17
Raise the minimum wage                      16
Make taxes fair for the middle class        14
Stop the flow of illegal immigrants         10
Make sure people have a secure retirement    9
Lower gas prices                             8
Preserve a woman's right to choose           7
Other                                       10
No hopes                                     0
Don't know/Refused                           3

Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Bush is handling his job as president?

Strongly approve            13%
Somewhat approve            16
Somewhat disapprove         14
Strongly disapprove         54
Don't know/Refused           3

(Asked of Form A half-sample) How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what is right--just about always, most of the time or only some of the time?

Just about always                5%
Most of the time                27
Only some of the time           62
None of the time/Never (vol.)    4
Don't know/Refused               2

(Asked of Form B half-sample) How much of the time do you think you can trust the new Democratic Congress to do what is right--just about always, most of the time or only some of the time?

Just about always                9%
Most of the time                42
Only some of the time           42
None of the time/Never (vol.)    3
Don't know/Refused               4

Now, I'd like to rate your feelings toward some people and organizations, with one hundred meaning a very warm, favorable feeling; zero meaning a very cold, unfavorable feeling; and fifty meaning not particularly warm or cold. You can use any number from zero to one hundred, the higher the number the more favorable your feelings are toward that person or organization. If you have no opinion or never heard of that person or organization, please say so.

                                            Avg.
George W. Bush                              34
The Republican Party                        41
The Democratic Party                        61
Women elected officials                     70
(Asked of Form B half-sample) The
 Democratic Congress                        60
Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic
 Speaker of the House                       61
(Asked of Form A half-sample) The Congress  54
Hillary Clinton                             61
John McCain                                 49
Barack Obma                                 60
John Boehner, the Republican leader
 of the House                               40

Some people seem to follow what's going on in government and public affairs most of the time, whether there's an election going on or not. Others aren't that interested. Would you say you follow what's going on in government and public affairs most of the time, some of the time, only now and then or hardly at all?

Most of the time            44%
Some of the time            33
Only now and then           14
Hardly at all                9
Don't know/Refused           0

Which of the following reasons stands out as the most important reason to vote?

Voting is one of your responsibilities
 as an American                             38%
Voting is how we change America             31
Voting makes your voice heard by elected
 officials                                  21
Voting raises the issues that matter to
 women most                                  3
Voting gives women power in politics         2
All (vol.)                                   1
None (vol.)                                  2
Don't know/Refused                           1

(Asked of non-voters) Here are some statements that people have made about why they did not vote in recent elections. For each one, please tell me whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree.

Issues that are important to me are never
 discussed:

Strongly agree              14%
Somewhat agree              24
Somewhat disagree           33
Strongly disagree           27
Don't know/Refused           1

I didn't think it mattered who won the election:

Strongly agree              10%
Somewhat agree              13
Somewhat disagree           18
Strongly disagree           60
Don't know/Refused           1

Sometimes politics and government seem so
 complicated that a person like me really can't
 understand what's going on:

Strongly agree              23%
Somewhat agree              32
Somewhat disagree           21
Strongly disagree           22
Don't know/Refused           1

My work or family responsibilities got in the
 way:

Strongly agree              24%
Somewhat agree              19
Somewhat disagree           24
Strongly disagree           32
Don't know/Refused           2

The government doesn't do anything to solve my
 problems whether I vote or not:

Strongly agree              21%
Somewhat agree              26
Somewhat disagree           28
Strongly disagree           24
Don't know/Refused           1

Politician's don't listen to people like me:

Strongly agree              26%
Somewhat agree              28
Somewhat disagree           27
Strongly disagree           18
Don't know/Refused           1

I did not have time enough to find out about the
 candidates and vote:

Strongly agree              15%
Somewhat agree              25
Somewhat disagree           25
Strongly disagree           33
Don't know/Refused           1

Now let me ask you about something different. Based on what you have seen or read, overall, do you favor or oppose President Bush's new plan for Iraq?

Strongly oppose             53%
Somewhat oppose             14
Somewhat favor              12
Strongly favor               9
Don't know/Refused          13

Now I'm going to read you some pairs of statements. After I read each pair, please tell me whether the first statement or the second statement comes closer to your own view, even if neither is exactly right.

I'm still hopeful about Bush, OR I've given up
 on Bush:

1st statement, strongly     27%
1st statement, somewhat     13
2nd statement, somewhat      5
2nd statement, strongly     53
Both                         0
Neither                      1
Don't know/Refused           1

I'm doubtful about what the Congress is doing,
 OR I'm hopeful about what the Congress is doing:

1st statement, strongly     21%
1st statement, somewhat     15
2nd statement, somewhat     22
2nd statement, strongly     39
Both                         0
Neither                      1
Don't know/Refused           3

Now, thinking about the new Congress and what is happening in Washington, please tell me what you have heard or read recently about the Congress.

The war in Iraq:

Other Iraq mentions                         11%
Opposition to escalation                     8
Opposition to the war                        5
Supports the war                             1

Leadership/Style:

Partisanship                                 9%
Inaction                                     7
Against Bush                                 6
Bi-partisanship                              2

Agenda:

Raising the minimum wage                     7%
Health care                                  4
Other issues                                 3
100 hours plan                               2
Immigration reform                           2
Fiscal policy                                2
Social Security                              1
Energy, Energy independence, Gas prices      1
Accountability                               0
Stem cell research                           0
Abortion and moral values                    0

Change:

Positive change                              7%
Too much change                              3

Women in Congress:

Pelosi other..                               2%
Women in Congress (general)                  1
Pelosi positive                              1
Pelosi negative                              0
Other                                        8
Don't know                                  39

Now I am going to read you a number of things that the House of Representatives has passed in the last few weeks. Please tell me which two you think were the most important for the Congress to focus on.

Requiring Medicare to negotiate lower
 drug prices for seniors                    51%
Raising the minimum wage                    45
Lowering the interest rate on college
 loans by 50 percent                        28
Implementing the 9/11 Commission
 recommendations that all air cargo and
 ship containers be inspected               26
Repealing billions in tax breaks for oil
 companies and using the money to promote
 alternative energy                         23
Broaden the types of stem cell research
 allowed with federal funds                 14
All (vol.)                                   2
Other (vol.)                                 1
None (vol.)                                  0
Don't know/Refused                           1

Now I am going to read you some things that the Congress may take up this year. After each one, please tell me whether it would make you much more likely, somewhat more likely, a little more likely, no more likely or less likely to support a candidate for Congress?

Create an alternative energy program to develop
 clean energy sources like wind, solar and
 bio-fuels to move toward energy independence:

Much more likely            58%
Somewhat more likely        22
A little more likely        10
No more likely               3
Less likely                  5
Don't know/Refused           1

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Reform Social
 Security by allowing workers to establish
personal accounts to invest a portion of
their Social Security contributions in
the stock market:

Much more likely            16%
Somewhat more likely        23
A little more likely        13
No more likely              18
Less likely                 27
Don't know/Refused           3

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Pass an immigration
reform that increases border security to
prevent illegal immigrants from
entering the country and that allows
those who have been here many years
without breaking other laws, to achieve
citizenship after 11 years:

Much more likely            41%
Somewhat more likely        28
A little more likely        12
No more likely               6
Less likely                 10
Don't know/Refused           2

Encourage states to develop
universal health care plans, where the
government, employers, providers and
the uninsured share the responsibility
so that every person has health
insurance:

Much more likely            61%
Somewhat more likely        23
A little more likely         5
No more likely               5
Less likely                  5
Don't know/Refused           1

Expand health coverage so a
woman who becomes pregnant and
does not have health insurance can
receive prenatal care, so babies can
be born healthier:

Much more likely            65%
Somewhat more likely        20
A little more likely         6
No more likely               5
Less likely                  3
Don't know/Refused           1

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Give women without
health insurance access to free contraception:

Much more likely            52%
Somewhat more likely        18
A little more likely         7
No more likely              12
Less likely                  9
Don't know/Refused           2

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Increased federal
 loans and tuition tax credits to help low
income people afford education beyond high
school, including community college, technical 
training and four-year college programs:

Much more likely            60%
Somewhat more likely        22
A little more likely        10
No more likely               4
Less likely                  3
Don't know/Refused           1

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Investing in
 improved childcare and early learning that allow
children access to better opportunities
when women choose to participate in
the workforce:

Much more likely            56%
Somewhat more likely        25
A little more likely         9
No more likely               4
Less likely                  5
Don't know/Refused           1

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Enact legislation
requiring all employers to provide at
least one week of paid sick leave each
year:

Much more likely            49%
Somewhat more likely        25
A little more likely         9
No more likely              10
Less likely                  6
Don't know/Refused           0

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Provide training
opportunities that would enable women
to succeed in jobs where women have
traditionally not been hired, such as
construction or plumbing:

Much more likely            35%
Somewhat more likely        30
A little more likely        14
No more likely              13
Less likely                  9
Don't know/Refused           1

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Better enforcement
 of existing federal laws to prevent
workplace discrimination, including
sexual harassment, equal pay laws,
and racial discrimination:

Much more likely            51%
Somewhat more likely        25
A little more likely        12
No more likely               8
Less likely                  3
Don't know/Refused           1

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Enact legislation
 to ensure that women receive equal pay
for equal work by improving legal
protections for women who face wage
discrimination.:

Much more likely            73%
Somewhat more likely        15
A little more likely         4
No more likely               3
Less likely                  5
Don't know/Refused           1

Expand the Family and Medical
Leave Act, to include almost all
employers and expand the reasons for
which family leave can be taken, such
as parental involvement in a child's
school:

Much more likely            42%
Somewhat more likely        27
A little more likely        12
No more likely               9
Less likely                  8
Don't know/Refused           1

Give tax breaks to employers who
provide more flexibility for their
employees, including giving them the
ability to work at home, telecommute
or set their own hours:

Much more likely            33%
Somewhat more likely        29
A little more likely        13
No more likely              13
Less likely                 11
Don't know/Refused           1

Enact a Part-Time Workers' Bill of
Rights that requires employers to
provide access to the same benefits to
part-time employees as to full-time
workers, including health insurance,
retirement benefits and sick leave:

Much more likely            50%
Somewhat more likely        24
A little more likely         8
No more likely               9
Less likely                  8
Don't know/Refused           1

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Encouraging women
owned small businesses by setting
aside government contracts for these
businesses, providing them with
technical assistance, and providing
more small business loans to women:

Much more likely            43%
Somewhat more likely        27
A little more likely        10
No more likely              12
Less likely                  7
Don't know/Refused           1

Expand Social Security benefits for
low-wage earners by raising the
minimum benefit so those who have
worked for many years at low wages
have a secure retirement:

Much more likely            54%
Somewhat more likely        25
A little more likely        11
No more likely               4
Less likely                  5
Don't know/Refused           1

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Increased federal
 loans and tuition tax credits to help people
afford education beyond high school,
including community college, technical
training and four-year college
programs:

Much more likely            62%
Somewhat more likely        22
A little more likely         9
No more likely               4
Less likely                  4
Don't know/Refused           0

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Require that all
 large employers provide up to 90 days of
paid medical and family leave for
families with a newborn baby:

Much more likely            51%
Somewhat more likely        25
A little more likely         8
No more likely               6
Less likely                  8
Don't know/Refused           1

Fully fund the State Children's
Health Insurance Program to insure
that virtually all children have health
insurance:

Much more likely            70%
Somewhat more likely        18
A little more likely         7
No more likely               2
Less likely                  3
Don't know/Refused           0

Thinking about that list, what two are most important for Congress to do?

Fully fund the State Children's Health
 Insurance Program                          39%
Expand Social Security benefits for
 low wage earners                           26
(Asked of Form B half-sample) Invest in
 childcare and early learning
 opportunities                              25
Prevent workplace discrimination and
 ensure equal pay                           24
Increase federal education loans and
 tuition tax credits                        21
Expand access to prenatal care              19
Expand the Family and Medical Leave Act     14
(Asked of Form A half-sample) Require
 employers to provide sick leave            13
Enact a Part-Time Workers' Bill of Rights    9
Give tax incentives to employers
 who provide flexible hours                  8
All (vol.)                                   1
None (vol.)                                  1
Don't know/Refused                           2

What are the two biggest economic problem that the country is facing now?

Salaries and wages not keeping up with the
 cost of living                             36%
Rising cost of health care and
 prescription drugs                         34
Dependence on foreign oil and rising cost
 of energy                                  28
Cost of college tuition and education is
 too high                                   20
Economy works for the wealthy, not the
 average person                             18
Not enough good jobs                        16
Lack of affordable health insurance options 15
People don't have a secure and affordable
 retirement                                 12
Increasing amount of foreign debt           10
Other (vol.)                                 3
Don't know/Refused                           2

If you had to pick one of the following health care issues for the president and Congress to work on in the next year, which would it be?

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Expanding
 health insurance coverage for the
 uninsured                                  25%
Improving the Medicare prescription
 drug benefit for seniors                   22
(Asked of Form B half-sample) Expanding
 health insurance coverage for uninsured
 children                                   21
Improving the quality of medical care
 available in low-income areas              19
Making preventive care and vaccinations
 available at low cost to uninsured
 Americans                                  14
Giving patients more choice in which
 doctors they can use                        8
Doing more to prevent and treat HIV and
 AIDS                                        8
Better preparing the nation for public
 health threats like the avian flu           3
Don't know/Refused                           4

To achieve universal health coverage, the government is considering a proposal that would require that everyone have health insurance, the way all drivers are required to have automobile insurance. People with higher incomes who do not have insurance would be required to buy insurance, and the government would help pay for insurance for small businesses and families with incomes up to $40,000. Would you favor or oppose such a plan?

Strongly favor              50%
Somewhat favor              18
Somewhat oppose             10
Strongly oppose             17
Don't know/Refused           4

(Asked of Form B half-sample) Now let me tell you what the Democrats and Republicans are saying are their top issues to work on in the next year. After I read them, please tell me which party's issue priorities come closest to your own priorities, even if neither is exactly right. The Democrats in Congress say they will focus on ways to achieve greater energy independence, focused on alternative energy; health care by making sure all children have health insurance and allowing access to cheaper drugs from Canada, making college costs tax deductible and for homeland security, requiring that the government inspect all containers coming into America. The Republicans in Congress say they will focus on ways to achieve greater energy independence, focused on ethanol, coal and U.S. oil; health care by making some insurance costs tax deductible, making tax cuts permanent for families and businesses, making No Child Left Behind more effective, and continue our resolve in the war on terrorism Which agenda would you most like to see happen?

Democratic agenda, strongly                 59%
Democratic agenda, not so strongly          10
Republican agenda, not so strongly           6
Republican agenda, strongly                 21
Don't know/Refused                           4

(Asked of Form A half-sample) Now let me tell you what the Democrats and Republicans are saying are their top issues to work on in the next year. After I read them, please tell me which party's issue priorities come closest to your own priorities, even if neither is exactly right. The Democrats in Congress say they will focus on ways to achieve energy independence, focused on alternative energy; health care by making sure all children have health insurance and allowing access to cheaper drugs from Canada, tax credits to encourage flextime and require that men and women receive equal pay for equal work and requiring the inspection of all containers coming into America. The Republicans in Congress say they will focus on ways to achieve greater energy independence, focused on ethanol, coal and U.S. oil; health care by making some insurance costs tax deductible, making tax cuts permanent for families and businesses, making No Child Left Behind more effective,and continue our resolve in the war on terrorism. Which agenda would you most like to see happen?

Democratic agenda, strongly                 58%
Democratic agenda, not so strongly          11
Republican agenda, not so strongly           6
Republican agenda, strongly                 23
Don't know/Refused                           3