RiJ1?IER.S Eagleton Institute of Politics New Brunswick New Jersey / ijlic Star-Icbger/EAGLETON POLL

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1 RELEASE INFORMATION A story based on the survey findings presented in this release and background memo will appear in RELEASE: SL/EP 331 (EP 831) KEN DAUTRICH FOR RELEASE: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1991 CONTACT: JANICE BALLOU OR Audio is available after 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 9, 1991 from (Rutgers Feature Phone). RiJ1?IER.S Eagleton Institute of Politics New Brunswick New Jersey / THE SIATh UNPPSTY O NEfl JEPv A fltntion RADIO STATIONS: more war. Whites (90%) are more likely than nonwhites (68%) to report they back the action (78%) to feel this way; and males (88%) are more likely than females (81%) to support the in the Gulf; Republicans (92%) are more likely than independents (82%) and Democrats only 11 percent saying they are against this military action. Overwhelmingly, state residents are firmly behind the United States military action The most recent StarLedger/Eagleton Poll of 800 state residents also found that twointhree think that the military is holding back information about mistakes and setbacks in the war. The survey was conducted by telephone from February 1 to February 5, against Iraq. While overall 84 percent support the war, 63 percent give strong support and another 21 percent describe their support as mild. Opposition to the war is minimal with States. However, state residents do not agree on the main reason why the United States is In addition, a similar percentage feel that the war is going well right now for the United fighting in the Persian Gulf. The War in the Gulf receives support from more than 8inlO New Jersey residents. THE GULF WAR: VIEWPOINT FROM NEW JERSEY attribute this copyrighted information to the StarLedger, Eagleton Po11. Electronic media may release after 5:00 p.m. Saturday, February 9, We ask users to properly Sunday s SuirLedger. Other newspapers may also use this information in their Sunday editions. ijlic StarIcbger/EAGLETON POLL

2 are strong supporters of the conflict, 84 percent say the United States did the right thing to right thing to take action against Iraq, but 27 percent feel we should have waited longer to preferred giving economic sanctions more time to work. Overall, 66 percent say it was the While current support for the war is substantial, some state residents would have see if the trade embargo and other economic sanctions worked. Among state residents who this military action. agreement on the reason for being there, the vast majority of New Jerseyans clearly back ( Jersey, observed Janice Ballou, Director of the Poll. Even though there is not total The war in the Gulf has resulted in a rally round the flag phenomenon in New the main reason for U.S. military action is to protect the oil supply. being in the Persian Gulf is to protect the Middle Eastern countries while opponents suggest on the main reason why we are fighting. Supporters are the most likely to say the reason for protect the supply of oil to the United States. Supporters and opponents of the war differ the government of Kuwait, and 24 percent report the main reason for the fighting is to attacking Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries, 28 percent say it is to restore presence in the Gulf. While a plurality of 43 percent feel we are there to stop Iraq from Overall, state residents do not agree on a single reason for the United States are mild (44%) or strong (37%) opponents of the war say it is going well. &e most likely to say that the war is going well. In compson, fewer ste residents who going badly. Those who are strong (93%) or mild (85%) supporters of this military action 83 percent say that the war is going well for the United States, only 10 percent think it is There is optimism here in New Jersey about the military action in the Gulf. While was taken. the belief that sanctions and the trade embargo should have continued before military action of the Gulf War (mild opponents 94%; strong opponents 96%) are close to unanimous in thing, while 36 percent say sanctions should have been given more time to work. Opponents start military action. In comparison, 56 percent of the mild supporters think we did the right EP831 (SL/EP33I) Page 2 more

3 stop Iraq from attacking other Middle Eastern countries (78%) or believe we are there to the Gulf is to protect the supply of oil. Seventyone percent of these residents say this is not war. The opposite is true for those state residents who feel the motivation for fighting in About 3in4 of the state s residents who feel the United States is taking military action to restore the government of Kuwait (73%), feel that this is a good enough reason for going to copyright, February 10, 1991, The Eagleton Institute and Newark StarLedger percent say family members are likely to be sent. family stationed in the Gulf, 4 percent have family members who are there now and While 86 percent of the state s residents do not have any member of their immediate year or longer. months, 45 percent from three months to a year, and 27 percent feel it will continue for a Now, just 5 percent think the war will end in just a few weeks, 18 percent from one to two and 17 percent thought the military action in the Gulf would continue for a year or longer. few weeks, 20 percent said from one to two months, 37 percent said three months to a year, think the military action will last. Initially 16 percent thought the war would end in just a Since the war started, state residents have changed their perspective on how long they the war are the most likely to have doubts about the war information (83%), a majority of strong supporters (58%) and mild supporters (69%) also say the military is holding back. military is giving an accurate account of how the war is going. While strong opponents of back information about mistakes and setbacks, compared to about 1in3 who think the in the Persian Gulf. Close to 2in3 New Jerseyans say the United States military is holding State residents are skeptical about the information they are receiving about the action a good enough reason to go to war. EP831 (SL/EP331) Page 3

4 The latest StarLedger/Eagleton Poll was conducted between February 1 and February 5, 1991, when a random sample of 800 New Jerseyans, 18 years and older, was interviewed by telephone. Figures based on this sample between interviewing everyone in the population versus a scientific sample taken from that population. Sampling size are subject to a sampling error of about ±3.5 percent. Sampling error is the probable difference in results BACKGROUND MEMORELEASE SL/EP33l (E3fl, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY LJ1 :1E:i.S Eageton Institute ci Pchtics New Brunswick New Jersey Y THE STATE UN/PS1V Cc NEW JEPV Democrat (248) Independent (292) Republican (220) Party ID nonwhite 38 34) (138) white (650) Race male (400) female (400) Gezi der TOTAL 63% 21% 5% 6% 5% 100% (800) Supporter Supporter Opponent Opponent Know Strong Mild Mild Strong Don t mild (supporter/opponent)? [0.11, 0.12] Do ygj consider yourself a supporter or an opponent of U.S. military actions against Iraq? Are you a strong or mild supporter (160) mild opponent (31) strong supporter (523) strong opponent (49) Level of War Support/Opposition Race white (650) Gender male (400) female (400) nonwhite (138) TOTAL 66% 27% 7% 100% (800) Did the Right Should have Thing to Start Waited to See if Don t Military Action Sanctions Worked Know Total Qj States have waited longer to see if the trade embargo and other economic sanctions worked? [0.10] Do you think the United States did the right thing in starting military actions against Iraq, or should the United questions and figures referred to in this release are presented below. The location of each question on the actual error does not take into account other possible sources of error inherent in any study of public opinion. The questionnaire is in brackets. t3lhc tarllcbgcr/eagleton POLL r S

5 TOTAL 16% 20% 37% 17% 9% 99% (800) months to a year, or did you think it was likely to continue for a year or longer?!! Weeks Months to a Year Longer Know I n A Few One or Two Three Months Year or Don t When the war first started, how long did you think it would lastjust a few weeks, one or two mouths, three strong supporter (523) strong opponent (49) mild supporter (160) mild opponent (31) Support/Opposition Level of War Democrat (248) Republican (220) Independent (292) Pan, ID nonwhite (138) Race white (650) Gender male (400) female (400) TOTAL 44% 39% 6% 4% 7% 100% (800) Somewhat Somewhat Very Don t Very Well Well Badly Badly Know Total jjj somewhat badly or very badly? [0,15] What is your impression of how the war is going for the United States right nowvery well, somewhat well, TOTAL 5% 18% 45% 27% 6% 101% (800) Weeks Months to a Year Longer Know Total fffi A Few One or Two Three Months Year or Don t a year, or do you think it s likely to continue for a year or longer? [0.14] 7y, do you think the war with Iraq will be over in just a few more weeks, one or two months, three months to EP831 (SL/EP33l) 2

6 To Protect To Restore the Saudi Arabia TOTAL 24% 23% 43% 5% 100% (800) Oil to the U.S. of Kuwait Eastern Countries Know Total Gulf? [0.lój Of these three reasons, which do you think is the rnin reason U.S. military forces are fighting in the Persian To Stop Iraq from Attacking the Supply of Government and Other Middle Don t TOTAL 21% 79% * 100% (800) Yes Know Total ft Don t Have you yourself ever served in the U.S. armed forces or the U.S. reserves? [Q.19] strong opponent (49) mild supporter (160) mild opponent (31) strong supporter (523) Support/Opposition Level of War TOTAL 63% 32% 5% 100% (800) Holding Back Accurate Account Know Total jjj) Don t Gulf, or do you think the military is giving an accurate account of how the war is going? [Q.181 Do you think the United States Military is holding back information about mistakes and setbacks in the war in the Persian and other Middle Eastern countries To protect the supply of oil to the U.S (195) To restore the government of Kuwait (207) To stop Iraq from attacking Saudi Arabia (353) Main Reasons for Military Forces in the Persian Gulf TOTAL 63% 35% 3% 101% (755) Good Not Good Don t Enough Reason Enough Reason Know Do you think that is a good enough reason to go to war, or not? [Q.17] mild opponent (31) mild supporter (160) strong supporter (523) strong opponent (49) Support/Opposition Level of War Democrat (248) Independent (292) Republican (220) Party ID EP831 (SL/EP331) 3

7 TOTAL 1% 13% 85% 99% (800) Yes. Self Yes, Other Self & Other No Know Ii fi) Yes, Don t Do you or does any member of your immediate family serve in the U.S. armed forces in the U.S. reserves? [Q.20] * Less than 0.5% TOTAL 4% 6% 4% 86% 1% 101% (800) Other Self/Other Self/Other There Now to he Sent to be Sent Serves Know Total fjj Stationed Likely Not Likely No One Don t Are any of them stationed in the Persian Gulf now or likely to be sent there? [O.21B] Are you like y to be sent to the Persian Gulf? IO.21A) OR U.S. RESERVES: THE FOLLOWING QUESTION WAS ASKED IF SELF/OTHER NOW SERVE IN U.S. ARMED FORCES EPS31 (SL/EP331) 4

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