Democracy Corps National/Presidential Battleground Frequency Questionnaire September 22-24, 2008 1007 Likely Voters Nationally 1128 Likely Voters in Presidential Battleground States Presidential Battleground: CO, IA, IN, FL, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NH, NM, NV, OH, PA, VA, WI Q.3 First of all, are you registered to vote at this address? Yes... 100 100 No...- - (Refused)...- - (ref:screen1) Q.4 Many people weren't able to vote in the 2004 election for president between George Bush and John Kerry. How about you? Were you able to vote, or for some reason were you unable to vote? Voted... 91 92 Not registered in 2004/Ineligible/too young... 4 4 Did not vote... 4 3 (Can't remember/don't know)... 0 1 (Refused)...- - (ref:vote00) Q.6 What are the chances of you voting in the election for president in November: are you almost certain to vote, will you probably vote, are the chances 50-50, or don't you think you will vote? Almost certain... 96 97 Probably... 4 3 50-50...- - Will not vote...- - (Don't know)...- - (Already voted)... 0 - (Refused)...- - (ref:cp3)
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 2 [1 Respondent] Q.7 (IF ALREADY VOTED IN CP3) When you voted by absentee ballot or through early voting, did you vote by mail or in person? By mail...- - In person... 100 - (Don't know/ Refused)...- - (ref:absent4) Q.8 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... 14 13 Wrong track... 80 79 (Don't know/refused)... 6 7 Right - Wrong...-65-66 (ref:direct) Q.9 Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Bush is handling his job as president? Strongly approve... 15 16 Somewhat approve... 18 16 Somewhat disapprove... 11 11 Strongly disapprove... 52 51 (Don't know/refused)... 6 5 Total approve... 32 33 Total disapprove... 62 62 Approve - disapprove...-30-30 (ref:candapp2)
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 3 [1128 Respondents] Q.10 (ASK ONLY IN CO, FL, IA, MI, MN, MO, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, PA, VA, WI, MT, IN) In the last few days, how closely have you followed news about the financial crisis? Would you say you have followed news about the financial crisis very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely or not at all? Very closely...- 48 Somewhat closely...- 40 Not too closely...- 9 Not at all closely...- 4 (Don't know/refused)...- 0 Very/Somewhat...- 87 (ref:crisfol)
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 4 [1128 Respondents] Q.11 (ASK ONLY IN CO, FL, IA, MI, MN, MO, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, PA, VA, WI, MT, IN) As you may know, President Bush's Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has recently sent Congress a proposal to spend 700 billion dollars to purchase troubled mortgage assets and contain the financial crisis so that financial institutions start offering loans again to individuals and companies. Do you want your representative in Congress to vote in favor of this proposal, or would you prefer that your representative vote against this proposal? Strongly prefer representative vote in favor of this proposal...- 19 Somewhat prefer representative vote in favor of this proposal...- 18 Somewhat prefer representative vote against this proposal...- 15 Strongly prefer representative vote against this proposal...- 28 (Don't know/refused)...- 19 Total Vote in favor...- 37 Total Vote against...- 43 Favor - Against...- -6 (ref:supprop)
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 5 [1128 Respondents] Q.12 (ASK ONLY IN CO, FL, IA, MI, MN, MO, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, PA, VA, WI, MT, IN) 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. 1st 1st 2nd 2nd Total Total 1st Stmt Not Not Stmt Nei- DK/ 1st 2nd - Strng Strng Strng Strng Both ther Ref Stmt Stmt 2nd 12 (SPLIT A) President Bush's financial bailout should include a second economic stimulus package for middle class families to help those hardest hit by the economic crisis get back on track and an infrastructure plan that will create new jobs and get the economy moving forward. President Bush's financial bailout plan should not include a second economic stimulus package for the middle class because the first was very expensive and this package already costs $700 billion dollars.... - - - - - - - - - - Battleground... 33 13 15 31-2 5 46 46 0
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 6 1st 1st 2nd 2nd Total Total 1st Stmt Not Not Stmt Nei- DK/ 1st 2nd - Strng Strng Strng Strng Both ther Ref Stmt Stmt 2nd 13 (SPLIT B) President Bush's financial bailout should include a second economic stimulus package for middle class families to help those hardest hit by the economic crisis get back on track. President Bush's financial bailout plan should not include a second economic stimulus package for the middle class because the first was very expensive and this package already costs $700 billion dollars.... - - - - - - - - - - Battleground... 28 12 18 33 0 3 6 40 51-10 14 (SPLIT B) Irresponsible borrowers are more to blame for the home mortgage crisis. Financial institutions lending people more money than they could afford to pay back are more to blame for the home mortgage crisis... - - - - - - - - - - Battleground... 16 5 10 60 4 0 4 21 70-49
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 7 1st 1st 2nd 2nd Total Total 1st Stmt Not Not Stmt Nei- DK/ 1st 2nd - Strng Strng Strng Strng Both ther Ref Stmt Stmt 2nd 15 (SPLIT A) The financial crisis, created by the fall of mortgage brokers and major investment banks seriously impacts Wall Street and big investors. The financial crisis, created by the fall of mortgage brokers and major investment banks seriously impacts me, as well as Wall Street and big investors... - - - - - - - - - - Battleground... 17 18 14 42 1 1 7 35 56-21 16 (SPLIT B) Last week's financial crisis put us on the edge of a crash like the Great Depression. Last week's financial crisis was serious, but not as serious as a potential Great Depression... - - - - - - - - - - Battleground... 31 13 20 32-1 3 44 52-7 17 (SPLIT A) The financial crisis was caused by policies over the last 8 years of deregulating financial institutions, letting businesses police themselves and allowing corporate greed to get out of hand. The financial crisis was caused by individuals who were greedy and regulators who didn't do their jobs.... - - - - - - - - - - Battleground... 37 10 10 34 4 3 3 47 44 4
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 8 1st 1st 2nd 2nd Total Total 1st Stmt Not Not Stmt Nei- DK/ 1st 2nd - Strng Strng Strng Strng Both ther Ref Stmt Stmt 2nd 18 (SPLIT B) The corporate special interests got their hands on both parties in Washington and won special favors, which allowed the excesses that put our economy at risk. While both parties are involved, President Bush and the Republicans who controlled Congress pushed policies of deregulation, let businesses police themselves and looked away when greed was out of control.... - - - - - - - - - - Battleground... 31 17 11 27 2 4 8 48 38 10 19 (SPLIT A) America's position is being undermined by the personal irresponsibility of CEOs and companies that got rich at the expense of the middle class. America's position is being undermined by the personal irresponsibility of CEO's and companies, but also by a lot of irresponsibility of individuals who borrowed to buy houses way beyond their means.... - - - - - - - - - - Battleground... 27 9 11 46 2 2 2 36 58-21
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 9 1st 1st 2nd 2nd Total Total 1st Stmt Not Not Stmt Nei- DK/ 1st 2nd - Strng Strng Strng Strng Both ther Ref Stmt Stmt 2nd 20 (SPLIT B) It is necessary for the government to temporarily take on this bad debt in order to avoid big companies and banks failing and wrecking our economy. It is necessary for the government to temporarily take on this bad debt in order to avoid big companies and banks failing and wrecking the economy, but only if this also helps the homeowners who face foreclosure.... - - - - - - - - - - Battleground... 18 15 25 31 0 5 7 33 56-23 21 (SPLIT A) It is necessary for the government to temporarily take on this bad debt in order to avoid big companies and banks failing and wrecking our economy. It is necessary for the government to temporarily take on this bad debt in order to avoid big companies and banks failing and wrecking the economy, but only if it cancels any golden parachutes for CEOs.... - - - - - - - - - - Battleground... 16 14 14 44 1 4 6 31 58-28
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 10 1st 1st 2nd 2nd Total Total 1st Stmt Not Not Stmt Nei- DK/ 1st 2nd - Strng Strng Strng Strng Both ther Ref Stmt Stmt 2nd 22 (SPLIT A) The government should temporarily take on this bad debt to keep big companies and banks from failing and hurting small business owners and homeowners on Main Street. The government should temporarily take on this bad debt only if it includes conditions to protect taxpayers in the best possible way... - - - - - - - - - - Battleground... 16 11 17 47 1 4 3 28 65-37 (ref:fincripr)
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 11 Q.23 (ASK ONLY IN CO, FL, IA, MI, MN, MO, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, PA, VA, WI, MT, IN) (SPLIT C) Now I'm going to read you a pair of statements that describe what Barack Obama and John McCain have been saying. After I read these statements, please tell me which one you agree with more. Barack Obama says that Washington and Wall St. have shredded oversight and regulation but we cannot fix the problem by giving the Treasury a blank check for 700 billion dollars. We must stop CEOs from cashing-in while our regulators turn the other way. Our plan must include an emergency economic plan for working families that helps folks cope with rising gas and food prices, saves one million jobs through rebuilding our schools and roads, and keeps homeowners in their homes. We must feel the same urgency about the crisis on Main St as we do about the one on Wall St. John McCain says we need to change the way Washington does business to put an end to the reckless conduct and greed that have caused the crisis in Wall Street. He will create a Mortgage and Financial Institutions Trust that will be a mechanism to help financial institutions avoid bankruptcy and expensive bailouts putting the Treasury in a proactive position for the future instead of having them react to one crisis after another. He will also cut taxes for all Americans so that everyone will have more money to help themselves get back on the right track. Which statement do you agree with more? Obama statement STRONGLY...- 36 Obama statement SOMEWHAT...- 13 McCain statement SOMEWHAT...- 17 McCain statement STRONGLY...- 30 (Both)...- 1 (Neither)...- 2 (Don't know/refused)...- 2 Total Obama...- 48 Total McCain...- 47 Obama - McCain...- 1 (ref:econpos)
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 12 Q.24 (ASK ONLY IN CO, FL, IA, MI, MN, MO, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, PA, VA, WI, MT, IN) (SPLIT D) Now I'm going to read you a pair of statements that describe what Barack Obama and John McCain have been saying. After I read these statements, please tell me which one you agree with more. Barack Obama says John McCain will continue Bush's anything goes economic policies that led to the current economic crisis. McCain can not change the system when his top economic adviser, Phil Gramm, wrote the legislation that deregulated the banking industry and caused the subprime meltdown. Now, instead of offering concrete solutions to the crisis, McCain wants to pass the buck and has suggested creating a commission to examine why we're in this crisis. What we need is leadership to find solutions, not a commission to decide who's to blame. John McCain says that Barack Obama has failed to put forward a plan on how to get us out of the current economic crisis, showing yet again that during a time of crisis, when leadership is needed, Senator Obama has not provided it. Instead of offering a plan to get us back on the right track, Senator Obama is again seeking to score political points and is showing us once again that while he is a talented politician, Senator Obama is not a leader ready to be commander-in-chief. His only real plan is to raise taxes, something no one can afford during these difficult times. Which statement do you agree with more? Obama statement STRONGLY...- 38 Obama statement SOMEWHAT...- 10 McCain statement SOMEWHAT...- 12 McCain statement STRONGLY...- 35 (Both)...- 1 (Neither)...- 2 (Don't know/refused)...- 2 Total Obama...- 49 Total McCain...- 47 Obama - McCain...- 2 (ref:econeg)
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 13 Q.25 (ASK ONLY IN CO, FL, IA, MI, MN, MO, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, PA, VA, WI, MT, IN) (SPLIT A) Now I'm going to read you a pair of statements that describe what some Democrats and Republicans in Congress have been saying about President Bush's financial proposal. After I read these statements, please tell me which one you agree with more. (Democratic Incumbent/Candidate) says, "Congress should pass President Bush's financial bailout proposal because we must act swiftly to get our economy back on track. Debating and designing regulatory measures to make sure this never happens again will happen in the next session, but right now we simply need to pass this bill to get our economy moving again." (Republican Incumbent/Candidate) says, "Congress should pass President Bush's financial bailout proposal because we need this legislation now to help millions of Americans get back on their feet. We need to act immediately to pass a clean bill. We don't have time to debate amendments to the bill nor do we have the money to add pork to the legislation that already has a $700 billion dollar price tag." Which statement do you agree with more? The Democrat's statement STRONGLY...- 28 The Democrat's statement SOMEWHAT...- 22 The Republican's statement SOMEWHAT...- 22 The Republican's statement STRONGLY...- 16 (Both)...- 2 (Neither)...- 7 (Don't know/refused)...- 2 Total Democrat...- 50 Total Republican...- 38 Democrat - Republican...- 13 (ref:vtprop1)
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 14 Q.26 (ASK ONLY IN CO, FL, IA, MI, MN, MO, NV, NH, NM, NC, OH, PA, VA, WI, MT, IN) (SPLIT B) Now I'm going to read you a pair of statements that describe what some Democrats and Republicans in Congress have been saying about President Bush's financial proposal. After I read these statements, please tell me which one you agree with more. (Democratic Incumbent/Candidate) says, "Congress should not pass President Bush's financial bailout proposal and give the Treasury a blank check because this bill does not set any caps for CEO salaries or retirement packages for companies getting federal money, and it does not reduce mortgage foreclosures so we can help more struggling Americans keep their homes. Taxpayers should not bailout companies who took on too much risk." (Republican Incumbent/Candidate) says, "Congress should pass President Bush's financial bailout proposal because we need this legislation now to help millions of Americans get back on their feet. We need to act immediately to pass a clean bill. We don't have time to debate amendments to the bill nor do we have the money to add pork to the legislation that already has a $700 billion dollar price tag." Which statement do you agree with more? The Democrat's statement STRONGLY...- 38 The Democrat's statement SOMEWHAT...- 16 The Republican's statement SOMEWHAT...- 18 The Republican's statement STRONGLY...- 19 (Both)...- 0 (Neither)...- 3 (Don't know/refused)...- 5 Total Democrat...- 54 Total Republican...- 38 Democrat - Republican...- 17 (ref:vtprop2) Q.27 Finally, I would like to ask you a few questions for statistical purposes. What is the last year of schooling that you have completed? 1-11th grade... 3 3 High School graduate... 24 26 Non-college post H.S... 1 1 Some college... 28 26 College graduate... 26 27 Post-graduate school... 17 16 (Don't know/refused)... 1 1 (ref:educ)
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 15 Q.28 Are you a member of a labor union? Yes: Respondent belongs... 11 9 Household member... 9 8 No member belongs... 80 81 (Don't know/refused)... 1 1 (ref:union) Q.29 Are you married, single, separated, divorced, or widowed? Married... 66 65 Single... 15 16 Separated/Divorced... 11 11 Widowed... 6 8 (Don't know/refused)... 1 1 Sep/Div/Wid... 18 18 (ref:marital) Q.30 Do you have any children 18 years of age or younger living at home? Yes... 37 36 No... 62 63 (Don't know/refused)... 1 1 (ref:kids) Q.31 Generally speaking, do you think of yourself as a Democrat, a Republican or what? Strong Democrat... 28 28 Weak Democrat... 11 10 Independent-lean Democrat... 10 10 Independent... 5 5 Independent-lean Republican... 9 9 Weak Republican... 13 11 Strong Republican... 21 25 (Don't know/refused)... 2 2 (ref:ptyid1)
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 16 Q.32 Thinking in political terms, would you say that you are Conservative, Moderate, or Liberal? Liberal... 23 19 Moderate... 33 32 Conservative... 40 45 (Don't know/refused)... 3 3 (ref:ideo1) Q.33 What is your religion? Protestant... 53 56 Catholic... 21 23 Jewish... 1 1 Muslim... 1 1 (Don't know/refused)... 23 19 (ref:relig1) [536 Respondents] Q.34 (ASK IF PROTESTANT IN RELIG1) Which one of these words best describes your kind of Christianity -- fundamentalist, evangelical, charismatic, Pentecostal or moderate to liberal? Fundamentalist... 10 10 Evangelical... 20 21 Charismatic/Pentecostal... 14 10 Moderate to liberal... 38 40 (Something else)... 6 6 (Don't know/refused)... 12 13 (ref:relig3) Q.35 How often do you attend religious services -- more than once a week, every week, once or twice a month, several times a year, or hardly ever? Once or twice a month... 16 16 Several times a year... 12 14 Hardly ever... 19 20 (Never)... 4 4 (Don't know/refused)... 5 3 More than once a week... 14 12 Once a week... 30 31 More than/once a week... 43 43 (ref:relig2)
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 17 [917 Respondents] Q.36 (ASK IF VOTED IN VOTE00) In the 2004 election for president, did you vote for Democrat John Kerry or Republican George Bush? Battleground Total Democrat John Kerry... 43 44 Republican George Bush... 49 49 (Ralph Nader)... 0 1 (Other candidate)... 2 2 (Don't know/refused)... 5 5 (ref:vote2004) Q.37 As you know, there was an election for Congress and other offices in November 2006. Many people weren't able to vote. How about you? Were you able to vote or for some reason were you unable to vote? Voted... 75 78 Did not vote... 21 19 (Can't remember/don't know)... 3 2 (Refused)... 1 1 (ref:vote06) [759 Respondents] Q.38 (ASK IF VOTED IN VOTE06) In the 2006 election for Congress, did you vote for (Democratic incumbent/candidate) or (Republican incumbent/candidate)? Battleground Total House Democrat... 46 43 House Republican... 42 47 (Other candidate)... 4 3 (Don't know/refused)... 8 6 (ref:vote2006) [502 Respondents] Q.39 (ASK IF DEMOCRAT IN PTYID1 PTYID3) In the Democratic presidential primaries did you support Senator Barack Obama, Senator Hillary Clinton, or someone else? Supported Obama... 51 49 Supported Clinton... 35 36 Supported someone else... 6 7 (None)... 6 5 (DK/Refused)... 2 3 (ref:clintsup)
Democracy Corps: Frequency Questionnaire, September 22-24, 2008 18 Q.40 What racial or ethnic group best describes you? White... 76 80 African-American or Black... 11 9 Hispanic or Latino... 7 5 Native American... 1 1 Asian... 1 1 (Other)... 2 2 (Don't know/refused)... 2 3 (ref:racethn) Q.2 Record respondent's gender Male... 47 47 Female... 53 53 (ref:gender) Q.5 In what year were you born? 18-24... 6 6 25-29... 8 5 30-34... 8 10 35-39... 8 8 40-44... 9 8 45-49... 10 10 50-54... 10 9 55-59... 11 10 60-64... 9 10 Over 64... 19 21 (No answer)... 2 3 (ref:age)