ABC NEWS/WASHINGTON POST POLL: BUSH/POLITICS EMBARGO: 6:30 P.M. BROADCAST, 8 P.M. PRINT/WEB, Wednesday, August 1, 2001 Bush s Approval Stabilizes, Though Reservations Remain George W. Bush's job approval rating has stabilized, but six months into his presidency he faces persistent doubt on key issues, a sense he s out of touch with average Americans and broad suspicion that he s overly influenced by business corporations and the wealthy. Countering these public concerns are two prime factors in Bush s favor: Broad approval for his work specifically on education an issue central to his election strategy and high ratings for personal qualities such as character, honesty and vision. These fuel Bush to a 59-percent job approval rating, respectable albeit less than usual for a postwar president. Of his nine predecessors Bush s six-month rating is better only than Bill Clinton s and Gerald Ford s. Bush s father at six months had 73 percent approval. The question is how long Bush can maintain overall popularity while lagging on specific issues. He lacks majority support on the environment, energy, patients rights, Social Security, prescription drugs and campaign finance reform. And while he s stronger than usual for a Republican on education, he s weaker than usual on the economy. 80 74 75 74 6-Month Job Approval of Postwar Presidents ABC/Post and Gallup polls 73 70 60 63 67 62 59 50 45 40 38 30 20 10 0 Eisenhower 8/53 Kennedy 8/1/61 Johnson 5/27/64 Nixon 7/29/69 Ford 2/3/75 Carter 7/25/77 Reagan 7/19/81 Bush 8/21/89 Clinton 8/8/93 G. W. Bush 7/30/01 ECONOMY While arguably beyond Bush s control, the economy is a real threat to him. Fifty-two percent of Americans now think the nation is heading into a recession, up seven points since April. Positive ratings of the economy have plummeted by 36 points
since the election, and dissatisfaction with the direction of the country has risen by 11 points in that time. (Fifty-six percent also see an energy crisis looming down eight points since April, but still a majority.) Bush gets 52 percent approval for handling the economy a majority, but hardly a stirring one. (Clinton s parting approval rating on the economy, last January, was a smashing 76 percent.) And the public divides evenly on whom they trust more to handle the economy, Bush or the Democrats in Congress. In a sign of the economy s overarching importance, Bush s approval rating is 30 points higher among people who rate the national economy positively than it is among those who rate it negatively 74 percent approval in the former group, 44 percent in the latter. LITTLE GUY The economy isn t the only landmine out there. While some of Bush s personal ratings are strong, one in particular underscores a significant danger, much the same that bedeviled his father: a sense that he s out of touch with average people. Fifty-four percent in this ABC News/Washington Post poll think Bush doesn t understand the problems of people like you, the most in ABC/Post polls since March 1999. Empathy a sense of connection with everyday folks can serve as important political cartilage when the going gets tough. Fifty-three percent also say Bush is not concentrating on things that are important to them. But broadest are the concerns over who s got his ear: Two-thirds of Americans or more say large business corporations, wealthy people and the oil and gas industries have too much influence over the Bush administration, and average people have too little. 80 70 72 67 64 "Too Much Influence" ABC News/Washington Post Poll 60 50 40 32 30 20 20 14 10 0 Wealthy People Large Corporations Oil and Gas Industries Conservative Religious Groups Environmental Groups Minority Groups 1 People Like You Influence on Bush administration: Too much Too little
Wealthy people 72% 5 Large businesses 67 7 Oil and gas industries 64 13 People like you 1 67 DIFFERENCE Bush s problems are thoroughly different than Clinton s eight years ago and also different from what some conventional wisdom holds them to be. Most people, for instance, are not claiming they were sold a bill of goods during the campaign: Sixty percent say Bush told the truth about the policies he would pursue as president. By contrast, just 46 percent said the same of Clinton at this point in his presidency. And some criticisms of Bush that he s not experienced enough or doesn t work hard enough don t stand up in this poll. Sixty-one percent say he does have the experience and ability needed for the job, and as many say that he works hard enough. Other criticisms do show some teeth: A lower-than-desirable 53 percent say Bush understands complex issues, down seven points since the election. Just half say he s brought needed changed to Washington, an issue he campaigned on. QUALITIES But most other personal qualities are quite strong for Bush: Bush... Yes No Has strong personal character 68% 30 Is a good commander-in-chief 67 29 Has a vision for the future 67 31 Is honest and trustworthy 63 34 Can be trusted in a crisis 60 37 Is a strong leader 55 43 Understands complex issues 53 45 Has done well on the economy 52 46 Has brought change to Washington 50 47 Understands your problems 45 54 IDEOLOGY Bush has greater difficulties in terms of political philosophy. Americans by a 14-point margin say the Democrats in Congress are more open than Bush to the ideas of political moderates (and moderates themselves agree, by 17 points). And 50 percent of Americans call Bush a conservative, well over the number (28 percent) who identify themselves as conservatives. (Half of Americans are self-described moderates.) This difference is accentuated on the question of government s role in society. Americans by a 30-point margin say providing needed services is more important than holding down the size of government. But by the same margin they say Bush has the opposite priority. Similarly, 52 percent say protecting the environment is more important than encouraging economic growth; but 81 percent say Bush cares more about growth. Neither of these has budged since April. Holding down the Providing size of gov t needed services What s more important to you? 33% 63 What s more important to Bush? 61 30 Protecting the Encouraging
environment economic growth What s more important to you? 52% 44 What s more important to Bush? 14 81 The issue of providing services vs. reducing government particularly separates Bush and women. Seventy-one percent of women (compared to 54 percent of men) see services as more important. Services are also rated as more important by especially large majorities of young adults and nonwhite Americans. ISSUES Bush wins majority approval for his work on five of 11 issues tested: Education, defense, international affairs, the budget and the economy. As noted, his approval falls below a majority on the environment, energy, patients rights, Social Security, prescription drugs and campaign finance reform. Approve Disapprove Education 63% 31 Defense 58 34 International affairs 56 38 Federal budget 53 42 Economy 52 45 Patients rights 48 44 Social Security 46 48 Environment 45 49 Energy 43 53 Campaign Finance 43 46 Prescription drugs 40 51 BUSH vs DEMS While Americans say that Bush is taking a stronger leadership role in Washington than the Democrats in Congress are, 51-38 percent, they continue to divide (now by 42-43 percent) on whose leadership they prefer. Specifically, the public trusts the Democrats over Bush to handle five of the 11 issues tested the environment, energy, patients rights, Social Security and prescription drugs. Bush s approach is preferred on three issues - international affairs, defense and education. They re about even on the economy, the budget and campaign finance reform. Trust more to handle: Bush Democrats Environment 37% 54 Dems +17 Rx Drugs 39 50 Dems +11 Social Security 42 51 Dems +9 Energy 41 49 Dems +8 Patients rights 41 49 Dems +8 Campaign finance 40 44 Dems +4 Federal budget 47 44 Bush +3 Economy 47 46 Bush +1 Defense 53 40 Bush +13 Int l affairs 51 42 Bush +9 Education 50 42 Bush +8
Despite their advantage on some issues, the Democrats in Congress, newly in control of the Senate, can hardly relax: Approval of the way Congress is handling its job is down 10 points since April, to 48 percent. TAX CUT The signal accomplishment of Bush s half-year is the 10-year, nearly $1.4 trillion tax cut approved by Congress but it still lacks luster in the majority s eye. More than six in 10 doubt that the tax cut will help the economy, and 52 percent say it won t leave enough money to keep the budget balanced and fund federal programs. An open question is the possible effect of the $300 to $600 rebate checks beginning to arrive in mailboxes across the country. Nine percent say they ve received their check to date. FAVORABILITY Given his strong ratings for character and honesty, 63 percent of Americans rate Bush favorably as a person, about where it s been since he took office. Dick Cheney has a similar favorable/unfavorable rating, 60-34 percent. The Democratic Party beats out the Republican Party on this measure Democrats have a 60-36 percent favorable/unfavorable rating, compared to the Republicans 51-46 percent. John McCain, Bush s opponent for the Republican nomination last year, is rated favorably by 57 percent, unfavorably by 30 percent. NEW VOTE, SAME STORY One thing six months of a Bush presidency hasn t changed is the nation s even division between this president and his 2000 opponent, Al Gore. If the election were rerun today, 48 percent say they d back Bush, 46 percent Gore as close a verdict as ever. Please call the Polling Unit for detailed subgroup analysis from this poll. 70 65 Bush Job Approval ABC News/Washington Post Polls 63 60 58 59 55 55 55 50 45 40 Feb-01 Mar-01 Apr-01 Jun-01 Jul-01
METHODOLOGY - This ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted by telephone July 26-30, 2001, among a random national sample of 1,352 adults. The results have a 2.5-point error margin. Fieldwork by TNS Intersearch of Horsham, Pa. Analysis by Dalia Sussman and Gary Langer. ABC News polls can be found at ABCNEWS.com on the Internet at: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/pollvault/pollvault.html Media contact: Todd Polkes, (212) 456-4586 Here are the full results (*=less than 0.5 percent): 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? ---------Approve--------- --------Disapprove-------- No NET Strongly Somewhat NET Strongly Somewhat opin. 7/30/01 59 28 30 38 22 17 3 6/3/01 55 27 28 40 22 18 6 4/22/01 63 33 30 32 16 16 5 3/25/01 58 NA NA 33 NA NA 8 2/25/01 55 NA NA 23 NA NA 22 2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bush is handling...? 7/30/01 Summary Table: a. The economy 52 45 3 b. International affairs 56 38 6 c. Environmental issues 45 49 6 d. Education 63 31 5 e. The energy situation 43 53 5 f. Patients' rights in the health care system 48 44 9 g. Social Security 46 48 6 h. The federal budget 53 42 5 i. Campaign finance reform 43 46 11 j. The cost of prescription drugs 40 51 9 k. Defense and the military budget 58 34 7 Trend: a. The economy 7/30/01 52 45 3 6/3/01 53 41 6 4/22/01 55 38 7 3/25/01 50 42 8 b. International affairs
7/30/01 56 38 6 6/3/01 58 33 9 4/22/01 62 31 7 3/25/01 56 31 13 c. Environmental issues 7/30/01 45 49 6 6/3/01 41 50 9 4/22/01 47 41 12 3/25/01 46 41 13 d. Education 7/30/01 63 31 5 6/3/01 57 35 8 4/22/01 60 28 12 e. The energy situation 7/30/01 43 53 5 6/3/01 37 58 5 5/13/01 39 43 18 f. Patients' rights in the health care system 7/30/01 48 44 9 6/3/01 40 39 21 g. Social Security 7/30/01 46 48 6 6/3/01 46 40 14 h,i,j,k: No trend. 3. In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time? Satisfied Dissatisfied No opinion 7/30/01 53 47 1 11/4/00 LV 61 36 3 11/3/00 LV 61 35 4 11/2/00 LV 62 35 4 4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the U.S. Congress is doing its job? 7/30/01 48 48 4 4/22/01 58 33 8 10/31/99 42 53 6 9/2/99 46 47 7 6/6/99 48 46 6 3/14/99 44 49 7 2/14/99 46 50 4 12/20/98 44 51 5 12/19/98 45 50 5
12/13/98 49 46 5 11/7/98 41 55 4 11/1/98 49 47 5 11/1/98 LV 47 51 2 10/25/98 45 44 11 10/25/98 LV 45 48 7 10/18/98 46 45 8 10/18/98 LV 45 49 5 9/28/98 52 44 4 9/28/98 LV 52 46 2 8/21/98 55 39 6 7/12/98 46 44 11 5/12/98 45 45 9 4/4/98 47 45 8 1/31/98 55 35 10 1/30/98 55 35 10 1/25/98 56 37 8 1/24/98 55 38 7 1/19/98 47 49 5 10/13/97 36 57 7 8/27/97 39 54 7 7/8/97 40 53 6 4/24/97 40 53 7 3/9/97 35 60 5 8/5/96 42 52 7 6/30/96 35 58 7 5/22/96 35 60 5 3/10/96 30 64 6 1/7/96 31 65 5 11/19/95 27 68 5 10/1/95 32 65 3 7/17/95 34 63 3 3/19/95 39 56 5 1/29/95 42 52 6 10/31/94 21 72 8 10/23/94 18 78 4 9/11/94 24 70 5 6/26/94 34 61 5 3/27/94 35 62 3 2/27/94 32 64 4 1/23/94 29 60 11 11/14/93 28 66 6 8/8/93 33 64 3 4/26/93 30 69 2 1/17/93 29 66 6 4/9/92 17 78 5 3/18/92 19 76 5 3/8/92 22 73 6 2/2/92 32 64 4 12/15/91 35 59 6 10/21/91 45 50 5 6/2/91 49 46 5 10/14/90 34 63 3 2/4/90 41 55 4 1/16/90 39 55 6 8/21/89 42 53 5 5/23/89 54 44 2 2/14/89 53 44 3 1/23/88* 43 53 4 6/1/87* 56 40 4 6/22/85* 54 37 9 5/83* 33 43 24 6/81* 38 40 22 6/79* 19 61 20 9/78* 29 49 22
6/77* 34 42 24 6/75* 29 54 17 8/74* 48 35 17 *Gallup 5. Do you think the country should go in the direction (Bush wants to lead it), go in the direction (the Democrats in Congress want to lead it), or what? Other Neither No dif. No Bush Democrats (vol.) (vol.) (vol.) opin. 7/30/01 42 43 4 6 3 3 6/3/01 40 42 5 7 3 3 4/22/01 46 36 4 6 3 4 6. Who do you think is taking a stronger leadership role in the government in Washington these days, (Bush) or (the Democrats in Congress)? Bush Democrats (vol.) (vol.) opin. 7/30/01 51 38 3 4 4 7. Who do you trust to do a better job handling... (Bush) or (the Democrats in Congress)? 7/30/01 Summary Table: a. The economy 47 46 1 4 1 b. International affairs 51 42 1 3 3 c. Environmental issues 37 54 1 5 3 d. Education 50 42 2 4 2 e. The energy situation 41 49 1 6 3 f. Patients' rights in the health care system 41 49 1 5 4 g. Social Security 42 51 1 5 2 h. The federal budget 47 44 2 5 2 i. Campaign finance reform 40 44 1 9 6 j. The cost of prescription drugs 39 50 1 7 3 k. Defense and the military budget 53 40 1 4 3 Trend: a. The economy b. 7/30/01 47 46 1 4 1 6/3/01 44 46 2 6 2 b. International affairs 7/30/01 51 42 1 3 3 6/3/01 47 40 3 7 4 c. Environmental issues
7/30/01 37 54 1 5 3 6/3/01 35 54 2 5 4 d. Education 7/30/01 50 42 2 4 2 6/3/01 43 43 1 7 6 e. The energy situation 7/30/01 41 49 1 6 3 6/3/01 36 52 1 5 6 f. Patients' rights in the health care system 7/30/01 41 49 1 5 4 6/3/01 37 52 * 3 7 g. Social Security 7/30/01 42 51 1 5 2 6/3/01 38 52 1 5 3 h,i,j,k: No trend. 8. Who do you think is more open to the ideas of people who are political moderates - (Bush) or (the Democrats in Congress)? 7/30/01 38 52 2 4 4 Compare to: On another subject, which political party do you think is more open to the ideas of people who are political moderates - the (Democrats) or the (Republicans)? Democrats Republicans (vol.) (vol.) opin. 6/3/01 57 32 2 6 4 9. For each group I name, please tell me if you think it has too much influence in the Bush administration, too little influence or about the right amount. 7/30/01 Too Too Right No much little amount opin. a. Large business corporations 67 7 24 2 b. The oil and gas industries 64 13 20 3 c. Conservative religious groups 32 23 42 4 d. Wealthy people 72 5 22 2
e. Environmental groups 20 46 31 3 f. Minority groups 14 51 33 2 g. People like you 1 67 30 1 10. Please tell me whether the following statement applies to Bush or not... 7/30/01 Summary Table: a. He understands the problems of people like you 45 54 2 b. He can be trusted in a crisis 60 37 3 c. He's doing a good job as commander-in-chief of the military 67 29 4 d. He is honest and trustworthy 63 34 3 e. He is a strong leader 55 43 2 f. He's got a vision for the future 67 31 2 g. He understands complex issues 53 45 2 h. He has strong personal character 68 30 2 i. He has brought needed change to Washington 50 47 3 j. He's done a good job keeping the economy strong 52 46 2 Trend: a. He understands the problems of people like you 7/30/01 45 54 2 4/22/01 47 51 2 11/4/00 LV 49 46 5 10/24/00 LV 50 46 3 10/15/00 RV 46 46 7 10/9/00 RV 50 44 6 9/6/00 RV 47 49 4 8/20/00 RV 50 46 5 7/23/00 RV 44 51 5 7/23/00 44 51 5 6/11/00 48 47 5 4/2/00 48 46 6 3/11/00 47 47 6 2/27/00 43 51 6 2/6/00 43 52 5 1/16/00 46 49 6 12/15/99 47 46 7 10/31/99 54 39 7 9/2/99 50 39 11 3/14/99 52 27 21 b. He can be trusted in a crisis 7/30/01 60 37 3 4/22/01 65 32 4 12/15/99 62 27 11 9/2/99 58 22 19 c. He's doing a good job as commander-in-chief of the military 7/30/01 67 29 4 4/22/01 69 26 5
9/6/00* RV 65 27 8 2/6/00 RV 58 35 7 2/6/00 57 35 8 *9/6/00 and previous: "He would be a good commander-in-chief." d. He is honest and trustworthy 7/30/01 63 34 3 4/22/01 62 32 6 11/5/00 LV 60 33 7 11/4/00 LV 61 33 7 10/24/00 LV 65 30 5 10/15/00 LV 57 34 9 10/15/00 RV 53 35 12 9/6/00 RV 62 30 7 7/23/00 RV 61 30 8 7/23/00 59 31 10 12/15/99 63 28 9 10/31/99 68 22 10 9/2/99 63 23 14 3/14/99 67 12 22 e. He is a strong leader 7/30/01 55 43 2 4/22/01 53 42 5 10/9/00 RV 62 33 5 9/6/00 RV 65 28 7 8/20/00 RV 65 29 5 8/10/00 RV 67 29 5 7/23/00 RV 61 33 6 7/23/00 62 32 5 6/11/00 65 30 6 4/2/00 68 27 5 3/11/00 63 31 6 2/27/00 62 32 6 2/6/00 65 30 7 1/16/00 65 28 7 12/15/99 67 26 7 10/31/99 77 18 5 9/2/99 70 18 12 3/14/99 68 13 20 f. He's got a vision for the future 7/30/01 67 31 2 4/22/01 68 30 2 3/14/99 66 12 21 g. He understand complex issues 7/30/01 53 45 2 11/4/00 60 36 4 h. He has strong personal character 7/30/01 68 30 2 11/4/00 70 26 5 i. He has brought needed change to Washington
7/30/01 50 47 3 9/6/00 RV* 55 41 5 7/23/00 RV 50 46 4 7/23/00 51 44 5 4/2/00 54 39 7 3/11/00 50 43 7 2/27/00 46 50 4 2/6/00 48 46 6 1/16/00 49 43 8 12/15/99 52 40 8 10/31/99 61 32 7 9/2/99 56 32 12 *9/6/00 and previous: "He would bring needed change to Washington" j: No trend. 11. How confident are you that Bush has the experience and ability needed to meet the challenges of the presidency very confident, somewhat confident, not too confident, or not at all confident? Very Somewhat Not too Not at all No confident confident confident confident opin. 7/30/01 29 32 23 16 * 4/22/01 31 32 20 16 * 12. Do you think Bush is mainly concentrating on things that are important to you personally, or on things that are not important to you personally? Important Not important No to you to you opin. 7/30/01 45 53 2 13. Do you think Bush is working hard enough, or not hard enough? Hard Not hard No enough enough opin. 7/30/01 62 36 2 14. Would you say Bush is doing a better job as president than you expected, a worse job, or what? As expected Better Worse (vol.) No opin. 7/30/01 39 23 36 2 4/22/01 39 21 37 3 2/28/93* 38 19 35 8 *Clinton 15. In last year's presidential campaign, do you think Bush did or did not tell people the truth about the kind of programs and policies he would seek after he became president? Told Did not No truth tell truth opin. 7/30/01 60 37 3 8/8/93* 46 53 2 *Clinton
16. As you may know, Congress has approved a tax cut of nearly onepoint-four trillion dollars over the next 10 years. In general, do you think this tax cut will be good for the economy, bad for the economy, or won't it make much difference? No No Good Bad difference opin. 7/30/01 37 20 42 1 6/3/01 35 13 50 3 17. Do you think this tax cut will or will not leave enough money to keep the federal budget balanced and provide enough money for programs such as Social Security, education and health care? Will Will not No opin. 7/30/01 45 52 3 2/25/01* 40 42 18 * would or would not. 18. As part of the tax cut, most Americans will receive a rebate check for 300 to 600 dollars sometime this summer. Have you gotten a tax rebate check from the federal government this summer, or not? 7/30/01 9 90 * 19. Would you say Bush's views on most political matters are liberal, moderate, or conservative? Liberal Moderate Conservative No opin. 7/30/01 11 36 50 3 20. Which of these is more important to you: (holding down the size of government) or (providing needed services)? Holding down Providing Both No size of govt needed svcs (vol.) opin. 7/30/01 33 63 3 1 4/22/01 31 62 5 2 10/18/00 LV 30 58 10 1 21. Which do you think is more important to Bush: (holding down the size of government) or (providing needed services)? Holding down Providing Both No size of govt needed svcs (vol.) opin. 7/30/01 61 30 4 5 4/22/01 62 28 5 6 22. Which is more important to you personally - (protecting the environment) or (encouraging economic growth)? Protecting the Encouraging No environment economic growth opin. 7/30/01 52 44 4 4/22/01 52 44 3 1/15/01 56 39 5
23. Which do you think is more important to Bush - (protecting the environment) or (encouraging economic growth)? Protecting the Encouraging No environment economic growth opin. 7/30/01 14 81 5 4/22/01 13 78 9 24. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Bush as a person? Favorable Unfavorable No opin. 7/30/01 63 34 2 6/3/01 61 34 5 4/22/01 64 32 4 12/15/00* 56 36 8 10/15/00 RV 46 34 21 9/6/00 RV 58 31 11 7/23/00 RV 61 30 9 7/23/00 62 29 9 6/11/00 RV 54 29 17 6/11/00 50 28 22 4/2/00 50 31 19 2/27/00 49 39 11 10/31/99 69 24 8 9/2/99 61 23 16 6/6/99 54 15 30 3/14/99 54 14 32 2/14/99 51 13 36 1/19/98 34 13 53 *12/15/00 and previous: "Please tell me if you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of George W Bush, or perhaps you don't know enough to say." 25. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of: 7/30/01 Summary table: Favorable Unfavorable No opinion Dick Cheney 60 34 6 The Republican party 51 46 3 The Democratic party 60 36 4 John McCain 57 30 12 Trend: Dick Cheney Favorable Unfavorable No opinion 7/30/01 60 34 6 12/15/00 55 23 22 9/6/00 RV 42 20 38 7/29/00 RV 34 11 55 7/29/00 29 10 60 The Republican Party Favorable Unfavorable No opinion 7/30/01 51 46 3 12/15/00 54 35 11 1/16/00 53 37 10
1/10/00* 53 41 6 1/10/00 LV 56 39 5 11/21/99 50 44 6 5/2/99 47 44 9 2/21/99 45 46 9 2/13/99 40 54 5 2/8/99 45 47 8 1/10/99 40 52 8 12/20/98 31 57 12 12/16/98 43 47 10 10/29/97 50 42 8 9/1/96 RV 50 45 5 8/18/96 RV 55 41 4 8/7/96 RV 51 44 5 4/10/96 52 41 7 4/19/95 52 42 6 7/8/92 RV 53 39 8 *1/10/00 and previous: Gallup The Democratic Party Favorable Unfavorable No opinion 7/30/01 60 36 4 12/15/00 64 25 11 1/16/00 56 35 9 1/10/00* 61 33 6 1/10/00 LV 58 37 5 11/21/99 51 41 8 5/2/99 53 37 10 2/21/99 55 37 8 2/13/99 56 38 6 2/8/99 57 37 6 1/10/99 57 35 8 12/20/98 57 30 13 12/16/98 58 32 10 10/29/97 54 39 7 9/1/96 RV 60 36 4 8/18/96 RV 55 41 4 8/7/96 RV 57 38 5 4/10/96 55 38 7 4/19/95 51 43 6 7/8/92 RV 54 38 8 *1/10/00 and previous: Gallup John McCain Favorable Unfavorable No opinion 7/30/01 57 30 12 2/27/00 60 21 19 10/31/99 36 22 41 9/2/99 22 10 68 3/14/99 20 10 69 26. Held for release. 27. On another subject, would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor? ----Excellent/Good----- -----Not so good/poor----- No NET Excellent Good NET Not so good Poor op. 7/30/01 50 3 46 50 39 12 * 4/22/01 50 3 47 50 40 9 * 1/15/01 70 10 59 29 24 6 1 10/27/00 LV 86 24 61 14 11 3 * 10/26/00 LV 86 24 61 14 11 3 *
6/11/00 74 17 57 26 19 6 * 2/27/00 80 25 55 20 14 5 * 10/31/99 74 18 56 26 18 7 1 9/2/99 76 19 57 23 16 6 1 3/14/99 80 22 58 19 15 4 1 11/1/98 73 12 61 26 21 5 1 11/1/98 LV 78 13 65 22 19 3 * 10/13/97 61 12 49 39 27 11 * Call for full trend. 28. Just your best guess, do you think the economy is heading into a recession, or not? Yes No No opinion 7/30/01 52 46 2 4/22/01 45 50 5 3/25/01 58 37 5 1/15/01 55 42 3 29. Do you think the United States is heading into an energy crisis, or not? Yes No No opinion 7/30/01 56 42 1 4/22/01 64 34 3 30. Held for release. 31. Held for release. 32. (AMONG THOSE WHO SAY THEY VOTED IN NOVEMBER 2000) If the election were held today among the same candidates, who would you vote for? Bush Gore Nader Buchanan Other No opin. 7/30/01 48 46 2 * 3 2 ***END***