THE POLITICO-GW BATTLEGROUND POLL A national survey of 1,000 Registered Likely Voters
Do you feel things in the country are going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten off on the wrong track? 67% 56% 51% 51% 49% 49% 46% 43% 47% 46% 46% 57% 55% 54% 53% 52% 54% 62% 60% 51% 56% 55% 64% 63% 62% 34% 36% 43% 43% 42% 40% 40% 39% 38% 40% 40% 41% 40% 39% 39% 36% 32% 31% 28% 38% 34% 36% 31% 28% 29% Apr- 93 Dec- 97 Aug- 98 Jun- 99 Jan- 00 Mar- 00 May- 00 Jun- 00 Nov- 00 Apr- 01 Sep- 03 Mar- 04 Right Direction 34% 36% 43% 36% 49% 43% 39% 42% 46% 39% 40% 38% 40% 40% 41% 39% 28% 32% 31% 38% 34% 36% 28% 31% 29% Wrong Track 56% 51% 46% 51% 40% 43% 49% 47% 40% 46% 53% 57% 55% 54% 52% 54% 67% 60% 62% 51% 56% 55% 62% 63% 64% Jun- 04 Aug- 04 Oct- 04 Mar- 05 Oct- 05 Feb- 06 Sep- 06 Jul- 09 Dec- 09 Apr- 10 9/9/1 0 9/21/ 10 10/2 1/10
And, what would you say is the reason that the country is on the wrong track? (If Wrong Track in Q1, Asked of N=295 Respondents, or 30% of Sample) Personal economic concerns 11% President Obama 21% Congress/Democrats 12% Deficit/debt/gov't spending 10% Other 46%
Now, thinking about your feelings about the direction of the country Would you say that you are Angry 12% Excited 2% Hopeful 26% Concerned 34% Frustrated 20% Something else 4%
If the election for Congress were being held today, and you had to make a choice, would you be voting for the Republican candidate or the Democrat candidate in your Congressional district? 47% 42% GOP DEM Republicans 90% 2% Independents 44% 30% Democrats 6% 86% 11% Republican Undecided Democrat
If the election for Congress were being held today, and you had to make a choice, would you be voting for the Republican candidate or the Democrat candidate in your Congressional district? 49% 46%46% 47% 47% 39% 39% 44% 44% 43% 43% 43% 42% 42% 41% 41% 41% 41% 40% 41% 41% 41% 41% 41% 39% 39% 40% 39% 39% 40% 40% 40% 40% 39% 39% 39% 38% 38% 37% 37% 37% 35% 43% 43% 42%42% 43% 42% 42% 40% 40% 40% Aug- 94 Apr- 95 Jan- 96 Dec- 97 Aug- 98 Jun- 99 Jan- 00 Mar- 00 May- 00 Jun- 00 Aug- 00 Nov- 00 Republican 39% 43% 41% 40% 43% 39% 39% 41% 41% 40% 40% 38% 35% 37% 41% 40% 41% 41% 40% 41% 40% 42% 42% 43% 47% 47% Democrat 39% 38% 43% 39% 40% 39% 37% 42% 41% 42% 37% 39% 39% 41% 39% 44% 44% 46% 46% 49% 43% 40% 40% 43% 42% 42% Apr- 01 Jun- 01 Jan- 02 Jun- 02 Mar- 05 Oct- 05 Feb- 06 Sep- 06 Jul- 09 Dec- 09 Apr- 10 9/9/1 0 9/21/ 10 10/2 0/10
Will your vote be more for your candidate, or against their opponent? 46% 23% 14% 7% For candidate-better choice For candidate-send a message with vote For candidate-both Against opponent
In thinking about your vote, would you say it is a vote for Barack Obama and the Congressional Democrats, a vote against Barack Obama and the Congressional Democrats, a vote for Republicans taking control of Congress, or a vote against Republicans taking control of Congress? 31% 23% 25% 11% For Obama/Congressional Democrats Against Obama/Congressional Democrats For GOP taking control of Congress Against Republicans taking control of Congress
NAME ID Barack Obama 56% 54% 53% 54% 50% 40% 42% 44% 45% 46% 3% 5% 3% 2% 4% 12/1/09 4/8/10 9/9/10 9/21/10 10/20/10 Favorable 56% 54% 53% 54% 46% Unfavorable 40% 42% 44% 45% 50% No Opinion 3% 5% 3% 2% 4%
NAME ID Nancy Pelosi 54% 52% 56% 52% 30% 32% 31% 26% 9% 9% 10% 10% 8% 8% 7% 8% 12/1/09 4/8/10 9/9/10 10/20/10 Favorable 30% 32% 31% 26% Unfavorable 54% 52% 52% 56% No Opinion 8% 9% 10% 10% Never Heard Of 9% 8% 7% 8%
NAME ID John Boehner 52% 45% 54% 17% 17% 14% 21% 19% 16% 18% 15% 13% 4/8/10 9/9/10 10/20/10 Favorable 14% 16% 18% Unfavorable 17% 21% 15% No Opinion 17% 19% 13% Never Heard Of 52% 45% 54%
NAME ID Cont d. Karl Rove 23% 32% 16% 29% The Democratic Party 43% 50% 7% The Republican Party 49% 42% 8% The Tea Party 41% 38% 14% 7% Favorable Unfavorable No opinion Never heard of
In your view, what worries you more about these elections, President Obama and the Congressional Democrats having two more years to enact their policies, or Republicans taking control of Congress and returning to their policies of the past under the Bush administration? 48% 43% 9% Obama/Congressional Democrats with 2 more years Republicans taking control of Congress Unsure
How would you rate the job Barack Obama is doing as President? Do you approve or disapprove of the job he is doing? Approve Strongly Disapprove Strongly 31% 42% 51% 46% 4% Approve Unsure Disapprove
How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as President? Do you approve or disapprove of the job he is doing? 48% 51% 51% 45% 46% 46% 7% 3% 4% 9/9/10 9/21/10 10/20/10 Approve 45% 46% 46% Unsure 7% 3% 4% Disapprove 48% 51% 51%
Whether you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President, what is your impression of Barack Obama as a person? Do you approve or disapprove of him? 65% 24% 11% Approve Unsure Disapprove
In your view, who has done the most negative campaigning this year? Would you say it is Congressional Democrats, Congressional Republicans, or President Obama? 39% 28% 9% Congressional Democrats Congressional Republicans President Obama
If the 2012 election for President were held today and you had to make a choice, for whom would you vote the Republican candidate, or Barack Obama, the Democrat? 48% 42% GOP Obama Republicans 89% 4% Independents 44% 29% Democrats 7% 85% 11% Republican Undecided Obama
If the 2012 election for President were held today and you had to make a choice, for whom would you vote the Republican candidate, or Barack Obama, the Democrat? 46% 48% 42% 42% 12% 11% 9/9/10 10/20/10 Republican 46% 48% Undecided 12% 11% Obama 42% 42%
Would you say that you have more faith or less faith in government than you did two years ago? 62% GOP Republicans 5% DEM 92% Independents 21% 69^ Democrats 63% 29% 32% 5% More faith Unsure Less faith
Who will better handle this issue, Republicans in Congress or Democrats in Congress: Turning the economy around 50% 51% 42% 40% 43% 43% 41% 40% 41% 36% 37% 35% 42% 40% 40% 39% 46% 37% 41% 39% 38% 48% 46% 44% 43% 42% 47% 44% 41% 40% 47% 46% 44% 39% 37% 46% 45% 33% Jan-96 Dec-97 Aug-98 Jun-99 Jan-00 May-00 Apr-01 Jan-02 Jun-02 Feb-06 Sep-06 Jan-07 Jul-07 Jul-09 Dec-09 Apr-10 9/9/10 9/21/10 10/20/1 0 Republicans 42% 41% 36% 40% 43% 40% 42% 46% 41% 38% 42% 43% 44% 33% 40% 41% 39% 44% 46% Democrats 40% 35% 43% 37% 41% 39% 40% 37% 39% 50% 51% 46% 48% 47% 44% 47% 37% 46% 45%
ISSUE HANDLING
Who will better handle this issue, Republicans in Congress or Democrats in Congress: Creating jobs 55% 32% Apr- 93 32% Dec- 93 49% 43% 34% Aug- 94 42% 38% 30% Apr- 95 42% Dec- 97 49% Aug- 98 44% 37% 31% Jan- 02 47% 34% Jun- 02 51% 52% 54% 48% 54% 49% 51% 55% 46% 45% 45% 41% 41% 40% 38% 39%39% 37% 37% 37% 35% Sep- 03 39% 44% 45% Republicans 32% 32% 34% 38% 30% 31% 37% 34% 35% 40% 41% 37% 37% 41% 37% 38% 39% 39% 44% 45% Democrats 55% 49% 43% 42% 42% 49% 44% 47% 51% 54% 52% 48% 54% 49% 51% 55% 46% 39% 45% 45% Mar- 04 Jun- 04 Mar- 05 Oct- 05 Sep- 06 Jan- 07 Jul- 07 Apr- 10 9/9/1 0 9/21/ 10 10/20 /10
Who will better handle this issue, Republicans in Congress or Democrats in Congress: Sharing your values 45% 40% 43% 38% 34% 33% 45% 40% 42% 39% 35% 38% 42%42% 35% 39% 48% 49% 48% 46% 46% 46% 45%45% 45% 44% 44% 42% 45% 42% 44% 43% 43% 42% 42% 42% 39% 37% 40% 40% 40% 39% Aug- 94 Jan- 96 Dec- 97 Aug- 98 Jun- 99 Jan- 00 May- 00 Apr- 01 Jan- 02 Jun- 02 Republicans 40% 38% 33% 42% 39% 40% 42% 42% 48% 42% 43% 45% 45% 46% 45% 44% 40% 42% 40% 39% 46% Democrats 45% 43% 34% 45% 35% 38% 35% 39% 37% 40% 44% 49% 48% 43% 46% 42% 42% 42% 45% 39% 44% Sep- 03 Mar- 04 Jun- 04 Mar- 05 Oct- 05 Feb- 06 Jul- 09 Dec- 09 Apr- 10 Sep- 10 Oct- 10
Who will better handle this issue, Republicans in Congress or Democrats in Congress: Controlling the deficit 49% 34% 41% 40% 35% 31% 51% 26% 47% 30% 38% 42% 42% 37% 51% 38% 45% 36% 45% 28% 51% 37% Apr-93 Dec-93 Aug-94 Apr-95 Jan-96 Dec-97 Apr-01 Jul-07 Apr-10 Sep-10 Oct-10 Republicans 34% 35% 40% 51% 47% 38% 37% 38% 45% 45% 51% Democrats 49% 41% 31% 26% 30% 42% 42% 51% 36% 28% 37%
Who will better handle this issue, Republicans in Congress or Democrats in Congress: Health care 45% 46% Social Security 45% 44% Republicans Democrats
If you had to make a choice, which party, the Republicans or the Democrats do you think has been more specific this year in proposing policies and solutions for our nation s problems? GOP DEM 39% 42% Republicans 72% 7% Independents 30% 38% Democrats 9% 80% 19% Republicans Democrats Unsure
The economic stimulus legislation passed by President Obama and Congress is working. 60% YES NO Republicans 5% 92% Independents 33% 64% Democrats 64% 28% 35% 5% Yes Unsure No
The economic stimulus legislation passed by President Obama and Congress is working. 54% 60% 38% 35% 8% 5% 9/9/10 10/20/10 Yes 38% 35% Unsure 8% 5% No 54% 60%
As you may know, a new health reform bill was signed into law earlier this year. Given what you know about the new health reform law, do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable opinion of it? 53% 44% Favorable Unfavorable Unsure 3%
Now I would like to ask you a few questions about your use of the Internet. Please tell if in the last year or two you ever had occasion to do any of the following. And, in answering, would you tell me whether you have done this many times, occasionally, only once or never. Used a government website local, state or national to obtain information, fill out a form, pay a tax bill, or any other activity through which you have accessed government services 18% 38% 8% 35% Used an Internet site like Y outube to watch a video that was created and put there by a member of Congress or any other government official or agency. 5% 16% 6% 72% Been in contact with an elected official through a social networking site such as Facebook, Digg, or Twitter. 3% 10% 2% 85% Many Times Occasionally Only Once Never
Now, thinking about the use of the Internet in the 2010 elections. Please tell if in the last year or two you ever had occasion to do any of the following. And, in answering, would you tell me whether you have done this many times, occasionally, only once or never. Have you learned about a candidate by using a social networking site, such as "friending" a candidate on Facebook or "following" a candidate on Twitter? 2% 7% 2% 89% Have you watched a video on an Internet site like YouTube to get information about a candidate for public office? 3% 16% 3% 77% Many Times Occasionally Only Once Never