|
WINTHROP POLL RESULTS – November 2009
NOTE: PERCENTAGES MAY NOT SUM TO
100% DUE TO ROUNDING
Do you approve or disapprove of the
way Barack Obama is handling his job as president of the United States?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Approve
|
47.4%
|
78.7%
|
15.9%
|
43.4%
|
|
Disapprove
|
42.2%
|
12.9%
|
74.7%
|
46.3%
|
|
Not Sure
|
9.9%
|
8.1%
|
9.4%
|
9.5%
|
|
Refused
|
.6%
|
.4%
|
.0%
|
.8%
|
Do you approve or disapprove of the
way Barack Obama is handling healthcare policy?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Approve
|
37.0%
|
63.4%
|
7.7%
|
36.1%
|
|
Disapprove
|
50.9%
|
21.2%
|
87.6%
|
50.6%
|
|
Not Sure
|
11.4%
|
15.0%
|
4.3%
|
12.4%
|
|
Refused
|
.7%
|
.4%
|
.4%
|
.8%
|
Do you approve or disapprove of the
way Barack Obama is handling the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Approve
|
38.0%
|
57.1%
|
22.2%
|
34.3%
|
|
Disapprove
|
47.9%
|
27.1%
|
69.2%
|
54.5%
|
|
Not Sure
|
13.2%
|
15.4%
|
7.3%
|
9.9%
|
|
Refused
|
.9%
|
.4%
|
1.3%
|
1.2%
|
Do you approve or disapprove of the
way the United States Congress is handling its job?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Approve
|
18.4%
|
26.4%
|
8.5%
|
16.5%
|
|
Disapprove
|
69.5%
|
58.6%
|
82.1%
|
73.6%
|
|
Not Sure
|
11.7%
|
14.3%
|
9.4%
|
9.5%
|
|
Refused
|
.4%
|
.7%
|
.0%
|
.4%
|
Regardless of how you voted in the
2008 presidential election, are you still happy with your vote choice?
|
|
Obama Voters
|
McCain Voters
|
|
Yes
|
92.5%
|
87.5%
|
|
No
|
3.6%
|
9.0%
|
|
Not Sure
|
3.6%
|
2.9%
|
|
Refused
|
.3%
|
.6%
|
Thinking about the current path that
our nation is taking, do you think our country is on the right track or
headed in the wrong direction?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Right Track
|
35.1%
|
62.3%
|
9.8%
|
31.5%
|
|
Wrong Direction
|
54.0%
|
23.8%
|
84.7%
|
57.7%
|
|
Not Sure
|
10.7%
|
13.6%
|
5.5%
|
10.4%
|
|
Refused
|
.2%
|
.4%
|
.0%
|
.4%
|
Is your opinion of Michelle Obama
favorable, not favorable, or undecided
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Favorable
|
53.2%
|
77.7%
|
26.2%
|
55.4%
|
|
Not Favorable
|
13.4%
|
3.6%
|
21.9%
|
16.5%
|
|
Undecided
|
32.4%
|
18.2%
|
51.1%
|
26.9%
|
|
Refused
|
1.0%
|
.4%
|
.9%
|
1.2%
|
In 2010, all members of the U.S.
House of Representatives are up for reelection and one-third of the members
of the U.S. Senate are up for reelection. Which of the following comes
closest to your opinion: [ANSWERS ROTATED]
"I would rather have a
Republican-controlled Congress to serve as a check on President Obama’s
agenda"
OR
"I would rather have a
Democratic-controlled Congress to help with President Obama’s agenda"
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Republican Congress
|
44.5%
|
10.6%
|
90.2%
|
42.1%
|
|
Democratic Congress
|
39.6%
|
79.1%
|
3.0%
|
36.8%
|
|
Not Sure
|
13.1%
|
8.4%
|
5.6%
|
16.9%
|
|
Refused
|
2.8%
|
1.8%
|
1.3%
|
4.1%
|
Regardless of whether the president
is a Republican or Democrat, I want you to tell me which of the following
comes closest to your beliefs: [ANSWERS ROTATED]
It is better to have Congress
controlled by the same party as the president because it helps things
run smoother and more efficiently.
OR
It is better to have Congress
controlled by a different party than the president because this
serves as a check on extremes.
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Same Party
|
36.9%
|
59.9%
|
18.7%
|
31.8%
|
|
Different Party
|
44.2%
|
22.4%
|
65.1%
|
51.0%
|
|
Not Sure
|
16.8%
|
16.2%
|
13.6%
|
15.9%
|
|
Refused
|
2.0%
|
1.5%
|
2.6%
|
1.3%
|
As you may know, Barack Obama was
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Do you approve or disapprove of Barack
Obama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Approve
|
39.7%
|
69.7%
|
12.8%
|
35.1%
|
|
Disapprove
|
48.1%
|
21.2%
|
77.4%
|
50.0%
|
|
Not Sure
|
11.5%
|
8.8%
|
9.0%
|
13.2%
|
|
Refused
|
.7%
|
.4%
|
.9%
|
1.7%
|
Whether you approve or disapprove, do
you think Barack Obama deserved to win the Nobel Peace Prize?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Yes
|
34.5%
|
63.0%
|
9.4%
|
26.4%
|
|
No
|
54.9%
|
26.0%
|
83.7%
|
62.4%
|
|
Not Sure
|
9.8%
|
10.6%
|
6.4%
|
10.3%
|
|
Refused
|
.8%
|
.4%
|
.4%
|
.8%
|
I’d like to ask more about your
opinion of Barack Obama. For each of the following, tell me which
statement comes closest to your opinion.
Would you say Barack Obama is a
good communicator or NOT a good communicator?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
A Good Communicator
|
84.4%
|
94.9%
|
75.2%
|
86.0%
|
|
Not a Good Communicator
|
12.8%
|
3.7%
|
20.1%
|
11.6%
|
|
Not Sure
|
2.6%
|
1.5%
|
4.3%
|
2.5%
|
|
Refused
|
.2%
|
.0%
|
.4%
|
.0%
|
Would you say Barack Obama is warm
and friendly or cold and aloof?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Warm and Friendly
|
76.0%
|
91.6%
|
63.7%
|
72.7%
|
|
Cold and Aloof
|
12.5%
|
3.3%
|
19.2%
|
15.3%
|
|
Not Sure
|
11.0%
|
5.1%
|
16.7%
|
10.7%
|
|
Refused
|
.6%
|
.0%
|
.4%
|
1.2%
|
Would you say Barack Obama is
trustworthy
or untrustworthy?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Trustworthy
|
54.4%
|
86.8%
|
21.4%
|
54.1%
|
|
Untrustworthy
|
36.2%
|
9.2%
|
65.0%
|
39.3%
|
|
Not Sure
|
8.6%
|
4.0%
|
11.5%
|
6.6%
|
|
Refused
|
.8%
|
.0%
|
2.1%
|
.0%
|
Would you say Barack Obama cares
about people like me or does NOT care about people like me?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Cares About People Like Me
|
61.5%
|
87.2%
|
36.3%
|
58.9%
|
|
Does Not Care About People Like Me
|
30.6%
|
8.8%
|
53.8%
|
33.2%
|
|
Not Sure
|
7.3%
|
4.0%
|
8.5%
|
7.5%
|
|
Refused
|
.6%
|
.0%
|
1.3%
|
.4%
|
|
|
White Males
|
|
Cares About People Like Me
|
51.3%
|
|
Does Not Care About People Like Me
|
43.3%
|
|
Not Sure
|
5.0%
|
|
Refused
|
.4%
|
Barack Obama has traveled to more
foreign countries in his first year in office than any previous U.S.
president topping the record set by President Gerald Ford and the first
President Bush. Which of the following statements comes closest to
your opinion: [ANSWERS ROTATED]
It is important for President Obama
to travel internationally in order to repair relationships with foreign
nations and restore our standing in the world.
OR
President Obama should spend less
time traveling abroad and instead focus on problems at home.
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Important to Travel
|
44.6%
|
67.4%
|
19.7%
|
46.3%
|
|
Focus on Problems at Home
|
49.8%
|
26.7%
|
74.4%
|
50.0%
|
|
Not Sure
|
4.9%
|
5.5%
|
5.6%
|
3.3%
|
|
Refused
|
.7%
|
.4%
|
.4%
|
.4%
|
What do you think is the most
important problem facing the country today? ANSWERS REFLECT THE TOP
FIVE RESPONSES GIVEN FOR “ALL,” “DEMOCRAT,” “REPUBLICAN” AND “INDEPENDENT”
CATEGORIES
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Economy 39.4%
|
Economy 35.5%
|
Economy 39.1%
|
Economy 45.6%
|
|
Healthcare 12.8%
|
Unemployment 15.0%
|
Healthcare 14.0%
|
Healthcare 12.9%
|
|
Unemployment 12.1%
|
Healthcare 13.9%
|
Unemployment 11.1%
|
Unemployment 9.5%
|
|
War (Iraq, Afghanistan,
and in general) 6.2%
|
War (Iraq, Afghanistan,
and in general) 8.8%
|
Politicians/
Government 7.2%
|
War (Iraq, Afghanistan,
and in general) 7.0%
|
|
Politicians/Government 4.7%
|
Politicians/
Government 3.7%
|
War (Iraq, Afghanistan,
and in general) 3.9%
|
Politicians/
Government 4.6%
|
How would you rate the condition of
the national economy these days? Is it very good, fairly good, fairly bad or
very bad?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Very Good
|
.8%
|
1.5%
|
.9%
|
.4%
|
|
Fairly Good
|
17.1%
|
23.0%
|
13.7%
|
15.7%
|
|
Fairly Bad
|
43.6%
|
44.9%
|
46.4%
|
42.6%
|
|
Very Bad
|
37.5%
|
28.8%
|
39.1%
|
40.9%
|
|
Don't Know/ Refused
|
.9%
|
1.8%
|
.0%
|
.4%
|
Right now, do you think that economic
conditions in the country as a whole are getting better or getting worse?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Getting Better
|
46.5%
|
64.1%
|
34.0%
|
45.9%
|
|
Getting Worse
|
42.1%
|
24.2%
|
55.3%
|
45.5%
|
|
Don’t Know/ Refused
|
11.4%
|
11.7%
|
10.6%
|
8.7%
|
In the past week, have you,
personally, worried about either you or a family member getting the Swine
Flu
|
|
All
|
|
Yes
|
44.2%
|
|
No
|
55.5%
|
|
Refused
|
.3%
|
Have you gotten, or do you intend to
get a Swine Flu vaccine this year?
|
|
All
|
|
Yes
|
39.1%
|
|
No
|
58.1%
|
|
Refused
|
2.9%
|
Has your child had, or do you intend
for your child to get, a Swine Flu vaccine this year? [among parents with
child under 18 living at home]
|
|
All
|
|
Yes
|
53.2%
|
|
No
|
43.8%
|
|
Refused
|
3.0%
|
Have you kept your child home from
school, pre-school, or daycare out of concern over Swine Flu even though
they were not ill? [among parents with child under 18 living at home]
|
|
All
|
|
Yes
|
10.4%
|
|
No
|
88.4%
|
|
Refused
|
1.2%
|
I am going to read several items.
For each item, tell me how much blame do you think that item deserves for
the country's economic situation - a great deal, a good amount, only some or
hardly any?
How much blame do you think Banks
and other financial institutions, for taking unnecessary risks deserve
for the country's economic situation - a great deal, a good amount, only
some or hardly any?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Great Deal
|
47.8%
|
52.6%
|
45.7%
|
48.3%
|
|
Good Amount
|
24.1%
|
22.4%
|
26.1%
|
24.2%
|
|
Only Some
|
15.7%
|
12.9%
|
13.2%
|
19.2%
|
|
Hardly Any
|
7.6%
|
7.4%
|
11.1%
|
3.8%
|
|
None [Volunteered]
|
1.4%
|
1.8%
|
.4%
|
2.1%
|
|
Not Sure [Volunteered]
|
.2%
|
.4%
|
.4%
|
.0%
|
|
Refused
|
3.2%
|
2.6%
|
3.0%
|
2.5%
|
How much blame do you think the
Bush administration, for inadequate regulation of the financial industry
deserves for the country's economic situation - a great deal, a good amount,
only some or hardly any?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Great Deal
|
39.1%
|
65.2%
|
10.7%
|
38.2%
|
|
Good Amount
|
23.7%
|
17.9%
|
33.9%
|
20.7%
|
|
Only Some
|
23.1%
|
7.7%
|
36.9%
|
30.3%
|
|
Hardly Any
|
8.1%
|
5.5%
|
10.7%
|
6.6%
|
|
None [Volunteered]
|
2.6%
|
1.1%
|
3.9%
|
2.1%
|
|
Not Sure [Volunteered]
|
2.1%
|
1.5%
|
2.1%
|
.4%
|
|
Refused
|
1.2%
|
1.1%
|
1.7%
|
1.7%
|
How much blame do you think large
business corporations, for poor management decisions deserve for the
country's economic situation - a great deal, a good amount, only some or
hardly any?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Great Deal
|
46.8%
|
53.3%
|
43.6%
|
41.7%
|
|
Good Amount
|
27.5%
|
26.3%
|
26.9%
|
32.2%
|
|
Only Some
|
15.0%
|
12.0%
|
18.8%
|
15.3%
|
|
Hardly Any
|
5.9%
|
5.5%
|
7.7%
|
5.4%
|
|
None [Volunteered]
|
.7%
|
.4%
|
.0%
|
1.2%
|
|
Not Sure [Volunteered]
|
1.9%
|
1.5%
|
.9%
|
.8%
|
|
Refused
|
2.1%
|
1.1%
|
2.1%
|
3.3%
|
How much blame do you think
Consumers, for taking on too much debt deserve for the country's
economic situation - a great deal, a good amount, only some or hardly any?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Great Deal
|
42.5%
|
40.7%
|
44.4%
|
46.5%
|
|
Good Amount
|
31.3%
|
31.1%
|
33.3%
|
28.6%
|
|
Only Some
|
16.6%
|
17.6%
|
15.4%
|
18.7%
|
|
Hardly Any
|
5.3%
|
6.2%
|
3.4%
|
2.5%
|
|
None [Volunteered]
|
.7%
|
1.1%
|
.4%
|
.0%
|
|
Not Sure [Volunteered]
|
2.0%
|
2.2%
|
1.7%
|
1.2%
|
|
Refused
|
1.6%
|
1.1%
|
1.3%
|
2.5%
|
How much blame do you think the
Obama administration, for not doing enough to turn the economy around
deserves for the country's economic situation - a great deal, a good amount,
only some or hardly any?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Great Deal
|
17.9%
|
8.1%
|
24.6%
|
21.5%
|
|
Good Amount
|
16.8%
|
10.3%
|
20.8%
|
17.4%
|
|
Only Some
|
24.1%
|
25.3%
|
29.7%
|
20.2%
|
|
Hardly Any
|
27.2%
|
39.9%
|
16.9%
|
26.0%
|
|
None [Volunteered]
|
10.0%
|
13.2%
|
3.8%
|
12.8%
|
|
Not Sure [Volunteered]
|
2.8%
|
2.2%
|
3.0%
|
.8%
|
|
Refused
|
1.2%
|
1.1%
|
1.3%
|
1.2%
|
How concerned are you about the
possibility of losing your job in the next year? Are you very concerned,
somewhat concerned, not very concerned, or not at all concerned... [among
those currently employed]
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Very Concerned
|
16.2%
|
13.6%
|
12.5%
|
18.6%
|
|
Somewhat Concerned
|
21.7%
|
22.0%
|
21.3%
|
21.4%
|
|
Not Very Concerned
|
20.7%
|
22.0%
|
22.8%
|
22.8%
|
|
Not at All Concerned
|
41.1%
|
42.4%
|
42.6%
|
37.2%
|
|
Don't Know/ Refused
|
.2%
|
.0%
|
.7%
|
.0%
|
Would you advise your member of
Congress to vote for or against the healthcare reform bill currently before
Congress, or do you not have an opinion?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Vote For
|
31.5%
|
55.7%
|
8.6%
|
31.5%
|
|
Vote Against
|
42.2%
|
13.2%
|
75.5%
|
43.6%
|
|
No Opinion
|
25.2%
|
31.1%
|
15.5%
|
23.7%
|
|
Refused
|
1.1%
|
.0%
|
.4%
|
1.2%
|
Do you think you currently lean
toward advising your member of Congress to vote FOR the bill or AGAINST the
bill, or do you currently lean in neither direction? [Among those reporting
“no opinion” above]
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Lean For
|
23.6%
|
40.0%
|
8.6%
|
14.3%
|
|
Lean Against
|
4.8%
|
.0%
|
8.6%
|
10.7%
|
|
Neither
|
71.5%
|
60.0%
|
82.9%
|
75.0%
|
As you may know, the federal
government has taken many steps to deal with problems in the economy in the
past year. Please tell me whether, in general, you favor or oppose the
government doing each of the following.
Funding new government programs to
help create jobs
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Favor
|
71.6%
|
94.5%
|
53.4%
|
68.9%
|
|
Oppose
|
23.8%
|
2.9%
|
40.6%
|
28.6%
|
|
Not Sure/ Don't Know
|
4.4%
|
2.6%
|
5.1%
|
2.5%
|
|
Refused
|
.2%
|
.0%
|
.9%
|
.0%
|
Giving aid to states in serious
financial trouble
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Favor
|
62.7%
|
80.6%
|
50.9%
|
63.6%
|
|
Oppose
|
31.5%
|
14.3%
|
44.0%
|
31.8%
|
|
Not Sure/ Don't Know
|
5.7%
|
5.1%
|
5.1%
|
4.5%
|
|
Refused
|
.1%
|
.0%
|
.0%
|
.0%
|
Giving aid to homeowners who are in
danger of losing their homes to foreclosure
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Favor
|
53.5%
|
76.3%
|
36.3%
|
48.3%
|
|
Oppose
|
37.5%
|
16.4%
|
56.8%
|
39.7%
|
|
Not Sure/ Don't Know
|
8.7%
|
7.3%
|
6.8%
|
12.0%
|
|
Refused
|
.3%
|
.0%
|
.0%
|
.0%
|
Giving aid to U.S. banks
and financial companies in danger of failing
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Favor
|
28.1%
|
39.4%
|
16.3%
|
28.1%
|
|
Oppose
|
63.2%
|
50.0%
|
78.5%
|
62.4%
|
|
Not Sure/ Don't Know
|
8.6%
|
10.2%
|
5.2%
|
9.5%
|
|
Refused
|
.1%
|
.4%
|
.0%
|
.0%
|
How satisfied are you with the
QUALITY
of healthcare available to you and your family? Would you say you are
very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
|
|
All
|
|
Very Satisfied
|
33.8%
|
|
Satisfied
|
42.4%
|
|
Dissatisfied
|
11.7%
|
|
Very Dissatisfied
|
9.3%
|
|
Not Sure
|
2.5%
|
|
Refused
|
.2%
|
How satisfied are you with the
COST
of healthcare available to you and your family? Would you say you are
very satisfied, satisfied, dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
|
|
All
|
|
Very Satisfied
|
17.7%
|
|
Satisfied
|
34.8%
|
|
Dissatisfied
|
24.7%
|
|
Very Dissatisfied
|
20.4%
|
|
Not Sure
|
2.3%
|
|
Refused
|
.1%
|
I’d like to ask about your health
insurance. Do you currently have private health insurance either
through your job or that you purchase yourself, receive health insurance
through Medicare or Medicaid, or do you not currently have health insurance?
|
|
All
|
|
Private
|
61.9%
|
|
Medicare/ Medicaid
|
25.0%
|
|
No Insurance
|
12.3%
|
|
Refused
|
.9%
|
Do you believe that companies should
be allowed to require employees who smoke to pay higher health
insurance premiums?
|
|
All
|
Smokers
|
Non-Smokers
|
|
Yes
|
57.6%
|
33.1%
|
63.6%
|
|
No
|
37.7%
|
62.0%
|
31.7%
|
|
Not Sure
|
4.5%
|
4.8%
|
4.5%
|
|
Refused
|
.2%
|
.0%
|
.1%
|
Do you believe that companies should
be allowed to require employees who are obese, or very
overweight, to pay higher health insurance premiums?
|
|
All
|
|
Yes
|
37.7%
|
|
No
|
54.2%
|
|
Not Sure
|
7.8%
|
|
Refused
|
.4%
|
Have you, or a member of your
immediate
family ever chosen to not have a medical treatment because it was not
covered by insurance?
|
|
All
|
|
Yes
|
29.5%
|
|
No
|
69.7%
|
|
Not Sure
|
.7%
|
|
Refused
|
.1%
|
Up until now, do you think the
economic stimulus plan has made the economy as a whole better, not had an
effect, or made it worse?
|
|
All
|
Democrat
|
Republican
|
Independent
|
|
Better
|
35.0%
|
51.1%
|
19.1%
|
34.3%
|
|
No Effect
|
37.9%
|
30.3%
|
46.0%
|
38.0%
|
|
Worse
|
20.6%
|
9.1%
|
31.1%
|
24.8%
|
|
Don't Know/ Not Sure
|
6.2%
|
8.8%
|
3.8%
|
2.9%
|
|
Refused
|
.2%
|
.7%
|
.0%
|
.0%
|
|
