PollingReport.com

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   Government and Politics

See also: Congress | Elections | Major institutions | Political figures | Religion | White House

Polls listed chronologically. Data are from nationwide surveys of Americans 18 & older.
 
 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Feb. 19-22, 2009. N=1,001 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"As you may know, Washington, D.C., has a delegate in Congress, but that person is not allowed to vote on laws. Would you support or oppose new legislation giving D.C. a full voting member in the U.S. House of Representatives?"

.
Support Oppose Unsure    
% % %    

2/19-22/09

 58 35 7    

4/22/07

 61 28 11    

 

The Harris Poll. Feb. 10-15, 2009. N=1,010 adults nationwide.

.

"And now a question about the power of different groups in influencing government policy, politicians, and policymakers in Washington. Do you think [see below] have/has too much or too little power and influence on Washington?"

.
Too Much Too Little About
Right (vol.)		 Unsure
% % % %
Big companies
2/10-15/09 85 10 2 3
2/5-11/08 86 8 2 3

.
Political action committees, which give money to political candidates
2/10-15/09 85 9 2 5
2/5-11/08 83 9 2 5

.
Political lobbyists
2/10-15/09 81 14 1 4
2/5-11/08 80 13 1 6

.
The news media
2/10-15/09 75 18 3 5
2/5-11/08 74 17 4 6

.
Entertainment and sports celebrities
2/10-15/09 70 20 4 6
2/5-11/08 69 20 4 7

.
TV and radio talk shows
2/10-15/09 59 29 5 7
2/5-11/08 57 32 5 7

.
Trade associations
2/10-15/09 55 30 2 12
2/5-11/08 57 24 4 15

.
Labor unions
2/10-15/09 54 40 3 4
2/5-11/08 51 39 4 6

.
Opinion polls
2/10-15/09 38 51 5 6
2/5-11/08 44 46 4 7

.
Churches and religious groups
2/10-15/09 34 57 4 5
2/5-11/08 40 52 4 5

.
Racial minorities
2/10-15/09 33 53 6 8
2/5-11/08 33 51 5 11

.
Nonprofit organizations
2/10-15/09 19 71 3 7
2/5-11/08 23 65 4 8

.
Public opinion
2/10-15/09 18 76 3 2
2/5-11/08 20 74 3 4

.
Small business
2/10-15/09 5 90 3 3
2/5-11/08 4 90 3 3

 

CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. June 26-29, 2008. N=1,026 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Do you think America is ready for a black president or not?"

.
Yes No Unsure    
% % %    

6/26-29/08

 74 25 1    

.

3/26 - 4/2/08

 76 22 3    

   Whites

 78 20 2    

   Blacks

 69 29 2    

.

1/14-17/08

 72 26 2    

   Whites

 72 26 2    

   Blacks

 61 37 3    

.

12/5-7/06

 62 34 4    

   Whites

 65 31 5    

   Blacks

 54 42 4    

.

.

"Do you think America is ready for a woman president or not?"

.
Yes No Unsure    
% % %    

6/26-29/08

 67 32 1    

.

3/26 - 4/2/08

 63 35 2    

   Whites

 65 33 1    

   Blacks

 59 39 2    

.

1/14-17/08

 65 34 1    

12/5-7/06

 60 37 4    

 

CBS News Poll. May 30-June 3, 2008. N=930 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 4.

.

"Do you think America is ready to elect a black president, or not?"

.
Yes No Depends
(vol.)		 Unsure  
% % % %  

5/30 - 6/3/08

 68 23 - 9  

3/15-18/08

 62 30 - 8  

1/9-12/08

 54 31 - 15  

1/18-21/07

 54 36 3 7  

2/6-10/00 Adults

 37 52 4 7  

.

"Thinking about the number of African Americans who hold high level political office -- such as governors and members of Congress -- would you say that there should be more, should be fewer, or is the number about right?"

.
More Fewer About
Right		 Unsure  
% % % %  

5/30 - 6/3/08

 39 2 42 17  

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. May 8-11, 2008. N=1,122 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. Fieldwork by TNS.

.

"If you honestly assessed yourself, thinking in general about [see below], is that something you'd be entirely comfortable with, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or entirely uncomfortable?"

.
Entirely
Comfortable		 Somewhat
Comfortable		 Somewhat
Uncomfortable		 Entirely
Uncomfortable		 Unsure

%

%

%

%

%

"An African-American president of the United States"

5/8-11/08

66

22

6

6

1

7/18-21/07

56

30

7

5

1

.

"A woman president of the United States"

5/8-11/08

62

22

9

7

-

7/18-21/07

54

25

9

10

1

.

"Someone entering office as president of the United States at age 72"

5/8-11/08

31

29

24

15

1

 

Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. April 24-25, 2008. N=1,203 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.5.

.

"Do you think America is ready to elect a woman president, or not?"

.
Is Is Not Unsure    
% % %    

4/24-25/08

 70 25 5    

7/2-3/07

 58 32 10    

12/6-7/06

 55 35 10    

.

"Do you think America is ready to elect an African-American president, or not?"

.
Is Is Not Unsure    
% % %    

4/24-25/08

 74 19 7    

7/2-3/07

 59 30 11    

12/6-7/06

 56 30 14    

.

"Thinking about white voters who say they would have no problem voting for a black presidential candidate, do you think most of them, some of them, or very few of them have reservations about voting for a black candidate that they are not willing to express?"

.
Most Some Very Few Unsure  
% % % %  

4/24-25/08

 12 41 36 11  

7/2-3/07

 17 47 23 13  

 

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). March 24-25, 2008. N=700 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.7.
           

.

"Do you think the voters of this country are ready to elect a qualified [see below] as president, or don't you think so?"
           

.
    Are Ready Don't
Think So		 Unsure    
    % % %    
 

African American

    
 

  3/24-25/08

 72 18 10    
 

  11/1-5/07 Adults

 63 27 10    
         

.

.
 

Woman

    
 

  3/24-25/08

 71 20 9    
 

  11/1-5/07 Adults

 69 24 7    
         

.

.
 

Person over age seventy

    
 

  3/24-25/08

 61 29 10    

 

NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll conducted by the polling organizations of Peter Hart (D) and Bill McInturff (R). March 7-10, 2008. N=approx. 500 registered voters nationwide.

.

"Do you think that the next president should take an approach similar to that of George W. Bush, or should the next president take a different approach than George W. Bush has?"

.
Similar Different Unsure    
% % %    

3/7-10/08

 17 76 7    

11/1-5/07

 21 73 6    

 

CBS News/New York Times Poll. Feb. 20-24, 2008. N=1,115 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"In general, what is the best age for a president of the United States: in their 30s, in their 40s, in their 50s, in their 60s, or in their 70s?"

.
30s 40s 50s 60s 70s Unsure
% % % % % %

2/20-24/08

 2 20 48 18 2 10

3/07

 5 26 55 9