Post-ABC Poll: Bush Addresses Nation; War on Terrorism
America Approves
Thursday, September 20, 2001
The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll is based
on telephone interviews with 526 randomly selected adults
nationwide and was conducted Thursday evening,
Sept. 20, following President Bush's televised
address to the nation. The margin of sampling error
for overall results is plus or minus 5 percentage points.
Sampling error is only one of many potential sources of
error in this or any other public opinion poll. Results of
overnight polls that attempt to measure opinions about fast-
changing news events should be interpreted with extra
caution. Interviewing was conducted by TNS Intersearch of
Horsham, Pa.
*= less than 0.5 percent
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George
W. Bush is handling the U.S. response to last week's
terrorist attacks?
Approve Disapprove No opin.
9/20/01 91 5 4
9/13/01* 91 7 2
*9/13/01 "this week's"
2. Do you support or oppose taking military action against
the groups or nations responsible for the terrorist attacks?
Support Oppose No opin.
9/20/01 90 6 4
9/13/01* 93 5 2
9/11/01 94 3 3
*9/13/01 and previous: "If the United States can identify
the groups or nations responsible for today's attacks,
would you support or oppose taking military action against
them?"
3. (If support, Q2) What if that meant getting into a war -
in that case would you support or oppose taking military
action?
2/3 NET
------Support if war----- No
NET Strongly Somewhat Oppose opin.
9/20/01 83 71 12 10 7
9/13/01 86 71 15 11 3
9/11/01 86 NA NA 7 4
4. (If support, Q2) Do you think the United States should
limit its military action only to those groups or nations
responsible for last week's attacks, or should the United
States mount a broader war against terrorist groups and the
nations that support them?
2/4 NET
Limit Broader Oppose No opin.
action war
9/20/01 24 63 6 7
5. Just your best guess, do you think large numbers of U.S.
troops will be killed and wounded in the military action to
come, or not that many?
Yes No No opin.
9/20/01 37 53 10
6. Again, just your best guess, do you think the U.S.
military action to come will last for a few weeks, a few
months, a year or so, or several years?
Few Few Year Several No
Weeks months years opin.
9/20/01 2 14 22 57 5
7. What do you think would create a greater risk of further
terrorism in this country - if the United States DOES take
military action against terrorists, or if the United States
does NOT take military action?
Does take Does not No diff. No
action take action (vol.) opin.
9/20/01 15 73 8 3
10. 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.
9/20/01 38 3 35 60 47 14 2
9/9/01 33 1 32 66 47 19 *
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 *
11. Just your best guess, do you think the economy is
heading into a recession, or not?
Yes No No opin.
9/20/01 57 37 6
9/13/01 58 37 5
9/9/01 53 44 4
7/30/01 52 46 2
4/22/01 45 50 5
3/25/01 58 37 5
1/15/01 55 42 3
12. Did you watch or listen to any of Bush's address to
Congress tonight, or not?
Yes No No opin.
9/20/01 79 21 0
13. Bush proposed measures to combat terrorism including
stricter airport security and stronger law enforcement
efforts, including the creation of a new White House office
for domestic security. How much do you think these measures
will do to reduce the risk of another major terrorist
attack in this country- a great deal, a good amount, only
some or just a little?
-----Great/Good------ ---Only Some/Little--
NET Great Good NET Only Just a No
deal amount some little opin.
9/20/01 69 33 36 28 22 6 3
14. (If watched, Q12) Did Bush's speech make you more
confident in this country's ability to deal with this
crisis, less confident, or what?
More Less No diff. No
confident confident (vol.) opin.
9/20/01 80 4 14 3
© Copyright 2001 The Washington Post Company
Best Regards, J.T. |
