N=1000 National Adults February 23-25, 1996
THIS SURVEY INCLUDED TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH --
1,002 -- NATIONAL ADULTS, AGED 18+, CONDUCTED FEBRUARY 23-
25, 1995. FOR RESULTS BASED ON SAMPLES OF THIS SIZE, ONE
CAN SAY WITH 95% CONFIDENCE THAT THE MARGIN OF SAMPLING
ERROR IS ± 3 PERCENTAGE POINTS.
ALL QUESTIONS SHOWN IN THIS TOPLINE ARE BASED ON
NATIONAL ADULTS, UNLESS INDICATED OTHERWISE. SOME OF THE
SUBGROUPS SHOWN IN THIS REPORT ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Sample Size Margin of Error
Registered Voters 849 ± 4
Registered Republican Voters 388 ± 5
Registered Democratic Voters 396 ± 5
Registered Republican Dole Voters
Registered Republican Buchanan Voters 95 ± 11
Back to top
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is
handling his job as president?
Ap- Disap- No
prove prove opinion
% % %
1996:
96 Feb 23-25 53 40 7
96 Jan 26-29 52 42 6
96 Jan 12-15 46 47 7
96 Jan 5-7 42 49 9
1995:
95 Dec 15-18 51 44 5
95 Nov 17-18 53 38 9
95 Nov 6-8 52 41 7
95 Oct 19-22 49 40 11
95 Oct 5-7 46 42 12
95 Sep 22-24 48 44 8
95 Sep 14-17 44 44 12
95 Aug 28-30 46 43 11
95 Aug 4-7 46 42 12
95 Jul 20-23 46 44 10
95 Jul 7-9 48 42 10
95 Jun 5-6 47 42 11
95 May 11-14 51 42 7
95 Apr 21-24 51 39 10
95 Apr 17-19 46 45 9
95 Apr 5-6 47 45 8
95 Mar 27-29 44 47 9
95 Mar 17-19 46 45 9
95 Feb 24-26 42 48 10
95 Feb 3-5 49 44 7
95 Jan 16-18 47 45 8
Ap- Disap- No
prove prove opinion
% % %
1994:
94 Dec 28-30 40 52 8
94 Dec 16-18 42 53 5
94 Dec 2-5 42 50 8
94 Nov 28-29 43 49 8
94 Nov 2-6 46 46 8
94 Oct 22-25 48 46 6
94 Oct 18-19 41 52 7
94 Oct 7-9 42 52 6
94 Sep 23-25 44 51 5
94 Sep 16-18 42 50 8
94 Sep 6-7 39 54 7
94 Aug 15-16 39 52 9
94 Aug 8-9 43 48 9
94 Jul 15-17 42 49 9
94 Jul 1-3 43 48 9
94 Jun 25-28 44 47 8
94 Jun 11-12 49 44 7
94 Jun 3-6 46 47 7
94 May 20-22 51 42 7
94 Apr 22-24 48 44 8
94 Apr 16-18 51 41 8
94 Mar 25-27 52 41 7
94 Mar 11-13 50 41 9
94 Mar 7-8 50 42 8
94 Feb 26-28 53 41 6
94 Jan 28-30 58 35 7
94 Jan 15-17 54 38 8
94 Jan 6-8 54 38 8
1993:
93 Dec 17-19 54 40 6
93 Dec 4-6 52 38 10
93 Nov 19-21 48 43 9
93 Nov 15-16 50 43 7
93 Nov 2-4 48 45 7
93 Oct 28-30 48 45 7
93 Oct 13-18 47 44 9
93 Oct 8-10 50 42 8
93 Sep 24-26 56 36 8
93 Sep 13-15 46 43 11
93 Sep 10-12 47 42 11
93 Aug 23-25 44 47 9
93 Aug 8-10 44 48 8
93 Jul 19-21 41 49 10
93 Jul 9-11 45 48 7
93 Jun 29-30 46 47 7
93 Jun 18-21 39 50 11
93 Jun 5-6 37 49 14
93 May 21-23 44 46 10
93 May 10-12 45 44 11
93 Apr 22-24 55 37 8
93 Mar 29-31 52 37 11
93 Mar 12-14 53 34 13
93 Feb 26-28 59 29 12
93 Feb 12-14 51 34 15
93 Feb 29-31 54 30 16
93 Jan 24-26 58 20 22
Back to top
Suppose the 1996 presidential election between Bill Clinton and
the Republican nominee were were being held today.
If Bob Dole is the Republican Party's candidate, who would
you be more likely to vote for -- Clinton, the Democrat, or
Dole, the Republican?
2A. As of today, do you lean more to Clinton, the Democrat, or to
Dole, the Republican?
BASED ON -- 849 -- REGISTERED VOTERS; ± 4 PCT PTS
DEPENDS/NEITHER/
Clinton Dole No opinion
% % %
96 Feb 23-25 56 40 4
96 Jan 26-29 54 42 4
96 Jan 12-15 48 49 3
96 Jan 5-7 46 49 5
95 Dec 15-18 54 43 4
95 Nov 6-8 53 43 4
95 Sep 22-24 50 45 5
95 Aug 28-30 48 48 4
95 Aug 4-7 46 48 6
95 Jul 20-23 49 45 6
95 Jul 7-9 47 48 5
95 Jun 5-6 46 51 4
95 May 11-14 48 48 4
95 Apr 17-19 48 49 4
95 Feb 3-5 45 51 4
Back to top
If Pat Buchanan is the Republican Party's candidate, who
would you be more likely to vote for -- Clinton, the
Democrat, or Buchanan the Republican?
3A. As of today, do you lean more to Clinton, the Democrat, or to
Buchanan the Republican?
Buch- DEPENDS/NEITHER/
Clinton anan No opinion
% % %
96 Feb 23-25 59 35 6
95 Jun 5-6 56 37 7
Back to top
If Lamar Alexander is the Republican Party's candidate, who
would you be more likely to vote for -- Clinton, the
Democrat, or Alexander the Republican?
4A. As of today, do you lean more to Clinton, the Democrat, or to
Alexander the Republican?
Alex- DEPENDS/NEITHER/
Clinton ander No opinion
% % %
96 Feb 23-25 56 37 7
Back to top
Next we'd like to know your chances of voting for Ross Perot
in November if he decides to run for President as an
independent candidate. If Perot does run as an independent,
would you READ 1-4:
7 Definitely vote for him,
16 Probably vote for him,
24 Probably not vote for him, or
50 Definitely not vote forh him?
3 No opinion
---
100
-----+
| PARTY ID FOR SCREENING
6A. -----+
Do you feel that people who hold political views similar to
yours are welcome or unwelcome in the Democratic Party these
days?
BASED ON -- 396 -- REGISTERED DEMOCRATS; ± 5 PCT PTS
76 Welcome
13 Unwelcome
11 No opinion
---
100
Back to top
Now here is a list of people who are running for the
presidential nomination of the Republican party this year.
(READ NAMES 6-14) Which of these candidates would you be
most likely to support for the Republican nomination for
president?
8A. As of today, to which of the Republican candidates do you
lean most?
BASED ON FIRST CHOICE OF -- 388 -- REGISTERED
REPUBLICANS; MARGIN OF ERROR = ± 5 PCT PTS.
Alex Buch Dorn- Lug- Spec- Tay- Wil- No
ander anan Dole an Forbes Gramm Keyes ar ter lor son opin
% % % % % % % % % % % %
1996
Feb 23-25 14 27 41 0 8 -- 2 2 -- * -- 11
Jan 26-29 3 7 47 1 16 8 1 3 -- -- -- 14
Jan 12-15 3 5 55 * 12 6 3 2 -- -- -- 14
Jan 5-7 1 6 49 1 11 10 2 6 -- -- -- 14
1995
Dec 15-18 2 9 52 1 8 13 3 3 -- -- -- 9
Nov 6-8 2 7 48 1 6 7 1 2 3 -- -- 23
Sep 22-24 3 8 47 1 5 11 1 3 1 -- 4 16
Aug 28-30 4 7 45 1 na 11 2 2 2 -- 11 15
Aug 4-7 4 10 47 2 na 10 1 2 2 -- 4 18
Jul 7-9 4 7 47 1 na 8 1 2 2 -- 8 20
Jun 5-6 3 7 51 2 na 14 1 3 3 -- 6 10
May 11-14 2 5 54 2 na 13 1 2 2 -- 6 13
Apr 5-6 3 7 45 1 na 15 1 5 5 -- 5 13
Back to top
8B. Do you support (INSERT CHOICE FROM Q. 8) strongly or only
moderately?
Total Dole Buchanan
40 37 54 Strongly
60 63 46 Moderately
--- --- ---
100 100 100
8C. Which one of the Republican candidates would be your second
choice?
BASED ON TOTAL MENTIONS OF -- 388 -- REGISTERED
REPUBLICANS; MARGIN OF ERROR = ± 5 PCT PTS.
Alex Buch Dorn- Lug- Spec- Tay- Wil- No
ander anan Dole an Forbes Gramm Keyes ar ter lor son opin
% % % % % % % % % % % %
1996
Feb 23-25 35 44 66 1 20 -- 4 4 -- 2 -- 12
Jan 26-29 7 22 62 1 30 21 4 5 -- -- -- 15
Jan 12-15 8 18 69 2 23 20 6 5 -- -- -- 16
Back to top
Do you support Pat Buchanan mostly because you agree with his
economic message or mostly because you agree with his views
on moral and social issues?
BASED ON -- 95 -- REGISTERED BUCHANAN VOTERS; 11 ± PCT PTS
28 Economic message
46 Moral and social views
24 BOTH EQUALLY (vol.)
1 NEITHER/SOMETHING ELSE (vol.)
1 No opinion
---
100
Back to top
Are you generally pleased with the selection of the
candidates running for the Republican nomination, or do you
wish someone else was running for president?
BASED ON -- 388 -- REGISTERED REPUBLICANS; ± 5 PCT PTS
44 Pleased
51 Someone else
5 No opinion
---
100
Back to top
Suppose the choice for president in the Republican convention
this year narrows down to three candidates -- Lamar
Alexander, Pat Buchanan and Bob Dole. Of these three, which
one would you prefer to have the Republican convention
select?
BASED ON -- 388 -- REGISTERED REPUBLICANS; ± 5 PCT PTS
18 Lamar Alexander
29 Pat Buchanan
49 Bob Dole
4 No opinion
---
100
Suppose the choice for president in the Republican convention
this year narrows down to only two candidates. If the two
candidates are [INSERT ITEM, ROTATE START], which one would
you prefer to have the Republcian convention select?
Next, what if the choice narrows down to [INSERT NEXT ITEM] -
- in that case which would you prefer to have the Republican
convention select?
BASED ON -- 388 -- REGISTERED REPUBLICANS; ± 5 PCT PTS
Bob Dole and Pat Buchanan
61 Dole
35 Buchanan
4 No opinion
---
100
Bob Dole and Lamar Alexander
65 Dole
30 Alexander
5 No opinion
---
100
Pat Buchanan and Lamar Alexander
46 Buchanan
44 Alexander
10 No opinion
---
100
Back to top
Regardless of which Republican presidential candidate you
prefer, which one do you think has the best chance of beating
Bill Clinton in November?
BASED ON -- 388 -- REGISTERED REPUBLICANS; ± 5 PCT PTS
8 Lamar Alexander
21 Pat Buchanan
56 Bob Dole
0 Bob Dornan
* Steve Forbes
0 Alan Keyes
0 Richard Lugar
0 Morry Taylor
6 NONE (vol.)
2 ALL EQUALLY (vol.)
1 OTHER (vol.)
6 No opinion
---
100
Back to top
Next, I will read off the names of some people in the news.
As I read each name, please tell me if you have a favorable
or unfavorable opinion of this person -- or if you have never
heard of him. First,.. Next, [RANDOM ORDER]
Back to top
Favor- Unfav- NEVER No
able orable HEARD OF opin
% % % %
Bill Clinton
96 Feb 23-25 60 37 * 3
96 Jan 12-15 54 44 0 2
95 Nov 6-8 59 38 * 3
95 Sep 22-24 55 41 * 4
95 Aug 4-7 51 44 0 5
95 Jul 7-9 57 40 0 3
95 Apr 17-19 56 42 1 1
95 Mar 17-19 51 45 * 4
95 Jan 16-18 56 42 * 2
94 Dec 28-30 48 49 0 3
94 Nov 28-29 50 47 0 3
94 Sep 6-7 47 50 0 3
94 Jul 15-17 49 48 * 3
94 Apr 22-24 56 41 0 3
94 Mar 25-27 56 40 0 4
94 Mar 7-8 59 38 * 3
94 Jan 15-17 60 37 0 3
94 Jan 6-8 62 35 -- 3
93 Nov 19-21 55 41 -- 4
93 Nov 15-16 56 38 -- 6
93 Nov 2-4 54 42 -- 4
93 Sep 24-26 63 32 -- 5
93 Aug 8-10 53 42 -- 5
93 Jul 19-21 51 45 -- 4
93 Jun 5-6 48 44 -- 8
93 Apr 22-24 63 32 -- 5
93 Jan 29-31 65 27 -- 8
93 Jan 18-19 66 26 -- 8
92 Nov 10-11 58 35 -- 7
Back to top
Favor- Unfav- NEVER No
able orable HEARD OF opin
% % % %
Bob Dole
96 Feb 23-25 49 43 1 7
96 Jan 12-15 44 40 3 13
95 Nov 6-8 42 44 4 10
95 Sep 22-24 42 43 4 11
95 Aug 4-7 47 34 4 15
95 Jul 7-9 59 29 4 8
95 Apr 17-19 57 32 2 9
95 Mar 17-19 53 29 5 13
95 Jan 16-18 54 31 4 11
94 Dec 28-30 54 30 4 12
94 Nov 28-29 58 26 6 10
94 Jul 15-17 51 30 7 12
94 Jan 15-17 52 29 4 15
93 Aug 8-10 42 37 -- 21
93 Mar 22-24 54 26 -- 20
Back to top
Favor- Unfav- NEVER No
able orable HEARD OF opin
% % % %
Pat Buchanan
96 Feb 23-25 38 49 2 11
96 Jan 12-15 25 49 10 16
95 Jul 7-9 30 40 10 20
95 Apr 17-19 27 43 9 21
95 Mar 17-19 29 35 10 26
Back to top
Favor- Unfav- NEVER No
able orable HEARD OF opin
% % % %
Lamar Alexander
96 Feb 23-25 40 27 10 23
96 Jan 12-15 13 16 50 21
Back to top
Favor- Unfav- NEVER No
able orable HEARD OF opin
% % % %
Steve Forbes
96 Feb 23-25 32 42 8 18
96 Jan 12-15 26 12 34 28
Back to top
Favor- Unfav- NEVER No
able orable HEARD OF opin
% % % %
Ross Perot
96 Feb 23-25 38 52 * 10
96 Jan 12-15 37 50 1 12
95 Aug 4-7 40 46 2 12
95 Apr 17-19 41 52 1 6
94 Sep 6-7 40 50 1 9
94 Jul 15-17 39 50 1 10
94 Apr 22-24 37 54 * 9
94 Jan 15-17 36 56 1 7
93 Nov 2-4 44 44 -- 12
93 Aug 8-10 52 38 -- 10
93 Mar 22-24 66 28 -- 6
L.V.:
92 Nov 1-2 46 46 -- 8
R.V. trend:
92 Oct 22-23 56 32 -- 12
92 Sep 28-30 20 66 -- 14
92 Jul 17-18 38 47 -- 15
92 Jul 16 44 35 -- 21
92 Jul 6-8 44 37 -- 19
92 Jun 26-30 48 34 -- 18
92 Jun 12-14 52 30 -- 18
92 May 18-20 50 25 -- 25
92 May 7-10 48 16 -- 36
92 Apr 20-22 41 23 -- 36
92 Mar 31-Apr 1 32 10 -- 58
Next, as I read the names of some Republicans running for the
Republican presidential nomination, please tell me your
chances of voting for each one if he were to become the
Republican candidate against Bill Clinton in November.
First, if [INSERT ITEM, ROTATE START] becomes the
Republican nominee, would you definitely vote for him,
probably vote for him, probably not vote for him, or
definitely not vote for him in November?
Next, what are chances of voting for [INSERT NEXT ITEM] if
he becomes the Republican nominee?
Defin-
Defin- Prob- Probably itely No
itely ably not not opin
% % % % %
a. Lamar Alexander 16 22 27 30 5
b. Pat Buchanan 17 18 20 42 3
c. Bob Dole 24 20 20 33 3
Back to top
Turning now to Congress,
If the elections for Congress were being held today, which
party's candidate would you vote for in your Congressional
district -- the Democratic Party's candidate or the
Republican Party's candidate?
16A. As of today, would you lean more to the Democratic Party's
candidate or to the Republican Party's candidate?
BASED ON -- 849 -- REGISTERED VOTERS; ± 4 PCT PTS
Democratic Republican Undecided/
candidate candidate other
% % %
96 Feb 23-25 48 46 6
96 Jan 12-15 46 47 7
96 Jan 5-7 44 48 8
95 Dec 15-18 49 43 8
95 Nov 6-8 47 46 7
95 Aug 28-30 43 47 10
95 Jul 7-9 46 47 7
94 Nov 2-6 46 46 8
Previous On-Year Elections
92 Sep 28-30 52 39 8
92 Apr 20-22 47 44 9
88 May 13-15 52 37 11
84 Apr 6-9 55 45 --
80 Aug 15-18 57 34 9
80 Feb/Mar 53 37 10
76 Oct 28-30 (LV) 53 39 8
Back to top
On some more general issues,
Please tell me whether you are worried or not worried about
each of the following happening in the next few years.
Not No
Worried worried opinion
a. That you or your
(husband/wife) will
lose a job 36 63 1
b. That you will not be
able to maintain your
standard of living 53 46 1
Back to top
Now, thinking about the budget conflict which has been going
on in Washington, who do you think has acted more responsibly
in the negotiations over the budget -- President Clinton or
the Republican leaders in Congress?
96 Feb 23-25 95 Dec 15-18
% %
44 48 Clinton
35 34 Republicans in Congress
15 10 NEITHER/BOTH/NO DIFFERENCE (vol.)
6 2 No opinion
--- ---
100 100
Back to top
Next, I have a question about the conservative Christian
political movement sometimes known as the "religious right."
Do you generally support or oppose the political views of the
religious right, or don't you know enough about this group to
have an opinion?
20 Support
27 Oppose
52 Don't know enough
1 No opinion
---
100
Back to top
Regardless of which Republican candidate you support, please
tell me if you think Lamar Alexander, Pat Buchanan or Bob
Dole would best handle each of the following issues. First,
... Next, ... ROTATED:
BASED ON -- 388 -- REGISTERED REPUBLICANS; ± 5 PCT PTS
NONE/ Alex- Buch- OTHER
No ander anan Dole (vol.)
opin
% % % % %
a. The rate of violent crime
in the United States 8 35 40 3 14
b. The quality of education
in public schools through
grade 12 20 28 37 3 12
c. The availability of good
jobs in the U.S. 16 28 40 3 13
d. The nation's economy 15 24 50 3 8
e. Foreign trade 11 17 60 1 11
f. Immigration 9 39 37 1 14
Next, I'm going to read off some personal characteristics and
qualities. Regardless of which Republican candidate you
support, please tell me if you think it applies most to Lamar
Alexander, Pat Buchanan or Bob Dole. First, ... (Next, ..)
(ROTATED)
BASED ON -- 388 -- REGISTERED REPUBLICANS; ± 5 PCT PTS
NONE/ Alex- Buch- OTHER
No ander anan Dole (vol.)
opin
% % % % %
a. Has a clear plan for
solving the country's
problems 11 28 38 14 9
b. Is honest and
trustworthy 16 27 36 13 8
c. Shares your values 17 32 40 4 7
d. Can get things done 9 23 57 4 7
e. Cares about the needs
of people like you 16 34 34 9 7
f. Shares your views on
the role of religion
in politics 13 30 34 5 18
Overall, do you think [INSERT ITEM, ROTATE START]'s candidacy
will have a good effect or a bad effect on the Republican
Party? Next, do you think [INSERT NEXT ITEM] candidacy will
have a good effect or a bad effect on the Republican Party?
BASED ON -- 388 -- REGISTERED REPUBLICANS; ± 5 PCT PTS
Good Bad NEITHER No
effect effect (vol.) opin
% % % %
Lamar Alexander 50 25 6 19
Pat Buchanan 46 43 2 19
Bob Dole 71 20 4 5
For each of the following candidates, please say whether you
think his political views are too conservative, about right,
or too liberal. First, ... Next, ... [RANDOM ORDER]
BASED ON -- 388 -- REGISTERED REPUBLICANS; ± 5 PCT PTS
Too
conserv- About Too No
ative right liberal opin
% % % %
Lamar Alexander 9 48 17 26
Pat Buchanan 38 34 17 11
Bob Dole 20 54 16 10
Do you feel that people who hold political views similar to
yours are welcome or unwelcome in the Republican Party these
days?
BASED ON -- 388 -- REGISTERED REPUBLICANS; ± 5 PCT PTS
Total Dole Buchanan
75 87 68 Welcome
19 10 28 Unwelcome
6 3 4 No opinion
--- --- ---
100 100 100
In recent days do you think Pat Buchanan has been treated
fairly or unfairly by most Republican leaders?
BASED ON -- 388 -- REGISTERED REPUBLICANS; ± 5 PCT PTS
Total Dole Buchanan
45 Fairly
39 Unfairly
16 No opinion
---
100 100 100
Which is more important to you in this year's presidential
election -- the country's economic problems or the country's
moral problems?
BASED ON -- 388 -- REGISTERED REPUBLICANS; ± 5 PCT PTS
Total Dole Buchanan
49 Economic problems
42 Moral problems
6 NEITHER/OTHER (vol.)
3 No opinion
---
100 100 100
Which of the following statements comes closer to your own
view about free trade -- Free trade would be good for the
United States because it would help the U.S. economy by
expanding exports, or Free trade would be bad for the U.S.
because it would end up costing the U.S. jobs.
BASED ON -- 388 -- REGISTERED REPUBLICANS; ± 5 PCT PTS
Total Dole Buchanan
52 Good for the U.S.
38 Bad for the U.S.
2 NEITHER/OTHER (vol.)
8 No opinion
---
100 100 100
Back to top
Thinking now about Bob Dole
Do you feel Bob Dole is too old to be president, or not?
96 Feb 23-25 95 Jul 20-23*
% %
27 34 Yes, too old
67 64 No, not too old
6 2 No opinion
--- ---
100 100
* Different question wording: "Apart from whether you would ever vote for
Bob Dole or not, do you think that at age 72 he is too old to be running
for president, or is he not too old?"
Thinking about Pat Buchanan -- in your opinion are his views
too extreme for him to serve as president, or are they not
too extreme?
29A. IF TOO EXTREME: Why do you feel that Pat Buchanan's views
are too extreme -- mostly because of his positions on
economic issues, or mostly because of his positions on social
issues?
BASED ON -- 388 -- REGISTERED REPUBLICANS; ± 5 PCT PTS
54 Yes, too extreme
10 Economic Issues
31 Social Issues
10 BOTH EQUALLY (vol.)
3 No opinion
---
54
35 No, not too extreme
11 No opinion
---
100
Back to top
45. In general, do you think the United Nations is doing a good
job or a poor job in trying to solve the problems it has had
to face?
No
Good Poor opinion
% % %
96 Feb 46 46 8
95 Aug 35 56 9
93 Jun 46 40 14
93 Mar 52 44 4
90 Oct 54 34 12
85 Aug 28 54 18
85 Feb 38 44 18
83 Oct 36 51 13
82 Jun 36 49 15
80 Sep 31 53 16
78 Feb 40 39 21
75 Nov 33 51 16
71 Nov 35 43 22
70 Sep 44 40 16
67 Jul 50 35 16
54 Jul 58 25 16
53 Dec 55 30 15
46. Do you think the federal government has become so large and
pwerful that is poses an immediate threat to the rights and
freedoms of ordinary citizens, or don't you think so?
BASED ON -- 388 -- REGISTERED REPUBLICANS; ± 5 PCT PTS
96 Feb 23-25 95 Apr 23-24
% %
52 39 Yes, immediate threat
43 58 Don't think so
5 3 No opinion
--- ---
100 100
Previous Polls
|
![[http://Pathfinder.com]](/ALLPOLITICS/1996/images/Pathfinder.jpg){kind=small}
![[http://CNN.com]](/ALLPOLITICS/1996/images/Interactive.jpg){kind=small}