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.
 
 

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  

 

CNN/Essence Magazine/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. March 26-April 2, 2008. N=2,184 adults nationwide (MoE ± 2), including 1,001 non-Hispanic whites (MoE ± 3) and, with an oversample, 1,014 blacks (MoE ± 3). Jan. 2008 & earlier: CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll.

.

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

.
Yes No Unsure    
% % %    

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    
% % %    

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    

 

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 0 5

 

The Harris Poll. Feb. 5-11, 2008. 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 86 8 2 3

.
Political action committees, which give money to political candidates 83 9 2 5

.
Political lobbyists 80 13 1 6

.
The news media 74 17 4 6

.
Entertainment and sports celebrities 69 20 4 7

.
Trade associations 57 24 4 15

.
TV and radio talk shows 57 32 5 7

.
Labor unions 51 39 4 6

.
Opinion polls 44 46 4 7

.
Churches and religious groups 40 52 4 5

.
Racial minorities 33 51 5 11

.
Nonprofit organizations 23 65 4 8

.
Public opinion 20 74 3 4

.
Small business 4 90 3 3

 

USA Today/Gallup Poll. Feb. 8-10, 2008. N=1,016 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all adults).

.

"Now we have some questions about the general election for president, which will be held in November 2008. Compared to previous elections, are you more enthusiastic than usual about voting, or less enthusiastic?"

.
More
Enthusiastic		 Less
Enthusiastic		 Same (vol.) Unsure  
% % % %  

ALL adults

 62 30 7 1  

  Democrats/leaners

 79 15 6 -  

  Republicans/leaners

 44 48 8 -  

 

USA Today/Gallup Poll. Jan. 10-13, 2008. N=1,021 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.

.

"Would you like to see the next president generally continue with George W. Bush's policies, or would you rather see the next president change direction from Bush’s policies?"

.
Continue Change
Direction		 Unsure    
% % %    

1/10-13/08

 17 79 4    

 

ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Jan. 9-12, 2008. N=1,130 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3. Fieldwork by TNS.

.

"Thinking ahead to November 2008, which of these two statements comes closest to your own views? After eight years of George W. Bush, we need to elect a president who can set the nation in a new direction. OR, We need to keep the country moving in the direction Bush has been taking us." Options rotated

.
New
Direction		 Bush
Direction		 In Between
(vol.)		 Neither
(vol.)		 Unsure
% % % % %

1/9-12/08

 79 17 3 - 1

10/29 - 11/1/07

 75 23 2 1 1

 

CBS News/New York Times Poll. Jan. 9-12, 2008. N=995 registered voters nationwide.

.

"Which one is more important to you in a presidential candidate: having the right experience, or having fresh ideas?"

.
Right
Experience		 Fresh
Ideas		 Both (vol.) Unsure  
% % % %  

ALL registered voters

 44 42 11 3  

   Dem. primary voters

 35 52 10 3  

   Rep. primary voters

 59 28 10 3  

.

12/5-9/07

 49 38 10 3  

8/8-12/07

 44 41 13 2  

.

"Do you think most people you know would vote for a presidential candidate who is black, or not?"

.
Would Would Not Unsure    
% % %    

1/9-12/08

 65 21 14    

12/5-9/07

 60 25 15    

.

"Would you personally vote for a presidential candidate who is black, or not?"

.
Would Would Not Unsure    
% % %    

1/9-12/08

 90 6 4    

.

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

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

1/9-12/08

 54 31 - 15  

1/18-21/07

 54 36 3 7  

2/6-10/00 Adults

 37 52 4 7  

.

"Do you think most people you know would vote for a presidential candidate who is a woman, or not?"

.
Would Would Not Unsure    
% % %    

1/9-12/08

 56 34 10    

12/5-9/07

 49 40 12    

6/26-28/07

 56 34 10    

.

"Would you personally vote for a presidential candidate who is a woman, or not?"

.
Would Would Not Unsure