October 2011 Omnibus Week 4 Princeton Survey Research Associates International for National Journal Final Topline Results

October 31, 2011 1,002 adults age 18 and older Margin of error: Plus or minus 3.7 percentage points Interviewing dates: October 27 30, 2011

Notes: Due to rounding, percentages may not add to 100. An asterisk (*) indicates values less than 0.5%.

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REG Which of these statements best describes you? [READ IN ORDER] 69 5 24 1 Are you ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that you are registered to vote at your current address Are you PROBABLY registered, but there is a chance your registration has lapsed [OR] Are you NOT registered to vote at your current address? (DO NOT READ) Dont know/Refused

ASK REGISTERED VOTERS (REG=1) CC1. If the elections for U.S. Congress were being held TODAY, would you vote for [RANDOMIZE: the Republican Partys candidate OR the Democratic Partys candidate] for Congress in your district? ASK IF ANSWERED OTHER OR DONT KNOW OR REFUSED (CC1=3,8,9): CC1a. As of TODAY, do you LEAN more to [PROGRAM IN SAME ORDER AS CC1: the Republican Partys candidate OR the Democratic Partys candidate] [IF NECESSARY: for U.S. Congress in your district]? BASED ON REGISTERED VOTERS (N=770) Rep/ Lean Rep 43 94 6 42 44 Dem/ Lean Dem 42 2 88 30 48 (VOL.) Other/ Undecided 15 5 6 29 8

Oct 27-30, 2011 Republican Democrat Independent Aug 17-21, 20111

Based on registered voters (n=1,205), Pew Research Center for the People & the Press August 2011 Political Survey

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ASK ALL CC2. In general, which of the following do you think is the better situation...if a president's political party also has a controlling majority in Congress, if one party controls the White House while the other controls Congress, or does it not matter much either way?2 If a presidents political party also has a controlling majority in Congress 26 21 19 19 25 20 19 18 32 36 26 If one party controls the White House while the other controls Congress 18 24 31 28 27 22 34 32 27 20 23 Doesnt matter much either way 45 49 42 45 41 50 40 42 36 36 40 (VOL.) Dont know/ Refused 11 6 8 8 7 8 7 8 5 8 11

Oct 27-30, 2011 Oct 19-20, 20063 Jul 2-12, 20014 May 15-20, 2001 Jul 19-23, 2000 Jan 28-29, 19995 Mar 25-29, 1998 Aug 7-10, 1997 Nov 2-4, 1996 (RVs) Aug 28-29, 1996 (RVs) Apr 30-May 3, 19926

PSRA/Newsweek trend wording used, some trends displayed in the table have slight modifications to this wording 3 Oct 2006, Jan 1999, Nov 1996 and Aug 1996 are PSRA/Newsweek trends 4 Jul 2001, May 2001, Jul 2000, Mar 1998, and Aug 1997 are Pew Research Center trends 5 In Jan 1999, PSRA/Newsweek wording was Generally, which of the following do you think is the better situation? If a President's political party also has a controlling majority in Congress or if one party controls the White House while the other controls Congress? 6 Times Union trend

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CC3. Thinking about the 2012 elections, which of the following outcomes would you prefer[READ ITEMS IN ORDER]. (First/Next), [INSERT ITEM]

a. Would you rather see Barack Obama re-elected next year, OR a Republican win the presidency? Oct 27-30, 2011 45 39 6 10

Obama re-elected Republican win the presidency (VOL.) Neither/Other (VOL.) Dont know/Refused

b. Would you rather see the Republicans keep control of the U.S. House of Representatives, OR the Democrats win enough seats to take over control of the House? Oct 27-30, 2011 36 44 7 12

Republicans keep control Democrats take control (VOL.) Neither/Other (VOL.) Dont know/Refused

Preferred 2012 Election Outcome Summary (CC3) 5 35 29 5 27 Obama re-elected & Republicans control House Obama re-elected & Democrats control House Republican wins presidency & Republicans control House Republican wins presidency & Democrats control House All Others

ASK IF R WANTS GOP CONTROL OF HOUSE (CC3B=1) CC4. Do you want the Republicans to keep control of the House because you think theyve done a good job and deserve to stay in power, OR you dont think the Republicans have done a good job, but dont want the Democrats back in power? Republicans and House Control (Summary of CC3b and CC4) 36 17 15 4 44 20 Total Favor GOP Control Done a good job, deserve to be re-elected Havent done a good job, but dont want Dems back Want GOP control, reason unspecified Want Dems back in power Other/Dont know/Refused

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ASK ALL CC5. Overall, which party, the (Democrats) or the (Republicans), do you trust to do a better job in coping with the main problems the nation faces over the next few years? [ROTATE OPTIONS IN PARENTHESES] (VOL.) Dont know/ Refused 10 9 4 2 2 2 2 4 3 2 3 2 3 3 2

Democrats Oct 27-30, 2011 Jul 28-31, 2011 Jun 2-5, 20117 Oct 25-28, 2010 RV Oct 25-28, 2010 LV Sept 30-Oct 3, 2010 Aug 30-Sept 2, 2010 Jun 3-6, 2010 Apr 22-25, 2010 Feb 4-8, 2010 Nov 12-15, 2009 Sept 10-12, 2009 Feb 19-22, 2009 Dec 11-14, 2008 May 8-11, 2008 39 43 41 45 41 42 40 44 46 43 47 48 56 56 53

Republicans 33 31 32 40 45 38 37 32 32 37 31 28 30 23 32

(VOL.) Both 2 2 2 2 1 3 3 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 2

(VOL.) Neither 16 15 20 11 10 15 18 18 18 17 17 19 9 15 10

All trends are ABC News/Washington Post; ABC/WP codes Dont Know/Refused as no opinion

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CC6.

Please tell me if you think the REPUBLICAN Party or the DEMOCRATIC Party could do a better job in each of the following areas(First,) which party could do a better job of[INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE]. How about [NEXT ITEM]?

Republican Party a. Dealing with the economy Oct 27-30, 2011 May 25-30, 20118 Sep 16-19, 2010 May 20-23, 2010 Feb 3-9, 2010 Aug 27-30, 2009 February, 2008 October, 2006 September, 2006 February, 2006 Mid-September, 2005 July, 2004 Late October, 2002 (RVs) Early October, 2002 (RVs) Early September, 2002 January, 2002 May, 20019 June, 1999 March, 1999 Early September, 1998 March, 1998 October, 1994 38 38 38 33 38 32 34 32 32 36 38 34 37 37 36 43 33 37 39 40 40 45

Democratic Party 40 40 37 34 41 42 53 45 46 46 44 46 40 41 36 34 44 43 44 38 40 33

(VOL.) Both equally 2 5 8 9 7 6 2 4 5 5 5 5 5 4 9 -8 8 5 8 12 5

(VOL.) Neither 9 8 10 14 6 12 5 5 5 5 7 5 6 5 6 5 5 3 3 4 3 7

(VOL.) Dont know/ Refused 10 8 8 10 7 9 6 14 12 8 6 10 12 13 13 18 10 9 9 10 5 10

CC6 continued on next page

8 9

All trends noted in the table are from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press In May 2001 and earlier, the item was worded: keeping the country prosperous?

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CC6 continued

Republican Party b. Reducing the federal budget deficit Oct 27-30, 2011 May 25-30, 2011 Mar 30-Apr 3, 2011 Oct 13-18, 2010 Aug 25-Sep 6, 2010 May 20-23, 2010 Apr 21-26, 2010 Feb 3-9, 2010 Aug 27-30, 2009 September, 2006 February, 2006 Early October, 200510 June, 1999 July, 1994 December, 1993 c. Dealing with the nations energy problems Oct 27-30, 2011 Mar 30-Apr 3, 201111 Oct 13-18, 2010 May 20-23, 2010 Apr 21-26, 2010 Feb 3-9, 2010 Aug 27-30, 2009 February, 2008 September, 2006 February, 2006 Mid-September, 2005 May, 2001 d. Protecting America against terrorists Oct 27-30, 2011 e. Dealing with the problems in the housing market Oct 27-30, 2011 41 41 46 35 43 33 38 42 35 27 33 29 37 42 31 34 37 28 28 32 32 25 23 27 32 31 36 41 34

Democratic Party 37 38 34 28 36 30 35 36 36 47 45 47 41 36 36 44 42 38 35 40 44 47 57 47 45 44 34 32 41

(VOL.) Both equally 3 4 8 7 5 8 6 6 6 4 6 6 5 2 -3 7 8 10 8 8 7 5 4 6 6 10 10 2

(VOL.) Neither 9 9 6 16 9 16 11 8 13 8 9 10 8 13 18 7 5 11 12 9 6 9 5 7 7 8 7 7 9

(VOL.) Dont know/ Refused 10 8 7 14 7 12 10 7 10 14 7 8 9 7 15 13 9 15 15 12 10 12 10 15 10 11 13 11 13

10

In early October 2005, the item was asked as a stand-alone question. In June 1999, the item was worded: Keeping the federal budget balanced. In December 1993 the item was worded: Reducing the budget deficit. 11 Asked of Form 1 (n=754)

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DEMOGRAPHICS I have one last set of questions to help us better understand the people who took part in our survey. SEX Respondents Sex 48 52 Male Female

EMPLOY Are you now employed full-time, part-time, or not employed? 44 13 42 1 PAR Employed full-time Employed part-time Not employed (DO NOT READ) Dont know/ Refused

Are you the parent or guardian of any children under 18 years of age? 29 71 * Yes No (DO NOT READ) Dont know/Refused

AGE

What is your age? 21 32 27 18 2 18 to 29 30 to 49 50 to 64 65 and older (DO NOT READ) Refused

EDUC What is the last grade or class you completed in school? (DO NOT READ) 3 9 30 4 24 14 14 1 None, or grade 1 to 8 High school incomplete (Grades 9-11) High school graduate, Grade 12, or GED certificate Technical, trade or vocational school AFTER high school Some college or university work, but no four-year degree College or university graduate (BA, BS or other four-year degree) Post graduate or professional schooling after college (DO NOT READ) Dont know/Refused

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HISP Are you of Hispanic or Latino background, such as Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban or other Spanish background? 12 87 1 Yes No (DO NOT READ) Dont know/Refused

RACE What is your race? Are you white, black, Asian, or some other race? [IF R SAYS HISPANIC OR LATINO, PROBE: Do you consider yourself a WHITE (Hispanic/Latino) or a BLACK (Hispanic/Latino)? 69 28 10 12 3 3 3 INC INC1 INC2 INC3 White non-Hispanic Total non-White Black non-Hispanic Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander Other non-Hispanic (DO NOT READ) Dont know/Refused

Last year, that is in 2010, approximately what was your total family income before taxes just tell me when I get to the right category. (IF DONT KNOW OR REFUSED) Keeping in mind that this is a completely confidential survey, can you please tell me if your total household income BEFORE taxes last year was over or under $75,000? (IF UNDER $75,000) Was it over or under $50,000? (IF UNDER $50,000) Was it over or under $30,000? 25 15 20 31 8 $75,000 or more $50,000 to under $75,000 $30,000 to under $50,000 Under $30,000 Undesignated

PARTY In politics TODAY, do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or Independent? 25 33 35 3 * 3 Republican Democrat Independent No preference (VOL.) Other party (VOL.) Don't know/Refused (VOL.)

That completes the interview. Thank you very much for your time and cooperation. Have a nice day/evening.

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