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8/7/2019 Political Report May 2010: AEI's Monthly Poll Compilation
1/14
Volume 6, Issue 5 May 2010
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202 .862.5800 www.aei.org
T H E E C O N O M Y
Recession EffectsIn this issue ofPolitical Report, we look at opinions about the Supreme Court, oil companies, immigration, and more. All
of these issues are attracting substantial public attention, but worries about the economy are still dominating concerns
on Main Street. There is substantial anxiety about a variety of day-to-day concerns such as having enough money to pay
normal monthly bills and being able to pay the rent or mortgage. More people are saying that they will delay their retire-
ment past age 65, and more are saying that they will have to rely on Social Security and not private sources of retirement
income. We also look at the pain of prolonged unemployment.
Q: What do you think is . . . ?
The most important problem facing this country today
(Top 5, volunteered responses)
May 2010 May 2009
Economy in general 26% 47%
Unemployment 22 14Poor health care/hospitals;
high cost of health care 15 9
Dissatisfaction with government/
Congress/politicians; Poor leadership;
corruption; Abuse of power 12 8
Immigration/illegal aliens 10 2
Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of May 2010.
Q: Do you think . . . ?
The nations economy is getting better 49%
Getting worse 37
Staying about the same (vol.) 11
Note: The University of Michigans survey of consumer confidenceshows a preliminary May 2010 rating of 72.2, up from 68.7 in May 2009.Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, May 2010.
Q: For you and your family, does it . . . ?
Feels like the economy is getting better
for you and your family 36%
Getting worse 38
Staying the same (vol.) 24
Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, May 2010.
Q: Thinking of the last six monthsthat is, since November
of last yearhave . . . ?
I or someone in my family has lost a job
in the last six months as a result ofeconomic conditions 29%
Has not 69
Note: In May 2009, those responses were 28 and 70 percent,respectively.Source: AP-GfK/Roper, latest that of May 2010.
Q: And thinking of the last six monthsthat is, since
November of last yearhas . . . ?
Someone I know personally
other than a family memberhas lost a job in the last six months 63%
Has not 36
Note: In May 2009, those responses were 60 and 39 percent,respectively.Source: AP-GfK/Roper, latest that of May 2010.
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Q: Which one of the following items do you think . . . ?
Most important for the federal government
to be working on right now
The economy and jobs 47%
The deficit and government spending 15
Terrorism and national security 8
Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan 7
Immigration 5
Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, May 2010.
(continued from the previous page)
Obama and the Economy
Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy? (CBS/New York Times, Quinnip-iac, Gallup/USA Today)
Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling the economy? (ABC/Washington Post)
Q: And please tell me if you approve, disapprove or neither approve nor disapprove of the way Barack Obama is han-dling each of the following issues. How about the economy? (AP-GfK/Roper)
Q: Do you generally approve or disapprove of the job that Barack Obama is doing in handling the economy? (NBC/Wall
Street Journal)
Approve Disapprove
CBS/New York Times
February 2009 55% 24%AprilMay 2010 48 47
ABC/Washington Post
February 2009 60% 34%
April 2010 49 49
Quinnipiac
FebruaryMarch 2009 57% 33%
April 2010 40 55
Approve Disapprove
AP-GfK/Roper
April 2009 58% 35%May 2010 45 52
NBC/Wall Street Journal
February 2009 56% 31%
May 2010* 48 46
Note: *Asked of a half sample.
Karlyn Bowman, Senior Fellow; John Fortier, Research
Fellow; Norman Ornstein, Resident Scholar;
Michael Barone, Resident Fellow.
Research Assistants: Jennifer Marsico, Editor; Andrew
Rugg, Editor.
AEI POLITICAL REPORT CONTRIBUTORS
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Anxieties about the EconomyPeople are more worried about a variety of economic factors than they were in 2001. In 2001 for example, a third were
worried about not being able to pay normal monthly bills. Today, more than four in ten are worried. A quarter in 2001
were worried about not being able to pay their mortgages or rent; in Gallups latest poll, 38 percent gave that response.
Q: Next, please tell me how concerned you are right now about each of the following financial matters, based on yourcurrent financial situation. Are you . . . ?
Very/Moderately worried Not too worried/Not worried at all
Not having enough money
for retirement
66% 2010 32%
53 2001 43
Not being able to pay medical
costs in the event of a serious
illness or accident
61% 2010 37%
50 2001 49
Not being able to maintain the
standard of living you enjoy
54% 2010 45%
43 2001 56
Not being able to pay medical
costs for normal health care
48% 2010 48%
44 2001 55
Not having enough money to pay
your normal monthly bills
44% 2010 54%
32 2001 68
Not being about to pay your rent,
mortgage, or other housing costs
38% 2010 56%
24 2001 72
Not being able to make the
minimum payments on your
credit card bills
24% 2010 58%
18 2001 63
Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of April 2010.
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Retirement AnxietyAnother indication of economic anxiety comes from surveys about retirement plans. More people than at any time since
1995 are saying that they will delay their retirement past age 65. The number saying they will rely on Social Security is up,
while the proportion saying they expect to rely on money in their 401(k)s, a work pension plan, or private saving is down.
Q: At what age do you expect to retire?
Note: Asked of non-retired adults. Responses for categories under ages 55, 5559, and 6064 were combined into one category (under 65) inthe figure above.Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of April, 2010.
Q: When you retire, how much do you . . . ?
Expect to rely on the following sources of money for retirement
2010 2001
Social Security 34% 28%
Money from an inheritance 9 7
Other savings such as regular savings
accounts or CDs 22 16
Annuities or insurance plans 8 7
Rent and royalties 6 5
Part-time work 18 10
Individual stock or stock mutual fund
investments 20 24
A 401(k), IRA, Keogh, or other retirementsavings account 45 58
A work-sponsored pension plan 23 34
The equity you have built up in your home 20 24
Note: Asked of non-retired adults.Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of April 2010.
Expected age of retirement
Under 65
29%At 65
27%
Over 65
34%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
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The Pain of UnemploymentIn August 2009, the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce development at Rutgers, working with the online polling firm
Knowledge Networks, examined the demographic characteristics and attitudes of a large sample of people who were
unemployed. In March 2010, only 21 percent of those looking for work in the August survey had found a job. Two-thirds
remained unemployed, and 12 percent said they had left the labor market. As this survey and others show, males havebeen hit especially hard by the downturn. In August 2009, 60 percent of the unemployed were male and 40 percent
female. Seventy-one percent of this group of men were still unemployed and looking for work in the March 2010 survey.
August 2009 In March 2010
(Employment status of those unemployed
in August 2009)
Newly
Unemployed Still unemployed employed
67% 21%
60% Male 71% 18%
40 Female 62 26
30% 1829 years 57% 29%
43 3049 72 21
28 50 and older 72 12
53% H.S. education or less 64% 19%
29 Some college 75 20
19 Bachelors degree or more 65 28
53% White, non-Hispanic 71% 21%
41 Black/Hispanic 63 22
54% Less than $30,000 68% 19%
22 $30,000$60,000 64 22
24 $60,000 and over 70 26
Note: Category left the labor force not shown.Source: Knowledge Networks for the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University and the State University ofNew Jersey, latest that of March 2010.
Q: How long have you been actively seeking employment?
Of the unemployed
Searching for work for more than seven months
(August 2009) 48%
Searching for work for more than seven months(March 2010) 70
Source: Knowledge Networks for the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University and the State University ofNew Jersey, latest that of March 2010.
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Q: Which of the following have you done since being unemployed?
Since being unemployed
Sold some of my possessions 37%
Received public assistancelike welfare or unemployment 37
Used food stamps 28
Went to a soup kitchen or free food pantry 17
Note: Responses are from those who were unemployed in the March 2010 survey. TSource: Knowledge Networks for the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University and the State University ofNew Jersey, March 2010.
Q: Did you do any of the following while you were unemployed?
While unemployed
Put off plans for home 68%
Used money from savings set aside for other
things or retirement to make ends meet 63Borrowed money from family or friends 50
Increased credit card debt 41
Missed a credit card payment 23
Missed a mortgage or rent payment 20
Declared personal bankruptcy 6
Note: Selected categories shown. Responses are from those who were unemployed in the March 2010 survey.Source: Knowledge Networks for the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University and the State University ofNew Jersey, March 2010.
Q: How would you rate . . . ?
Pew (March 2010) Rutgers (March 2010)
National Response Unemployed Response
Personal financial situation is excellent/good 37% 15%
Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, March 2010 and Knowledge Networks for the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development atRutgers University and the State University of New Jersey, latest that of March 2010.
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Health Care ReformWhile discussion over health care reform
has quieted considerably since the bill
passed, pollsters continue to ask ques-
tions gauging public reactions. To viewthe major trends on attitudes toward the
health care bill, see our special supple-
ment on attitudes toward health care.
New AEI Public Opinion StudiesTwo new studies examine public attitudes toward business and
attitudes about the economic crisis. These comprehensive studies
bring together poll data from major pollsters, presenting the
most recent polls as well as trends. Taking Stock of Business examines polling data on
the confidence in business and Wall Street, executive pay and
bonuses, attitudes toward regulation, and prestige, honesty, and
trust. The AEI Public Opinion Study on TARP, the Auto Bailout,
and the Stimulus looks at
public reactions to each of these programs and to the expansion
of governments role in the economy.
http://www.aei.org/http://www.aei.org/outlook/100958http://www.aei.org/outlook/100958http://www.aei.org/paper/100013http://www.aei.org/paper/100013http://www.aei.org/paper/100105http://www.aei.org/paper/100105http://www.aei.org/http://www.aei.org/paper/100105http://www.aei.org/paper/100013http://www.aei.org/outlook/1009588/7/2019 Political Report May 2010: AEI's Monthly Poll Compilation
7/141150 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 202 .862.5800 www.aei.org 7
About Those Tuesday PrimariesClose readers ofPolitical Reportwill notice that we havent looked closely yet at polls on the shape of the 2010 congres-
sional elections. We believe it is still very early. Including the primaries that took place this week, just 22 percent of states
that will have primaries have held them.
David Wasserman, the eminent House race analyst for the Cook Political Report, noted in commentary written beforeTuesdays primaries that a dozen incumbents in recent elections (six Democrats and six Republicans) received under 70
percent of the vote in their primaries. This is one of many signs that Americans are deeply dissatisfied with Washington.
We saw more of that evidence with the defeat in Pennsylvania of long-serving Arlen Specter, the elevation of political
novice and Tea Party acolyte Rand Paul in Kentuckys Senate race, and the success of Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halters
labor-backed effort to force incumbent Senator Blanche Lincoln into a June runoff.
Polls show that at this stage Republicans are winning the enthusiasm game. Gallup data since March has shown that
they are more excited about voting this fall than are Democrats. Gallup also notes that Conservatives are significantly
more enthusiastic than liberals or moderates, and those Americans who define themselves as very conservativeabout
10% of the registered voter populationare the most enthusiastic of all.
The Supreme Court: An Institutional ReviewMost people have only some confidence in the Supreme Court. While around 40 percent say the Court has remained
about the same in the past two decades, 28 percent say it has become more liberal, and 19 percent more conservative.
Today, a plurality believes the Court is about right. Of the remainder, 29 percent say it is too liberal, and 19 percent too
conservative. Early impressions of U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan are mostly good. People wanted President Obama
to nominate someone who would make the Court more conservative. The fact that she is a woman is not a big factor for
the public.
Q: As far as people in charge of running the U.S. Supreme Court are concerned, would you say you have a great deal ofconfidence, only some confidence, or hardly any confidence at all in them?
Source: Harris Interactive, latest that of March 2010.
Confidence in people running the Supreme Court
Great deal
31%
Only some
46%
Hardly any 21%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
1966 1968 1971 1973 1976 1978 1981 1983 1986 1988 1991 1993 1996 1998 2001 2003 2006 2008 2010
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Q: Just your impression . . . over the past two decades, do you think the Supreme Court has . . . ?
Supreme Court has
Become more conservative over the past two decades 19%
Become more liberal 28
Has stayed about the same 43
Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, April 2010.
Q: Do you think the Supreme Court is too liberal, too conservative, or about right?
Supreme Court
2010 2008 2007 2003
Too liberal 29% 25% 20% 19%
Too conservative 19 31 29 26
About right 40 33 37 46
Source: Quinnipiac, latest that of April 2010.
Q: Generally speaking, how would you rate ______ choice of _______as a nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court . . . ?
Rate choice ofKagan Sotomayor Alito Miers Roberts
(May 2010) (May 2009) (Nov 2005) (Oct 2005) (Jul 2005)
Excellent 13% 19% 17% 11% 25%
Good 27 28 26 33 26
Only fair 22 29 22 25 20
Poor 14 13 17 16 14
No Opinion 24 20 18 15 15
Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of May 2010.
Q: Would you like to see President Obama nominate a new justice who would make the Supreme Court more liberal
than it currently is, more conservative that it currently is, or who would keep the court as it is now?
Note: On July 1, 2005, Justice OConnor announced her resignation. On July 19, President Bush nominated John Roberts to succeed her. OnSeptember 3, Chief Justice Rehnquist died. President Bush then announced that he would nominate Roberts to succeed the Chief Justice. InOctober, he nominated Harriet Miers to take the OConnor seat.Source: The Gallup Organization, latest that of May 2010.
Would like a new justice who would make the Supreme Court...
27% 28%30% 30%
42% 41% 41%
33%
24%26%
24%
29%
Replacement forJohn Paul Stevens:May 2010 (Obama)
Replacement forDavid Souter:
May 2009 (Obama)
Replacement forSandra Day O'Connor:
Sept 2005 (Bush)
Replacement forSandra Day O'Connor:
June 2005 (Bush)
More Liberal More Conservative Keep as it is now
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Q: For each item I name, please tell me whether to you personally it would be . . .
A factor in favor of a
Supreme Court nominee Against No difference
Protestant 7% 5% 83%
Woman 15 3 81
African American 16 3 81
Gay or lesbian 4 25 71
Someone with experience as a judge 70 5 24
Someone with experience outside the legal profession
for example in the field of business or politics 35 26 38
Note: Those people who said that someone with experience outside the legal profession would be a factor in favor of a nominee were askedwhich of two kinds of experience would be preferable. Fifty-six percent said someone with experience in business would be, while 36 percentsaid someone with experience in politics would be.Source: ABC News/Washington Post, April 2010.
Q: Im going to read you a list of characteristics and affiliations and Id like you to tell me whether or not you would be
comfortable with a Supreme Court Justice who has that characteristic or affiliation. Would you be . . . ?
Comfortable with characteristic/affiliation
of next Supreme Court Justice Not comfortable
A Mormon 65% 30%
A Christian who takes the Bible literally 62 35
A libertarian 57 32
A Muslim 43 53
An atheist 39 58
A socialist 31 64
Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, April 2010.
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Big Shots
Q: Im going to read you the names of several individuals and groups. Please tell me whether you have a generally
favorable or unfavorable opinion of . . . ?
Favorable opinion of
Laura Bush 68%
Barack Obama 53
Mike Huckabee 42Mitt Romney 40
Sarah Palin 37
Newt Gingrich 32
Nancy Pelosi 28
Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, May 2010.
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Oil Companies and Public OpinionWhile Americans think the leak in the Gulf of Mexico is a major environmental disaster, they also say that efforts to con-
trol it and prevent its spread will be successful. A bare majority sees it as an isolated incident; 35 percent see it as a
broader problem with offshore drilling. Neither President Obama nor the federal government is getting good marks for
handling the situation there. BPs ratings are worse. Support for offshore drilling is down in all new polls.
Q: Now let me ask you about specific industries. Is your opinion of ____ industry highly favorable, or moderately favor-
able, or not too favorable, or rather unfavorable? (Roper)
Q: I am going to read you a list of companies and groups. For each one please tell me if you have a favorable or an
unfavorable opinion of each. How about oil companies? (Kaiser)
Q: Is your overall opinion of oil companies very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable, or very unfavorable? (Pew)
Source: The Roper Organization, latest that of October 1997; PSRA/Pew Research Center, latest that of October 2005; Kaiser/Harvard/USAToday, latest that of January 2008.
Opinion of Oil Companies
Roper:
High/Moderatly
favorable
March 1989: Exxon
Valdez Spill
48%
Kaiser:
Very/mostly
favorable
29%
Pew: Very/mostly
favorable 20%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%70%
1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009
Q: Do you think the leak in the Gulf of Mexico is . . . ?
Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, May 2010.
Q: From what you have read or heard, do you think . . . ?
Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, May 2010.
Major
environmental
disaster
55%
Efforts to
control the
spill and
prevent
spreading will
be successful
51%
Serious
problem,
not a disaster
37%
Unsuccessful
29%
Dont
know
20%
Not too serious
a problem 4%
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Q: As I read some possible government policies to address Americas energy supply, tell me whether you would favor or
oppose each. First would you favor or oppose the government allowing more offshore oil and gas drilling in U.S.waters? (PSRA/Pew Research Center)
Q: Would you favor allowing increased drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast, or do you think the costs andrisks are too great? (CBS)
Q: Do you favor or oppose increasing offshore drilling for oil and gas in U.S. coastal areas? (Fox News/Opinion Dynamics)
Q: Do you favor, oppose, or neither favor nor oppose drilling for oil and gas in coastal areas around the United States?
(AP-GfK/Roper)
Q: Do you support or oppose a proposal to allow more drilling for oil off the coast of the United States? (NBC/Wall
Street Journal)
(continued from the previous page)
Q: Do you think . . . ?
The recent oil platform collapse and
oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico ismost likely an isolated incident 51%
Mostly an indication of a broader
problem with offshore drilling 35
Source: CBS News, May 2010.
Q: Do you think . . . ?
Oil spills like the one in the Gulf of Mexico
are unavoidable if the United States is going
to get an adequate supply of energy 41%
Dont think so 45
Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, May 2010.
Q: How would you rate the job______ has been doing . . . .?
Responding to oil leak in the
Gulf of MexicoThe federal BP Obama
government
Excellent/good 33% 24% 38%
Only fair/poor 54 63 36
Source: PSRA/Pew Research Center, May 2010.
PSRA/Pew
Favor more Oppose
Sept. 2008 67% 28%
Apr. 2009 68 27
Feb. 2010 63 31
May 2010 54 38
CBS
Favor Costs, risks
increased too great
Aug. 2008 62% 28%
May 2010 46 41
Fox/OD
Favor
increasing Oppose
Apr. 2010 70% 22%
May 2010 60 33
AP-GfK/Roper
Favor
increasing Oppose Neither
May 2010 50% 38% 10%
NBC/Wall Street Journal
Support
allowing Oppose
May 2010 60% 34%
Drilling for oil and gas
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ImmigrationOur friend at the Brookings Institution, demographer William Frey recently said that Arizona has the largest cultural
generation gap of any state because of the growth of the Latino population of children and young adults there. Eighty-
three percent of Arizonas older people are white, but only 43 percent of its children are. All polls we have seen show that
people think immigration policy is a federal responsibility. At the same time, however, surveys show that people thinkArizona was right to act. In a Fox News/Opinion Dynamics question, a solid majority says that the Obama administration
should wait and see how the law works out; 15 percent say the administration should try to stop it.
Q: Do you think . . . ?
The Obama administration should try to stop the new Arizona immigration law 15%
Should wait and see how the law works 64
Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, May 2010.
Q: Which one of the following is your . . . ?
Biggest concern when thinking about illegal immigration
Responses of
National response Rep. Dem. Ind.
Overburdening government programs and services 44% 52% 36% 46%
Taking jobs away from U.S. citizens 19 16 25 11
Leading to an increase in crime 6 5 7 9
Leading to an increase in terrorism 6 6 6 7
Changing the culture of the country 3 4 3 2
Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, May 2010.
Q: Which of the following statements comes closest to expressing your overall view of immigration policy?
Views of immigration policy
May 2010 May 2007
On the whole, our immigration policy works pretty welland only minor changes are necessary to make it work better 8% 8%
There are some good things in our immigration policy,
but fundamental changes are needed 45 41
Our immigration policy has so much wrong with it that
we need to completely rebuild it 44 49
Source: CBS News/New York Times, latest that of AprilMay, 2010.
Q: Do you think . . . ?
Laws regarding illegal immigration
should be determined by the federal
government 57%
By each state government 34
Note: Fifty-two percent of Republicans, 54 percent of independents,and 63 percent of Democrats said this is a federal responsibility.Source: CBS News/New York Times, AprilMay 2010.
Q: Do you think . . . ?
Arizona was right to take action by passing its
new immigration law and not waiting any
longer for the federal government to act 61%
Securing the border with Mexico is the
responsibility of the federal government and
Arizona should have waited for the federal
government to take action on immigration 27
Note: Forty-three percent of Democrats, 72 percent of independents,and 77 percent of Republicans said Arizona was right to take action.Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, May 2010.
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Q: Based on what you know or have read about the new Arizona immigration law, do you . . . ? (Gallup)
Q: Do you favor or oppose the new Arizona immigration law, or dont you know enough about it to say? (Fox News/Opinion Dynamics)
Q: As you may know, the state of Arizona recently passed a law that gives the police the power to question anyonethey suspect is in the country illegally, requires people to produce documents verifying their status if asked, and allows
officers to detain anyone who cannot do so. Do you think this law goes too far in dealing with the issue of illegal immi-gration, doesnt go far enough, or is it about right? (CBS/New York Times)
Q: Considering everything, would you say you approve or disapprove of Arizonas new illegal immigration law?
(PSRA/Pew)
Q: The Arizona law makes it a state crime to be in the U.S. illegally. It requires local and state law enforcement officers toquestion people about their immigration status if they have reason to suspect a person is in the country illegally, makingit a crime for them to lack registration documents. Do you support or oppose this law? (NBC/Wall Street Journal)
New Arizona immigration law
Gallup* Fox News/OD CBS/NYT
Favor Oppose Favor Oppose Too far Not far About
enough right
April 39% 30%
May 34% 21% 36% 9% 51%
Pew NBC/WSJ
Approve Disapprove Support Oppose
May 2010 59% 32% 64% 34%
Note: *Of those who had hear or read a great deal, fair amount, or not much about the immigration law just passed in Gallups poll, theresponses were 51 percent favor, 39 percent oppose.
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And in Arizona . . .
Q: Next, a new Arizona law may soon go into effect regarding ones U.S. citizenship status and right to be in the U.S.The new law would require police officers in Arizona to question anyone about their immigration status if an officer
suspects the person may be in the country illegally, including anyone who looks or sounds foreign. Those found to behere illegally could be jailed up to six months and fined $2,500. Do you favor or oppose the governor signing such a
law if it is sent to her by the legislature?
Arizonans response
Favor new immigration law Oppose
Total 52% 39%
Republicans 76% 15%
Democrats 30 58
Independents 60 30
Caucasian 65% 28%
Non-Hispanic minorities 29 63
Hispanics 21 69
Note: Survey conducted among Arizona adults.Source: Behavior Research Center Rocky Mountain poll, April 2010.
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Poll Potpourri
Commencement ManiaQ: If you were graduating from college this year, whoamong the following would you most want to speak at
your commencement?
Want to speak at commencement
Warren Buffett 20%
Sandra Bullock 19
Oprah Winfrey 17
Tom Hanks 15
Anderson Cooper 8
Nancy Pelosi 4
Source: CBS News/60 Minutes/Vanity Fair, MarchApril, 2010.
Terrorism
Q: Do you think . . . ?
May January
2010 2010
The Obama administration
is as serious about fighting
terrorism as the Bushadministration was 51% 54%
Not as serious 43 37
Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, latest that of May 2010.
Goldman Who?Q: Im going to read you the names of several individ-
uals and groups. Please tell me whether you have agenerally favorable or unfavorable opinion of each one.
If youve never heard of someone please just say so.
Opinion of Goldman Sachs
Favorable 7%
Unfavorable 55
Never heard of 23
Note: Fifteen percent said they could not say. In a May 2010NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, 4 percent rated Goldman Sachs pos-
itively, 21 percent neutrally, 50 percent negatively.Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, May 2010.
Goldman or Senate?
Q: If you had to choose one of the two followings to
manage your familys finances, would you choose . . . ?
Would chooseto manage
familys finances
The Goldman Sachs executiveswho testified before the Senate
about their investment practices 19%
The U.S. senators who were
questioning the executives about
their investment practices 35
Neither (vol.) 34
Source: Fox News/Opinion Dynamics, May 2010.
GM on the Upswing?
Q: Now Im going to read you the names of several public figures and groups, and Id like you to rate your feelingstoward each one as very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative, or very negative.
General Motors, or GM
May 2010 December 2008
Positive 37% 25%
Neutral 31 23
Negative 27 39
Source: NBC/Wall Street Journal, May 2010.