CBS News National Poll

Growing Concerns about ISIS; Optimism about the Economy

February 13-17, 2015
Q1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

44

* TOTAL RESPONDENTS *
Total
Rep
Dem
Ind
%
%
%
%
12
76
39
46
84
16
47
10
4
8
14

Jan15b
%
46
46
8

Q2. Do you feel things in this country are generally going in the right direction or do you feel
things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track?
Right direction
38
Wrong track
Don't know/No answer

56

37

14

57

85

33
10

56

36
56
7

Q3. What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?
Economy & jobs
18
21
Islamic extremists /Al Qaeda/ISIS
6
Terrorism (general)
5
Health care/health insurance/coverage 5
Education/school loans/better quality 4
Income gap/disparity
4
Immigration/illegal immigrants
5
War/peace (general)
3
Partisan politics/negativity
3
Barack Obama/the president
3
Budget/national debt/deficit/surplus
3
Poverty/homelessness/hunger
2
Environment/global warming
2
Racism/race relations
2
Foreign policy/foreign affairs
1
Defense/military/national security
2
Politicians/corrupt politicians
1
Big government/bureaucracy
2
Moral values/family values
2
Other
23
Don't know/No answer
4

15

19

18

7
7
2
2
1
3

7
4
4
3
6
3

4
4
6
5
4
4

2
1
6
4
*
2

4
3
1
3
3
3
3
4

2
3
3
3
1
1
1
1

5
2

*
*

2
2

3
4

*
2

2
1

24

29

-5
5
3
3
2
2
2
3
2
2
1
2

1
1

27

37

Q4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling foreign policy?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

39

14
50
12

66
81
5

34
22
12

41
52
14

44
14

Q5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total
Rep
Dem

Ind

Jan15b

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

48

%
16
47
5

%
78
80
3

%
44
20
2

%
47

49

47
8

Q6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the issue of immigration
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

39

13
54

66
85
7

36
27
2

40
7

55
10

50
10

Q7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the threat of terrorism?
Sep14b
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

45

15
47

74
78
7

43
19

46

49
6

43
10

Q8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation with ISIS
militants in Iraq and Syria?
Oct14f
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

39

13
51
11

60
81
6

38
27
13

38
50
12

50
12

Q10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?
Jan15b
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer
Q11. Q12.

18

22
73
9

14
67
11

18
81
5

16
71
10

72
12

Separate release.

Q13. How would you rate the condition of the national economy these days? Is it very good, fairly
good, fairly bad or very bad?
Very good
Fairly good
Fairly bad
Very bad
Don't know/No answer

5
49
31
14

2
32
43
22

9
64
21

4
2

4
48
30
16

5
48
28
18

Q14. Do you think the economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?

Better
Worse
Same
Don't know/No answer

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total
Rep
Dem
%
%
%
38
22
54
19
27
11
42
51
35
1
1
*

Ind
%
35
21
42
1

Jan15b
%
42
17
40
1

Q15. How would you rate the overall condition of the stock market these days? Is it very good, fairly good, fairly bad,
or very bad?

Very good
Fairly good
Fairly bad
Very bad
Don't know/No answer

14
46
16

14
47
18
4

17
45
13

20

7
14

2
23

Mar13b
13
45
17
4
22

12
44
22
5
17

Q16. Do you think the stock market is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?

Better
Worse
Same
Don't know/No answer

26
9
51
13

20
14
59

31
7
7

47
15

Jan14c
26
8
51
15

30
13
39
18

Q17. How would you rate the housing market in your community --very good, fairly good, fairly bad
or very bad?
Very good
Fairly good
Fairly bad
Very bad
Don't know/No answer

13
51
21
10

8
46
26
12
5

17
49
19
10

14
54
20
10
6

Q18. Do you think the housing market is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?

Better
Worse
Same
Don't know/No answer

* TOTAL RESPONDENTS *
Total
Rep
Dem
%
%
%
31
29
37
13
13
18
52
54
42
4
5
3

Ind
%
29
11
56
4

Jan14c
%
41
16
38
5

Q19. How much does the price of gasoline affect your family finances--a lot, some, not much, or
not at all?
A lot
Some
Not much
Not at all
Don't know/No answer

43
28
19

39
30
22
9
*

9
*

38
32
20
10

49
24
18
1

9
*

Q20. Which comes closer to your view? In today's economy, everyone has a fair chance to get ahead
in the long run OR In today's economy, it's mainly just a few people at the top who have a chance
to get ahead?

Anyone can get ahead

Only those at the top can get ahead
Don't know/No answer

36
60

48
49
4

30
66
3

Jan14c
34
62
4

52
43
5

Q21.Who do you think benefits most from the policies of the federal government the rich, the
middle class, the poor, or do all benefit equally?
May11b

Rich
Middle class
Poor
All equally
Don't know/No answer

61

38

76

8
19
8
4

62

9
7
6
2

38
12
3

66
6

18

12
10

8
6

Q22 Over the past 10 years, do you think life for middle class Americans has gotten better or
worse?

Better
Worse
Same (vol.)
Don't know/No answer

23
71

14
80
4
2

31
64
3
3

4
1

Apr07a
22
72
4
3

30
59
7
4

Q23.-Q25 Separate release.

Q25a. As you may know, the Department of Homeland Security will

not pass a bill funding the department by February 27th. Do you
Homeland Security should include changes to immigration policy,
fund Homeland Security should be kept separate from immigration

Should include immigration

Should be separate from immigration
Don't know/No answer

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total
Rep
Dem
%
%
%
29
30
29
60
63
60
10
7
10

run out of money if Congress does

think any agreement to fund
or do you think any agreement to
policy?

Ind
%
29
59
12

Q26. Do you think there are circumstances when the United States government should negotiate with
international terrorists who are holding American hostages, or should the U.S. government never
negotiate with terrorists under any circumstances?

Should negotiate
Never negotiate
Don't know/No answer

29
64

24
74
7

Sep14b
%
28
65
7

36
54
10

38
53
9

Q27. From what you've heard or read, do you approve or disapprove of the health care law that was
enacted in 2010?

Strongly approve
Somewhat approve
Somewhat disapprove
Strongly disapprove
Don't know/No answer

20
24
14
38

4
10
15
70
4

40
33
10
13

15
26
16
38
4

Jan15b
22
21
13
37
7

Q28. Which comes closest to your view about the 2010 health care law? 1. The law is working well
and should be kept in place as is. 2. There are some good things in the law, but some changes are
needed to make it work better. 3. The law has so much wrong with it that it needs to be repealed
entirely.

Working well and kept in place

11
Good things, but changes needed
Needs to be repealed entirely
Don't know/No answer

6
60
32

41
56

73
13

14

61
32
1

54
32
3

Q29. If the 2010 health care law is repealed, do you think it should be replaced by a new health
care law, or do you think the health care system should go back to the way it was before the 2010
health care law was in effect?
*THINK THE 2010 HEALTH CARE LAW SHOULD BE REPEALED*
Total
Rep
Dem
Ind
Replaced with new health care law
36
33
44
38
Go back to the way it was
59
61
54
58
Don't know/No answer
5
6
2
5

May14c
33
62
5

Q30. Do you think it should be legal or not legal for same sex couples to marry?
** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total
Rep
Dem
%
%
%
60
43
70
35
51
27
5
6
3

Yes, legal
No, not legal
Don't know/No answer

Ind
%
62
31
7

Sep14b
%
56
37
7

Q31. Do you think laws regarding whether same-sex marriage is legal or not should be determined
by the federal government or left to each individual state government to decide?

Federal government
Individual states
Both
(vol.)
Don't know/No answer
Q32.-Q40.

38
56

18
78
*
6

52
39
*
4

Feb14c
39
55
*
6

33
64
*
3

Separate release.

Q41. How would you say things are going for the U.S. in its fight against the militant group ISIS
in Iraq and Syria? Would you say things are going very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or
very badly?

Very well
Somewhat well
Somewhat badly
Very badly
Don't know/No answer

2
34

26
34
33

1
10
33
52

37
35
21

Oct14f
2
26

3
30
33

32

24

Q41a. Barack Obama has asked Congress to authorize the use of military force against the militant
group ISIS for three years with no geographical limitations. The authorization would allow using
U.S. ground troops for limited operations but would rule out using them for long term operations.
Do you favor or oppose Congress passing this authorization?
Favor
Oppose
Don't know/No answer

66
26

65
29
7

71
21
6

64
28
8

Q42. Do you think the militant group ISIS is a threat to the security of the United States, or
not?
IF YES, ASK: Do you think it is a major threat or a minor threat?

Yes, major
Yes, minor
Not a threat
Don't know/No answer

65
18
13

86
8
4
2

61
23
11
5

Oct14f
57
20
18
4

58
21
15
6

Q43. Do you think Barack Obama has a clear plan for dealing with ISIS militants, or not?

Yes, has clear plan

No, does not have clear plan
Don't know/No answer

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total
Rep
Dem
%
%
%
30
13
48
60
84
42
10
4
10

Ind
%
27
61
13

Oct14f
%
29
61
10

Q44. Do you favor or oppose US airstrikes against ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria?
Favor
Oppose
Dont know/No answer

77
16

90
8
2

74
17

73
19
9

71
20
8

Q45. Do you favor or oppose the U.S. sending ground troops into Iraq or Syria to fight ISIS
militants?
Favor
Oppose
Dont know/No answer

57
37

72
27
6

50
43
1

53
39
8

47
46
8

Q45a. Do you think the United States will be able to remove the threat from ISIS militants using
airstrikes alone, or do you think ground troops will be necessary in order to remove the threat
from ISIS militants?
Air strikes alone
19
Ground troops will be necessary
64
Don't know/No answer

18

14

23

16

65

78

54

65

22

19

17

17

Q46. How concerned are you that U.S. intervention in Iraq and Syria will lead to a long and
costly involvement there very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned or not at all
concerned?
Very concerned
Somewhat concerned
Not too concerned
Not at all concerned
Don't know/No answer

43
42
10

36
48
11
3
2

44
45
4
1

6
2
3

46
37
11

48
37
3
3

8
5
2

Q51. How would you rate the financial situation in your household these days? Is it very good,
fairly good, fairly bad, or very bad?

Very good
Fairly good
Fairly bad
Very bad
Don't know/No answer

14
58
20

15
63
17
7
1

14
59
21

Jan13a
12
61
18
8
1

4
1

13
55
21
5
1

9
2

Q52. Do you think your household's financial situation is getting better, getting worse or staying about the same?
** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total
Rep
Dem
%
%
%
22
19
19
18
18
16
60
63
64
1
*
-

Better
Worse
Same
Don't know/No answer

Ind
%
24
18
56
1

Jun11c
%
16
15
68
1

Q53. Thinking about your household income, would you say that it is more than enough so that you
can save money or buy some extras, just enough to meet your bills and obligations, or is it not
enough to meet your bills and obligations?

Can save and buy extras

23
Just enough to pay bills
47
Not enough to pay bills, etc.
Don't know/No answer

17

30

39

Jan15b
29
27

51

48

52

12

19

19

53
28
1

Q54. How concerned are you that in the next 12 months you or someone else in your household might
be out of work and looking for a job very concerned, somewhat concerned, or not concerned at
all?

Very concerned
27
Somewhat concerned
24
Not at all concerned
47
Respondent or someone in HH already
out of work and looking for a job (vol.)
2
Don't know/No answer
1

Total respondents
Republicans
Democrats
Independents

Unweighted
1,006
255
305
446

21
23
53

May14c
27
26
46

31
23
43
1
1

2
2

2
*

Weighted

236 (23%)
300 (30%)
470 (47%)

35
25
38

1
*