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1. And, to start with, do you feel that THE COUNTRY, in general, is headed in the right
direction, or do you think things are seriously off on the wrong track?
April 8-14, 2009 July 5-12, 2009 Sept 24-28, 2009 Jan 3-7, 2010 April 22-26, 2010 Aug 27-30, 2010
Direction of Country (N=602, (N=1201, (N=1200, (N=1200, (N=1200, (N=1201,
MoE = +/- 4.0%) MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%)
Wrong track 42% 50% 50% 55% 54% 62%
Right direction 47% 38% 38% 34% 34% 27%
Neither 2% 3% 4% 4% 4% 6%
Don’t Know / Refused 9% 9% 8% 6% 8% 4%
2. And, overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job
as president? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?
April 8-14, 2009 July 5-12, 2009 Sept 24-28, 2009 Jan 3-7, 2010 April 22-26, 2010 Aug 27-30, 2010
Obama (N=602, (N=1201, (N=1200, (N=1200, (N=1200, (N=1201,
Approval/Disapproval MoE = +/- 4.0%) MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%)
Strongly approve 38% 32% 31% 26% 26% 25%
Somewhat approve 23% 24% 21% 21% 22% 21%
TOTAL APPROVE 61% 56% 52% 47% 48% 46%
Somewhat disapprove 8% 9% 11% 13% 11% 10%
Strongly disapprove 20% 27% 29% 32% 35% 39%
TOTAL DISAPPROVE 28% 36% 40% 45% 46% 49%
Don’t Know / Refused 11% 9% 8% 8% 7% 4%
REGISTERED
ALL ADULTS
Jan 3-7, 2010 April 22-26, 2010 VOTERS
Aug 27-30, 2010
Obama Reelect (N=1200, (N=1200,
(N=1200,
Aug 27-30, 2010
MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%) (N=1116,
MoE=+/-2.8%)
MoE=+/-2.9%)
Definitely vote to re-elect Barack Obama 23% 25% 23% 23%
Probably vote to re-elect Barack Obama 16% 14% 15% 16%
TOTAL RE-ELECT 39% 39% 39% 39%
Probably vote for someone else 13% 13% 14% 13%
Definitely vote for someone else 37% 37% 38% 38%
TOTAL SOMEONE ELSE 50% 50% 52% 51%
Don’t Know / Refused 10% 12% 9% 14%
4. If the elections for U.S. Congress were held today, would you be voting for the...?
REGISTERED
ALL ADULTS
April 22-26, 2010 VOTERS
Aug 27-30, 2010
Generic Ballot (N=1200,
(N=1200,
Aug 27-30, 2010
MoE=+/-2.8%) (N=1116,
MoE=+/-2.8%)
MoE=+/-2.9%)
Democratic Candidate 39% 39% 38%
Republican Candidate 35% 34% 36%
Undecided 19% 18% 17%
Neither 8% 8% 8%
Refused - 1% 1%
5. And, in general, who do you trust more to develop solutions to the country’s economic
challenges… President Obama OR Republicans in Congress?
April 8-14, 2009 July 5-12, 2009 Sept 24-28, 2009 Jan 3-7, 2010 April 22-26, 2010 Aug 27-30, 2010
Trust to Develop (N=1200, (N=1201, (N=1200, (N=1200, (N=1200, (N=1201,
Solutions MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%)
President Obama 55% 46% 48% 41% 39% 42%
Republicans in Congress 26% 28% 27% 33% 32% 37%
Both 3% 2% 3% 2% 2% 3%
Neither 12% 17% 16% 19% 19% 14%
Don’t Know / Refused 5% 7% 6% 5% 8% 5%
7. As you may know, Congress will soon decide whether to keep in place the existing tax
cuts enacted during President Bush’s time in office, or allow them to expire. Which comes
closest to your view about the tax cuts passed when George W. Bush was president?
8. And, in your opinion did President Obama’s economic policies over the last 12 months…
Sept 24-28, 2009 Jan 3-7, 2010 April 22-26, 2010 Aug 27-30, 2010
Obama Economic Policies Over Last 12 (N=1200, (N=1200, (N=1200, (N=1201,
Months MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%)
Run up a record federal deficit while failing to end
the recession or slow the record pace of job 43% 46% 46% 48%
losses.
Help avoid an even worse economic crisis,
and are laying the foundation for our eventual 43% 43% 42% 39%
economic recovery.
Don’t know/ Refused 14% 11% 11% 12%
10. Thinking back over the policies that President Obama has pursued over the last 12
months, would you say that the country is…
11. Thinking about the past few decades… to the best of your knowledge, which ONE of the
following U.S. Presidents do you think did the best job of managing the economy?
TREND DATA: Institutions & Groups of Sept 24-28, 2009 April 22-26, 2010 Aug 27-30, 2010
People (N=1200, (N=1200, (N=1201,
More/Same/Less MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%) MoE=+/-2.8%)
12. Elected officials in Washington, D.C. 21%/23%/52% 14%/24%/56% 13%/25%/58%
13. Major corporations 12%/28%/58% 13%/31%/50% 11%/27%/54%
14. National banks 15%/25%/56% 15%/29%/51% 15%/27%/53%
15. Investment banks 11%/23%/61% 13%/24%/55% 12%/22%/59%
16. Labor unions 15%/31%/46% 14%/33%/41% 15%/29%/44%
17. The American consumer 33%/32%/31% 34%/33%/27% 28%/28%/36%
18. And, do you feel that THE ECONOMY, in general, is headed in the right direction, or do
you think things are seriously off on the wrong track?
20. Overall, when it comes to addressing our national economic opportunities and
challenges, in general, do you believe that Americans are mostly…
21. And, in order to develop solutions to address our national economic opportunities and
challenges, do you believe that…
Top 3
Priorities to Improve the Economy 1st Choice
Mention
Reducing unemployment to the lowest possible level 54% 20%
Strengthening public services like infrastructure, education and
52% 21%
Social Security
Improving the ability for new small businesses to start and grow 51% 17%
Reducing the size of government 35% 15%
Improving the global competitiveness of American companies 29% 6%
Growing the size of the middle class 28% 10%
Narrowing the income gap between those at the top and those
27% 8%
at the bottom
Don’t Know 11% 4%
Refused 2% *
23. Now I would like to read you a list of potential economic events that would indicate the
overall economy is beginning to improve or recover. After I read them, please tell me, in
your opinion, which ONE is the MOST important indicator that the economy is beginning
to recover… And which is second most important? And which is next most important?
Top 3
Indicators Showing Economic Improvement 1st Choice
Mention
The unemployment rate begins to decrease 67% 34%
Consumers begin to spend more money and make more major
43% 15%
purchases
More businesses start investing in expanding their operations 42% 15%
Housing market prices stop falling 37% 11%
The number of companies going out of business decreases 35% 9%
The stock market indicators like the Dow Jones Industrial
29% 7%
Average begin to consistently increase
Businesses report higher profits 17% 4%
Don’t Know 13% 4%
Refused 2% *
25. And, when you think about how the economy is performing, which has more influence on
your thinking…
I would now like to read you a list of actions some people have said will help the U.S. economy
recover from the Recession. After I read each one, please tell me how important you think each
one is to helping the U.S. economy recover from the Recession. Extremely important, Very
important, Somewhat important, or Not too important …
Importance of Economic Actions for Ext Very Ext Imp / Smwt Not Too DK / Ref
Recovery Imp Imp Very Imp Imp Imp
35. Which of the following comes CLOSEST to your view regarding the proper role of
government in the economy?
At the same time, the current unemployment rate is 9.5% and many economists agree
that the U.S. economy may be headed into another recession again. They also agree that
policies to jump-start economic growth may increase the deficit in the short-term.
I would like to read you three different opinions on the policies our elected officials might
focus on. After I read them, please tell me which ONE comes CLOSEST to your
opinion…
38. I would now like to read you three opinions on how government might handle American
economic policy as it relates to the global economy. Please tell me which one comes
CLOSEST to your opinion…
I would now like to read you a list of actions BUSINESSES might take. After I read each one,
please tell me how important each one is to helping the U.S. economy recover from the
Recession. Extremely important, Very important, Somewhat important, or Not too important …?
Business Actions to Help With Ext Very Ext Imp / Smwt Not Too DK / Ref
Economic Recovery Imp Imp Very Imp Imp Imp
40. Increasing investment in new
21% 34% 55% 35% 8% 2%
technology and equipment
41. Spending more money to train their
20% 32% 52% 36% 11% 1%
existing workers
42. Spending more money on research
13% 29% 42% 40% 16% 2%
to develop new products
43. Shifting more of their operations
33% 33% 66% 20% 11% 3%
from foreign countries to the U.S.
44. Working with local and national
government leaders to develop new 22% 36% 58% 31% 8% 2%
ideas for economic growth
46. As you know, when both large and small businesses are deciding whether to expand
their operations and hire more employees, they take into account current economic
conditions and the impact that paying additional employees will have on their business.
Which comes closer to your opinion…?
47. And, as you know, publicly traded businesses operating in this Recession are forced to
make many choices regarding their operations. When it comes to the decisions these
they make regarding whether or not to hire more employees, which factor do you think is
MOST important to these businesses?
I would now like to read you a list of actions INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS might take. After I read
each one, please tell me how important each one is to helping the U.S. economy recover from the
Recession. Extremely important, Very important, Somewhat important, or Not too important…
Individual Actions to Help With Ext Very Ext Imp / Smwt Not Too DK / Ref
Economic Recovery Imp Imp Very Imp Imp Imp
48. Saving more money 33% 40% 73% 20% 5% 2%
49. Spending more money to stimulate
11% 24% 34% 37% 25% 3%
the economy
50. Paying down the debt they have
and reducing the amount of new debt 46% 37% 83% 12% 3% 3%
they take on
51. Learning more about personal
finance and how to better manage their 39% 42% 81% 15% 3% 2%
money
52. Obtaining more education and
31% 41% 72% 23% 3% 2%
training to improve their workplace skills
53. Making a greater effort to purchase
33% 35% 68% 24% 5% 2%
products made in America
54. And which one of the actions you just heard would you say is MOST important?
Now, thinking some more about your own personal financial situation...
56. And thinking about your current lifestyle, approximately how much money per month
would your household need to bring in, after taxes are taken out, in order to pay your
monthly expenses and still be able to save money? (RECORDED NUMERIC
RESPONSE) (USE “99” FOR DK/ REFUSED)
I would now like to read you a list of SHORT-TERM FINANCIAL GOALS. After I read each one,
please tell me how important each one is to your own definition of financial success. Extremely
important, Very important, Somewhat important, or Not too important…
Short Term Financial Goals Ext Very Ext Imp / Smwt Not Too DK / Ref
Imp Imp Very Imp Imp Imp
58. Being able to make ends meet
55% 40% 96% 3% 1% *
every month
59. Living debt-free 47% 39% 85% 11% 3% 1%
60. Enjoying the finer things in life 14% 18% 32% 41% 26% 2%
61. Being able to save money every
36% 43% 79% 17% 3% 1%
month
62. Learning how to manage your own
38% 39% 77% 17% 5% 2%
personal finances better
63. (NOT ASKED OF RETIREES)
(N=944, MoE= +/-3.2%) Working in a
38% 43% 81% 15% 3% 1%
career you find interesting and
personally rewarding
64. Giving up the opportunity to make
more money in order to have the time to
19% 32% 52% 31% 14% 3%
do things that are personally important
to you
I would now like to read you a list of LONG-TERM FINANCIAL GOALS. After I read each one,
please tell me how important each one is to your own definition of financial success. Extremely
important, Very important, Somewhat important, or Not too important…
Long Term Financial Goals Ext Very Ext Imp / Smwt Not Too DK / Ref
Imp Imp Very Imp Imp Imp
66. Owning your own home 40% 40% 80% 14% 5% 2%
67. Paying off your mortgage 37% 38% 74% 12% 10% 4%
68. Being able to live comfortably in
40% 48% 88% 10% 1% *
retirement
69. (NOT ASKED OF RETIREES)
(N=944, MoE= +/-3.2%) Working long- 14% 29% 43% 33% 23% 2%
term for a single employer
70. Being able to pay for yours or a
34% 44% 78% 14% 7% 1%
family member’s education
71. (NOT ASKED OF RETIREES)
(N=944, MoE= +/-3.2%) Owning your 18% 15% 33% 30% 35% 1%
own business and working for yourself
72. Being able to provide your family
with more than you had when you were 33% 32% 65% 22% 12% 1%
younger
74. Do you have any relatives or close friends who have been laid off at any point since the
recession began in late 2007?
Gender Total
Female 50%
Male 50%
Region Total
Deep South 19%
Upper Midwest 19%
Pacific 15%
Midatlantic 14%
Outer South 11%
Northeast 10%
Great Plains 7%
Mountain 6%
Age Total
18-29 19%
30-44 26%
45-54 20%
55-64 18%
65+ 16%
Refused 1%
Education Total
Less than high school 11%
High school graduate 29%
Some college/vocational school 23%
College graduate 25%
Post-graduate 11%
Don’t Know / Refused 1%
G. Would state records show that you are currently registered to vote?
Employment Total
Yes 50%
No 49%
Refused *
J. (ASKED ONLY OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT EMPLOYED) (N=593, MoE = +/-4%) Are
you a student, a homemaker, retired, active duty military, or unemployed and looking for
work?
D1. And, please tell me which of the following categories best applies to your total household
income for 2009…
Income Total
Less than $15,000 12%
$15,000 to less than $30,000 17%
$30,000 to less than $50,000 19%
$50,000 to less than $75,000 16%
$75,000 to less than $100,000 12%
$100,000 to less than $200,000 12%
$200,000 or more 3%
Don’t Know / Refused 9%
Ethnicity Total
White/Caucasian 70%
African-American/Black 13%
Hispanic/Latino 11%
Native American 2%
Asian-American/Asian 1%
Other 1%
Don’t Know / Refused 2%
D6. Were both of your parents born in the U.S.? (ASKED ONLY IF BORN IN THE U.S.
N=1123, MoE= +/-2.9%)