CBS News/New York Times Poll For release: Tuesday October 25, 2011 6:30 PM EDT

The Occupy Wall Street Movement and Money in America October 19-24, 2011 Most Americans have heard at least something about the Occupy Wall Street movement, and 43% say they agree with its views. 27% disagree with the views of the movement, and 30% dont have an opinion. Americans do not think the distribution of wealth and money in the U.S. is fair -- 66% believe that wealth should be more evenly distributed. The Occupy Wall Street movement has gone global in the past two weeks, and seven in ten Americans have heard at least something about the rallies and protests that have occurred around the world. Heard or Read about Occupy Wall Street Protests and Rallies A lot 34% Some 36 Not much/not at all 29 Against a backdrop of growing discontent with government and years of economic anxieties, 43% of Americans say they are in agreement with the views of the Occupy Wall Street movement. 27% say they disagree with it, and 30% dont have an opinion. Agree with Views of Occupy Wall Street Movement? Yes 43% No 27 Dont know 30 Those most likely to say they agree with the movement include people under age 30, Democrats, liberals and those with more education. But the movement also appeals to significant numbers of other demographic groups: nearly half of moderates, and a similar percentage of independents, say they agree with the movement, as do 43% of those age 30 to 64. Views of Occupy Wall Street Movement Agree Disagree Dont know 43% 27 30 46% 40% 19% 54% 48% 30 24 57 13 20 24 36 24 33 32

All Men Women Republicans Democrats Independents

Liberals Moderates Conservatives Age 18-29 30-44 45-64 65+

Views of Occupy Wall Street Movement Agree Disagree Dont know 67% 10 23 46% 25 29 26% 42 32 50% 43% 43% 33% 37% 48% 47% 23 25 28 37 27 25 29 27 32 29 30 36 27 24

High school or less Some college College grad or more

Just under half think the movement represents the views of most Americans. 34% think it does not; 18% dont know. More than half of Democrats think it represents the views of most people; far fewer Republicans agree. Does Occupy Wall Street Movement Represent Views of Most Americans? Yes 46% No 34 Dont know 18 While half have yet to decide what they think of the movement itself, those with an opinion of it are divided. 25% have a favorable impression of it, and 20% are unfavorable. Opinions on Occupy Wall Street Movement Favorable 25% Unfavorable 20 Undecided/Havent heard enough 53 Those who have heard or read at least some about the movement are more likely to have a favorable impression of the Occupy Wall Street movement, to agree with it, and to think it represents the views of most Americans Money and Politics in America The Occupy Wall Street protesters object to the concentration of wealth in the U.S. among a small percentage of the population, and have targeted their anger at large U.S. banks and the people who run them. Many Americans believe that money and wealth in the U.S. is unfairly distributed. Two in three say that wealth is not distributed as equitably as it should be, and just 26% think the distribution of wealth and money in the U.S. is fair. Is Money and Wealth Distributed Fairly in America? All Reps Dems Inds Yes, fair 26% 55% 7% 23% No, should be more even 66 36 86 67

There is a partisan divide on this question; most Republicans view the distribution of wealth as fair, while most Democrats disagree. However, even one in 3 Republicans thinks money and wealth should be distributed more evenly in the U.S. 67% of independents also see unfairness. ________________________________________________________________________
This poll was conducted among a random sample of 1,650 adults nationwide, interviewed by telephone October 1924, 2011. Phone numbers were dialed from random digit dial samples of both standard land-line and cell phones. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus three percentage points. The error for subgroups is higher. An oversample was conducted for this survey which will be analyzed in a future poll release. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL Occupy Wall Street October 19-24, 2011 q15 Do you feel that the distribution of money and wealth in this country is fair, or do you feel that the money and wealth in this country should be more evenly distributed among more people? ** TOTAL RESPONDENTS ** *** Party ID *** Total Rep Dem Ind % % % % 26 55 7 23 66 36 86 67 8 9 7 10

Fair Should be more even DK/NA

q46 How much have you heard or read about the protests and rallies being held in New York City and in other cities, called Occupy Wall Street -- a lot, some, not much or nothing at all? A lot Some Not much Not at all DK/NA 34 36 14 15 1 32 39 15 14 0 37 34 10 19 0 33 36 18 13 0

q47 Is your opinion of the Occupy Wall Street movement favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about the Occupy Wall Street movement yet to have an opinion? Favorable Not favorable Undecided Haven't heard enough Refused 25 20 17 36 2 6 43 19 31 1 36 6 19 38 1 28 18 14 38 2

q48 From what you have heard or read, would you say you generally agree or disagree with the views of the Occupy Wall Street movement? Agree Disagree DK/NA 43 27 30 19 57 24 54 13 33 48 20 32

q49 Regardless of your opinion, do you think the views of people involved in the Occupy Wall Street movement generally reflect the views of most Americans, or not? Reflect most Americans 46 Do not reflect most Americans 34 Both/some do (vol.) 2 DK/NA 18 32 54 1 13 54 25 2 19 48 31 3 18 WEIGHTED

Total Respondents Total Republicans Total Democrats Total Independents

UNWEIGHTED 1650 399 583 668

419 (25%) 574 (35%) 657 (40%)

Note: An oversample was conducted for this survey which will be analyzed in a future poll release.