July 24, 2003 - U.S. Not Ready To Win The Peace In Iraq, U.S. Voters Tell Quinnipiac University National Poll, But Most Voters Say Iraq War Is Justified Bush Administration planning for post-war Iraq is "not so good" or "poor," 55 percent of U.S. voters say in a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. The Bush Administration did not intentionally exaggerate evidence that Iraq was developing nuclear weapons, voters say 50 - 44 percent. Democrats say 69 - 23 percent that the Bush team exaggerated, a belief shared by independent voters 51 - 43 percent. Republicans say 79 - 15 percent that the White House did not intentionally exaggerate. And 54 percent of voters say the exaggeration issue is a minor political matter, while 43 percent say it is a major issue. Americans support 60 - 36 percent the decision to send U.S. troops into Iraq, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Asked another way: 51 percent say the action is justified even if weapons of mass destruction are not found; 25 percent say it is justified only if weapons of mass destruction are found; 21 percent say it is not justified, even if weapons of mass destruction are found. "However we did at winning the war, most Americans think we're not so hot at winning the peace," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Just half of Americans say the White House did not fudge the story about Iraq looking for nuclear material in Africa. But a majority say the issue is 'just politics.' And most still support the war. The bad news for President Bush is that two-thirds of voters worry more about the economy than terrorism - and they say the economy is in the tank." Meanwhile, worries about the economy continue to chip away at President George W. Bush's approval rating, which is 53 - 41 percent, down from 57 - 35 percent in a June 11 Quinnipiac University poll, and from 73 - 22 percent April 16. By a 64 - 30 percent margin, American voters are more concerned about the U.S. economy than about terrorist attacks in the U.S. Only 29 percent of voters say the economy is excellent or good, while 69 percent say it is not so good or poor. Presidential Matchups If New York Sen. Hillary Clinton jumps into the race for the White House, she gets 48 percent of Democratic voters, followed by 11 percent for Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, 7 percent each for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and Missouri Congressman Richard Gephardt and 4 percent for former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. No other Democratic contender breaks 3 percent, with 12 percent undecided. With Clinton out of the running, Dean breaks into double digits, but Lieberman leads with 21 percent of Democratic voters. Gephardt gets 16 percent, with 13 percent for Kerry and 10 percent for Dean. No other Democrat breaks 6 percent and undecided gets 21 percent. Bush beats Clinton 50 - 43 percent. Against other Democrats, Bush leads: 51 - 41 percent over Lieberman; 51 - 40 percent over Kerry; 51 - 42 percent over Gephardt; 53 - 37 percent over Dean. From July 17 - 22, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,055 registered voters nationwide, with a margin of error of +/- 3 percent. The survey includes 372 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 5.1 percent. The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and nationwide as a public service and for research. For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201 TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as president? App Dis DK/NA Jul. 24, 2003 53% 41% 6% Jun. 11, 2003 57 35 8 Apr. 16, 2003 73 22 5 Mar. 6, 2003 53 39 8 Feb. 4, 2003 54 39 7 Nov. 13, 2002 62 30 8 Feb. 22, 2002 76 16 8 Dec. 11, 2001 83 11 6 TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Very Smwht Smwht Very Sat Sat Dis Dis DK/NA Jul. 24, 2003 13% 34% 27% 24% 2% Jun. 11, 2003 17 38 22 22 1 Apr. 17, 2003 19 46 20 14 1 Mar. 6, 2003 9 35 28 26 1 Feb. 4, 2003 11 36 27 25 1 Nov. 13, 2002 12 43 27 17 1 Feb. 22, 2002 15 52 21 11 1 Dec. 11, 2001 21 47 19 10 3 1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 53% 86% 20% 50% 55% 51% Disapprove 41 11 72 43 40 42 DK/NA 6 3 8 7 5 7 2. Now I'm going to name nine Democrats who might run for president in 2004. After I read all nine names, tell me which one you would most like to see the Democrats nominate for president in 2004. Here are the choices... Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, North Carolina Senator John Edwards, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, the Reverend Al Sharpton, Florida Senator Bob Graham, former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, or Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich. Dem Lieberman 21% Kerry 13 Gephardt 16 Edwards 4 Dean 10 Sharpton 6 Graham 3 Moseley-Braun 4 Kucinich 2 DK/NA 21 3. Suppose New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton decides to run for president in 2004. Who would you most like to see the Democrats nominate for president in 2004? -- New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, North Carolina Senator John Edwards, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, the Reverend Al Sharpton, Florida Senator Bob Graham, former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, or Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich. Dem Clinton 48% Lieberman 11 Kerry 7 Gephardt 7 Edwards 3 Dean 4 Sharpton 1 Graham 3 Moseley-Braun 2 Kucinich 2 DK/NA 12 4. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were Hillary Rodham Clinton the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Clinton 43% 8% 81% 44% 42% 45% Bush 50 89 12 48 53 48 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 1 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 1 3 2 2 DK/NA 3 2 5 4 2 4 5. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were Joe Lieberman the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Lieberman 41% 7% 80% 42% 38% 44% Bush 51 89 11 48 54 47 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 1 2 - 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 1 3 2 1 DK/NA 5 3 6 7 4 7 6. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were John Kerry the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Kerry 40% 8% 75% 39% 39% 40% Bush 51 88 13 49 53 49 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 3 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - 1 1 - 1 DK/NA 7 3 10 8 5 9 7. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were Dick Gephardt the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Gephardt 42% 8% 81% 42% 40% 44% Bush 51 89 12 48 53 48 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 2 2 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 - - 2 1 - DK/NA 5 3 6 6 4 6 8. Suppose the general election for president were being held today, and the candidates were Howard Dean the Democrat and George W. Bush the Republican for whom would you vote? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Dean 37% 6% 74% 36% 38% 37% Bush 53 89 15 53 55 52 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 2 1 2 3 3 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 1 1 1 1 1 1 DK/NA 6 3 9 7 4 8 9. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very satisfied 13% 27% 1% 8% 16% 10% Smwht satisfied 34 49 19 36 36 32 Smwht dissatisfied 27 20 35 27 24 30 Very dissatisfied 24 3 44 26 22 26 DK/NA 2 2 1 2 2 2 10. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling -- the economy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 42% 72% 13% 40% 46% 39% Disapprove 53 23 83 54 50 55 DK/NA 5 5 4 6 4 6 11. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling -- foreign policy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 50% 82% 18% 46% 55% 45% Disapprove 45 14 77 48 42 48 DK/NA 5 4 6 6 4 6 12. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling -- the war against terrorism overseas? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 58% 87% 29% 57% 66% 51% Disapprove 37 9 66 37 32 42 DK/NA 5 4 5 6 3 7 13. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling -- policies to prevent and minimize terrorism at home? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 68% 88% 50% 63% 69% 66% Disapprove 26 8 44 30 25 28 DK/NA 6 4 6 7 6 6 14. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling -- the situation with Iraq? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 52% 83% 22% 50% 57% 48% Disapprove 43 14 74 44 41 45 DK/NA 5 4 4 5 2 7 15. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling -- the situation between Israel and the Palestinians? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 48% 68% 27% 47% 54% 42% Disapprove 35 18 52 36 30 38 DK/NA 18 14 21 18 16 20 16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dick Cheney is handling his job as vice-president? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 52% 81% 30% 43% 56% 48% Disapprove 34 9 58 37 33 35 DK/NA 14 10 12 19 11 17 17. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Rumsfeld is handling his job as secretary of defense? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 58% 80% 38% 56% 62% 55% Disapprove 32 13 51 34 31 33 DK/NA 10 7 11 9 7 13 18. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Colin Powell is handling his job as secretary of state? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 79% 92% 65% 82% 84% 76% Disapprove 15 6 28 12 13 18 DK/NA 5 2 7 6 4 6 19. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Tenet is handling his job as CIA Director? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 41% 54% 32% 40% 47% 36% Disapprove 30 21 37 33 33 28 DK/NA 29 25 31 28 20 36 20. Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as: Excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Excellent 1% 2% - 2% 2% 1% Good 28 50 10 23 32 25 Not so good 41 35 44 50 39 43 Poor 28 12 45 26 26 29 DK/NA 1 1 2 - 1 1 21. During the next 12 months, do you think the economic conditions in the United States will get better, get worse, or stay about the same? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Get better 40% 65% 18% 36% 46% 35% Get worse 19 5 33 18 15 22 Stay the same 37 27 44 41 36 38 DK/NA 4 3 4 5 3 5 22. Which are you more concerned about - terrorist attacks in the United States or the United States economy? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Terrorist attacks 30% 39% 22% 27% 29% 31% The US economy 64 58 72 67 66 63 DK/NA 5 4 6 6 4 6 23. Do you support or oppose the United States having gone to war with Iraq? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 60% 87% 33% 57% 65% 55% Oppose 36 11 62 38 32 39 DK/NA 5 3 5 5 3 6 24. Which comes closest to your view about the war with Iraq -- A) it was justified only if weapons of mass destruction are found in Iraq, B) it was justified even if weapons of mass destruction are not found in Iraq, or C) it was not justified even if weapons of mass destruction are found in Iraq. Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom A) Justified if weapons found 25% 16% 32% 26% 22% 26% B) Justified without weapons 51 77 27 50 57 46 C) Not justified 21 6 37 21 18 23 DK/NA 3 1 4 3 2 4 25. Do you believe that the Bush administration did or did not intentionally exaggerate its evidence that Iraq was building a nuclear weapons program? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Did exaggerate 44% 15% 69% 51% 44% 44% No/Did not 50 79 23 43 50 49 DK/NA 6 6 7 6 5 7 26. Some people have criticized the Bush administration's statements on Iraq's weapons programs: Which comes closest to your view: this is a major issue or this is just politics? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Major issue 43% 34% 57% 37% 42% 43% Just politics 54 63 42 57 55 54 DK/NA 3 2 1 6 3 3 27. How good a job do you think the Bush Administration did in planning for the situation in Iraq after the major fighting was over: Excellent, good, not so good, or poor? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Excellent 8% 16% 2% 4% 9% 8% Good 34 50 18 34 36 33 Not so good 28 24 33 28 24 31 Poor 27 8 45 32 29 26 DK/NA 2 2 2 2 2 2 28. Five years from now, do you think it is more likely that Iraq will have a democratically elected government or is it more likely that Iraq will be governed by some form of a dictatorship? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Democratic government 48% 66% 31% 46% 57% 41% Dictatorship 37 24 52 40 34 40 DK/NA 14 10 17 14 10 19 29. Do you personally use the Internet? Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 69% 73% 66% 69% 73% 67% No 30 27 34 30 27 33 DK/NA - - - 1 1 - 30. (If "yes" on Q29.) Have you ever used the Internet to find any type of political information? INTERNET USERS Q29......................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 55% 57% 53% 57% 56% 54% No 45 43 47 43 43 46 DK/NA - - 1 - - - 31. (If "yes" on Q29.) Have you ever contributed money to a political candidate over the Internet? INTERNET USERS Q29......................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 4% 3% 4% 4% 3% 4% No 96 96 96 96 96 96 DK/NA - 1 - - - -
