National (US) Poll * May 25, 2007 * Obama, Giuliani Are Best Barbe - Quinnipiac University

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May 25, 2007 - Obama, Giuliani Are Best Barbecue Buddies, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Americans Want A President Who Listens

Word format American voters would most like to share a Memorial Day barbecue burger with Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.
And, by a 48 - 40 percent margin, Americans would prefer that a president follow the wishes of the American people even if that conflicts with what he or she believes is the right thing to do, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll found.
Of the four leading presidential candidates in each party, American voters would most like to hang out at a Memorial Day picnic with:
Republicans:
o Rudolph Giuliani - 37 percent;
o Arizona Sen. John McCain - 27 percent;
o Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson - 16 percent;
o Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney - 6 percent.
Democrats:
o Barack Obama - 33 percent;
o New York Sen. Hillary Clinton - 24 percent;
o Former Vice President Al Gore - 16 percent;
o 2004 vice presidential candidate John Edwards - 16 percent.
"Americans want a president with whom they feel comfortable," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "At this point, they envision Mayor Giuliani and Sen. Obama as either the most interesting, most approachable or perhaps the ones about which the most people are curious - or just the best guys to hang out with."
All voters were asked to choose first among the four Democrats, then among the four Republicans.
Giuliani is the preferred picnic partner of 41 percent of Republicans, 31 percent of Democrats and 35 percent of independent voters.
Obama is the choice of 37 percent of Republicans, 24 percent of Democrats and 34 percent of independent voters.
President Who Leads or Listens
On the question of whether a president should do what he/she thinks is right, or whether the president should follow the will of the people, Republicans prefer 62 - 30 percent that a president does what he/she thinks is right, while Democrats say 62 - 27 percent that the president should listen to the people. Independent voters say 50 - 35 percent that the president should do what voters think is right.
"The results are not surprising given the public unhappiness with President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq and his refusal to bring home the troops despite clear public opinion preferring that be the case. Historically, however, Americans have been prone to elect presidents they consider strong leaders who might not always see things as do they, such as Ronald Reagan. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the next 18 months," Brown said.
From April 25 - May 1, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,166 American voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent, including 469 Republicans with a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percent, and 499 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percent.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and nationwide as a public service and for research.
For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x271.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
30. Which type of President would you prefer - A) A President who does what they think is right, even if it disagrees with the views of the voters. B) A President who does what the voters think is right, even if it disagrees with their views.
WhtEvan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgn A) They think 40% 62% 27% 35% 42% 39% 47% B) Voters think 48 30 62 50 47 49 39 DK/NA 12 8 11 14 12 12 14 Red Blue Purple A) They think 43% 38% 40% B) Voters think 46 46 53 DK/NA 11 16 7
31. Who would you rather chat with at a Memorial Day picnic - Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, or Al Gore?
WhtEvan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgn Clinton 24% 15% 34% 25% 20% 28% 18% Obama 33 37 24 34 32 34 32 Edwards 16 20 14 15 18 13 22 Gore 16 5 24 17 17 15 11 DK/NA 11 23 4 8 13 10 17 Red Blue Purple Clinton 20% 29% 25% Obama 33 36 30 Edwards 17 14 16 Gore 15 13 19 DK/NA 15 9 10
32. Who would you rather chat with at a Memorial Day picnic - Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney or Fred Thompson?
WhtEvan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgn Giuliani 37% 41% 31% 35% 34% 39% 35% McCain 27 26 29 30 28 27 30 Romney 6 9 6 5 7 6 6 Thompson 16 21 10 19 17 15 23 DK/NA 14 4 24 10 14 14 7 Red Blue Purple Giuliani 37% 39% 33% McCain 24 28 30 Romney 5 6 9 Thompson 20 14 13 DK/NA 14 13 15
34. Is your opinion of -- Bill Clinton favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
WhtEvan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgn Favorable 54% 21% 87% 54% 54% 55% 37% Unfavorable 40 74 10 40 42 39 57 Hvn't hrd enough 2 2 2 2 1 3 2 REFUSED 3 4 1 4 3 3 5 Red Blue Purple Favorable 45% 62% 56% Unfavorable 48 32 39 Hvn't hrd enough 3 3 1 REFUSED 3 3 3
35. Is your opinion of -- Nancy Pelosi favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her?
WhtEvan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgn Favorable 29% 5% 53% 31% 30% 27% 17% Unfavorable 29 58 6 26 34 25 42 Hvn't hrd enough 40 35 38 41 35 45 39 REFUSED 2 2 2 1 1 3 2 Red Blue Purple Favorable 20% 37% 30% Unfavorable 31 26 31 Hvn't hrd enough 46 35 39 REFUSED 3 3 -
TREND: Is your opinion of -- Nancy Pelosi favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about her?
May 25 Feb 21 2007 2007 Favorable 29 25 Unfavorable 29 31 Hvn't hrd enough 40 43 REFUSED 2 1
36. Is your opinion of -- Harry Reid favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
WhtEvan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgn Favorable 9% 3% 13% 11% 13% 6% 7% Unfavorable 18 32 8 17 25 13 20 Hvn't hrd enough 71 64 76 69 61 79 70 REFUSED 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 Red Blue Purple Favorable 9% 10% 8% Unfavorable 17 17 21 Hvn't hrd enough 73 69 70 REFUSED 1 4 -
TREND: Is your opinion of -- Harry Reid favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
May 25 Feb 21 2007 2007 Favorable 9 7 Unfavorable 18 17 Hvn't hrd enough 71 75 REFUSED 2 1
37. Is your opinion of -- Alberto Gonzales favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?
WhtEvan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgn Favorable 13% 23% 6% 9% 17% 10% 17% Unfavorable 34 17 46 39 41 27 22 Hvn't hrd enough 51 56 47 49 42 59 58 REFUSED 3 4 1 3 1 4 3 Red Blue Purple Favorable 13% 14% 12% Unfavorable 27 40 34 Hvn't hrd enough 57 44 52 REFUSED 3 2 2