National (US) Poll * August 20, 2008 * Gas Prices Gaining As American - Quinnipiac University

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August 20, 2008 - Gas Prices Gaining As Americans' Biggest Worry, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Voters Back Offshore Oil Drilling 2 - 1

Word format American likely voters are increasingly worried about the energy crisis or gas prices and support by large margins almost every measure to solve the energy crisis, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.
In an open-ended question, where respondents can give any answer, likely voters nationwide were asked to identify the most important problem facing the country today. Results are:
44 percent list the economy; 12 percent cite the war in Iraq; 10 percent say the energy crisis or gas prices; 4 percent each for health care and terrorism.
This is the highest listing for energy costs in seven years of national polls by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
Americans favor 62 - 32 percent drilling for oil in currently protected offshore areas. Republicans back offshore drilling 82 - 12 percent, while Democrats back it 50 - 43 percent and independent voters say drill 60 - 36 percent.
Because of rising gas prices, 49 percent of American voters say they have changed their summer vacation plans. A total of 67 percent of voters say gas prices are a "very serious" or "somewhat serious" problem for them and their family.
"Americans worry about gasoline prices and half say prices have forced them to change their vacation plans," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Before this summer, this issue barely rated a mention. Now voters say gas prices are a bigger problem than health care or terrorism and almost as big a problem as Iraq."
By a narrow 37 - 32 percent margin, voters say Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has a better program than Arizona Sen. John McCain for dealing with the energy crisis and making America less dependent on foreign oil. Another 30 percent are undecided. Democrats say 66 - 10 percent that Obama has the better plan, while Republicans prefer McCain 63 - 11 percent. Independent voters split with 32 percent for McCain and 31 percent for Obama.
In addition to offshore drilling, American voters support every measure suggested to help solve the energy crisis and reduce dependence on foreign oil:
56 - 35 percent in favor of building new nuclear plants; 51 - 42 percent back drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge; 87 - 10 percent back government funds for renewable energy such as wind and solar power; 78 - 18 percent for mandating higher mileage standards for cars.
On releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, 47 percent of voters are opposed while 45 percent support the measure.
A total of 86 percent of American voters say the overall economy is "not so good" or "poor," while one percent say "excellent" and 12 percent say "good." Their biggest financial worry is the price of gas, 34 percent say, down from 50 percent July 15. Another 21 percent worry most about health care costs and 18 percent worry most about food prices.
If Sen. Obama is elected President, the economy will get better, 38 percent say, while 22 percent say it will get worse and 29 percent say it will stay the same. The economy will get better if Sen. McCain is elected, 20 percent say, while 21 percent say it will get worse and 49 percent say it will stay the same.
"Americans are focusing a lot of thought on the problem of energy," Carroll said. "A majority would favor development of nuclear power. An even larger number, including a narrow majority of Democrats, supports offshore oil drilling, which is a Republican solution.
"And overwhelming majorities would like to see government funding for wind and solar power and biofuels and better mileage standards in new autos, which are Democratic solutions."
From August 12 -17, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,547 likely voters nationwide, with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points.
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/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
4. What do you think is the most important problem facing the country today?
LIKELY VOTERS Tot Economy Total 44% Economy general 32 Unemployment/jobs 5 Cost of living 5 Business leaving/ Outsourcing 1 Economy other 1 War (Iraq) 12% Energy crisis/ Gas prices Total 10% Energy costs/ Crisis general 4 Gas prices 3 Oil prices/Crisis 3 Healthcare/ Costs/ Ins/HMO's 4% Terrorism Total 4% Terrorism general 2 Security/Safety 2 Politicians Total 2% Politicians/ Campaigns general 1 Political corruption 1 Budget Total 2% Budget general 1 Budget deficits 1 Education general 2% Immigration 2% Lack of ethics/ Morality 2% Crime/Violence General 1 Environment/Pollution 1 Family breakdown/ Family values 1 Foreign affairs/ policy general 1 Taxes general 1 Other 4% DK/NA 3%
11. 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?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very satisfied 2% 3% 0% 2% 2% 1% 1% 1% Smwht satisfied 19 29 10 21 22 16 21 8 Smwht dissatisfied 41 46 39 37 37 44 41 38 Very dissatisfied 38 23 50 40 39 37 36 52 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 - 1 1 1
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?
LIKELY VOTERS. Aug 20 Jul 15 2008 2008 Very satisfied 2 2 Smwht satisfied 19 15 Smwht dissatisfied 41 40 Very dissatisfied 38 42 DK/NA 1 1
12. Do you think going to war with Iraq was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Right thing 35% 63% 9% 36% 38% 32% 39% 8% Wrong thing 59 30 87 56 57 60 54 86 DK/NA 6 6 4 8 5 7 6 6
TREND: Do you think going to war with Iraq was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing?
LIKELY VOTERS. Aug 20 Jul 15 2008 2008 Right thing 35 34 Wrong thing 59 59 DK/NA 6 7
13. Regardless of how you intend to vote, what would you prefer the next president do about the war in Iraq? A)Begin immediately a withdrawal of American troops, with a fixed date to have them all out within 18 months. OR B)Keep troops in Iraq until the situation is more stable, and then begin to withdraw them, without a fixed date for full withdrawal.
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Imm withdrawal/ fixed date 43% 22% 64% 42% 40% 46% 38% 74% Keep troops/without fixed date 51 75 30 53 56 48 57 20 DK/NA 6 3 6 6 4 6 5 6
TREND: Regardless of how you intend to vote, what would you prefer the next president to do about the war in Iraq - Begin immediately a withdrawal of American troops with a fixed date to have them all out within 18 months OR Keep troops in Iraq until the situation is more stable and then begin to withdraw them without a fixed date for full withdrawal?
LIKELY VOTERS. Aug 20 Jul 15 2008 2008 Imm withdrawal/ fixed date 43 43 Keep troops/without fixed date 51 51 DK/NA 6 5
14. Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as - Excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Excellent 1% 1% - 1% 1% - 1% - Good 12 23 3 12 15 9 14 4 Not so good 44 49 44 40 42 46 45 35 Poor 42 26 53 45 41 44 40 60 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 1
15. Which best describes your family's financial situation - Getting ahead, falling behind or holding steady?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Getting ahead 11% 13% 8% 11% 14% 8% 10% 12% Falling behind 26 19 31 27 25 27 25 34 Holding steady 62 67 61 61 60 64 63 54 DK/NA 1 1 - 2 1 1 1 -
TREND: Which best describes your family's financial situation - Getting ahead, falling behind or holding steady?
LIKELY VOTERS. Aug 20 Jul 15 2008 2008 Getting ahead 11 12 Falling behind 26 22 Holding steady 62 65 DK/NA 1 1
16. As you think about your own financial situation, which of the following economic issues worries you the most right now -- A) declining retirement fund values, B) declining real estate values, C) rising health care costs, D) rising gasoline prices, or E) rising food prices?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk A) Retirement funds 11% 11% 11% 13% 9% 13% 12% 8% B) Real estate vals 11 11 10 12 13 9 11 13 C) Health care cost 21 16 25 21 19 22 22 18 D) Gasoline prices 34 39 31 32 34 33 34 34 E) Food prices 18 18 17 16 18 17 16 23 DK/NA 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 4
TREND: As you think about your own financial situation, which of the following economic issues worries you the most right now -- A) Declining retirement fund values B) Declining real estate values C) Rising health care costs D) Rising gasoline prices E) Rising food prices
LIKELY VOTERS. Aug 20 Jul 15 2008 2008 A) Retirement funds 11 10 B) Real estate vals 11 6 C) Health care cost 21 16 D) Gasoline prices 34 50 E) Food prices 18 12 DK/NA 6 6
17. If Barack Obama is elected President, do you think the economy will get better, get worse or stay about the same?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Get better 38% 13% 63% 35% 35% 42% 34% 69% Get worse 22 42 7 21 26 19 24 5 Stay the same 29 33 23 31 31 27 31 23 DK/NA 11 12 6 13 8 13 11 3
18. If John McCain is elected President, do you think the economy will get better, get worse or stay about the same?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Get better 20% 37% 9% 18% 23% 18% 21% 8% Get worse 21 5 34 21 21 21 19 37 Stay the same 49 48 50 48 48 49 50 49 DK/NA 10 10 6 12 8 12 10 6
19. To help solve the energy crisis and make America less dependent on foreign oil, do you support or oppose - Building new nuclear power plants?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 56% 68% 42% 59% 72% 42% 57% 42% Oppose 35 24 48 30 25 43 33 45 DK/NA 9 8 9 11 3 15 9 12
20. To help solve the energy crisis and make America less dependent on foreign oil, do you support or oppose - Drilling for new oil supplies in currently protected areas off shore?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 62% 82% 50% 60% 67% 58% 65% 54% Oppose 32 12 43 36 31 32 30 41 DK/NA 6 6 7 4 2 9 5 5
21. To help solve the energy crisis and make America less dependent on foreign oil, do you support or oppose - Drilling for new oil in the Alaskan national wildlife refuge?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 51% 75% 37% 45% 59% 44% 54% 33% Oppose 42 20 55 49 37 46 40 53 DK/NA 7 4 8 7 3 10 5 14
22. To help solve the energy crisis and make America less dependent on foreign oil, do you support or oppose - A government funded program to develop renewable energy sources like solar power, wind power and biofuels?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 87% 84% 92% 86% 84% 89% 87% 86% Oppose 10 13 5 12 14 6 10 7 DK/NA 3 3 3 3 2 4 3 7
23. To help solve the energy crisis and make America less dependent on foreign oil, do you support or oppose - Releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the government's stockpile of oil set aside for emergencies and shortages?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 45% 46% 51% 39% 37% 52% 43% 61% Oppose 47 47 39 56 60 37 49 33 DK/NA 8 8 10 5 4 11 7 6
24. To help solve the energy crisis and make America less dependent on foreign oil, do you support or oppose - Mandating higher mileage standards for cars?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Support 78% 74% 81% 80% 80% 77% 81% 71% Oppose 18 23 15 15 17 18 16 25 DK/NA 4 3 4 4 3 4 3 4
25. Regardless of whom you support, which candidate for President - Barack Obama or John McCain - has the best program for helping solve the energy crisis and making America less dependent on foreign oil?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Obama 37% 11% 66% 31% 34% 40% 32% 75% McCain 32 63 10 32 38 28 37 6 DK/NA 30 26 25 37 28 32 31 20
26. How much of a problem has the price of gasoline been for you and your family lately - a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, a not too serious problem, or not a problem at all?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Very serious problem 26% 23% 31% 22% 22% 29% 23% 38% Smwht serious 41 42 42 40 40 42 43 34 Not too serious 25 27 20 31 29 22 26 19 Not a problem at all 7 8 7 7 9 6 7 8 DK/NA - - 1 - 1 - - -
27. As a result of gas prices, have you changed your summer vacation plans?
LIKELY VOTERS....................................... Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk Yes 49% 42% 55% 47% 47% 51% 46% 57% No 50 57 44 52 52 48 53 43 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 -