National (US) Poll * April 16, 2003 * War Support Pushes Bush Approv - Quinnipiac University

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April 16, 2003 - War Support Pushes Bush Approval Past 3 - 1, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Powell Has Highest Score In Bush Administration

American voters support the war in Iraq 76 - 21 percent and approve of the way President George W. Bush is handling the war 77 - 19 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
This support has pushed President Bush's overall approval rating to 73 - 22 percent, up from a 53 - 39 percent approval rating in a March 6 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.
Approval ratings for Bush's top advisors are:
54 - 23 percent for Vice President Richard Cheney; 85 - 9 percent for Secretary of State Colin Powell; 75 - 17 percent for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
"Nothing succeeds like success. Overwhelmingly, Americans think their wartime President is doing a good job," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Most admired member of the Bush team? Colin Powell. Least admired? Dick Cheney. Maybe it's time for him to get out of the bunker.
Bush's approval ratings for handling specific areas are:
66 - 27 for handling foreign policy; 79 - 18 percent for handling the war on terrorism overseas; 80 - 15 for handling the war on terrorism at home.
As a result of the war in Iraq, 34 percent of American voters say they are more likely to vote for Bush for a second term, with 21 percent less likely and 41 percent who say their decision hasn't changed.
The U.S. and its allies should direct the rebuilding of Iraq, 48 percent of voters say, while 45 percent say the United Nations should be in charge. France and Germany should play no role in rebuilding Iraq, voters say 54 - 41 percent.
The U.S. should keep a large number of soldiers in Iraq to help maintain the peace, voters say 62 - 33 percent. Men and women agree on this commitment.
And by a 66 - 21 percent margin, American voters believe Iraq will have a democratic government, rather than a dictatorship, five years from now.
Preventing North Korea from developing weapons of mass destruction should be a "top priority," 45 percent of voters say; another 44 percent say this should be "some priority." Curbing Iran's weapons of mass destruction should be at "top priority," 36 percent say, while 50 percent say it should be "some priority."
Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be a "top priority," 27 percent of voters say, as 54 percent say it should be "some priority."
Only 31 percent of American voters say they have decided not to buy French products because of French opposition to the U.S. policies on Iraq. But voters say 46 - 49 percent that American tourists should boycott France.
"Freedom fries? California wines? Why hold a grudge, most Americans say. They won't boycott French stuff, but many voters don't want to spend any time with the French," Carroll said.
From April 10 - 14, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,048 registered voters nationwide, with a margin of error of +/- 3 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
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 73% 95% 55% 68% 78% 68% Disapprove 22 4 36 26 18 25 DK/NA 5 1 9 6 3 7
4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling -- foreign policy?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 66% 89% 46% 62% 71% 62% Disapprove 27 7 42 32 24 29 DK/NA 7 3 12 6 6 8
5. 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 79% 94% 69% 74% 85% 74% Disapprove 18 4 28 21 13 22 DK/NA 3 2 3 4 2 4
6. 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 80% 91% 71% 79% 82% 78% Disapprove 15 6 22 16 13 16 DK/NA 5 3 7 4 5 6
7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling -- the situation with Iraq and Saddam Hussein?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 77% 93% 63% 73% 84% 70% Disapprove 19 5 30 21 14 22 DK/NA 5 1 7 6 2 7
8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Dick Cheney is handling his job as vice-president?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 54% 75% 39% 48% 61% 48% Disapprove 23 8 35 29 21 24 DK/NA 23 17 27 23 18 28
9. 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 75% 90% 62% 73% 77% 72% Disapprove 17 5 28 19 17 17 DK/NA 8 5 9 8 5 11
10. 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 85% 93% 80% 83% 86% 84% Disapprove 9 5 12 11 10 8 DK/NA 6 2 7 6 3 8
11. Do you support or oppose the United States having gone to war with Iraq?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 76% 92% 61% 75% 82% 71% Oppose 21 6 35 23 17 26 DK/NA 3 2 4 3 1 4
12. As a result of the war with Iraq, are you now more likely to support George W. Bush for a second term as President, less likely to support him for a second term, or hasn't the war changed your feeling on that?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More likely 34% 53% 18% 27% 37% 31% Less likely 21 6 35 23 16 25 Hasn't changed 41 38 41 46 44 38 DK/NA 4 3 6 4 3 6
13. Has the war gone better than you expected for the United States, worse than you expected, or has the war gone about the way you expected it to?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better than expected 45% 58% 42% 36% 46% 45% Worse than expected 4 2 5 5 3 5 The same as expected 47 37 49 56 48 46 DK/NA 3 3 4 3 3 4
14. Have there been more U.S. casualties than you expected, less than you expected, or have there been about as many U.S. casualties as you expected?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More than expected 14% 8% 21% 12% 11% 16% Less than expected 53 62 42 57 58 49 As many as expected 29 27 32 28 26 31 DK/NA 4 3 6 3 5 4
15. Do you think the war with Iraq will increase or decrease the risk of further terrorism in the United States?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Increase 42% 27% 55% 47% 39% 44% Decrease 44 57 30 40 48 39 DK/NA 14 15 15 13 12 16
16. Who should direct the rebuilding of Iraq - the United Nations or the United States and its allies in the war?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom United Nations 45% 33% 55% 43% 40% 49% US & allies 48 62 37 48 54 42 DK/NA 8 5 8 10 6 9
17. Should those countries who opposed the war, such as France and Germany, play a role in rebuilding Iraq or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 41% 30% 46% 45% 41% 40% No 54 65 50 48 55 53 DK/NA 5 4 4 6 3 6
18. Do you think a large number of United States soldiers should remain in Iraq after the war to help maintain peace, or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 62% 67% 55% 62% 63% 61% No 33 27 39 34 31 35 DK/NA 5 6 5 5 6 5
19. 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 Dem government 66% 76% 59% 64% 71% 60% Dictatorship 21 15 25 23 19 24 DK/NA 13 9 16 13 9 16
20. As a result of French opposition to U.S. policies on Iraq, have you decided not to buy a product that you believe was made in France?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 31% 43% 24% 24% 36% 27% No 63 52 69 72 58 68 DK/NA 5 5 8 3 6 5
21. As a result of French opposition to U.S. policies on Iraq, do you think American tourists should avoid taking trips to France?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/Should avoid 46% 58% 38% 40% 43% 49% No/Should not avoid 49 38 55 56 52 46 DK/NA 5 4 7 4 5 5
22. After the war with Iraq is over, should preventing North Korea from developing weapons of mass destruction have top priority in the United States government, some priority, or no priority?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Top priority 45% 52% 39% 43% 47% 42% Some priority 44 42 45 46 42 45 No priority 8 4 11 8 7 9 DK/NA 4 1 5 3 3 4
23. After the war is over, should preventing Iran from developing weapons of mass destruction have top priority in the United States government, some priority, or no priority?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Top priority 36% 43% 34% 31% 33% 39% Some priority 50 49 47 55 53 48 No priority 10 6 14 11 11 9 DK/NA 4 2 6 3 4 4
24. After the war is over, should resolving the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians have top priority in the United States government, some priority, or no priority?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Top priority 27% 29% 23% 31% 32% 22% Some priority 54 56 53 53 51 56 No priority 17 14 21 14 14 19 DK/NA 3 2 3 3 3 3