National (US) Poll * August 29, 2006 * Americans Say 9/11 Bigger Than - Quinnipiac University

Home> Institutes and Centers> Quinnipiac University Polling Institute> National (US)> Release Detail

August 29, 2006 - Americans Say 9/11 Bigger Than Pearl Harbor, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Voters Back Profiling In Security Checks, Wiretaps

Historians will consider the September 11, 2001, Al-Qaeda attack on America as "more significant" than the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, American voters say 56 - 33 percent in a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.
While all Americans agree that 9/11 attacks are more significant, there is a significant split between young and old voters: 72 - 23 percent among voters 18 - 34 years old and 42 - 39 percent among voters over 65.
A total of 62 percent of Americans are "very worried" or "somewhat worried" that there will be another terrorist attack on the U.S. in the next few months, while 37 percent are "not too worried" or "not worried at all," the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. But only 27 percent of Americans have changed their lives as a result of the threat of terrorism, while 72 percent go about their life as usual.
"The start of America's role in World War II pales next to what many call the start of World War III," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Even the folks who were alive on December 7, 1941, rank 9/11 as a day that will live longer in infamy.
"Most Americans haven't made any changes in their lives because they fear terrorist attacks. But most believe there will be more attacks."
By a narrow 51 - 47 percent margin, American voters support warrantless wiretaps of phone calls and e-mails and 63 percent say these wiretaps have prevented some acts of terrorism.
By a larger 60 - 37 percent margin, voters say authorities should be allowed to single out people who look "Middle Eastern" for security screening at locations such as airports and subways. Men support such profiling 68 - 31 percent while women support it 52 - 42 percent.
"Racial profiling? Practicality, or fear, outweighs political correctness," Carroll said.
President Bush's Approval
American voters disapprove 53 - 39 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing. Approval ratings on specific areas are:
Disapprove 54 - 40 percent of his handling of the overseas war on terror; Approve 53 - 42 percent of his policies to prevent terrorism in the U.S.
By a 48 - 39 percent margin, American voters would like the Democrats to take control of Congress in the November elections.
If a candidate for Congress supports President Bush, 21 percent say they are more likely to vote for that candidate, while 38 percent say they are less likely and 41 percent say it won't make a difference.
American voters oppose the war in Iraq 53 - 43 percent and 36 percent of all voters feel strongly enough to vote against a political candidate just on that issue. This includes 62 percent of Democrats and 12 percent of Republicans.
“More than one-third of American voters say the war in Iraq could be the single issue in determining their vote, just as we are seeing in the Lamont-Lieberman race in Connecticut,” Carroll said.
From August 17 - 23, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,080 registered voters nationwide. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida 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 39% 74% 11% 29% 42% 36% Disapprove 53 19 82 61 50 56 DK/NA 8 7 7 9 8 8 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 43% 34% 38% 36% 43% 35% 41% Disapprove 48 57 56 57 49 57 47 DK/NA 9 9 7 7 8 8 12
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Aug 29 Jun 1 Mar 2 Dec 6 Jul 27 Dec 11 Jun 1 2006 2006 2006 2005 2005 2001 2006 Approve 39 35 36 40 41 83 35 Disapprove 53 58 58 54 53 11 58 DK/NA 8 7 6 7 6 6 7
4. What is your preference for the outcome of the November 2006 congressional elections, a Congress controlled by Republicans or a Congress controlled by Democrats?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Republicans 39% 83% 4% 29% 44% 34% Democrats 48 11 88 47 44 51 DK/NA 13 7 8 24 12 15 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Republicans 39% 40% 37% 37% 42% 37% 41% Democrats 45 48 51 47 47 49 47 DK/NA 15 12 13 17 11 14 12
TREND: What is your preference for the outcome of the November 2006 congressional elections -- a Congress controlled by Republicans or a Congress controlled by Democrats?
Aug 29 Mar 2 Dec 6 2006 2006 2005 Republicans 39 37 36 Democrats 48 49 47 DK/NA 13 14 17
5. If a candidate for Congress supports President George W. Bush, does that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely to vote for that candidate, or doesn't it make a difference?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom More likely 21% 46% 4% 12% 22% 20% Less likely 38 8 70 38 36 40 No difference 41 46 25 50 42 39 DK/NA 1 1 1 - - 1 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ More likely 24% 19% 19% 15% 24% 22% 23% Less likely 32 43 40 35 34 43 39 No difference 43 38 40 49 42 34 36 DK/NA 1 - - - 1 - 2
TREND: If a candidate for Congress supports President George W. Bush, does that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely to vote for that candidate, or doesn't it make a difference?
Aug 29 Mar 2 Dec 6 2006 2006 2005 More likely 21 16 16 Less likely 38 37 37 No difference 41 45 45 DK/NA 1 1 2
6. Which party got your vote in 2004? Did you vote for a Democratic Congressional candidate, a Republican Congressional candidate, or didn't you vote in the 2004 congressional elections?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Democrat 41% 6% 86% 37% 37% 45% Republican 41 82 7 34 45 38 Didn't vote 10 7 5 17 10 11 DK/NA 8 4 3 12 9 7 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Democrat 36% 45% 44% 35% 44% 43% 42% Republican 43 39 41 34 44 44 44 Didn't vote 13 7 9 22 5 7 5 DK/NA 9 8 6 9 7 5 9
7. In the Presidential election of 2000, if Al Gore had become President instead of George Bush, do you think that, in general, the nation would be better off than it is today or worse off than it is today?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Better off 42% 9% 74% 43% 37% 45% Worse off 40 78 8 34 46 36 SAME(VOL) 9 9 7 11 11 8 DK/NA 9 3 11 12 6 11 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Better off 36% 48% 41% 46% 40% 41% 38% Worse off 41 40 39 35 41 45 42 SAME(VOL) 12 6 10 11 9 7 10 DK/NA 10 6 10 7 10 7 10
8. In the future, do you think that historians will consider the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor or the Al Qaeda attacks on September 11th as more significant?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Pearl Harbor 33% 34% 33% 33% 41% 26% September 11th 56 56 59 56 49 62 DK/NA 10 10 8 11 9 11 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Pearl Harbor 34% 31% 35% 23% 30% 42% 39% September 11th 51 62 57 72 60 48 42 DK/NA 16 7 8 5 10 9 19
9. 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 40% 73% 13% 33% 47% 35% Disapprove 54 21 82 61 49 59 DK/NA 5 5 5 6 4 6 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 44% 38% 39% 35% 46% 41% 40% Disapprove 52 57 54 59 49 55 53 DK/NA 4 6 7 5 5 5 6
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the war against terrorism overseas?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Aug 29 Oct 29 Sep 17 Jul 24 Jun 11 Feb 22 Aug 29 2006 2003 2003 2003 2003 2002 2006 Approve 40 51 56 58 63 81 40 Disapprove 54 46 38 37 31 14 54 DK/NA 5 4 6 5 6 5 5
10. 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 53% 82% 27% 48% 58% 49% Disapprove 42 15 68 47 38 46 DK/NA 5 3 6 4 4 5 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Approve 57% 46% 54% 50% 60% 48% 54% Disapprove 38 50 41 43 37 49 38 DK/NA 5 3 5 7 3 3 8
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling policies to prevent and minimize terrorism at home? (* Also hit 80% on 2/22/2002)
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Aug 29 Oct 29 Sep 17 Jul 24 Jun 11 Apr 16 Aug 29 2006 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 * 2006 Approve 53 63 67 68 69 80 53 Disapprove 42 31 27 26 25 15 42 DK/NA 5 6 6 6 5 5 5
11. As a result of the threat of terrorism, have you or members of your family gone about day-to-day life as usual or have you made some changes?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Life as usual 72% 72% 70% 74% 73% 71% Made some changes 27 27 29 26 26 28 DK/NA 1 1 - - - 1 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Life as usual 75% 69% 71% 74% 69% 71% 75% Made some changes 25 30 28 26 30 29 24 DK/NA - 1 1 - 1 - 1
12. How worried are you that there will be another terrorist attack on the United States in the next few months - very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried or not worried at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very worried 15% 13% 15% 19% 12% 19% Smwht worried 47 50 46 47 45 50 Not too worried 24 23 26 22 27 21 Not worried at all 13 13 13 11 17 10 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Very worried 16% 16% 14% 14% 19% 14% 15% Smwht worried 46 42 54 36 48 54 54 Not too worried 24 28 19 33 23 19 18 Not worried at all 13 14 12 16 10 13 12 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 - - 1
13. President Bush says the government can use wiretaps to listen to telephone calls and read e-mails between suspected terrorists in other countries and some people in the United States without a court order. Others say such wiretaps require a court order. Which comes closer to your view?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Without Court order 51% 81% 28% 44% 51% 51% Court Order Required 47 18 69 55 49 45 DK/NA 2 2 3 1 1 4 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Without Court order 51% 50% 52% 50% 53% 48% 53% Court Order Required 48 48 45 50 44 50 41 DK/NA 2 2 3 - 2 2 6
TREND: President Bush says the government can use wiretaps to listen to telephone calls and read e-mails between suspected terrorists in other countries and some people in the United States without a court order. Others say such wiretaps require a court order. Which comes closer to your view?
Aug 29 Mar 2 2006 2006 Without Court Order 51 42 Court Order Required 47 55 DK/NA 2 4
14. Do you believe such wiretaps by the Bush administration have prevented some acts of terrorism?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 63% 85% 43% 61% 64% 62% No 27 9 44 29 28 27 DK/NA 10 6 13 10 8 12 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 65% 60% 63% 61% 68% 63% 59% No 25 32 26 30 23 29 24 DK/NA 11 8 11 9 8 8 17
TREND: Do you believe such wiretaps by the Bush administration have prevented some acts of terrorism?
Aug 29 Mar 2 2006 2006 Yes 63 54 No 27 33 DK/NA 10 13
15. Which comes closer to your view - (A) the government should take all steps necessary to prevent additional acts of terrorism in the United States even if it means your basic civil liberties would be violated - or (B) the government should take steps to prevent additional acts of terrorism but not if those would violate your basic civil liberties?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom (A) All steps regardless 39% 59% 28% 30% 35% 43% (B) Should not violate 54 35 68 62 58 50 DK/NA 7 7 5 9 6 7 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ (A) All steps regardless 41% 37% 38% 37% 40% 37% 46% (B) Should not violate 52 56 54 56 55 58 41 DK/NA 7 7 8 7 5 5 13
TREND: Which comes closer to your view; (A) The government should take all steps necessary to prevent additional acts of terrorism in the United States even if it means your basic civil liberties would be violated, or (B) The government should take steps to prevent additional acts of terrorism but not if those would violate your basic civil liberties.
Aug 29 Jul 28 Feb 21 2006 2005 2002 (A)All steps 39 33 31 (B)Should not violate 54 61 64 DK/NA 7 6 4
16. In order to prevent terrorism at places like airports and subways, should authorities be able to single out people who look like they might be of Middle Eastern origin to search or question?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 60% 73% 50% 57% 68% 52% No 37 24 44 41 31 42 DK/NA 4 2 6 2 1 6 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Yes 57% 58% 64% 48% 59% 63% 72% No 38 38 34 50 38 33 22 DK/NA 4 3 3 2 3 4 6
17. Do you support or oppose the war in Iraq?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 43% 77% 15% 35% 49% 37% Oppose 53 19 82 60 46 59 DK/NA 5 4 3 5 4 5 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Support 44% 39% 44% 43% 43% 44% 42% Oppose 50 58 52 54 52 53 52 DK/NA 6 3 5 3 5 4 7 COMBINED
17. Do you support or oppose the war in Iraq? 18. (If "oppose" q17) Do you oppose the war in Iraq strongly enough to vote against a political candidate just on that issue?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support war 43% 77% 15% 35% 49% 37% Oppose war 15 6 17 23 12 19 Oppose & will vote against 36 12 62 35 34 37 DK/NA 6 5 6 7 6 7 AGE IN YEARS............... Red Blue Purple 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Support war 44% 39% 44% 43% 43% 44% 42% Oppose war 15 15 16 14 21 13 10 Oppose & will vote against 33 41 33 38 31 37 38 DK/NA 7 4 8 4 5 7 10