National (US) Poll * November 22, 2006 * Condoleezza Rice More Powerful - Quinnipiac University

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November 22, 2006 - Condoleezza Rice More Powerful Than Clinton, Pelosi, U.S. Voters Tell Quinnipiac University National Poll; But More Think Clinton Is Qualified To Be President

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is the most powerful woman in the U.S., 45 percent of American voters say, followed by 29 percent who choose New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and 23 percent who name Speaker-elect of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.
Democrats split with 34 percent for Clinton, 33 percent for Rice and 30 percent for Pelosi. Republicans go with Rice over Clinton 60 - 22 percent, and 15 percent for Pelosi. Independent voters back Rice at 43 percent, with 29 percent for Clinton and 24 percent for Pelosi, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
Regardless of whom they would back in a presidential election, American voters say:
56 - 41 percent that Clinton is qualified to be President, with women at 59 - 37 percent and men at 52 - 45 percent; 50 - 42 percent that Rice is qualified, with women at 52 - 39 percent and men at 48 - 45 percent; 47 - 24 percent that Pelosi is not qualified, with women saying no 43 - 21 percent and men saying no 52 - 27 percent.
"The Constitution says Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi is the most powerful woman in the country, and she does lead the Democrats in Congress. But American voters go with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton as more powerful, and, by slim margins, qualified for the top job," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
American voters disapprove 58 - 35 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing, matching his all-time low in a June 1 Quinnipiac University poll.
Voters disapprove 66 - 30 percent of President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq and say 56 - 40 percent that going to war in Iraq was the wrong thing to do.
The U.S. should remove all troops from Iraq, 30 percent of voters say, while 23 percent say decrease the number of troops; another 23 percent say increase the troop level and 16 percent say keep troops at the current level.
In an open-ended question, where respondents can give any answer, 31 percent of American voters list the war in Iraq as the most important problem facing the U.S., followed by 8 percent who list the economy and 8 percent who list terrorism.
Voters say 53 - 39 percent that President Bush and the Democrats in Congress will not be able to work together to solve the nation's problems.
"Was Tip O'Neill right about politics being local? Only in part. This poll confirms what the election results told us - Iraq is the big thing on Americans' minds everywhere," Carroll said.
"In case you didn't get the message on Election Day, the poll underlines that most Americans don't approve of the way President Bush is doing his job."
Same-sex Marriage
American voters oppose 52 - 45 percent laws allowing same-sex couples to form civil unions and oppose 63 - 34 percent allowing same-sex couples to marry.
But voters oppose 53 - 43 percent amending the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.
And if they had to choose, voters back civil unions over same-sex marriage 44 - 24 percent, with 27 percent volunteering "neither."
From November 13 - 19, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,623 registered voters nationwide. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 2.4 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. More data at www.quinnipiac.edu and click on Institutes and Centers, or call (203) 582-5201
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians Approve 35% 36% 33% 47% 37% 54% Disapprove 58 58 58 45 58 37 DK/NA 7 6 8 8 5 9 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple Approve 74% 7% 25% 40% 28% 35% Disapprove 20 89 64 53 64 58 DK/NA 7 4 10 7 7 7
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President? * also hit 35% 6/1/06
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Nov 22 Aug 29 Jun 1 Mar 2 Dec 6 Dec 11 Nov 22 2006 2006 2006 2006 2005 2001 2006* Approve 35 39 35 36 40 83 35 Disapprove 58 53 58 58 54 11 58 DK/NA 7 8 7 6 7 6 7
4. 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?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians Very satisfied 5% 7% 4% 6% 6% 8% Smwht satisfied 32 32 32 37 38 41 Smwht dissatisfied 33 32 34 33 31 31 Very dissatisfied 28 28 29 24 23 20 DK/NA 1 1 1 - 2 - Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple Very satisfied 11% 1% 3% 7% 4% 5% Smwht satisfied 49 21 29 35 31 30 Smwht dissatisfied 28 31 39 33 32 35 Very dissatisfied 11 45 28 25 31 30 DK/NA 1 1 1 - 2 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?
High Low Nov 22 Jun 1 Mar 2 Dec 6 Mar 10 Dec 11 Nov 22 2006 2006 2006 2005 2005 2001 2006 Very satisfied 5 6 5 6 8 21 5 Somewhat satisfied 32 32 33 33 37 47 32 Somewhat dissatisfied 33 33 30 29 28 19 33 Very dissatisfied 28 29 31 30 26 10 28 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 3 1
5. What do you think is the most important problem facing the country today?
Tot War (Iraq) 31% Economy Total 8% Economy general 5 Unemployment/Jobs 2 Business leaving/ Outsourcing 1 Terrorism Total 8% Terrorism general 5 Security/Safety 3 Foreign Affairs Tot 6% Foreign affairs/ policy general 4 Priorities s/b at home, not abroad 1 Middle East 1 Immigration 6% Politicians Total 6% Politicians/Campaigns general 2 Pol corruption 1 Bush administration 3 Healthcare/Costs/ Ins/HMO's 5% Ethics/Values/ Morality Total 5% Lack of ethics/ Morality 3 Family breakdown/ Family values 1 Lack of religion 1 Energy Total 2% Energy costs general 1 Gas prices 1 Education Total 2% Education general 1 Funding education 1 Budget General 2 Social security 1 Environment/Pollution 1 Poverty/Homeless 1 Crime General 1 Taxes General 1 Other 6 DK/NA 2
TREND: What do you think is the most important problem facing the country today?
Nov 22 Jun 1 Mar 2 Dec 6 Jul 24 2006 2006 2006 2005 2004 Economy Total 8% 12% 13% 16% 21% Economy general 5 7 6 7 9 Unemployment/jobs 2 3 5 5 10 Minimum wage too low - - - 1 - Cost of living - 1 1 1 - Businesses leaving/Outsourcing 1 1 1 2 2 Education Total 2% 4% 2% 2% 1% Education general 1 3 2 1 1 Funding education 1 1 - 1 - Energy costs Total 2% 8% 5% 3% - Energy costs general 1 3 2 1 - Gas prices 1 4 1 1 - Oil prices - 1 2 1 - Ethics/Values/Morality Total 5% 4% 5% 5% 3% Lack of ethics/Morality 3 2 3 2 2 Family breakdown/Family values 1 1 1 1 1 Lack of religion 1 1 1 2 - Foreign affairs/policy Total 6% 3% 3% 2% 3% Foreign affairs/policy general 4 2 2 1 1 Priorities s/b at home, not abroad 1 1 1 1 1 Middle East 1 - - - 1 Healthcare Total 5% 5% 6% 3% 5% Healthcare/Costs/Insurance/HMO's 5 5 5 3 4 Medicare - - 1 - - Prescription costs - - - - 1 Immigration 6% 11% 3% 4% 1 Politicians/Campaigns Total 6% 5% 8% 5% 4% Politicians/Campaigns general 2 1 1 1 1 Political corruption 1 1 1 1 1 Bush administration 3 3 5 3 2 Politicians/Campaigns other - - 1 - - Terrorism/Security Total 8% 6% 11% 7% 15% Terrorism general 5 4 7 5 11 Security/Safety 3 2 4 2 4 War (Iraq) 31% 16% 23% 31% 25% Other 6 8 6 9 7 DK/NA 2 3 4 3 3
6. In general, Do you think President Bush and the Democrats in Congress will or will not be able to work together to solve the nation's problems?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgain Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians Will work together 39% 36% 41% 41% 38% 43% Will not work together 53 58 49 52 55 51 DK/NA 8 6 10 7 7 6 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple Will work together 39% 37% 40% 36% 38% 43% Will not work together 55 54 52 57 52 50 DK/NA 6 9 8 7 9 7
7. Of the following, who would you say is the most powerful woman in the country today -- Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, or Condoleezza Rice?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgn Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians Pelosi 23% 28% 18% 18% 19% 17% Clinton 29 29 29 24 31 25 Rice 45 40 50 53 47 52 DK/NA 3 3 4 5 2 5 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple Pelosi 15% 30% 24% 21% 26% 22% Clinton 22 34 29 27 30 29 Rice 60 33 43 46 41 47 DK/NA 3 3 4 5 3 2
8. Regardless of whether or not you would vote for her, do you think Hillary Clinton is qualified to be President of the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgn Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians Yes 56% 52% 59% 47% 54% 41% No 41 45 37 50 44 56 DK/NA 3 3 4 3 2 3 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple Yes 26% 79% 60% 50% 63% 54% No 71 18 37 46 34 42 DK/NA 3 3 3 4 2 4
9. Regardless of whether or not you would vote for her, do you think Nancy Pelosi is qualified to be President of the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgn Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians Yes 24% 27% 21% 19% 20% 18% No 47 52 43 51 51 52 DK/NA 29 21 36 30 29 30 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple Yes 12% 33% 28% 23% 29% 21% No 65 35 45 47 46 48 DK/NA 23 33 27 30 25 31
10. Regardless of whether or not you would vote for her, do you think Condoleezza Rice is qualified to be President of the U.S.?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgn Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians Yes 50% 48% 52% 52% 49% 53% No 42 45 39 40 42 41 DK/NA 8 6 9 8 9 6 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple Yes 60% 39% 51% 53% 47% 50% No 32 52 43 39 46 42 DK/NA 8 9 6 8 8 8
17. Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to form civil unions, giving them many of the legal rights of married couples?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgn Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians Support 45% 42% 47% 36% 53% 23% Oppose 52 55 49 61 42 75 DK/NA 4 3 4 3 5 2 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple Support 24% 59% 49% 35% 56% 44% Oppose 73 37 47 62 40 51 DK/NA 3 4 4 2 4 5
TREND: Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to form civil unions, giving them many of the legal rights of married couples?
Nov 22 Dec 15 Jul 24 Mar 25 Feb 2 Dec 10 2006 2004 2004 2004 2004 2003 Support 45 45 40 40 40 40 Oppose 52 51 55 53 53 53 DK/NA 4 4 6 7 7 7
18. Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgn Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians Support 34% 30% 37% 23% 36% 12% Oppose 63 66 59 74 59 85 DK/NA 4 3 4 2 5 3 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple Support 13% 50% 36% 26% 43% 34% Oppose 86 45 59 72 52 62 DK/NA 1 5 4 2 5 4
TREND: Would you support or oppose a law that would allow same-sex couples to get married?
Nov 22 Dec 15 Jul 24 Mar 25 Feb 2 Dec 10 2006 2004 2004 2004 2004 2003 Support 34 31 31 31 34 35 Oppose 63 65 63 63 61 60 DK/NA 4 4 5 6 5 5
19. Would you support or oppose amending the United States Constitution to ban same-sex marriage?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgn Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians Support 43% 45% 42% 50% 40% 61% Oppose 53 53 53 47 56 37 DK/NA 4 2 5 3 4 3 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple Support 62% 30% 40% 51% 37% 41% Oppose 35 66 57 47 60 54 DK/NA 3 4 3 3 3 5
TREND: Would you support or oppose amending the United States Constitution to ban same-sex marriage?
Nov 22 Dec 15 Jul 24 Mar 25 2006 2004 2004 2004 Support 43 43 39 41 Oppose 53 53 55 51 DK/NA 4 4 6 8
20. The New Jersey Supreme Court recently ruled that homosexual couples are entitled to the same rights as heterosexual ones and that state legislators must rewrite New Jersey laws to make this happen. If you had to choose in your state, which would you prefer: allowing same-sex couples to form civil unions or allowing same-sex couples to get married?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgn Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians Civil unions 44% 46% 43% 45% 55% 43% Marriage 24 23 24 16 26 12 NEITHER(VOL) 27 28 27 36 14 42 DK/NA 5 3 6 3 5 3 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple Civil unions 49% 43% 45% 45% 45% 43% Marriage 9 33 27 15 34 22 NEITHER(VOL) 39 20 23 35 17 29 DK/NA 3 4 5 5 4 5
21. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgn Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians Approve 30% 29% 31% 42% 31% 47% Disapprove 66 68 64 53 66 48 DK/NA 4 3 5 5 3 5 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple Approve 63% 7% 22% 34% 24% 30% Disapprove 32 90 74 61 73 65 DK/NA 6 2 4 5 3 5
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling the situation with Iraq?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Nov 22 Jun 1 Mar 2 Dec 6 Dec 14 Jul 24 Nov 22 2006 2006 2006 2005 2004 2003 2006 Approve 30 35 36 36 41 52 30 Disapprove 66 61 60 60 55 43 66 DK/NA 4 4 4 3 4 5 4
22. Do you think going to war with Iraq was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgn Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians Right thing 40% 41% 38% 49% 43% 56% Wrong thing 56 56 56 45 55 37 DK/NA 4 3 6 7 2 7 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple Right thing 71% 13% 36% 44% 35% 38% Wrong thing 23 84 60 50 62 56 DK/NA 6 2 5 5 2 6
TREND: Do you think going to war with Iraq was the right thing for the United States to do or the wrong thing?
Nov 22 Jun 1 Mar 2 Dec 6 Mar 10 Feb 2 Dec 16 2006 2006 2006 2005 2005 2005 2004 Right 40 39 40 41 42 44 42 Wrong 56 56 56 54 51 50 52 DK/NA 4 5 4 5 6 6 6
23. From what you have seen or heard about the situation in Iraq, what should the United States do? A) Should the U.S. increase the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, B) keep the same number of U.S. troops in Iraq as there are now, C) decrease the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, or D) remove all its troops from Iraq?
Wht Wht Wht Evangl/BrnAgn Tot Men Wom Prot Cath Christians Increase troops 23% 28% 18% 27% 19% 27% Keep same amount 16 16 16 20 21 18 Decrease troops 23 22 24 21 27 18 Remove all troops 30 25 34 21 25 25 DK/NA 8 9 7 11 8 11 Rep Dem Ind Red Blue Purple Increase troops 36% 12% 21% 23% 22% 23% Keep same amount 26 10 15 15 15 20 Decrease troops 15 28 25 23 26 19 Remove all troops 13 44 32 29 31 29 DK/NA 12 6 7 10 6 9