Florida (FL) Poll * June 30, 2005 * Florida Voters Disagree 2 - 1 - Quinnipiac University

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June 30, 2005 - Florida Voters Disagree 2 - 1 With Gov. Bush On Schiavo, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Most Say Politics, Not Conviction, Drives Governor

Florida voters disagree 59 - 30 percent with Gov. Jeb Bush's order to ask a state prosecutor to investigate whether Michael Schiavo delayed calling 911 when his wife, Terri, collapsed 15 years ago, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Even Republican voters disagree 48 - 40 percent, while Democrats disagree 64 - 24 percent and independent voters disagree 69 - 23 percent.
Gov. Bush's actions are motivated by "politics" rather than "sincere conviction," voters say 58 - 32 percent in this poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe- ack) University.
Looking back at the decision to remove Ms. Schiavo's feeding tube, 46 percent of Florida voters "agree strongly," with 12 percent who "agree somewhat," 8 percent who "disagree somewhat" and 24 percent who "disagree strongly." After the autopsy results were released, only 8 percent of voters say they changed their opinion in this case.
"Florida voters think Gov. Jeb Bush is keeping the Terry Schiavo case on life support for political reasons," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Even though most voters disagree with Gov. Bush's actions, his overall 49 - 40 percent approval rating was not significantly damaged by the decision."
By a 70 - 22 percent margin, Florida voters do not want to see Gov. Bush run for President in 2008. Even Republican voters say no 47 - 40 percent. Social Security, Hurricanes
Florida voters oppose 51 - 39 percent allowing individuals to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in the stock market. Republicans support the plan 57 - 30 percent, while Democrats oppose it 70 - 22 percent and independent voters oppose it 53 - 37 percent.
Thirteen percent of voters are "very worried" their home will be damaged by a hurricane this year, with 34 percent who are "somewhat worried," 31 percent who are "not too worried" and 20 percent who are "not at all worried."
Of the 36 percent of Florida voters whose homes were damaged by hurricanes last year, 21 percent are "very worried" about new damage and 39 percent are "somewhat worried."
From June 22 - 26, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,248 Florida registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the nation as a public service and for research. For additional data-www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jeb Bush is handling his job as Governor?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 49% 77% 23% 47% 54% 45% Disapprove 40 15 67 42 37 43 DK/NA 10 8 11 11 9 12 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 58% 47% 52% 54% 42% Disapprove 35 45 37 31 47 DK/NA 8 9 11 15 11
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jeb Bush is handling his job as Governor?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jun 30 Apr 13 Feb 24 Dec 7 Sep 23 Aug 12 2005 2005 2005 2004 2004 2004 Approve 49 51 52 55 62 45 Disapprove 40 39 39 34 30 44 DK/NA 10 9 9 10 8 11
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 42% 61% 27% 36% 43% 41% Disapprove 40 22 56 44 40 40 DK/NA 19 17 18 20 17 20 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Approve 47% 40% 40% 39% 41% Disapprove 37 43 39 40 40 DK/NA 16 17 21 22 19
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jun 30 Apr 13 Feb 24 Dec 7 Sep 23 Jun 29 2005 2005 2005 2004 2004 2004 Approve 42 44 46 45 51 39 Disapprove 40 40 38 37 34 42 DK/NA 19 16 16 18 15 18
5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Approve 45% 80% 15% 38% 49% 42% Disapprove 51 16 83 57 47 55 DK/NA 4 4 2 5 4 3
TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President? (* Also hit 44% on Aug 12, 2004)
Highest Lowest Approve Approve Jun 30 Apr 13 Feb 24 Dec 7 Sep 23 Feb 24 2005 2005 2005 2004 2004 2005* Approve 45 46 44 49 50 44 Disapprove 51 51 52 48 47 52 DK/NA 4 3 4 3 3 4
6. Would you like Jeb Bush to run for President in 2008 or not?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 22% 40% 7% 19% 21% 23% No 70 47 90 73 68 70 DK/NA 8 13 3 8 11 6
TREND: Would you like Jeb Bush to run for President in 2008 or not? (*Dec, 2004: What about Jeb Bush? Would you like him to run for president in 2008, or not?)
Highest Lowest Jun 30 Apr 13 Feb 24 Dec 7 Dec 7 Apr 13 2005 2005 2005 2004 2004 2005 Yes 22 21 25 31 31 21 No 70 69 67 67 67 69 DK/NA 8 9 8 3 3 9
16. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Florida today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very satisfied 14% 29% 4% 10% 18% 11% Smwht satisfied 43 49 37 42 43 42 Smwht dissatisfied 27 13 37 32 25 28 Very dissatisfied 15 6 21 14 12 17 DK/NA 2 3 1 2 2 2 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Very satisfied 18% 12% 18% 12% 11% Smwht satisfied 48 39 42 52 40 Smwht dissatisfied 21 27 27 20 32 Very dissatisfied 12 19 12 11 17 DK/NA 2 2 1 5 1
17. Do you agree or disagree with the decision to remove Terri Schiavo's feeding tube? Do you agree/disagree strongly or somewhat?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Agree strongly 46% 37% 51% 51% 47% 45% Agree somewhat 12 13 9 16 12 12 Disagree somewhat 8 9 7 6 9 6 Disagree strongly 24 29 23 19 20 27 DK/NA 11 12 11 8 12 11 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Agree strongly 40% 49% 46% 63% 43% Agree somewhat 15 9 15 8 10 Disagree somewhat 13 7 6 9 6 Disagree strongly 21 23 21 10 31 DK/NA 10 12 12 11 11
TREND: Do you agree or disagree with the decision to remove Terri Schiavo's feeding tube? IF agree/disagree: Do you agree/disagree strongly or somewhat?
Jun 30 Apr 13 2005 2005 Agree Strongly 46 38 Agree Somewhat 12 12 Disagree Somewhat 8 9 Disagree Strongly 24 28 DK/NA 11 13
18. Before the recently released results of the autopsy on Terry Schiavo, did you have a different opinion about whether the feeding tube should be removed?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes/dif before 8% 8% 9% 7% 8% 8% No/same before 84 84 82 86 83 84 DK/NA 8 8 9 6 9 8
19. Do you agree or disagree with Governor Bush's order to ask a state prosecutor to investigate whether Michael Schiavo delayed calling 911 when his wife, Terry Schiavo, collapsed in 1990?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Agree 30% 40% 24% 23% 27% 32% Disagree 59 48 64 69 61 57 DK/NA 12 12 13 8 12 11
20. Do you believe Governor Bush's recent actions in the Terry Schiavo case are motivated by sincere conviction or by politics?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Sincere conviction 32% 54% 11% 29% 32% 32% Politics 58 35 79 64 59 57 DK/NA 10 11 9 7 9 10
21. Do you support or oppose allowing individuals to invest a portion of their social security taxes in the stock market?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Support 39% 57% 22% 37% 42% 36% Oppose 51 30 70 53 47 54 DK/NA 11 14 8 9 11 10 Retired q22 Support 24% Oppose 63 DK/NA 13
22. Are you retired?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 38% 39% 39% 35% 37% 39% No 61 59 60 64 61 60 DK/NA 1 2 1 1 1 1
23. Was your home or property damaged by a hurricane in Florida last year?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes 36% 37% 32% 38% 36% 36% No 64 63 68 61 64 64 DK/NA - - - - - - North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Yes 37% 23% 57% 43% 26% No 63 77 43 57 74 DK/NA - 1 - - -
24. How worried are you that your home or property will be damaged by a hurricane in Florida this year? Are you very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not worried at all?
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Very worried 13% 10% 18% 10% 10% 16% Smwht worried 34 35 31 39 34 35 Not too worried 31 34 29 30 32 31 Not at all 20 21 21 21 24 17 DK/NA 1 - 2 - 1 1 North/ PnHnd Bay Cntrl SthW SthE Very worried 9% 10% 13% 16% 17% Smwht worried 36 35 38 29 33 Not too worried 37 30 26 35 31 Not at all 19 24 22 19 18 DK/NA - - 1 1 1 Damage last yr q23 Very worried 21% Smwht worried 39 Not too worried 26 Not at all 14 DK/NA 1