May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

THE POLITICO-GW
BATTLEGROUND POLL
A national survey of 1,000 Registered “Likely” Voters
May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Do you feel things in the country are going in the right direction,
or do you feel things have gotten off on the wrong track?

59%

32%

9%

Right direction Unsure Wrong track

May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Now, thinking about your feelings about the direction of the country…
Would you say that you are:

Angry 9%

Excited 2%

Hopeful 29%

Concerned 34%

Frustrated 22%

Something Else 4%

Unsure 1%
May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Now I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of the
country have said are important for Congress to focus on. Please listen as I read the
list and tell me which one issue you think is most important.

The economy and jobs 28%

Government spending and the budget deficit 20%

Education 11%

Gas and energy prices 8%

Medicare and Social Security 7%

Health care costs 6%

The Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan 5%

Illegal immigration 3%

Taxes 2%

Terrorism and homeland security 2%

Crisis in Libya
May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

If the election for CONGRESS were being held today, and you had to
make a choice, would you be voting for the Republican candidate or the
Democratic candidate, in your Congressional district?

GOP DEM
43% Republicans 86% 1%%
41%
Independents 33% 30%
Democrats 3% 86%

16%

Republican Undecided Democratic

May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

How would you rate the job Barack Obama has been doing as
President? Do you approve or disapprove of the job he is doing?

Approve Disapprove
Strongly Strongly
34% 34%

45%
52%

4%

Approve Unsure Disapprove

May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Whether you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is

handling his job as President, what is your impression of Barack
Obama as a person? Do you approve or disapprove of him?

72%

19%
10%

Approve Unsure Disapprove

May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

I am going to read you several issues. For each one, please tell me if
you approve or disapprove of the job that President Obama is doing on
this issue.

The economy and jobs 42% 2% 57%

Foreign policy 55% 6% 39%

Terrorism 75% 3% 22%

Approve Unsure Disapprove

May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

I am going to read you several issues. For each one, please tell me if
you approve or disapprove of the job that President Obama is doing on
this issue.

Dealing with Congress 49% 7% 44%

The federal budget and spending 37% 2% 61%

Approve Unsure Disapprove

May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

ISSUE HANDLING
May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Now, I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of the
country have said are important for the Congress to deal with. Please listen as I read
the list and tell me, for each one, who will better handle this issue Republicans in
Congress or Democrats in Congress.
(Split Sample A, Asked of Half the Respondents)

Turning the economy around 45% 40%

Creating jobs 45% 40%

Sharing your values 43% 44%

Republicans Democrats
May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Now, I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of the
country have said are important for the Congress to deal with. Please listen as I read
the list and tell me, for each one, who will better handle this issue Republicans in
Congress or Democrats in Congress.
(Split Sample A, Asked of Half the Respondents)

Controlling the deficit 51% 32%

Health care 43% 45%

Republicans Democrats
May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Now, I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of the
country have said are important for the Congress to deal with. Please listen as I read
the list and tell me, for each one, who will better handle this issue Republicans in
Congress or Democrats in Congress.
(Split Sample A, Asked of Half the Respondents)

Social Security 41% 45%

Safeguarding America from terrorism 47% 32%

Republicans Democrats
May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Now, I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of the
country have said are important for the Congress to deal with. Please listen as I read
the list and tell me, for each one, who will better handle this issue Republicans in
Congress or President Obama.
(Split Sample B, Asked of Half the Respondents)

Turning the economy around 42% 48%

Creating jobs 43% 47%

Sharing your values 38% 51%

Republicans President Obama

May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Now, I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of the
country have said are important for the Congress to deal with. Please listen as I read
the list and tell me, for each one, who will better handle this issue Republicans in
Congress or President Obama.
(Split Sample B, Asked of Half the Respondents)

Controlling the deficit 47% 44%

Health care 41% 52%

Republicans President Obama

May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Now, I would like to read you a list of issues that some people from this part of the
country have said are important for the Congress to deal with. Please listen as I read
the list and tell me, for each one, who will better handle this issue Republicans in
Congress or President Obama.
(Split Sample B, Asked of Half the Respondents)

Social Security 37% 50%

Safeguarding America from terrorism 34% 55%

Republicans President Obama

May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Does the death of Osama Bin Laden make you more likely or less
likely to vote for Barack Obama in 2012? Or will it make no
difference in your vote?

84%

11% 3%
1%

More likely Unsure No difference Less likely

May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Which of the following statements best describes your view on

the impact that the death of Osama Bin Laden will have on
terrorism worldwide:

40%

33%

12%
6%

Terrorism Terrorism No impact on Increase in

diminished diminished in the terrorism terrorism
worldwide US
May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Who do you think deserves more credit for the death of

Osama Bin Laden?

Bush Obama
41%
39% Republicans 24% 14%
Independents 10% 36%
Democrats 2% 63%

12%

President George President Barack Both equally

W. Bush Obama
May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Which of the following best describes the implications you believe will
occur if Congress does not vote to raise the debt limit: It will be
disastrous to the U.S. economy, or It will not have a serious impact on
the U.S. economy
56%

32%

Disastrous Not a serious impact

May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

On a scale from 1 to 10 where 1 is not at all worried and 10 is extremely

worried, how worried are you that the United States will suffer another
economic downturn which will negatively affect your family?

39%

33%

18%

10%

Extremely worried Very worried Somewhat worried Not at all worried

May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Do you believe that the next generation will be better off

economically than the current generation?

74%

23%

4%

Yes Unsure No
May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Who or what do you think is most to blame for the recent spike in
gas prices?

Oil and gas companies 38%

Oil exporting nations 22%

The Obama administration 12%

The economic cycle 11%

Congress 7%
May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Do you favor or oppose repealing and replacing this national

health care reform law?

49%
42%

9%

Favor Unsure Oppose

May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Do you think this national health care reform law:

46%

26%
21%

Went too far Did not go far enough Was about right
May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

As you may know, Obama has announced that he is running for

reelection in 2012.
Would you say you will definitely vote for him, you will consider
voting for him, or you definitely will not vote for him?
38%

30% 29%

Definitely vote for Consider voting for Definitely will not vote
Obama Obama for Obama
May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

If the election were held today and you had to make a choice, for whom
would you vote Mitt Romney, the Republican, or Barack Obama, the
Democrat?

Romney Obama
Definitely Definitely
27% 40%

40%
52%

9%

Romney Undecided Obama

May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

If the elections were held today and you had to make a choice, for
whom would you vote Tim Pawlenty, the Republican, or Barack
Obama, the Democrat?

Pawlenty Obama
Definitely Definitely
25% 40%

38%
51%

11%

Pawlenty Undecided Obama

May 8-12, 2011 / N=1,000 “likely” voters / ±3.1% M.O.E.

Donald Trump has indicated that he is considering running for

President. If he does run for President, do you believe that he has
any chance of being elected President?

71%

26%

3%

Yes No Unsure