Background Memo  

The most recent survey by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind was conducted by telephone from September 4 through September 7, 2008 using a randomly selected sample of 872 likely voters statewide.  The sampling error for 872 is +/- 3.5 percentage points at the 95 percent level of confidence.  Sample error for subgroups varies with the size of the subgroup. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling error. This kind of error, which cannot be measured, arises from a number of factors including, but not limited to, non-response (eligible individuals refusing to be interviewed), question wording, the order in which questions are asked, and variations among interviewers. All PublicMind interviews are conducted by professionally trained interviewers using a CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) system. Random selection is achieved through computerized random-digit dialing. This technique gives every person with a land-line phone number (including those with unlisted numbers) an equal chance of being selected. Results are mathematically weighted to match known demographics.

Question: And in the upcoming elections for President of the United States, which candidate are you most likely to vote for…or….?

• Obama
• McCain

And in the upcoming elections for President of the United States, which candidate are you most likely to vote for…or….?

• “Barack Obama, the Democrat”
• “John McCain, the Republican”

OR

And in the upcoming elections for President of the United States, which ticket are you most likely to vote for…or….?

• “Barack Obama and Joe Biden, the Democrats
• “John McCain and Sarah Palin, the Republicans”

Question: Do you think [NAME]  is a good choice for Vice President or not a good choice?

Joe Biden

Sarah Palin

Question: Do you recall who you voted for in the Presidential primary election back in February?

Question: In deciding your vote for President, would you say the race of the candidate is….READ

• The single most important factor
• One of several important factors
• Not an important factor

Question: And for other voters this year, do you think the race of the candidate is….READ?

• The single most important factor
• One of several important factors
• Not an important factor

Question US1: In your opinion, do you believe that the country is moving in the right direction or do you believe it has gotten off on the wrong track?

Question US2: In general, do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job as President?

Question US3: Now, turning to Iraq… How well is the U.S. military effort in Iraq going…?

• Very well
• Fairly well
• Not too well
• Not at all well

Question US4:  Considering everything, do you think the United States did the right thing in going to war with Iraq, or do you think it was a mistake?

see also:
Survey Analysis
Tabular Results