Background Memo and Tables

The most recent survey by Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind was conducted by telephone from October 22 through October 28 using a randomly selected sample of 701 likely voters. The sampling error for 701 respondents is +/- 4 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 phone number (including those with unlisted numbers) an equal chance of being selected. Results are mathematically weighted to match known demographics. The questions included in this release are as follows below. The candidate preference question was asked first to a random half the sample and asked last to a random half of the sample.

The questions included in this release are as follows:

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

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

Question:  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?

Question: Next year will be elections for President of the United States. I know it's early, but which candidate would you be most likely to support?

Question: And which of those candidates would you be the least likely to support in the general election?

see also:
Survey Analysis
Tabular Results