FDU PublicMind - October 2, 2003 Survey

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?

Sept 24-30 All Dem. Ind. Rep. Men Women

Right direction 36% 20 30 61 43 31

Wrong track 52% 72 52 25 45 58

Don't know/Unsure 12% 9 18 14 12 12

Last April 12-19 All Dem. Ind. Rep. Men Women

Right direction 55% 35 51 77 60 50

Wrong track 32% 49 34 14 30 34

Don't know/Unsure 13% 17 15 9 10 17

How would you rate the job George W. Bush is doing as President—excellent, good, only fair, or poor?

Sept 24-30 All Dem Ind. Rep. Men Women

Excellent 16% 3 7 36 22 11

Good 28% 18 35 40 29 28

Only fair 29% 36 41 17 24 33

Poor 26% 43 16 6 24 27

Don't know/Unsure 1% 1 1 2 2 1

Last April 12-19 All Dem Ind Rep. Men Women

Excellent 28% 6 23 52 32 24

Good 34% 32 36 37 33 35

Only fair 21% 33 21 9 20 23

Poor 16% 28 15 2 14 17

Don't know/Unsure 1% 1 4 0 1 2

As you know, there will be an election for President next year. If the election were held today, and George Bush were the Republican candidate, would you vote for him or would you vote for his Democratic opponent, or someone else?

All Dem. Ind. Rep. Men Women

Bush 36% 11 27 72 43 30

Democrat 29% 51 11 7 23 33

Someone else 17% 21 26 8 15 19

Unsure 18% 17 35 13 18 18

Now, if his Democratic opponent were…[rotate list] … who would you vote for?

Bush 41% Bush 41 Bush 43 Bush 41

Al Gore 40% Hillary Clinton 39 Joe Lieberman 31 Howard Dean 24

Someone else 12% Someone else 11 Someone else 15 Someone else 15

Unsure 7% Unsure 9 Unsure 11 Unsure 19

Bush 42 Bush 41 Bush 53 Bush 39

John Kerry 26 Richard Gephardt 25 Al Sharpton 11 Wesley Clark 24

Someone else 14 Someone else 16 Someone else 26 Someone else 15

Unsure 18 Unsure 17 Unsure 10 Unsure 22

Bush 41

John Edwards 20

Someone else 17

Unsure 21

Would you say the U.S. military effort in Iraq has gone better or worse than you expected?

Sept 24-30 All Dem. Ind. Rep. Men Women

Better 36% 25 37 37 40 32

Worse 47% 62 41 43 42 52

Same (don't read) 12% 7 18 13 15 9

Don't know (don't read) 5% 5 4 7 3 7

Last April 12-19 All Dem. Ind. Rep. Men Women

Better 80% 70 83 89 80 80

Worse 7% 13 4 1 6 8

Same (don't read) 9% 11 8 8 13 6

Don't know (don't read) 4% 7 3 2 2 6

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?

Party President's approval Gender

Sept
24-30 All Dem. Ind. Rep Excel-
lent Good Fair Poor Men Women

Right thing 54% 34 52 80 97 84 36 15 62 47

Mistake 40% 59 40 15 2 10 51 82 33 45

Don't know 6% 7 8 5 2 6 12 3 4 8

Last April
12-19 All Dem Ind. Rep Excel-
lent Good Fair Poor Men Women

Right thing 67% 49 66 86 97 84 45 11 73 62

Mistake 23% 40 26 6 2 7 37 79 20 27

Don't Know 10% 10 8 8 2 9 19 10 8 12

Which are you following more closely—the war in Iraq or the status of the economy?

All 18-29 30-34 45-59 Over 60

Iraq 27% 21 27 30 24

Economy 38% 51 41 38 30

Neither (vol.) 2% 6 3 1 2

Both (vol.) 33% 23 28 31 44

In deciding who to vote for for President, which is more important to you, the candidate's position on… or …?

All Men Women

foreign policy and the war in Iraq 23% 24 23

the economy 50% 50 49

neither 2% 2 2

both 23% 22 24

don't know 2% 2 3

Contacts:
Rick Thigpen, academic associate, 609-394-0888.
Steve Salmore, research professor of political science: 973-292-3633.
Peter Woolley, coordinator: 973-443-8725

Radio actuality line: (201) 692-2846.

For more information, please call (201) 692-7032.