KAET-ASU Poll

Contact Dr. Bruce Merrill (480) 965-7051
Can be used after 12:00 p.m., Thursday, September 25, 2003

ARIZONA VOTERS RELUCTANT TO GIVE BUSH SECOND TERM IN OFFICE

BUSH GETS HIGH MARKS FOR WAY HE IS HANDLING TERRORISM BUT SUPPORT SLIPS OVER ECONOMY AND WAR IN IRAQ

MAJORITY OPPOSE $87 BILLION BUSH REQUEST FOR IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN

If the election were being held this year, only 34% of registered voters in Arizona would give President George W. Bush a second term in office, according to a new statewide poll of registered voters conducted by KAET-TV/Channel 8 and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University between September 18-21, 2003. Forty-four percent (44%) of all voters in Arizona would prefer another candidate, and 22% undecided. Among those with an opinion, 56% would prefer to see someone other than Bush to be president next year. Not unexpectedly, opinions about Bush are highly related to partisanship. While 72% of the Democrats interviewed would prefer someone other than Bush next year, 49% of the political independents and 18% of the Republicans would prefer someone other than Bush.

The survey also found that a majority of voters (55%) disapproved of Bush's handling of the economy, while 38% approved and 7% had no opinion. According to the survey the President has slightly higher approval (45%) for his handling of the war in Iraq. Forty-nine percent (49%) of voters disapproved and 6% had no opinion. However, among voters in Arizona, the majority (64%) approved of his handling of terrorism in the U.S.; 27% disapproved and 9% had no opinion.

When asked if they approved of the President's request to Congress for $87 billion to keep troops in Iraq and to rebuild both Iraq and Afghanistan, 52% of voters in Arizona opposed providing $87 billion. Forty-two percent (42%) supported the request and 6% had no opinion.

The statewide poll of 390 registered voters has a sampling error of plus or minus 5.0%. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of the interviews were conducted in Maricopa County, 17% in Pima County, and 25% in the less populated counties. The sample consisted of 42% Republicans, 35% Democrats and 23% independents. Fifty-five percent (55%) of voters interviewed were female and 45% were male. Gender was statistically weighted to be 51% female and 49% male.

1. Thinking about the job President Bush is doing, do you approve or disapprove of the job he is doing managing the U.S. economy?

*Entries in parentheses are percentages for those with an opinion

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the job President Bush is doing handling the war in Iraq?

*Entries in parentheses are percentages for those with an opinion

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the job President Bush is doing handling the threat of terrorism in the United States?

4. Recently, President Bush asked the Congress to provide $87 billion to keep troops in Iraq and to help rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan. Overall, do you support or oppose providing $87 billion to continue our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan?

5. Based on the job he has done so far, do you think you will vote to give President Bush a second term as president, would you prefer someone else, or are you undecided at this time?

KAET-TV is a part of Arizona State University