Poll: Nine in 10 say attacks are an 'act of war'

The Associated Press Tuesday, September 11, 2001

(09-11) 23:09 PDT (AP) --

Some poll results after Tuesday's terror attacks. The CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll interviewed 619 adults. The ABC-Washington Post poll interviewed 608 adults. Each had an error margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points:

CNN-USA TODAY-GALLUP

* More than half, 55 percent, said they thought Tuesday's attacks represent the beginning of a sustained terrorist campaign against the United States that will continue for several weeks. Three in 10 disagreed.

* Almost nine of 10 said they considered the attacks an "act of war."

* About half were very confident in President Bush's ability to handle the situation. Another third were somewhat confident.

* Nine in 10 said the attacks were the most tragic event of their lifetime.

* People were about evenly divided whether it made them less willing to fly on airplanes.

ABC-WASHINGTON POST

* People were about evenly split on whether the United States could reasonably have done more to prevent the attacks.

* Nine in 10 said they had at least some confidence that the United States would find and punish those responsible, with more than half "very confident."

* About nine in 10 support military action against groups or nations responsible for the attacks, even if it means getting in a war.

* Nine in 10 said they prayed for the victims of the attacks and almost everyone, 99 percent, said they watched or listened to broadcast news reports.

* Four of 10 employed people said they left work early or stayed home.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2001