Newsweek Poll: Why the Right Won Big

In a NEWSWEEK poll, Americans point to some ‘major’ factors that contributed to the GOP’s victories and offer opinions on what Congress should do during the next two years

NEWSWEEK WEB EXCLUSIVE

Nov. 9 — Americans have a pretty good idea why the Republicans were able to win an unexpectedly large number of races on election-day. In a NEWSWEEK poll, 1,000 Americans were surveyed about the results of the Nov. 5 vote. They were offered eight possible causes for the GOP’s performance and asked to say whether they were “major” factors, “minor” factors, “not a reason” or “don’t know.”

FORTY-EIGHT PERCENT said one “major” reason was “the Democrats didn’t offer a clear alternative to the Republicans on the Bush tax cuts and other economic issues.” They said three other reasons were “major” factors: “The Democrats didn’t offer a clear alternative to Bush and the Republicans on the issue of war with Iraq” (51 percent), “President Bush’s willingness to use military force, if necessary, to disarm and remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq” (59 percent) and “President Bush’s personal popularity and campaign efforts” (53 percent).

Asked about the Republicans winning control of both houses of Congress, 30 percent of those polled said it was a “good thing,” 34 percent said it was a “bad thing” and 29 percent believed it will be make “no difference” either way. When asked if they believed a lot more will get done in Washington during the next two years, 51 percent agreed “yes,” 40 percent said “no” and 9 percent said “don’t know.”

Those polled were asked about to set priorities for Congress and the President in the next two years. Forty-one percent picked “the economy and jobs” and 23 percent said “terrorism and national security.” Thirty-five percent said “both equally.”

The 1,000 people polled on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 were asked about other specific subjects that Congress will likely address over the next two years. They were read a list of topics and asked to say whether each should be “one of [Congress’s] top priorities, a lower priority, or shouldn’t be done at all.” Some of the results: “Making President Bush’s 10-year, $1.3 trillion dollar tax cut program permanent” was considered one of the “top” priorities by 42 percent, a “lower” priority by 27 percent and something that “shouldn’t be done” by 24 percent; “Major reform of the federal income tax system” was considered one of the “top” priorities by 65 percent, a “lower” priority by 21 percent and something that “shouldn’t be done” by 7 percent; “Helping seniors pay for prescription drugs” was considered one of the “top” priorities by 80 percent, a “lower” priority by 15 percent and something that “shouldn’t be done” by 4 percent; “New laws to restrict abortion” was considered one of the “top” priorities by 24 percent, a “lower” priority by 29 percent and something that “shouldn’t be done” by 43 percent;

“Approval of conservative judges President Bush has nominated for the federal courts” was considered one of the “top” priorities by 30 percent, a “lower” priority by 38 percent and something that “shouldn’t be done” by 22 percent;

“Limiting or eliminating affirmative action preferences for minorities and women,” was considered one of the “top” priorities by 28 percent, a “lower” priority by 35 percent and something that “shouldn’t be done” by 30 percent.

NEWSWEEK also asked those polled about the president in general. Asked if they approve or disapprove of the way Bush is handling his job, 60 percent said they “approve,” 30 percent “disapprove” and 10 percent “don’t know.” Bush’s approval rating in this question—which is asked every time NEWSWEEK conducts this poll—has slowly declined, from a high of 88 percent approval in October 2001. Asked if they’d like to see Bush re-relected to another term as president, 48 percent said “yes,” 41 percent said “no” and 11 percent said they “don’t know.” Asked if an election were held today between Bush and Al Gore, 54 percent said they’d choose Bush or lean toward Bush and 39 percent said they’d choose Gore or lean toward Gore. Similarly, asked about how they’d vote in a race held today between Bush and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, 55 percent said they’d choose Bush or lean toward Bush and 40 percent said they’d choose Clinton or lean toward Clinton. Finally, asked how they’d vote if the race were between Bush and Dick Gephardt, 56 percent said they’d choose Bush or lean toward Bush and 37 percent said they’d choose Gephardt or lean toward Gephardt. For this NEWSWEEK poll, Princeton Survey Research Associates interviewed by telephone 1,000 adults, aged 18 and older on November 7 and November 8. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 2002