FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Friday February 17, 2006

All references must be sourced WNBC/Marist Poll

 

Contact:           Dr. Lee M. Miringoff

Dr. Barbara L. Carvalho

Marist College

845.575.5050

 

National Poll:

Voters Weigh in on White House Controversies

 

This WNBC/Marist Poll reports:

Response to Hurricane Katrina most worrisome to voters

·        Among the many controversies surrounding the Bush Administration, its response to Hurricane Katrina is most troubling to voters.  66% of registered voters nationwide are bothered a great deal or a good amount by the administration’s response to Hurricane Katrina.  Although Democrats are most critical, 64% of independents and 42% of Republicans are bothered by how the administration handled the disaster. 

 

Question Wording: Does each of the following bother you a great deal, a good amount,

not very much, or not at all about the Bush administration:

 

 

Registered voters

A Great Deal

A Good Amount

Not Very Much

 

Not At All

 

Unsure

Its response to Hurricane Katrina

 

48%

 

18%

 

17%

 

16%

 

  1%

  Democrat

70%

15%

  8%

  7%

<1%

  Republican

22%

20%

29%

27%

  2%

  Independent

45%

19%

18%

17%

  1%

The wiretapping of Americans without a warrant as part of their anti-terrorism program

 

 

40%

 

 

10%

 

 

16%

 

 

32%

 

 

  2%

  Democrat

60%

11%

12%

15%

  2%

  Republican

12%

6%

22%

57%

  3%

  Independent

41%

13%

16%

29%

  1%

The indictment of Scooter Libby who was Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, for giving the name of a CIA agent to the press

 

 

 

 

31%

 

 

 

 

19%

 

 

 

 

23%

 

 

 

 

22%

 

 

 

 

  5%

  Democrat

42%

18%

20%

15%

  5%

  Republican

16%

15%

31%

31%

  7%

  Independent

33%

23%

19%

21%

  4%

The Jack Abramoff  lobbying scandal

 

27%

 

15%

 

22%

 

18%

 

18%

  Democrat

34%

15%

22%

15%

14%

  Republican

12%

13%

27%

26%

22%

  Independent

32%

17%

20%

15%

16%

 

Further investigate the vice president’s hunting accident?

·        Most registered voters do not think there should be any further investigation of Vice President Cheney's shooting of Harry Whittington while hunting.  Only a majority of Democrats thinks there should be.

 

Question Wording: From anything you may have seen, read, or heard about Vice President

Cheney's shooting of Harry Whittington while hunting do you think there should be a further investigation of what happened?

 

Registered voters

Yes

No

Unsure

February 2006

34%

65%

  1%

  Democrat

53%

46%

  1%

  Republican

  7%

92%

  1%

  Independent

37%

61%

  2%

 

Voters rate the president

·        40% of registered voters nationwide approve of the job President Bush is doing in office, and 57% disapprove. 

 

Question Wording: Do you approve or disapprove of the job George Bush is doing as president?

 

Registered voters

Approve

Disapprove

Unsure

February 2006

40%

57%

  3%

  Democrat

11%

87%

  2%

  Republican

81%

15%

  4%

  Independent

34%

62%

  4%

October 2005

41%

53%

  6%

May 2005

47%

49%

  4%

February 2005

51%

45%

  4%

November 2004

49%

49%

  2%

October 2004

49%

48%

  3%

September 2004

49%

49%

  2%

August 2004

49%

47%

  4%

July 2004

49%

48%

  3%

April 2004

51%

47%

  2%

March 2004

52%

45%

  3%

November 2003

53%

42%

  5%

April 2003

70%

23%

  7%

February 2003

56%

34%

10%

January 2003

57%

34%

  9%

October 2002

65%

27%

  8%

April 2002

74%

17%

  9%

January 2002

81%

11%

  8%

November 2001

85%

8%

  7%

March 2001

50%

24%

26%

January 2001

50%

20%

30%