Reason-Rupe 2014 August Survey

REASON-RUPE POLL TOPLINE RESULTS RELEASED: AUGUST 2014 The Reason-Rupe August 2014 Poll interviewed 1,000 adults on both mobile (500) and landline (500) phones, including 291 respondents without landlines, from August 6-10, 2014 from the continental United States and the District of Columbia using live telephone interviews. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3.7%. For Form A respondents (n=500), the margin of error is +/- 5.2%. For Form B respondents (n=500), the margin of error is +/- 5.2%. Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI) conducted the survey. Interviews were done in English by Braun Research Incorporated. Statistical results are weighted to correct known demographic discrepancies. When feasible, answer choices within questions were rotated or randomized. For more methodological information, please visit https://reason.com/reason-rupe-poll-methodology..  The poll questionnaire, crosstabs, and analysis can be found at reason.com/poll Don't know/Refused responses are voluntary. Due to rounding, accumulated responses may not total 100%. Responses less than 1% are denoted by a "*".
1.   Generally speaking, would you say things in this country are heading in the right direction or in the wrong direction?
•	Right direction	33%
•	Wrong direction	60%
•	Neither (VOL.)	3%
•	Don't Know/Refused	4%
•	Total	100%
2.  Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?
•	Approve	43%
•	Disapprove	52%
•	Don't Know/Refused	4%
•	Total	100%
3.  Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling foreign policy?
•	Approve	37%
•	Disapprove	53%
•	Don't Know/Refused	10%
•	Total	100%
4.  Do you approve or disapprove of the job the U.S. Congress is doing?
•	Approve	18%
•	Disapprove	75%
•	Don't Know/Refused	7%
•	Total	100%
5.  When it comes to priorities, would you rather see Congress prioritize policies aimed at reducing income inequality OR policies aimed at promoting economic growth?)
•	Reduce income inequality	20%
•	Promote economic growth	74%
•	Don't Know/Refused	7%
•	Total	100%
6.  Do you think Barack Obama has expanded the power of the presidency too much, not enough, or has he not expanded the power of the presidency?
•	Too Much	42%
•	Not Enough	21%
•	Hasn't Expanded Presidential Power	30%
•	Don't Know/Refused	7%
•	Total	100%
READ TO ALL: Thinking about the next congressional elections that will be coming up later this year…
7.  Are you registered to vote in your precinct or election district or haven't you been able to register so far?
•	Yes, registered	82%
•	No, not registered	18%
•	Don't Know/Refused	*%
•	Total	100%
8.  What are the chances that you will vote in the November midterm elections?
•	Absolutely certain to vote	55%
•	Very likely to vote	20%
•	Chances are 50/50	13%
•	Unlikely to vote	11%
•	Don't Know/Refused	1%
•	Total	100%
9.  If the election for the US House of Representatives were being held today, would you vote for the Republican candidate OR the Democratic candidate in your district? (ASKED OF LIKELY VOTERS)
•	Republican Party's Candidate	41%
•	Democratic Party's Candidate	42%
•	Don't Know	15%
•	Refused	2%
•	Total	100%
10.  Which of the following outcomes would you most want to see happen as a result of the Congressional elections being held later this year (2014)?… Republicans control Congress, Democrats control Congress, or neither Republicans nor Democrats control Congress? (ASKED OF LIKELY VOTERS)
•	Republicans control Congress	33%
•	Democrats control Congress	29%
•	Neither controls	34%
•	Don't Know/Refused	3%
•	Total	100%
11.  Of the following issues, which one would you say is MOST important to your vote for Congress this year?
•	The economy	33%
•	Immigration	13%
•	National security and foreign policy	13%
•	Health care	11%
•	Education	18%
•	Same-sex marriage	2%
•	Abortion	2%
•	The environment	4%
•	Other (VOL.)	1%
•	Not voting/Not registered (VOL.)	1%
•	Don't Know/Refused	1%
•	Total	100%
12.  What economic issue is most important to your vote this year? (ASKED OF LIKELY VOTERS)
•	Taxes	9%
•	The budget deficit	13%
•	Government spending	24%
•	Jobs	23%
•	The gap between rich and poor	23%
•	Regulations on business	6%
•	Other (VOL.)	1%
•	Don't Know/Refused	<1%
•	Total	100%
READ TO ALL: Changing topics…
13.  When it comes to negotiating a long-term peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, do you think the United States should..?
•	NET MORE INVOLVED	21%
•	NET LESS INVOLVED	53%
•	NET CURRENT INVOLVEMENT	21%
•	Be more involved than it has been	21%
•	Be less involved	17%
•	Continue its current level of involvement	21%
•	Stay out of it entirely	36%
•	Don't Know/Refused	4%
•	Total	100%
14.  As you may know, some US citizens have contracted Ebola in Africa. How likely do you think an Ebola outbreak is in a US city?  Would you say it is…?
•	NET LIKELY	40%
•	NET UNLIKELY	56%
•	Very likely	11%
•	Somewhat likely	29%
•	Not too likely	34%
•	Not at all likely	22%
•	Don't Know/Refused	4%
•	Total	100%
READ TO ALL: Throughout its history, America has passed amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Recently there has been discussion of some new amendments.
15.  Would you favor or oppose a constitutional amendment that would give states the power to repeal a federal law or regulation if half of the state legislatures representing half the national population vote to repeal the law?
•	Favor	50%
•	Oppose	42%
•	Don't Know/Refused	8%
•	Total	100%
16.  Would you favor or oppose a constitutional amendment to allow the president to veto certain parts of a bill, including spending, without vetoing everything in the bill, also known as a line-item veto.
•	Favor	48%
•	Oppose	45%
•	Don't Know/Refused	7%
•	Total	100%
17.  Would you favor or oppose a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget?
•	Favor	74%
•	Oppose	20%
•	Don't Know/Refused	5%
•	Total	100%
18.  Would you favor or oppose a constitutional amendment that allows Congress and state governments to regulate campaign contributions to and spending by candidates for office?
•	Favor	57%
•	Oppose	36%
•	Don't Know/Refused	7%
•	Total	100%
19.  Suppose this amendment also allowed Congress and states to regulate activities by individuals and groups, such as blogging or publishing a book that support or oppose a political candidate. Would you still favor the amendment, or would you now oppose it?
•	Still favor	15%
•	Now oppose	75%
•	Don't Know/Refused	4%
•	Total	100%
20.  As you may know, Congress sometimes exempts itself and its members from some of the laws it passes. Would you favor or oppose a constitutional amendment that would require members of Congress be subject to ALL laws they pass?
•	Favor	84%
•	Oppose	13%
•	Don't Know/Refused	2%
•	Total	100%
21.  Do you think judges have interpreted the US Constitution in a way that gives the government more power than it should have, less power than it should have, or about the right amount of power?
•	More	47%
•	Less	9%
•	About the right amount	37%
•	Don't Know/Refused	7%
•	Total	100%
Would you say you have a very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable, or very unfavorable opinion of the following words and phrases…
55.  Socialism
•	NET FAVORABLE	36%
•	NET UNFAVORABLE	58%
•	Very favorable	9%
•	Mostly favorable	26%
•	Mostly Unfavorable	27%
•	Very Unfavorable	31%
•	Don't Know/Refused	7%
•	Total	100%
56. Capitalism
•	NET FAVORABLE	55%
•	NET UNFAVORABLE	38%
•	Very favorable	22%
•	Mostly favorable	33%
•	Mostly Unfavorable	21%
•	Very Unfavorable	17%
•	Don't Know/Refused	7%
•	Total	100%
57.  Free Market System
•	NET FAVORABLE	69%
•	NET UNFAVORABLE	21%
•	Very favorable	28%
•	Mostly favorable	41%
•	Mostly Unfavorable	13%
•	Very Unfavorable	8%
•	Don't Know/Refused	9%
•	Total	100%
58.  Government-managed economy
•	NET FAVORABLE	31%
•	NET UNFAVORABLE	66%
•	Very favorable	6%
•	Mostly favorable	25%
•	Mostly Unfavorable	31%
•	Very Unfavorable	35%
•	Don't Know/Refused	4%
•	Total	100%
59.   In just a few words, how would you define socialism?
•	Government Control	20%
•	Equality/Sharing	8%
•	Govt Taking Care of/Helping People	7%
•	Redistribution/Makers v Takers/Handouts	7%
•	Working Together/For the People	3%
•	Being Social/Getting Along	3%
•	Communism/Similar to	2%
•	Associated w/ Leaders/Dictator	2%
•	To Each According to Needs/Capacity	1%
•	Govt Control of Health Care	1%
•	Favor it/It Works	2%
•	Against It/Doesn't Work	9%
•	Other	5%
•	Don't Know What Socialism Is	25%
•	Refused	2%
•	Total	100%
READ TO ALL: Next…as I read the following pairs of statements, please tell me which comes closer to your own opinion.
60.   Please tell me which comes closer to your own opinion…
•	"We need a strong government to handle today's complex economic problems"	40%
•	"People would be better able to handle today's problems within a free market with less government involvement."	56%
•	Don't Know/Refused	4%
•	Total	100%
61.   Some people think the government (should promote traditional values in our society.) Others think the government (should not favor any particular set of values.) Which comes closer to your own view?
•	Government should promote traditional        values	47%
•	Government should not favor any particular set of values	49%
•	Don't Know/Refused	4%
•	Total	100%
62. If you had to choose, would you rather have a smaller government providing fewer services, or a bigger government providing more services?
•	Smaller government providing fewer services	54%
•	Larger government providing more services	42%
•	Don't Know/Refused	5%
•	Total	100%
63.  GENDER
•	Male	49%
•	Female	51%
•	Total	100%
64.  AGE
•	18-24	13%
•	25-34	16%
•	35-44	16%
•	45-54	18%
•	55-64	17%
•	65+	17%
•	Don't Know/Refused	2%
•	Total	100%
65.  In politics today, do you consider yourself a:
•	Republican	23%
•	Democrat	33%
•	Independent (Includes Leaners)	35%
•	Something Else	6%
•	Don't Know/Refused	3%
•	Total	100%
66.  Party Identification (DERIVED, Independent Leaners Sorted)
•	Democrat	33%
•	Independent-Lean Democrat	15%
•	Independent  (Excludes Leaners)	11%
•	Independent-Lean Republican	14%
•	Republican	23%
•	Don't Know/Refused	4%
•	Total	100%
67.  Thinking about your overall political philosophy, would you describe yourself as:
•	Conservative	31%
•	Moderate	25%
•	Liberal	18%
•	Libertarian	5%
•	Progressive	7%
•	Or something else?	9%
•	Don't Know/Refused	4%
•	Total	100%
68.  Do you consider yourself to be a supporter of the Tea Party movement, or not?
•	Supporter	23%
•	Not a supporter	69%
•	Don't Know/Refused	8%
•	Total	100%
69.  What is the highest level of school you have completed or the highest degree you have received?
•	High school or less	40%
•	Some college	32%
•	College	16%
•	Post-Grad	11%
•	Don't Know/Refused	1%
•	Total	100%
70.  Are you the parent or guardian of any children under 18 now living in your household?
•	Yes	27%
•	No	73%
•	Don't Know/Refused	<1%
•	Total	100%
71.  Race/Ethnicity
•	White	66%
•	African-American	11%
•	Hispanic	14%
•	Other	7%
•	Don't Know/Refused	2%
•	Total	100%
72.  What is your household income category?
•	<$30,000	24%
•	$30,000 but less than $45,000	16%
•	$45,000 but less than $60,000	14%
•	$60,000 but less than $75,000	14%
•	$75,000 but less than $90,000	9%
•	$90,000 but less than $110,000	7%
•	$110,000 but less than $150,000	5%
•	$150,000 but less than $250,000	2%
•	$250,000 or more	2%
•	Don't Know/Refused	7%
•	Total	100%
73.  Region
•	Northeast	18%
•	Midwest	22%
•	South	37%
•	West	23%
•	Total	100%
74.  Community Type
•	Rural	20%
•	Suburban	45%
•	Urban	35%
•	Total	100%