ABC News/Washington Post Pre-State of the Union Poll, January 2004

This special topic poll, conducted January 15-18, 2004, was undertaken to assess public opinion prior to President George W. Bush's 2004 State of the Union Address. Views were sought on President Bush and his handling of the presidency and issues such as the economy, foreign affairs, immigration, taxes, and education. Respondents were asked which issue they most wanted President Bush to discuss in his upcoming State of the Union Address, whether terrorism or the economy was a bigger problem facing the country, and how they felt about the policies of the Bush administration. Questions regarding the war with Iraq asked whether it was worth fighting, whether it contributed to the long-term security of the United States, and whether the number of United States military casualties in Iraq so far was acceptable. Opinions were solicited on the success of the United States efforts to break up the al Qaeda terrorist network, to win the cooperation of other countries in fighting terrorism, and to prevent further terrorist attacks in the United States, and whether the country was safer from terrorism now than before September 11, 2001. Several questions focused on the condition of the national economy, whether the economy was in a recession, and whether most Americans were better off financially than they were in 2001 when Bush became president. Respondents were also polled on how closely they were following the 2004 presidential campaign, whether they would vote for President Bush or a Democratic candidate, and whether President Bush or the Democrats in Congress could be trusted to deal with the main problems facing the nation in the next few years. Other topics addressed government spending on space exploration, whether same-sex marriages and civil unions should be legal, and whether entrepreneur Martha Stewart was guilty on charges of obstructing a federal investigation into possible insider stock trading. Background information on respondents includes sex, age, education, ethnicity, marital status, religion, household income, labor union membership, political orientation, political party affiliation, and the strength of their political party affiliation.