CBS News/New York Times National Poll, July #1, 2012

This poll, fielded July 2012, and the first of two, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicits public opinion on a range of political and social issues. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way Barack Obama was handling his job as president, foreign policy, the economy, and health care. Respondents were also asked about the condition of the economy and whether things in the country were on the right track. Additional questions addressed the respondent's overall opinions of Mitt Romney and Barack Obama and their views. Multiple questions addressed respondents' opinions of both Barack Obama's and Mitt Romney's economic policies and whether their policies will favor the rich versus the poor. Additional questions asked respondents which candidate they thought would do a better job handling a variety of issues and how important these issues will be in deciding how they will vote for president. Further questions asked respondents if they were willing to have reduced local government services, such as schools and fire and police departments, if it meant paying less in taxes. Other topics include the Supreme Court, financial institutions, same-sex marriage, crime, and tax cuts. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, household income, social class, employment status, religious preference and participation, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), whether respondents thought of themselves as born-again Christians, marital status, household composition, political party affiliation, political philosophy, voter registration status, voting behavior, and the number of phones in their household.