ABC News/Washington Post Poll, December 2005

This poll, conducted December 15-18, 2005, is part of a
continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on
the current presidency and on a range of other political and social
issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President
George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency and issues such as
the economy, health care, and the situation in Iraq. Views were sought
on the most important problem for President Bush and the United States
Congress to deal with in the upcoming year, and respondents rated
their level of optimism in regard to issues such as the nation's
defense against natural disasters and possible terrorist attacks.
Respondents were asked whether they would be more likely to vote for a
Democratic or Republican candidate if the November 2006 congressional
election were held today, and whether they approved of the way the
members of Congress and their own representative were doing their
jobs. The poll also elicited views on whether the war with Iraq was
worth fighting, whether United States military forces in Iraq should
be increased, decreased, or remain the same, and whether a deadline
should be set for their withdrawal. Other questions asked whether
progress was being made in Iraq and whether its recent elections
brought the United States closer to the withdrawal of its military
forces. Additional topics focused on illegal immigration, abortion,
recent Supreme Court Justice nominee Samuel Alito, the use of torture
on and secret detainment of suspected terrorists in the United States
campaign against terrorism, and whether respondents preferred the
greeting "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." Demographic variables
include age, sex, race, education level, voter registration status,
household income, political party affiliation, political philosophy,
religious affiliation, type of residential area, and frequency of
religious service attendance.