ABC News Pre-State of the Union Address Poll, January 2003

This special topic poll, conducted January 27, 2003, was undertaken to assess public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues on the eve of the State of the Union Address. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, the economy, the United States campaign against terrorism, and the situation with Iraq and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Those polled were asked whether they supported or opposed United States military action against Iraq to force Hussein from power, whether their support or opposition would change if the United Nations opposed such action, and whether they supported or opposed an invasion by United States ground troops with possible military casualties. Views were sought on whether Bush had presented enough evidence to justify the use of military force in Iraq, whether United Nations weapons inspectors should be given additional time to search for weapons of mass destruction, and whether the burden of proof regarding the existence of weapons of mass destruction lay with the United States or with Iraq. Respondents were asked whether they were concerned that the Bush administration would act too quickly and/or without international support, whether Iraq posed an immediate threat to United States interests, and whether Bush had overstated the level of threat facing the United States from Iraq. Background information on respondents includes gender and political party.