ABC News/Washington Post Poll, January 1985

This poll, conducted January 11-16, 1985, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to rate Reagan's
performance as president over the past four years and to describe their
expectations for his performance in his second term in office. Respondents also were asked a series of questions relating to the nation's economy, their personal financial situation and expectations, and whether they trusted the Democrats or Republicans to do a better job in coping with the nation's problems. A series of questions asked about the federal budget deficit
and ways to reduce it, federal income tax system and the Treasury Department's
tax reform proposal. Additional subjects addressed support for nuclear power, the apartheid protests in South Africa, the New York City subway shooting, and gun ownership. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, marital status, religious preference, voter registration status and participation history, political party affiliation, political philosophy, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), household income, the number of household members over the age of 18, whether respondents considered themselves to be middle or working class, and whether any member of the household was a veteran, a labor union member, or employed by the government.