ABC News/Washington Post Terrorist Attack Poll #3, September 2001

This special topic poll, conducted September 20, 2001, was
undertaken to assess respondents' reactions to and feelings about the
terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center towers in New
York City, damaged the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and caused a plane
crash in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. Respondents were asked
whether they approved of President George W. Bush's response to the
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as well as his proposed
remedies, what the consequences were of various levels of military
action that could be taken in response to the terrorist threat, and
how they viewed the state of the nation's economy. Respondents were
also asked whether they watched or listened to any of Bush's address
to Congress on September 20, 2001, how much Bush's proposed measures
such as stricter airport security, stronger law enforcement efforts,
and the creation of a new White House office for domestic security
would reduce the risk of another major terrorist attack in this
country, and whether Bush's speech made respondents more or less
confident in the ability of the United States to deal with the crisis.
Assuming that the groups and nations responsible for the terrorist
attacks were identified, respondents were asked whether they would
support military action against these groups, and whether they would
support military action even if it meant getting into a war. Opinions
were elicited on whether the United States should limit its military
action to the terrorist groups and nations responsible for the
September 11, 2001, attacks or broaden its actions to include all
terrorist groups and nations, whether taking or not taking military
action would result in a greater risk of further terrorism in this
country, whether large numbers of troops would be killed and wounded,
and whether military action would last for a few weeks, a few months,
a year or so, or several years. Concerning the nation's economy,
respondents were asked to describe the current state of the economy as
excellent, good, not so good, or poor, and to comment on whether the
economy was heading into a recession. Background information on
respondents includes political party, age, race, and gender.