CBS News Monthly Poll, November 2009

This special topic poll, fielded November 13-15, 2009, is a 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. This poll surveyed 873 adults in the United States. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way Barack Obama was handling the presidency, foreign policy, the economy, the situation in Afghanistan, health care, and the shooting incident at Fort Hood, Texas. Respondents were also asked whether they approved of the way Congress was handling its job, how they would rate the national economy, whether they thought the economic stimulus package created jobs, whether or not the United States should close Guantanamo Bay, and whether abortion should be available. Opinions were solicited about whether respondents approved of Sarah Palin, whether they approved of the way Democrats and Republicans in Congress were handling health care, and whether they approved of the proposed changes to the health care system. Several other questions addressed the issue of health care including those that asked respondents whether they thought health care reform would help or hurt them personally, whether they were in favor of a public option, whether health care coverage should cover abortions, and whether or not they had some form of health care. Additional topics addressed respondent's thoughts on the war in Afghanistan, the Fort Hood shooting, and swine flu. Finally, respondents were asked a number of questions about their employment and job security. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, education level, marital status, household income, employment status, political party affiliation, political philosophy, voter registration status and participation history, religious preference, and the presence of adults between the ages of 18 and 29 in the household.