ABC News/Washington Post Pre-State of the Union Speech Poll, January 2007

This special topic poll, fielded January 16-19, 2007, is a part of continuing series of monthly polls that
solicit public opinion on various political and social issues.
This poll was conducted prior to President Bush's State of the Union speech
on January 23, and focuses on his proposals
about the war with Iraq, including sending additional United States military forces to Iraq, President Bush's
and Congress' handling of the war with Iraq, and whether the United States did the right thing in going to war
with Iraq.
Respondents were also asked whether they approved of George W. Bush and the way he was handling the presidency
and other issues such as the economy, whether they approved of the way Congress was handling its job, and whether things in the country are on the right track.
Opinions were solicited on Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the 2008 presidential candidates, whom
respondents would vote for if the 2008 Democratic and Republican primaries and the presidential election were held that
day, and whether an independent commission should be established to investigate and enforce ethics rules for members of
Congress.
Respondents were asked what was the most important problem they would like to see Bush and Congress deal with, whether they
trust Bush or Congress to do a better job handling issues such as the federal budget, and whether Bush or
Congress was taking a stronger leadership role in the government.
Additional questions addressed global warming, Medicare, the national minimum wage, embryonic stem cell research, and Iran.
Demographic information includes sex, age, race, education level, employment status, household income,
religious preference, marital status, whether anyone in the household was a military veteran,
type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), voter registration status, political party affiliation,
political philosophy, and the presence of children under 18 in the household.