CBS News/New York Times National Poll, January #2, 2012

This poll, the second of three fielded January 2012, is a part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicits public opinion on a range of political and social issues. Respondents were asked how well Barack Obama was handling the presidency, foreign policy, the economy, and the threat of terrorism. Multiple questions addressed which Republican presidential candidates were favored, which were most likely to win against President Obama, which candidates were most trusted to handle various political issues, as well as whether President Obama and the Republicans in Congress were working together. Additional topics included the role of religion in elections, campaign financing, the Tea Party and the Occupy Wall Street movements, wealth distribution, and social class. Opinions were also sought about the most important problem facing the country at that time, and whether respondents felt the country was moving in the right direction. Finally, respondents were asked whether they voted in the 2008 presidential election and who they voted for, whether they had been contacted on behalf of any of the presidential candidates, and whether they were registered to vote. Demographic information includes sex, age, race, marital status, education level, household income, employment status, religious preference, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), political party affiliation, political philosophy, and whether respondents thought of themselves as born-again Christians.