CBS News Monthly Poll #1, March 2006

This poll, conducted March 9-12, 2006, 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 give their opinions on the current direction of the country, the most important problem the country is facing, the national economy, and to rate the job performance of the United States Congress. Respondents were also asked about the way President George W. Bush was handling certain issues such as the economy, foreign policy, the war in Iraq, and terrorism, and whether or not they approved of his overall job performance. The next section of the survey addressed the war in Iraq, reinstatement of a military draft, Saddam Hussein, the future of Iraq, and the effect of the war on the Middle East. Respondents were then asked whether or not they or someone they knew had served in the armed forces in Iraq and if so, about their experiences. Additional questions solicited opinions on the Republican and Democratic parties, political conservatives and liberals, and television news viewing habits. Background information on respondents includes military service, voter registration status, party identification, marital status, sex, religious preference, education record, age, ethnicity, and income.