ABC News/Washington Post Poll, October 2005

This poll, conducted October 30-November 2, 2005, 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 of President
George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, foreign policy, the
economy, the United States campaign against terrorism, the situation
with Iraq, gasoline prices, and health care. Those polled expressed
their opinion on whether they felt Bush was a strong leader that
understood the problems facing the respondent. Respondents were also
queried on the Bush Administration regarding their confidence in it,
its policies, and the amount of influence that various individuals and
religious groups had on it. Additionally, they were asked whether they
felt that the Democrats or the Republicans would be better suited to
handle the nation's main problems and which of the two parties
represented their own values and needs better. They were also asked to
compare the differences in honesty between the two parties. Another
topic of the survey was the upcoming November 2006 congressional
election. Respondents were asked which party they would vote for if
the election were held at the time of this survey. Questions
concerning the ethics of President Bush and the federal government
were also included. Some of the questions examined the war in
Iraq. These included costs versus benefits, acceptance of the number
of United States casualties, progress toward restoring civil order and
establishing a democratic government, and whether the United States
should keep or withdraw military forces in Iraq. A series of
additional questions asked the respondents to give their opinions on
whether the charge brought against the vice president's chief of
staff, Lewis Libby, was serious or minor. Respondents were also asked
if presidential advisor Karl Rove, Vice President Dick Cheney, and
President Bush did anything wrong in connection to the case.
Demographic variables include race, sex, age, level of education,
income, voter registration status, political ideology, party
affiliation, and religion.