ABC News/Washington Post Poll #1, August 2006

This poll, conducted August 3-6, 2006, is part of a
continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on the
presidency and on a range of other political and social issues.
Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way President
George W. Bush was handling the presidency and issues such as the
situation in Iraq and the economy. Those registered to vote were asked
how closely they were following the upcoming congressional elections
in November, whether they would vote for a Democrat or Republican
candidate for the United States House of Representatives if the
election were held that day, and which issue was most important in
their vote. All respondents were polled on which political party they
trusted to handle issues such as the United States campaign against
terrorism, which party was more concerned with the needs of people
like themselves, whether they approved of the way the United States
Congress was handling its job, and whether the Democrats were offering
a clear direction that was different from that of the Republicans.
Views were also sought on the war in Iraq, whether Iraq was in a state
of civil war, and whether the Bush Administration and the Democrats in
the United States Congress had a clear plan for handling the
situation. A series of questions regarding the conflict between Israel
and Hezbollah in Lebanon asked which group was to more to blame,
whether Israel was justified in bombing Hezbollah targets in civilian
areas, whether Israel should agree to an immediate, unconditional
cease-fire in Lebanon, whether the conflict would make Israel more
secure from attacks, and whether it would help or hurt the situation
for the United States in Iraq. Demographic variables include sex, age,
race, education level, household income, political party affiliation,
political philosophy, voter registration status, religious preference,
and whether respondents considered themselves born-again or
evangelical Christians.