CBS News/New York Times National Callback Poll, May #1, 2012

This poll, the first of two fielded May 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, the situation with Afghanistan, the nation's housing and mortgage crisis, and gasoline prices. Opinions were collected on whether Congress was performing their job well, on the state of the national economy, federal income taxes, the federal tax policy on capital gains, and whether respondents felt things in this country were going in the right direction. Respondents were also queried as to whether Barack Obama and Mitt Romney would be able to bring real change to Washington, as well as several questions regarding their abilities to make the right decisions on various issues and be an effective military leader. Additional topics include women's health issues, economic concerns, the price of gasoline, the home mortgage crisis, the 2010 health care law, the suspension of Rick Santorum's campaign, the John Edwards trial, and the level of attention the respondents paid to the 2012 presidential campaigns. This collection also contains information from a call back poll within the same timeframe, including respondents' approval of Barack Obama's performance as president, the condition of the national economy, and whether respondents would vote for Barack Obama or Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election. Multiple questions also asked about respondents' views concerning same-sex marriage, including whether respondents had a close friend or relative who is gay or lesbian, and if respondents support legal recognition of same-sex marriage. 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, whether respondents were registered to vote, and whether respondents thought of themselves as born-again Christians.