CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #1, May 2006

This poll, conducted May 4-8, 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 was facing, the national economy, the war in Iraq, and how the respondent would rate the job performance of United States Congress and his or her representative in it. 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, terrorism, gas prices, and immigration, and whether they approved of his overall job performance. The survey also sought respondents' opinions of Vice President Dick Cheney, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, Senator John Kerry, John McCain, and the Republican and Democratic parties. Additional questions addressed immigration, a security fence between the United States and Mexico, global warming, the nuclear threat of Iran, and Medicare prescription drug plans. Background information on respondents includes military service, voter registration status, party identification, marital status, sex, religious affiliation, education record, age, ethnicity, and income.