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CNN Live At Daybreak
America's Public Opinion Polls
Aired March 31, 2003 - 06:48 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Public opinion always critical in a time of war. And the folks at Gallup have been out doing their job over the past weekend.
Frank Newport, the Editor-in-Chief, now joins us for some new numbers.
Frank, curious to know how the public now is responding to members of the administration, how the war is going so far, what are you finding out numbers wise?
FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, THE GALLUP POLL: Well indeed, Bill, there's a lot of interest in American public opinion. Basically our polling, conducted through Sunday in the United States, shows stable and still high levels of support for the war effort.
Let me show you exactly what we're asking. This is probably the key question to the American public, do you favor or oppose war with Iraq? You can see 72 percent, 71, and then over this past weekend, 70 percent, essentially unchanged. Seven out of 10 Americans support the war effort consistently. About one-quarter, that's this bottom line, say that they oppose.
Who's winning the war, is it the U.S. and its allies, the Iraqis or neither side? Well again, about the same numbers. Initially right out of the shoot, 84 percent of Americans said it was the U.S. and its allies. Then what we're calling a re-calibration took place and the American public kind of resettled its expectations. But since then, three-quarters of Americans, 74 percent, 74 percent say that the U.S. and its allies are winning. The rest say that neither side is winning so far. By the way, this is about where the numbers were at the Persian Gulf War at about this point back in 1991.
How long will the war continue, that's a key aspect of this we think public opinion wise? I would show you, Bill, 32 percent and 27 percent say up to three months or up to six months. Put those together, about 60 percent say it's going to be in that range of a month to six months. Very few Americans think the war will be over within one month -- Bill.
HEMMER: Frank, quickly, commander in chief approval numbers for the president are what right now?
NEWPORT: Holding up very steadily right at about that 70 percent level. There was a rally effect after the war began, we predicted that, to 71, 69. And, Bill, over the weekend, Bush job approval 71 percent. HEMMER: Wow! Thanks, Frank. Frank Newport, Gallup Poll Editor- in-Chief, watching the numbers Stateside.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired March 31, 2003 - 06:48 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Public opinion always critical in a time of war. And the folks at Gallup have been out doing their job over the past weekend.
Frank Newport, the Editor-in-Chief, now joins us for some new numbers.
Frank, curious to know how the public now is responding to members of the administration, how the war is going so far, what are you finding out numbers wise?
FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, THE GALLUP POLL: Well indeed, Bill, there's a lot of interest in American public opinion. Basically our polling, conducted through Sunday in the United States, shows stable and still high levels of support for the war effort.
Let me show you exactly what we're asking. This is probably the key question to the American public, do you favor or oppose war with Iraq? You can see 72 percent, 71, and then over this past weekend, 70 percent, essentially unchanged. Seven out of 10 Americans support the war effort consistently. About one-quarter, that's this bottom line, say that they oppose.
Who's winning the war, is it the U.S. and its allies, the Iraqis or neither side? Well again, about the same numbers. Initially right out of the shoot, 84 percent of Americans said it was the U.S. and its allies. Then what we're calling a re-calibration took place and the American public kind of resettled its expectations. But since then, three-quarters of Americans, 74 percent, 74 percent say that the U.S. and its allies are winning. The rest say that neither side is winning so far. By the way, this is about where the numbers were at the Persian Gulf War at about this point back in 1991.
How long will the war continue, that's a key aspect of this we think public opinion wise? I would show you, Bill, 32 percent and 27 percent say up to three months or up to six months. Put those together, about 60 percent say it's going to be in that range of a month to six months. Very few Americans think the war will be over within one month -- Bill.
HEMMER: Frank, quickly, commander in chief approval numbers for the president are what right now?
NEWPORT: Holding up very steadily right at about that 70 percent level. There was a rally effect after the war began, we predicted that, to 71, 69. And, Bill, over the weekend, Bush job approval 71 percent. HEMMER: Wow! Thanks, Frank. Frank Newport, Gallup Poll Editor- in-Chief, watching the numbers Stateside.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
