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Polls Show Majority of American Public Support Bush's Ultimatum

Aired March 18, 2003 - 14:54   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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: No doubt it has been topic No. 1 in coffee shops and hair salons all across the country today. What are Americans saying as their country appears poised on the brink of war on the day after the president's ultimatum?
Gallup Poll's Frank Newport joining us from New Jersey with the latest. That's what I call an instant poll -- Frank.

FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP POLL: Indeed your right, Miles.

Last night after the president finished his address to the nation we were out with the CNN/"USA TODAY"/Gallup Poll. They interviewed 780 Americans in an hour and a half. A true random number probability sample. The numbers are fairly clear. Just what we've been finding all along. There is support for what President Bush said last night.

The question asked about the ultimatum, that Saddam Hussein leave within 48 hours or face the potential for military action. Two- thirds, 66 percent, to be precise of Americans say, yes, they approve of what Bush said. Just 33 percent disapprove. I've seen three other polls that have come out now since last night all showing roughly the exact same time. Point No. 2 I would make, Miles, is Americans are confident that the U.S. military will prevail in its goal.

That's a pretty big number there, 79 percent of the American public said, yes, the U.S. will succeed in removing Saddam Hussein from power, if that's what it comes to. Will there be additional terrorism as a result of war or less terrorism? That's an interesting question. Now, the way we phrase it is as a result of winning the war against Iraq, what will happen as far as terrorism is concerned, and a little over half of Americans said the U.S. Would be safer. Thirty eight percent said less safe. If you say in the short term what's going to happen, Miles, you have more people say there may be short- term terrorist attacks but in the long run Americans are buying into -- at least the majority -- the argument that the president made that going against Saddam Hussein will make America safer.

O'BRIEN: What about the angst meter, though? How are Americans feeling personality about this? Is there a bit of uneasiness?

NEWPORT: Indeed there is. We tried to probe that by giving Americans four adjectives and saying do thee describe how you feel looking down the prospect of military action of war -- pending war. No 1 adjective that Americans agreed described their personality psyche at this point worried. Seventy percent said they were worried. About half said they were 52 percent. Afraid, by the way, men much less likely than women to admit being afraid. Thirty one percent relieved. So the worry is the big factor and, Miles, that's not surprising. On the prospect -- brink of war to have 70 percent of the American population admitted to being worried doesn't shock me a bit.

O'BRIEN: All right, Frank, I've got to ask you, I'm not a math major but that's more than 100 percent.

NEWPORT: Well, each of these -- good question. Each of these, Miles, was asked individually. So, what we said does worry describe you, yes or no. New question, does confident describe you yes or no, and so forth. For each one this is the percent that agreed that adjective described their personal feelings.

O'BRIEN: So, If you have mixed emotions, you be all four.

NEWPORT: Absolutely or say no to all of them.

O'BRIEN: All right, thank you. Frank Newport, always a pleasure. Appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Ultimatum>


Aired March 18, 2003 - 14:54   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: No doubt it has been topic No. 1 in coffee shops and hair salons all across the country today. What are Americans saying as their country appears poised on the brink of war on the day after the president's ultimatum?
Gallup Poll's Frank Newport joining us from New Jersey with the latest. That's what I call an instant poll -- Frank.

FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP POLL: Indeed your right, Miles.

Last night after the president finished his address to the nation we were out with the CNN/"USA TODAY"/Gallup Poll. They interviewed 780 Americans in an hour and a half. A true random number probability sample. The numbers are fairly clear. Just what we've been finding all along. There is support for what President Bush said last night.

The question asked about the ultimatum, that Saddam Hussein leave within 48 hours or face the potential for military action. Two- thirds, 66 percent, to be precise of Americans say, yes, they approve of what Bush said. Just 33 percent disapprove. I've seen three other polls that have come out now since last night all showing roughly the exact same time. Point No. 2 I would make, Miles, is Americans are confident that the U.S. military will prevail in its goal.

That's a pretty big number there, 79 percent of the American public said, yes, the U.S. will succeed in removing Saddam Hussein from power, if that's what it comes to. Will there be additional terrorism as a result of war or less terrorism? That's an interesting question. Now, the way we phrase it is as a result of winning the war against Iraq, what will happen as far as terrorism is concerned, and a little over half of Americans said the U.S. Would be safer. Thirty eight percent said less safe. If you say in the short term what's going to happen, Miles, you have more people say there may be short- term terrorist attacks but in the long run Americans are buying into -- at least the majority -- the argument that the president made that going against Saddam Hussein will make America safer.

O'BRIEN: What about the angst meter, though? How are Americans feeling personality about this? Is there a bit of uneasiness?

NEWPORT: Indeed there is. We tried to probe that by giving Americans four adjectives and saying do thee describe how you feel looking down the prospect of military action of war -- pending war. No 1 adjective that Americans agreed described their personality psyche at this point worried. Seventy percent said they were worried. About half said they were 52 percent. Afraid, by the way, men much less likely than women to admit being afraid. Thirty one percent relieved. So the worry is the big factor and, Miles, that's not surprising. On the prospect -- brink of war to have 70 percent of the American population admitted to being worried doesn't shock me a bit.

O'BRIEN: All right, Frank, I've got to ask you, I'm not a math major but that's more than 100 percent.

NEWPORT: Well, each of these -- good question. Each of these, Miles, was asked individually. So, what we said does worry describe you, yes or no. New question, does confident describe you yes or no, and so forth. For each one this is the percent that agreed that adjective described their personal feelings.

O'BRIEN: So, If you have mixed emotions, you be all four.

NEWPORT: Absolutely or say no to all of them.

O'BRIEN: All right, thank you. Frank Newport, always a pleasure. Appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Ultimatum>