Quinnipiac National Political Survey

From what you’ve heard or read, do you mostly approve or mostly disapprove of the proposed changes to the health care system under consideration in Congress?

• Mostly approve 34% [36%] {38%}
• Mostly disapprove 54% [53%] {52%}

Among Independents

• Mostly approve 26% [30%] {32%}
• Mostly disapprove 59% [58%] {57%}

Who do you trust to do a better job handling health care – President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?

• President Obama 42% [45%] {44%} (45%)
• Republicans in Congress 41% [40%] {37%} (36%)

Among Independents

• Republicans in Congress 39% [39%] {37%} (37%)
• President Obama 37% [39%] {37%} (40%)

Generally speaking, do you think the proposed changes to the health care system under consideration in Congress go too far, not far enough, or are they about right?

• Too far 44%
• Not far enough 29%
• About right 17%

Do you think abortion should be legal in all cases, legal in most cases, illegal in most cases or illegal in all cases?

• Legal in all cases 18%
• Legal in most cases 34%
• Illegal in most cases 24%
• Illegal in all cases 18%

Do you support or oppose allowing abortions to be paid for by public funds under a health care reform bill?

• Support 27% [23%]
• Oppose 67% [72%]

When it comes to dealing with people suspected of involvement in terrorist attacks against the United States, which would you prefer: trying them in open criminal court with a jury and a civilian judge or trying them in a closed military court with a military judge?

• Military Court 59%
• Criminal court 34%

Among Democrats

• Criminal court 50%
• Military Court 42%

Among Republicans

• Military Court 76%
• Criminal court 20%

Among Independents

• Military Court 62%
• Criminal court 31%

Should President Obama close the Guantanamo Bay prison?

• Yes 28%
• No 60%

Among Democrats

• Yes 51%
• No 35%

Among Republicans

• Yes 12%
• No 81%

Among Independents

• Yes 24%
• No 64%

Among Whites

• Yes 25%
• No 65%

Among Blacks

• Yes 46%
• No 39%

What concerns you more about the government’s anti-terrorism policies – that they have gone too far in restricting the average person’s civil liberties or that they have not gone far enough to adequately protect the country?

• Gone too far 25%
• Not gone far enough 63%

In order to prevent terrorism at places like airports and subways, should authorities be able to single out people who look like they might be of Middle Eastern origin to search or question?

• Yes 52%
• No 44%

Among Democrats

• Yes 39%
• No 57%

Among Republicans

• Yes 67%
• No 31%

Among Independents

• Yes 53%
• No 43%

Among Men

• Yes 57%
• No 40%

Among Women

• Yes 48%
• No 47%

Among Whites

• Yes 58%
• No 33%

Among Blacks

• Yes 33%
• No 66%

As you may know, the Transportation Security Administration recently announced a new policy to require extra screening of all air travelers who are citizens of 14 designated countries, 13 of which are largely Muslim. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?

• Good idea 79%
• Bad idea 16%

Do you think the U.S. is doing the right thing by fighting the war in Afghanistan now, or should the U.S. not be involved in Afghanistan now?

• Doing the right thing 59% [51%] {57%} (48%)
• Should not be involved 35% [41%] {35%} (41%)

Among Democrats

• Doing the right thing 49% [39%] {47%} (31%)
• Should not be involved 43% [52%] {46%} (58%)

Among Republicans

• Doing the right thing 74% [68%] {71%} (68%)
• Should not be involved 20% [27%] {21%} (22%)

Among Independents

• Doing the right thing 58% [51%] {58%} (51%)
• Should not be involved 37% [40%] {34%} (39%)

Among Men

• Doing the right thing 67% [62%] {66%} (52%)
• Should not be involved 29% [33%] {29%} (39%)

Among Women

• Doing the right thing 52% [41%] {49%} (44%)
• Should not be involved 40% [48%] {41%} (43%)

Among Whites

• Doing the right thing 63% [57%] {62%} (53%)
• Should not be involved 31% [36%] {31%} (35%)

Among Blacks

• Doing the right thing 42% [34%] {42%} (25%)
• Should not be involved 56% [55%] {50%} (67%)

Survey of 1,767 registered voters was conducted January 5-11, 2010. The margin of error is +/- 2.3 percentage points. Results from the poll conducted December 15-20, 2009 are in square brackets. Results from the poll conducted December 1-6 are in curly brackets. Results from the poll conducted November 9-16 are in parentheses.