Bloomberg Politics Poll
SELZER & COMPANY
1,008 general population age 18 and over
Margin of error: ± 3.1 percentage points
Study #2117
April 6-8, 2015
Weighted by age and race
Methodology
April 17 (Bloomberg) -- The Bloomberg Politics Poll, conducted April 6-8 for Bloomberg Politics by Selzer &
Co. of Des Moines, IA, is based on interviews with 1,008 U.S. adults ages 18 or older.
Interviewers with Quantel Research contacted households with randomly selected landline and cell phone
telephone numbers supplied by Survey Sampling International. Interviews were administered in English.
Percentages based on the full probability sample may have a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 3.1
percentage points. This means that if this survey were repeated using the same questions and the same methodology,
19 times out of 20, the findings would not vary from the percentages shown here by more than plus or minus 3.1
percentage points. Results based on smaller samples of respondents—such as by gender or age—have a larger
margin of error. Responses were weighted by age and race to reflect the general population based on recent
census data.
For media inquiries, contact Vidhya Murugesan at [email protected].
For additional technical information about this study, contact Michelle Yeoman at [email protected].
Republishing the copyrighted Bloomberg Politics Poll without credit to Bloomberg Politics is prohibited.
Poll Questions
In general, do you think things in the nation are headed in the right direction, or have they gotten off on
the wrong track?
Right
direction
Wrong
track
31
61
Not sure
8
Immigration
Health care
The federal deficit
Terrorism
Taxes
A decline in real
income for
American workers
The Islamic State,
also known as ISIS
Climate change
Unemployment and
jobs
Other (VOL)
(specify:)
None of these
(VOL)
Not sure
Which of the following do you see as the most important issue facing the country right now? (Read list.
Rotate.)
6
12
10
9
4
12
13
7
18
2
2
5
_________
PAGE 1
Do you approve or disapprove of the job Barack Obama is doing: [ITEM FROM LIST]?
(Begin with “as president.” Rotate all other options.)
As president
With the economy
With health care
With negotiating with the Republican majority in
the U.S. Congress
With handling foreign policy
Approve
Disapprove
Not Sure
47
49
43
46
46
53
7
5
4
35
54
11
42
50
8
When it comes to relations between the U.S. and Israel, which of the following do you agree with more?
(Read options. Rotate.)
45
47
8
Israel is an important ally, the only democracy in the region, and we should support it even if our
interests diverge
Israel is an ally but we should pursue America's interests when we disagree with them
Not sure
Recently, there have been clashes between [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] and [President
Obama]. Are you more sympathetic to [Netanyahu] or to [Obama]? (Rotate names.)
34
47
19
Netanyahu
Obama
Not sure
Last week, the U.S. and five other nations struck a tentative deal with Iran. It would lift sanctions that
have damaged Iran’s economy in exchange for extensive inspections of any nuclear activity in Iran. Final
details will be formalized in June. Are you more optimistic or more pessimistic this deal would make the
world safer by containing Iran’s ability to obtain nuclear weapons?
49
43
8
More optimistic
More pessimistic
Not sure
Do you think President Obama and U.S. negotiating partners should be able to make a deal with the
Iranian government without Congressonal approval, or should any deal be subject to Congressional
approval?
20
74
6
Obama should be able to make a deal
Any deal should be subject to Congressional approval
Not sure
Do you think the Iranian government has evolved to be reliable as a negotiating partner, or does their
continuing religious theocracy make them unreliable as negotiators?
20
68
12
Has evolved to be reliable
Continuing religious theocracy makes them unreliable
Not sure
Do you have a sense that the gap between the rich and everyone else is getting bigger, staying about the
same, or getting smaller compared to 10 years ago?
Getting
bigger
Staying the
same
Getting
smaller
69
17
10
Not
sure
4
_________
PAGE 2
In thinking about the gap between the rich and everyone else, do you think it would be: (Read choices.
Alternate order every other interview.)
Better for the government to
implement policies designed to
shrink that gap
Better for the government to stand
aside and let the market operate
freely even if the gap gets wider
46
Not
sure
47
7
I’m going to mention some aspects of the national economic situation. For each, please tell me if you
expect things to be better in the next 12 months, worse, or about the same as the last 12 months. (Rotate
list, but “overall strength of the economy” is always first.)
Overall strength of the economy
Job growth
The housing market
America’s economic standing in the world
Health care costs
Better
Worse
About the
Same
34
38
42
23
20
21
22
17
36
56
44
38
37
39
22
Not
Sure
1
2
4
2
2
Let’s turn to some aspects of your personal situation. For each, please tell me if you expect things to be
better in the next 12 months, worse, or about the same as the last 12 months. If the item does not apply to
you, just say so. (Rotate list, but “overall financial security” is always first.)
Better
Overall financial security
Job security for workers in your household
The market value of your home
Performance of any investments
35
25
32
26
Worse
11
9
11
10
About the
Same
47
48
32
36
Does not
Apply
6
17
23
26
Not
Sure
1
1
2
2
Do you feel you are moving closer to your hopes for your career and/or finances, or do you feel you are
moving further away from your dreams?
Moving
closer
Moving further
away
Not
sure
58
30
12
_________
PAGE 3
Now, I’m going to mention some people and groups in the news recently. For each, please tell me if your
feelings are very favorable, mostly favorable, mostly unfavorable, or very unfavorable. If you don’t know
enough to answer, just say so. (Record “don’t know” as “not sure.” Rotate list.)
Net
Net
Very
Mostly
Mostly
Very
Favorable Unfavorable Favorable Favorable Unfavorable Unfavorable
Barack Obama, president of the
United States
John Boehner, speaker of the House
of Representatives
Mitch McConnell, majority leader in
the U.S. Senate
The Republican Party
The Democratic Party
Hillary Clinton, former U.S.
Secretary of State
Jeb Bush, former governor of
Florida
Chris Christie, governor of New
Jersey
Rand Paul, U.S. senator from
Kentucky
Bill Clinton, former president of the
United States
Ted Cruz, U.S. senator from Texas
Joe Biden, vice president of the
United States
Marco Rubio, U.S. senator from
Florida
Benjamin Netanyahu, prime
minister of Israel
Scott Walker, governor of
Wisconsin
The U.S. Congress
Harry Reid, minority leader of the
U.S. Senate
John Kerry, U.S. secretary of state
George W. Bush, former president
of the United States
Not
Sure
52
45
20
32
17
28
3
24
48
5
19
25
23
28
25
35
4
21
21
14
40
38
48
53
44
11
11
27
37
31
23
22
21
9
8
48
44
18
30
15
29
8
32
42
6
26
25
17
26
28
41
6
22
28
13
31
32
31
9
23
18
13
37
60
32
22
38
18
14
8
30
35
10
20
15
20
35
46
42
13
33
20
22
12
27
27
6
21
17
10
46
39
30
14
25
20
10
31
21
21
9
12
10
11
58
34
54
6
28
33
21
12
26
36
5
21
16
20
38
48
34
10
38
17
17
18
46
46
15
31
24
22
8
Do you think it would be a good thing or a bad thing for the Democratic party if Hillary Clinton faced
serious competition for the presidential nomination? (Asked only of those who identify as Democrats or
independents; n=687.)
72
20
8
Good thing
Bad thing
Not sure
If Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee, will you definitely vote for her, probably vote for her, might
or might not vote for her, or definitely not vote for her?
Definitely
vote for her
Probably
vote for her
Might or
might not
vote for her
Definitely
not vote for
her
Not
sure
18
17
25
39
1
_________
PAGE 4
Does the idea of electing the first woman president make you more inclined to vote for Hillary Clinton,
less inclined, or does it not much matter to you?
More inclined to
vote for her
12
Less inclined to
vote for her
4
Does not much
matter
83
Not
sure
1
Do you think Hillary Clinton has been truthful in saying she turned over all emails relevant to her time as
Secretary of State, or do you think she purposefully (should have read “purposely”) withheld or deleted some
relevant emails?
Truthful
Purposely
withheld or
deleted some
Not
sure
29
53
18
I’m going to name some of the people considering running for the Republican nomination for president,
including some names I’ve already mentioned. For each, please tell me if this is someone you would
seriously consider supporting, might consider, or would never consider supporting this person. (Rotate list.
Asked only of those identifying as Republicans or independents; n=655.)
Seriously
Consider
John Bolton, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
Jeb Bush
Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon from Maryland
Chris Christie
Ted Cruz
Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard and
candidate for U.S. Senate in California
Lindsey Graham, U.S. senator from South Carolina
Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas
Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana
John Kasich, governor of Ohio
George Pataki, former governor of New York
Rand Paul
Mike Pence, governor of Indiana
Rick Perry, former governor of Texas
Marco Rubio
Rick Santorum, former U.S. senator from
Pennsylvania
Donald Trump, a businessman from New York
Scott Walker
Might
Consider
Never
Consider
Not
Sure
5
14
15
8
15
35
38
31
40
35
33
42
30
42
36
27
6
24
10
14
7
4
15
10
6
3
17
3
13
12
31
31
40
34
35
29
41
29
41
41
35
44
36
31
27
45
33
36
37
28
27
21
9
25
32
23
9
32
9
19
7
9
16
37
26
33
38
62
26
18
3
25
Which of the following is a more attractive candidate for president to you: (Read list. Alternate every
other interview. Asked only of those identifying as Republicans or independents; n=655.)
57
40
3
A candidate who will remain true to their principles and will confront both members of their own
party as well as the opposing party, even if it means fewer bills get passed
A candidate who is committed to getting things done even if it means working out a deal through
legislative compromise
Not sure
_________
PAGE 5
I’m going to name some of the people considering running for the Republican nomination for president.
For each, please tell me if you think of them as liberal, moderate, or conservative. (Rotate list. Asked only
of those identifying as Republicans or independents; n=655.)
Liberal
Jeb Bush
Marco Rubio
Scott Walker
Moderate Conservative
19
9
7
32
24
17
34
33
35
Not
Sure
15
34
41
Do you expect same-sex marriage will be legal in all 50 states within: (Read options. Do not rotate.)
7
26
25
8
3
26
5
The next year
The next five years
The next 10 years
The next 20 years
Longer than 20 years from now
Or do you think same-sex marriage will never be legal in all 50 states
Not sure
In general, do you think sexual orientation should or should not be protected from discrimination the same
way race is protected?
74
18
8
Should be protected
Should not be protected
Not sure
What is your opinion of the health care law? (Read list.)
It should be
repealed
It may need small
modifications, but we
should see how it works
It should be left alone
35
51
12
Not sure
2
Do you expect the recreational use of marijuana will be legal in all 50 states within: (Read options. Do
not rotate.)
2
17
26
13
5
32
5
The next year
The next five years
The next 10 years
The next 20 years
Longer than 20 years from now
Or do you think recreational use of marijuana will never be legal in all 50 states
Not sure
A national pastime is a sport considered to be a central part of the culture of a nation. In the U.S. today, do
you think that sport is [BASEBALL] or [FOOTBALL]? (Rotate options.)
28
67
5
Baseball
Football
Not sure
_________
PAGE 6