CBS News Pre-Presidential Address to Congress Poll, February 2001

This poll, conducted February 19-26, 2001, is part of a continuing series of surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. In the days preceding Bush's first address to Congress on February 27, 2001, respondents were asked for their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency as well as their views on the United States Congress and the state of the nation's economy. Their views were also sought on whether Bush or other individuals were in charge of the administration, whether Bush would work with both parties in Congress, and whether the Democrats would work with Bush. Those polled were asked whether they believed that Bush cared about the problems of people like them, whether he possessed strong leadership skills, whether he shared their priorities for the country, and whether he was capable of dealing wisely with an international crisis. Respondents were asked whether Bush's proposed $1.6 trillion tax cut was a sound plan, and whether social programs could be preserved after such a tax cut. Additional topics covered the recent United States air strikes against Iraq, mandatory testing of students in public schools to rate the schools' effectiveness, whether such test results should be used to determine which schools could receive federal funds, and whether the respondent intended to watch Bush's congressional address. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, 2000 presidential choice, education, race, Hispanic descent, childrenin household, and income.