CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #2, July 2000

This poll, conducted July 20-23, 2000, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, foreign policy, and the economy, as well as their views on the way Congress was handling its job. Those polled expressed their interest in and opinions about the 2000 presidential election, their readiness to vote in the upcoming election, and their level of support for both candidates, Vice President Al Gore and Texas governor George W. Bush. Respondents were also asked whether on the day of the survey they would vote for Al Gore or George W. Bush. They then answered the same question once more, this time choosing among four candidates: Al Gore (Democratic Party candidate), George W. Bush (Republican Party candidate), Pat Buchanan (Reform Party candidate), and Ralph Nader (Green Party candidate). Opinions of the four candidates and their respective parties were also elicited. Additional questions probed respondents' participation and candidate selection in the 1996 presidential election and in the 1998 House of Representatives election. Respondents answered another set of questions comparing Al Gore and George W. Bush as presidential candidates in terms of their qualities of leadership, their understanding of the complex problems a president has to deal with (especially international problems), whether they could be trusted to keep their word as president, whether they shared the same moral values as most Americans, whether they said what they believed or what people wanted to hear, and whether they cared about people like the respondent. Other questions examined respondents' opinions about both candidates' views on the following subjects: the economy, abortion, taxes, the environment, and health care. Those polled also expressed their views about whether the Democratic Party or the Republican Party was more likely to ensure a strong economy, make sure that the tax system was fair, make sure United States military defenses were strong, make the right decisions about Social Security, improve the education and health care systems, and protect the environment. Respondents also indicated which party was better at upholding traditional family values, which party cared more about people like the respondent, what the most important problems for the government in the coming year were, and what their views were on abortion. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, race/ethnic identity, education, religion, voter registration and participation history, political party affiliation, political orientation, marital status, age of children in the household, and income.