CBS News Vermont State Poll, August 2001

This special topic poll, conducted on August 22 and 23, 2001, was designed in large part to elicit respondents' reactions to Senator Jim Jeffords' switch of affiliation from the Republican to the Democratic party. Residents of the state of Vermont gave an approval rating of George W. Bush as president, of Congress, and of Jim Jeffords in particular. They were also asked whether it mattered which party controlled Congress, whether Jeffords could be trusted, and whether they approved of his switch of affiliation. They described the magnitude of the impact of this change, whether they believed it would be negative or positive, whether they were registered to vote, whether they had voted for Jeffords in 2000, and whether they would vote to re-elect Jeffords. In addition, they were asked whom they had voted for for president in 2000, their party affiliation, and their political leanings. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, marital status, education, and religion.