This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone September 7-10, 2015,
among a random national sample of 1,003 adults, including landline and cell phone
respondents. Results have a 3.5 point error margin. Sampling, data collection and
tabulation by Abt-SRBI of New York.
*= less than 0.5 percent
(Full methodological details appended at the end.)
1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as
president? Do you approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?

9/10/15
7/19/15
5/31/15
3/29/15
1/15/15
12/14/14
10/26/14
10/12/14
9/7/14
6/1/14
4/27/14
3/2/14
1/23/14
12/15/13
11/17/13
10/20/13
9/15/13
7/21/13
5/19/13
4/14/13
3/10/13
1/13/13
12/16/12
11/4/12
11/3/12
11/2/12
11/1/12
10/31/12
10/30/12
10/29/12
10/28/12
10/27/12
10/26/12
10/25/12
10/24/12
10/23/12
10/22/12
10/21/12
10/13/12
9/29/12
9/9/12
8/25/12
7/8/12
5/20/12
4/8/12
3/10/12
2/4/12
1/15/12
12/18/11

RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV
RV

-------- Approve -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
49
27
22
45
26
20
45
22
23
47
26
21
50
24
26
41
21
20
43
21
22
40
20
20
42
24
18
46
23
23
41
23
19
46
25
22
46
23
23
43
23
20
42
22
21
48
28
20
47
25
22
49
25
24
51
32
20
50
27
23
50
29
21
55
32
23
54
33
21
52
33
10
51
33
10
51
32
11
50
31
11
50
30
11
50
28
12
50
28
11
51
28
11
50
28
11
51
29
10
50
29
9
50
29
10
50
29
21
50
30
20
51
31
20
50
30
21
50
26
24
49
29
20
50
27
23
47
24
24
47
26
21
50
30
20
46
28
18
50
29
22
48
25
23
49
25
24

------- Disapprove -----NET
Somewhat
Strongly
46
9
37
50
13
37
49
11
38
47
11
36
44
9
35
54
13
41
51
12
39
51
12
39
51
12
39
51
14
37
52
12
40
50
12
38
50
9
41
55
14
41
55
11
44
49
10
39
47
11
37
44
12
32
44
10
33
45
10
35
46
11
36
41
8
33
42
9
32
46
10
36
47
10
37
47
11
36
48
11
37
48
11
37
48
12
37
48
11
36
46
11
36
46
11
36
46
10
36
47
9
37
48
10
38
47
9
37
47
10
38
47
10
37
44
10
34
46
12
34
45
11
35
46
13
33
49
15
34
49
13
36
45
10
35
50
11
39
46
11
36
48
11
37
47
13
34

1

No
opinion
5
5
6
6
6
5
6
8
6
3
6
3
4
3
3
3
6
7
5
5
4
4
5
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
6
4
6
4
4
3
6
4
3
4
4

 11/3/11
44
22
22
10/2/11
42
21
21
9/1/11
43
21
22
8/9/11*
44
18
26
7/17/11
47
25
22
6/5/11
47
27
20
5/2/11**
56
29
27
4/17/11
47
27
21
3/13/11
51
27
24
1/16/11
54
30
23
12/12/10
49
24
25
10/28/10
50
27
23
10/3/10
50
26
24
9/2/10
46
24
22
7/11/10
50
28
22
6/6/10
52
30
22
4/25/10
54
31
23
3/26/10
53
34
20
2/8/10
51
29
22
1/15/10
53
30
24
12/13/09
50
31
18
11/15/09
56
32
23
10/18/09
57
33
23
9/12/09
54
35
19
8/17/09
57
35
21
7/18/09
59
38
22
6/21/09
65
36
29
4/24/09
69
42
27
3/29/09
66
40
26
2/22/09
68
43
25
*Washington Post
**Washington Post/Pew Research Center

53
54
53
46
48
49
38
50
45
43
47
45
47
52
47
45
44
43
46
44
46
42
40
43
40
37
31
26
29
25

15
14
16
9
14
13
14
12
12
15
15
11
13
14
12
12
11
8
12
13
13
13
11
12
11
9
10
8
9
8

37
40
38
37
35
37
24
37
33
28
32
34
34
38
35
33
33
35
33
32
33
29
29
31
29
28
22
18
20
17

3
4
3
10
5
4
6
3
4
3
4
5
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
2
4
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
7

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling the economy? Do you
approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?

9/10/15
7/19/15
5/31/15
3/29/15
1/15/15
12/14/14
10/26/14
10/12/14
9/7/14
6/1/14
4/27/14
3/2/14
1/23/14
12/15/13
11/17/13
10/20/13
9/15/13
7/21/13
5/19/13
4/14/13
3/10/13
1/13/13
12/16/12
10/13/12 RV

-------- Approve -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
49
26
22
47
25
22
47
25
23
49
29
20
48
26
21
44
24
20
42
21
20
44
25
19
42
22
19
43
21
21
42
20
21
43
23
20
43
22
21
42
24
18
41
22
20
44
23
20
45
25
20
45
22
22
48
26
22
44
22
22
44
24
20
50
24
25
50
27
23
47
26
21

------- Disapprove -----NET
Somewhat
Strongly
47
11
36
48
13
35
48
14
34
46
12
34
48
10
38
52
14
38
52
14
38
51
12
39
54
15
39
53
15
38
54
13
41
54
14
41
55
13
42
55
14
40
57
14
42
54
12
42
51
14
37
49
14
35
48
10
37
53
12
41
52
10
42
47
10
37
48
10
38
51
10
41

2

No
opinion
5
5
4
5
5
4
7
4
5
4
4
2
3
4
2
2
4
6
4
3
4
3
3
2

 9/29/12 RV
47
23
25
9/9/12
RV
45
24
21
8/25/12
44
20
23
7/8/12
44
21
23
5/20/12
42
20
22
4/8/12
44
23
21
3/10/12
38
20
18
2/4/12
44
23
22
1/15/12
41
19
22
12/18/11
41
17
24
11/3/11
38
18
20
10/2/11
35
17
19
9/1/11
36
15
21
7/17/11
39
18
22
6/5/11
40
20
20
5/2/11*
40
18
22
4/17/11
42
23
19
3/13/11
43
22
21
1/16/11
46
22
24
12/12/10
43
21
22
10/28/10 RV
44
21
23
10/3/10
45
22
23
9/2/10
41
20
21
7/11/10
43
20
23
6/6/10
50
26
24
4/25/10
49
24
25
3/26/10
45
23
22
2/8/10
45
22
23
1/15/10
47
22
24
12/13/09
46
23
24
11/15/09
51
26
25
10/18/09
50
29
22
9/12/09
51
28
24
8/17/09
52
27
25
7/18/09
52
29
23
6/21/09
56
28
28
4/24/09
58
31
28
3/29/09
60
34
25
2/22/09
60
NA
NA
*Washington Post/Pew Research Center

52
53
54
54
55
54
59
53
57
56
61
61
62
57
59
55
57
55
51
54
54
53
57
54
49
49
52
53
52
52
47
48
46
46
46
41
38
38
34

10
8
12
13
11
12
9
11
11
13
13
13
15
15
10
16
11
13
13
15
15
13
13
13
12
10
12
15
13
12
12
13
13
13
10
13
13
12
NA

41
45
42
41
44
42
50
41
46
43
48
48
47
43
49
39
46
41
38
39
39
41
44
41
37
39
40
38
39
40
36
35
33
33
35
27
25
26
NA

1
2
3
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
4
2
3
2
4
2
2
2
3
3
2
2
4
2
2
3
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
3
3
4
3
6

3. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) I'm going to read a list of possible candidates for
the Republican nomination for president in 2016. If the 2016 Republican presidential
primary or caucus in your state were being held today, for whom would you vote? Which
candidate would you lean toward?
9/10/15 - NET LEANED VOTE PREFERENCE
Among gen pop:
Donald Trump
Ben Carson
Jeb Bush
Ted Cruz
Marco Rubio
Rand Paul
Mike Huckabee
John Kasich
Carly Fiorina
Scott Walker
Chris Christie

---------- 2015 --------9/10
7/19
5/31
3/29
34
23
5
NA
18
6
7
7
10
13
13
20
7
4
7
13
6
9
9
7
4
6
11
9
3
7
9
8
3
2
3
1
2
*
2
1
2
11
11
12
1
4
5
6

3

---------- 2014 ----------12/14
10/12
4/27
1/23
NA
NA
NA
NA
7
6
NA
NA
15
15
14
18
8
4
6
12
6
8
7
10
11
12
14
11
6
11
13
NA
2
2
2
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
6
1
5
NA
8
7
10
13

 Bobby Jindal
Rick Perry
Rick Santorum
Jim Gilmore
Lindsey Graham
George Pataki
Paul Ryan
Other (vol.)
None of these (vol.)
Would not vote (vol.)
No opinion

1
1
1
*
*
*
NA
2
2
2
3

2
3
1
NA
*
2
NA
1
5
1
2

1
2
3
NA
1
1
NA
*
1
1
6

1
2
2
NA
1
NA
NA
1
3
1
4

3
5
3
NA
NA
NA
11
*
2
*
7

2
6
3
NA
NA
NA
8
1
3
1
10

1
6
NA
NA
NA
NA
11
1
4
*
5

NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
20
2
4
1
9

Among reg voters:
--------- 2015 ---------9/10
7/19
5/31
3/29
Donald Trump
33
24
4
NA
Ben Carson
20
6
8
6
Jeb Bush
8
12
10
21
Ted Cruz
7
4
8
12
Marco Rubio
7
7
10
8
Rand Paul
5
6
11
8
Mike Huckabee
3
8
9
8
John Kasich
3
2
3
1
Carly Fiorina
2
*
2
1
Scott Walker
2
13
11
13
Chris Christie
1
3
6
7
Bobby Jindal
1
2
*
1
Rick Perry
1
4
2
1
Rick Santorum
1
1
4
2
Lindsey Graham
*
*
1
1
George Pataki
*
1
1
NA
Jim Gilmore
0
NA
NA
NA
Paul Ryan
NA
NA
NA
NA
Other (vol.)
1
*
*
1
None of these (vol.)
1
4
2
3
Would not vote (vol.)
1
1
1
1
No opinion
3
2
5
4

---------- 2014 ----------12/14
10/12
4/27
1/23
NA
NA
NA
NA
8
7
NA
NA
14
13
12
18
8
4
7
12
7
8
6
10
10
12
15
11
7
12
14
NA
2
2
1
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
7
2
5
NA
7
8
9
14
3
2
2
NA
5
6
5
NA
3
4
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
11
9
12
18
*
1
2
2
2
3
4
4
*
0
*
1
6
9
5
9

4. (ASKED OF LEANED DEMOCRATS) I'm going to read a list of possible candidates for the
Democratic nomination for president in 2016. If the 2016 Democratic presidential
primary or caucus in your state were being held today, for whom would you vote? Which
candidate would you lean toward?
9/10/15 - NET LEANED VOTE PREFERENCE
Among gen pop:
Hillary Clinton
Joe Biden
Bernie Sanders
Martin O'Malley
Lincoln Chafee
Jim Webb
Andrew Cuomo
Brian Schweitzer
Elizabeth Warren
Other (vol.)
None of these (vol.)
Would not vote (vol.)
No opinion

---------- 2015 --------9/10
7/19
5/31
3/29
46
62
63
66
21
14
14
11
20
14
9
4
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
NA
1
2
2
2
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
11
1
2
2
*
4
2
3
1
2
1
1
1
4
2
2
3

4

---------- 2014
12/14
10/12
63
65
14
13
4
1
1
1
NA
NA
3
3
NA
NA
NA
NA
11
10
*
0
1
2
1
*
2
5

---------6/1
1/23
66
73
12
12
2
NA
1
NA
NA
NA
2
NA
2
NA
1
NA
7
8
0
1
2
2
*
*
4
3

 Among reg voters:
Hillary Clinton
Bernie Sanders
Joe Biden
Martin O'Malley
Lincoln Chafee
Jim Webb
Andrew Cuomo
Brian Schweitzer
Elizabeth Warren
Other (vol.)
None of these (vol.)
Would not vote (vol.)
No opinion

---------- 2015 --------9/10
7/19
5/31
3/29
42
63
62
66
24
14
10
5
21
12
14
12
2
1
3
*
1
*
1
NA
1
2
1
1
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
12
1
2
2
*
5
3
4
2
1
1
1
1
3
2
1
2

---------- 2014
12/14
10/12
61
64
4
1
14
13
*
1
NA
NA
3
2
NA
NA
NA
NA
13
11
*
0
1
3
1
0
2
5

---------6/1
1/23
69
73
2
NA
12
11
2
NA
NA
NA
1
NA
2
NA
1
NA
7
9
0
*
2
3
0
*
2
4

5. (ASKED OF LEANED BIDEN SUPPORTERS) Who would your second choice be? Which candidate
would you lean toward as your second choice?
9/10/15 – NET LEANED VOTE PREFERENCE
- Among gen pop 9/10/15
7/19/15
Hillary Clinton
59
69
Bernie Sanders
24
15
Martin O'Malley
2
2
Jim Webb
2
4
Lincoln Chafee
1
1
Other (vol.)
1
2
None of these (vol.)
4
3
Would not vote (vol.)
2
1
No opinion
5
3
--- Among RVs --9/10/15
7/19/15
Hillary Clinton
56
68
Bernie Sanders
28
16
Martin O'Malley
3
2
Jim Webb
2
5
Lincoln Chafee
1
1
Other (vol.)
1
2
None of these (vol.)
5
3
Would not vote (vol.)
1
1
No opinion
4
3
6. If the 2016 presidential election were being held today and the candidates were
(Hillary Clinton, the Democrat) and (Donald Trump, the Republican), for whom would you
vote? Would you lean toward (Clinton) or toward (Trump)?
NET LEANED VOTE PREFERENCE - GEN POP

9/10/15

Hillary
Clinton
51

Donald
Trump
39

Other
(vol.)
1

Neither
(vol.)
5

Would not
vote (vol.)
4

No
opinion
1

Neither
(vol.)
6

Would not
vote (vol.)
4

No
opinion
1

NET LEANED VOTE PREFERENCE – RVs

9/10/15

Hillary
Clinton
46

Donald
Trump
43

Other
(vol.)
1

5

 7. (HALF SAMPLE) As you may know, the U.S. and other countries have announced a deal to
lift economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for Iran agreeing not to produce
nuclear weapons. International inspectors would monitor Iran’s facilities, and if Iran
is caught breaking the agreement economic sanctions would be imposed again. Do you
support or oppose this agreement? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?

9/10/15
7/19/15

-------- Support -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
51
31
20
56
31
25

-------- Oppose --------NET
Somewhat
Strongly
41
6
35
37
7
30

No
opinion
8
7

Compare to: Thinking now about the situation with Iran – would you support or oppose
an agreement in which the United States and other countries would lift major economic
sanctions against Iran, in exchange for Iran restricting its nuclear program in a way
that makes it harder for it to produce nuclear weapons? Do you feel that way strongly
or somewhat?
-------- Support -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
3/29/15
59
34
25
11/17/13*
64
NA
NA
*"... would lift some of their economic

-------- Oppose --------NET
Somewhat
Strongly
31
8
23
30
NA
NA
sanctions..."

No
opinion
10
7

8. (HALF SAMPLE) As you may know, the U.S. and other countries have announced a deal
to lift economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for Iran agreeing not to produce
nuclear weapons. Do you support or oppose this agreement? Do you feel that way
strongly or somewhat?

9/10/15

-------- Support -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
45
24
21

-------- Oppose --------NET
Somewhat
Strongly
44
12
32

No
opinion
11

On another subject,
9. Do you think most people in politics can or cannot be trusted? Do you feel that way
strongly or somewhat?

9/10/15

-------- Trusted -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
23
5
18

------ Not trusted -----NET
Somewhat
Strongly
72
24
48

No
opinion
5

10. Do you think the current political system in the United States is basically
functional or basically dysfunctional? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?

9/10/15

------- Functional------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
33
12
21

---- Not functional ----NET
Somewhat
Strongly
64
18
46

No
opinion
3

11a. When thinking about the kind of person you’d like to see as the next president,
which of these is more important to you - (someone with experience in how the
political system works) or (someone from outside the existing political
establishment)?

9/10/15

Experience in how the
political system works
56

Outside the existing
political establishment
40

6

No
opinion
4

 11b. When thinking about the kind of person you’d like to see as the next president,
which of these is more important to you - (someone who wants to fix the current
political system) or (someone who wants to tear it down and start over)?

9/10/15

Fix current
system
76

Tear it
down
21

Leave it
alone (vol.)
1

No
opinion
3

Thinking about Donald Trump...
12. Given what you’ve heard or read about them, would you say you support or oppose
Trump’s proposals on immigration? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?

9/10/15

-------- Support--------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
34
21
13

-------- Oppose --------NET
Somewhat
Strongly
57
12
45

No
opinion
9

13. Regardless of whether or not you’d vote for him, do you think Trump is or is not
qualified to serve as president?

9/10/15

Is
qualified
37

Is not
qualified
60

No
opinion
2

14. Please tell me whether the following statement applies to Trump, or not:
9/10/15 - Summary Table
a. He is honest and trustworthy
b. He understands the problems of people like you
c. He has the kind of personality and temperament
it takes to serve effectively as president

Yes
35
29

No
59
67

33

63

No opinion
6
4
4

Now thinking about Hillary Clinton...
15. Please tell me whether the following statement applies to Clinton, or not:
9/10/15 - Summary Table
a. She is honest and trustworthy
b. She understands the problems of people like you
c. She has the kind of personality and temperament
it takes to serve effectively as president
Trend where available:
a. She is honest and trustworthy
9/10/15
5/31/15
3/29/15
6/1/14
4/13/08
5/15/06

Yes
39
41
46
53
39
52

No
56
52
46
42
58
42

No opinion
5
7
7
5
3
6

b. She understands the problems of people like you
Yes

No

No opinion

7

Yes
39
46

No
56
51

No opinion
5
4

56

41

3

 9/10/15
5/31/15
3/29/15
6/1/14
5/15/06

46
49
47
54
54

51
46
48
41
43

4
5
5
5
3

c. No trend
16. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Hillary Clinton is handling questions
about her use of personal e-mail while she was secretary of state?
9/10/15
5/31/15

Approve
34
31

Disapprove
55
55

No opinion
11
14

17. Do you think Clinton’s use of personal e-mail while she was secretary of state is
or is not a legitimate issue in next year’s presidential election?
9/10/15
5/31/15

Legitimate
44
48

Not legitimate
49
45

No opinion
6
7

18. Given what you’ve heard or read about it, do you think Clinton (stayed within
government regulations) in her use of personal e-mail, or do you think she (broke
government regulations)?

9/10/15

Stayed within
regulations
32

Broke
regulations
51

No
opinion
18

19. Do you think Clinton has (honestly disclosed the facts) about her use of personal
e-mail while secretary of state or has (tried to cover up the facts)?
9/10/15

Honestly disclosed
34

Cover up the facts
54

No opinion
11

Changing topics,
20. In general, when there’s a conflict between (someone’s religious beliefs) and (the
need to treat everyone equally under the law), which do you think is more important?
9/10/15

Religious beliefs
19

Equal under the law
74

No opinion
6

21. As you may know, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that gay and lesbian couples
have the right to marry. Nonetheless a county clerk in Kentucky has refused to issue
marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples, saying she objects on religious grounds.
Do you think this county clerk should or should not be required to issue marriage
licenses to gay and lesbian couples?
9/10/15

Required to issue
63

Not required to issue
33

No opinion
4

22. (IF REQUIRED) A judge has sent this county clerk to jail for failing to comply
with his order to issue these marriage licenses. Do you support or oppose the judge’s
action in this case?

8

 9/10/15

Support
72

Oppose
25

No opinion
3

21/22 NET:

9/10/15

------- Required to issue -----Support
Oppose
No
NET
judge
judge
opinion
63
45
16
2

Not required
to issue
33

No
opinion
4

ATTEND. (ASKED OF CATHOLICS) Aside from weddings and funerals, how often if ever do
you attend religious services: at least once a week, almost every week, about once a
month, less often than that, or never?

9/10/15

At least 1
per week
33

Almost
every wk
12

Once per
month
19

Less often
than that
28

Never
7

No
opinion
*

23. Overall, do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of the Catholic Church?
Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
All:
------- Favorable ------------ Unfavorable -----NET
Strongly
Somewhat
NET
Somewhat
Strongly
9/10/15
55
22
33
30
18
12
12/8/13
62
24
38
30
20
10
2/17/13
62
26
35
28
16
13
4/24/05
56
NA
NA
36
NA
NA
2/22/04
54
33
10/13/03
48
44
12/15/02
40
52
6/17/02
45
47
6/9/02
47
45
3/28/02
55
34
2/20/02
63
27
8/30/99*
68
"
"
19
"
"
*Wash Post/Kaiser/Harvard, asked "very/somewhat" follow

No
opinion
15
8
10
8
13
8
8
9
7
11
11
13

Catholics:
9/10/15
12/8/13
2/17/13
4/24/05
2/22/04
10/13/03
12/15/02
6/17/02
6/9/02
3/28/02
2/20/02

------- Favorable ------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
81
47
34
95
62
34
86
56
30
81
NA
NA
87
80
69
69
70
73
88
"
"

------ Unfavorable -----NET
Somewhat
Strongly
15
11
4
4
4
0
11
7
3
17
NA
NA
10
17
30
28
28
24
9
"
"

No
opinion
4
1
3
1
3
3
2
3
2
3
4

24. (ASKED OF CATHOLICS) In general, do you think the Catholic Church is in touch with
the views of Catholics in America today, or is it out of touch?
9/10/15
3/10/13*
4/13/08

In touch
56
34
34

Out of touch
43
60
62

No opinion
1
7
4

9

 4/24/05
44
10/13/03
34
10/1/95
38
*2013 and previous: Roman

52
4
62
3
58
5
Catholic Church

25. Do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Pope Francis? Do you feel
that way strongly or somewhat?
All:
------- Favorable ------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
9/10/15
70
44
26
12/8/13
69
36
33
2/17/13*
54
22
32
4/13/08*
48
NA
NA
3/13/05**
67
10/13/03
65
1/13/98
71
10/1/95
64
8/8/93
68
8/23/87
51
*Pope Benedict XVI
**2005 and previous: Pope John Paul the

------ Unfavorable -----NET
Somewhat
Strongly
13
8
5
14
9
5
27
17
10
24
NA
NA
16
24
10
20
12
8

No
opinion
17
16
19
28
17
11
19
16
20
41

Second

Catholics:
9/10/15
12/8/13
2/17/13*
4/13/08*
3/13/05**
10/13/03
10/1/95
8/23/87

------- Favorable ------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
86
74
12
92
63
29
76
43
33
74
NA
NA
87
84
83
76

------ Unfavorable -----NET
Somewhat
Strongly
9
4
5
4
3
1
14
8
6
13
NA
NA
8
11
10
4

No
opinion
5
3
9
14
5
5
7
20

26. Do you approve or disapprove of the direction in which Pope Francis is leading the
Catholic Church? Do you feel that way strongly, or somewhat?
All:
-------- Approve -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
64
38
26
64
31
34

------- Disapprove -----NET
Somewhat
Strongly
13
7
6
14
8
5

No
opinion
23
22

Catholics:
-------- Approve -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
9/10/15
89
70
19
12/8/13
85
54
31

------- Disapprove -----NET
Somewhat
Strongly
8
4
3
7
4
2

No
opinion
3
9

9/10/15
12/8/13

27. (ASKED OF CATHOLICS) Do you think the pope is (changing traditional church
policies on important issues), or is he (keeping traditional church policies pretty
much the same)?
9/10/15

Changing policies
66

Keeping policies the same
29

10

No opinion
5

 28. Pope Francis will be speaking to a joint session of the U.S. Congress this month.
In that address, do you think it would or would not be appropriate for the pope to
urge government action on social, economic, and environmental issues?
9/10/15

All
Catholics

Appropriate
59
67

Not appropriate
31
27

No opinion
10
6

29. More generally, would you like to see Pope Francis become more active on social,
economic, and environmental issues, less active or continue as he has been?
9/10/15

All
Catholics

More active
23
30

Less active
14
13

Continue
54
52

No opinion
9
4

30. The O.J. Simpson case occurred 20 years ago. A criminal court jury found Simpson
not guilty of charges that he killed his wife and a friend of hers. A civil court jury
later said Simpson was responsible for these killings. What’s your own opinion – do
you think Simpson was definitely guilty, probably guilty, probably not guilty, or
definitely not guilty of these murders?
---------- Guilty --------NET
Definitely
Probably
76
38
39
83
44
39
57
17
40

9/10/15 All
Whites
Blacks

------- Not guilty -------NET
Probably
Definitely
9
7
2
6
5
2
24
17
7

No
opinion
14
11
19

Compare to:
2007 (Washington Post): And thinking back about a decade, a jury found O.J. Simpson
NOT guilty in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Regardless of the
verdict, what is your opinion of the case now? Do you think Simpson was definitely
guilty, probably guilty, probably not guilty, or definitely not guilty?
1997 and previous: Whether you agree with the jury or not, do you think Simpson is
definitely guilty, probably guilty, probably not guilty, or definitely not guilty of
these murders?
---------- Guilty --------NET
Definitely
Probably

------- Not guilty -------NET
Probably
Definitely

All:
9/10/15
9/23/07
2/4/97*
10/5/95
10/3/95
9/27/95
7/17/95
3/19/95
1/29/95
1/9/95
7/20/94

76
67
74
62
63
68
71
63
59
65
57

38
31
34
29
29
31
29
20
17
18
10

39
37
41
33
34
37
42
43
41
48
47

9
19
19
33
30
26
24
27
32
23
27

7
11
14
20
17
18
16
20
22
18
20

2
8
6
14
13
8
8
7
11
5
7

14
14
7
4
7
6
6
10
9
12
16

Whites:
9/10/15
9/23/07
2/4/97*
10/5/95
10/3/95
9/27/95
7/17/95
3/19/95

83
74
82
69
70
77
78
69

44
33
39
32
33
35
32
20

39
41
43
37
37
41
46
48

6
13
12
27
24
18
16
21

5
8
9
18
15
14
12
16

2
5
3
9
9
4
3
4

11
13
7
5
6
5
6
11

11

No
opinion

 1/29/95
1/9/95
7/20/94

66
70
63

19
20
11

47
51
52

24
18
20

17
15
17

7
3
3

10
12
17

Blacks:
9/10/15
57
17
9/23/07
45
22
2/4/97*
31
3
10/5/95
16
6
10/3/95
18
4
9/27/95
20
5
7/17/95
22
5
3/19/95
20
6
1/29/95
18
8
1/9/95
26
1
7/20/94
22
3
*"of these murders" added

40
23
28
10
14
15
17
14
10
26
19

24
40
62
81
74
72
71
72
78
60
65

17
25
37
36
33
47
39
45
42
38
36

7
14
25
45
41
24
31
28
36
22
30

19
16
7
4
8
9
7
7
5
13
13

Party ID. Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as (a Democrat), (a
Republican), an independent or what?
9/10/15
7/19/15
5/31/15
3/29/15
1/15/15
12/14/14
10/26/14
10/12/14
9/7/14

Democrat
33
30
30
30
30
26
32
31
33

Republican
22
21
22
22
24
23
24
24
23

Independent
35
39
36
38
37
41
36
36
38

Other (vol.)
5
7
6
7
6
7
5
6
4

No opinion
4
4
6
3
3
3
3
3
2

***END***
METHODOLOGICAL DETAILS
This poll was jointly sponsored and funded by The Washington Post and ABC News. The
poll is a random sample of the continental United States, not including Alaska and
Hawaii, with interviews in English and Spanish.
This questionnaire was administered with the exact questions in the exact order as
appears in this document, other than the party identification question which was asked
after question 2. Demographics and questions on voter registration, religious identity
and worship attendance not shown. If a question was asked of a reduced base of the
sample, a parenthetical preceding the question identifies the group asked. Phrases
surrounded by parentheticals within questions indicate clauses that were randomly
rotated for respondents. Results preceded by “RV” indicate results among registered
voters.
A dual frame landline and cellular phone telephone sample was generated using Random
Digit Dialing procedures. Interviewers called landlines cellular phone numbers, first
requesting to speak with the youngest adult male or female at home. The final sample
included 351 interviews completed on landlines and 652 interviews completed via
cellular phones, including 387 interviews with adults in cell phone-only households.
This survey uses statistical weighting procedures to account for differential chances
of being selected due to landline and cellular phone access and household size.
Weighting also corrects for deviations in the survey sample from known population
characteristics, which helps correct for differential survey participation and random
variation in samples.

12

 The overall adult sample is weighted using a raking procedure to match the demographic
makeup of the population by sex, region, age, education, and race/ethnicity according
to Census estimates. The sample is also weighted to match phone estimates of the share
of the population who are cell phone-only, landline-only and mixed user populations
according to the National Health Interview Survey.
All error margins have been adjusted to account for the survey’s design effect, which
is 1.25 for this survey. The design effect is a factor representing the survey’s
deviation from a simple random sample, and takes into account decreases in precision
due to sample design and weighting procedures. Surveys that do not incorporate a
design effect overstate their precision.
Group
All adults
Registered voters
Leaned Democrats
Leaned Republicans
Registered Leaned Dems
Registered Leaned Reps
Catholics

Unweighted
sample size
1,003
818
443
399
355
342
218

Error margin
+/- 3.5 points
4
5
5.5
6
6
7.5

The Washington Post is a charter member of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, which
recognizes organizations that disclose key methodological details on the research they
produce.
Contact polls@washpost.com for further information about how The Washington Post
conducts polls.

13