This Washington Post-ABC News poll was conducted by telephone October 15-18, 2015,
among a random national sample of 1,001 adults, including landline and cell phone
respondents. Results have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage
points. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by Abt-SRBI of New York.
*= less than 0.5 percent
(Full methodological details and sampling error margins for subgroups 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?

10/18/15
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

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

-------- Approve -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
51
28
23
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

------- Disapprove -----NET
Somewhat
Strongly
45
10
35
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

1

No
opinion
4
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

 2/4/12
50
29
22
1/15/12
48
25
23
12/18/11
49
25
24
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

46
48
47
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

11
11
13
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

36
37
34
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
4
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. As you may know, Obama has halted the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan,
saying the current force of 98-hundred troops will remain in place through most of
next year, and 55-hundred will stay into 2017. Is this something you support or
oppose?
10/18/15

Support
50

Oppose
39

No opinion
12

Compare to:
Do you support or oppose keeping about 10,000 U.S. forces in Afghanistan to train
Afghan forces and assist in counter-insurgency operations in the year ahead? Do you
feel that way strongly or somewhat?

12/14/14

-------- Support -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
54
30
23

-------- Oppose --------NET
Somewhat
Strongly
43
14
29

No
opinion
3

3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way [ITEM] are doing their job? Do you
approve/disapprove strongly or somewhat?
10/18/15 - Summary Table

a. The Democrats in Congress

------- Approve -----NET
Strongly
Smwht
35
12
23

2

----- Disapprove ----NET
Smwht
Strongly
59
19
39

No
op.
6

 b. The Republicans in Congress

24

6

18

71

22

49

Trend:
a. The Democrats in Congress

10/18/15
3/29/15
10/19/14
9/7/14
1/12/14
12/15/13
3/10/13
1/13/13
12/16/12
3/10/12
1/15/12
12/18/11
4/17/11
10/3/10
7/18/09
4/24/09
2/22/09
7/13/08
2/1/08
12/9/07
11/1/07
9/30/07
7/21/07
6/1/07
4/15/07
10/8/06
5/15/06
11/2/05
6/5/05
6/6/99
3/14/99
7/8/97
4/5/95
10/31/94
10/23/94
9/11/94

-------- Approve -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
35
12
23
38
11
26
30
9
21
33
12
21
34
11
23
34
NA
NA
34
37
39
34
33
27
36
36
47
45
50
35
39
40
36
38
46
44
54
48
39
41
42
51
51
45
36
39
36
41
"
"

------ Disapprove ------NET
Somewhat
Strongly
59
19
39
57
24
33
67
27
40
61
22
39
60
19
40
64
NA
NA
62
59
56
60
62
66
60
61
48
49
44
57
54
53
58
57
51
49
44
50
58
54
56
42
42
49
60
53
59
53
"
"

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

------ Disapprove ------NET
Somewhat
Strongly
71
22
49
68
24
44
72
27
45
72
26
47
71
24
46
73
NA
NA
72
71
70
71
75
72
68
63

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

b. The Republicans in Congress

10/18/15
3/29/15
10/19/14
9/7/14
1/12/14
12/15/13
3/10/13
1/13/13
12/16/12
3/10/12
1/15/12
12/18/11
9/1/11
4/17/11

-------- Approve -------NET
Strongly
Somewhat
24
6
18
27
8
19
25
6
19
21
5
15
25
6
18
24
NA
NA
24
24
25
23
21
20
28
34

3

6

 10/3/10
7/18/09
4/24/09
2/22/09
7/13/08
2/1/08
12/9/07
11/1/07
9/30/07
7/21/07
6/1/07
4/15/07
10/8/06
5/15/06
11/2/05
6/5/05
6/6/99
3/14/99
7/8/97
9/15/96 RV
6/30/96
4/5/95
10/31/94
10/23/94
9/11/94

30
36
30
38
25
30
32
32
29
34
36
39
35
33
35
42
41
40
40
46
38
45
33
31
35

"

"

67
58
64
56
69
63
63
63
67
64
58
59
63
64
61
56
52
56
54
48
56
50
59
64
59

"

"

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

4. Do you think Republican disagreement in selecting the next Speaker of the House of
Representatives (reflects healthy debate among House Republicans), or (is a sign of
dysfunction among House Republicans)?
10/18/15

Healthy debate
29

Dysfunction
59

No opinion
12

5. (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?
10/18/15 - NET LEANED VOTE PREFERENCE
Among gen pop:
Donald Trump
Ben Carson
Marco Rubio
Jeb Bush
Ted Cruz
Carly Fiorina
Chris Christie
Mike Huckabee
Rand Paul
John Kasich
Lindsey Graham
George Pataki
Bobby Jindal
Rick Santorum
Jim Gilmore
Rick Perry
Paul Ryan
Scott Walker

-------------- 2015 ------------10/18
9/10
7/19
5/31
3/29
32
34
23
5
NA
21
18
6
7
7
9
6
9
9
7
8
10
13
13
20
6
7
4
7
13
5
2
*
2
1
3
1
4
5
6
3
3
7
9
8
3
4
6
11
9
2
3
2
3
1
1
*
*
1
1
1
*
2
1
NA
0
1
2
1
1
*
1
1
3
2
NA
*
NA
NA
NA
NA
1
3
2
2
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
2
11
11
12

4

---------- 2014 ----------12/14
10/12
4/27
1/23
NA
NA
NA
NA
7
6
NA
NA
6
8
7
10
15
15
14
18
8
4
6
12
NA
NA
NA
NA
8
7
10
13
6
11
13
NA
11
12
14
11
2
2
2
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
3
2
1
NA
3
3
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
5
6
6
NA
11
8
11
20
6
1
5
NA

 Other (vol.)
None of these (vol.)
Would not vote (vol.)
No opinion

1
1
1
3

2
2
2
3

1
5
1
2

*
1
1
6

1
3
1
4

*
2
*
7

1
3
1
10

1
4
*
5

2
4
1
9

Among reg voters:
Donald Trump
Ben Carson
Marco Rubio
Jeb Bush
Ted Cruz
Carly Fiorina
Chris Christie
Mike Huckabee
Rand Paul
John Kasich
Lindsey Graham
George Pataki
Rick Santorum
Bobby Jindal
Jim Gilmore
Rick Perry
Paul Ryan
Scott Walker
Other (vol.)
None of these (vol.)
Would not vote (vol.)
No opinion

------------- 2015 -------------10/18
9/10
7/19
5/31
3/29
32
33
24
4
NA
22
20
6
8
6
10
7
7
10
8
7
8
12
10
21
6
7
4
8
12
5
2
*
2
1
3
1
3
6
7
3
3
8
9
8
2
5
6
11
8
2
3
2
3
1
1
*
*
1
1
1
*
1
1
NA
*
1
1
4
2
0
1
2
*
1
NA
0
NA
NA
NA
NA
1
4
2
1
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
2
13
11
13
1
1
*
*
1
1
1
4
2
3
0
1
1
1
1
2
3
2
5
4

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

6. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) Regardless of who you support, which candidate do you
think is most likely to win the Republican nomination for president? (Candidates not
read)

Donald Trump
Ben Carson
Jeb Bush
Marco Rubio
Ted Cruz
Mike Huckabee
Chris Christie
Carly Fiorina
Rand Paul
Rick Santorum
John Kasich
Lindsay Graham
Bobby Jindal
George Pataki
Rick Perry
Scott Walker
Other (vol.)
No opinion

---- Gen pop ---10/18/15
3/29/15
42
NA
15
1
12
33
5
4
3
12
2
4
1
4
1
*
1
5
1
1
*
0
0
0
0
*
0
NA
NA
2
NA
8
*
2
16
23

--- Reg voters --10/18/15
3/29/15
43
NA
16
1
12
35
6
5
3
10
2
2
1
5
1
*
*
6
1
1
*
0
0
0
0
*
0
NA
NA
2
NA
9
*
2
14
23

7. (ASKED OF LEAND REPUBLICANS) Thinking about six of these candidates – (Trump)
(Carson) (Fiorina) (Bush) (Rubio) (Cruz)– who do you think [ITEM]?
Full item wording:
a. is the strongest leader

5

 b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.

is the most honest and trustworthy
has the best chance of getting elected president in November 2016
is closest to you on the issues
has the best experience to be president
has the best personality and temperament to serve effectively as president
is best able to handle the issue of immigration
best understands the problems of people like you

10/18/15 – Summary Table
Leader
Trump
47
Rubio
11
Bush
12
Carson
9
Cruz
8
Fiorina
6
All (vol.)
0
Any 2 (vol.)
1
None (vol.)
2
No opinion
5

Honest
21
10
10
33
7
7
*
1
6
5

Best
chance
43
11
13
16
4
3
*
*
1
8

Issues
32
11
11
19
8
6
*
1
2
9

Experience
23
12
31
8
8
3
1
1
7
7

Personality
19
14
15
24
5
10
1
1
1
11

Immigration
39
15
13
9
9
4
*
1
2
8

Understands
29
13
10
19
8
8
*
*
8
4

8. (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?
10/18/15 - NET LEANED VOTE PREFERENCE
Among gen pop:
Hillary Clinton
Bernie Sanders
Joe Biden
Martin O'Malley
Jim Webb
Lincoln Chafee
Andrew Cuomo
Brian Schweitzer
Elizabeth Warren
Other (vol.)
None of these (vol.)
Would not vote (vol.)
No opinion

-------------- 2015 ------------10/18
9/10
7/19
5/31
3/29
56
46
62
63
66
22
20
14
9
4
15
21
14
14
11
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
*
1
1
1
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
11
1
1
2
2
*
2
4
2
3
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
4
2
2
3

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

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

-------------- 2015 ------------10/18
9/10
7/19
5/31
3/29
54
42
63
62
66
23
24
14
10
5
16
21
12
14
12
1
2
1
3
*
1
1
2
1
1
*
1
*
1
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
12
1
1
2
2
*
2
5
3
4
2
1
1
1
1
1

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

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

Among reg voters:
Hillary Clinton
Bernie Sanders
Joe Biden
Martin O'Malley
Jim Webb
Lincoln Chafee
Andrew Cuomo
Brian Schweitzer
Elizabeth Warren
Other (vol.)
None of these (vol.)
Would not vote (vol.)

6

 No opinion

2

3

2

1

2

2

5

2

4

9. (ASKED OF LEANED BIDEN SUPPORTERS) Who would your second choice be? Which candidate
would you lean toward as your second choice?
10/18/15 – NET LEANED VOTE PREFERENCE

Hillary Clinton
Bernie Sanders
Martin O'Malley
Jim Webb
Lincoln Chafee
Other (vol.)
None of these (vol.)
Would not vote (vol.)
No opinion

---------- Gen pop --------10/18/15
9/10/15
7/19/15
65
59
69
24
24
15
2
2
2
2
2
4
*
1
1
1
1
2
3
4
3
1
2
1
2
5
3

-------- Reg voters -------10/18/15
9/10/15
7/19/15
64
56
68
25
28
16
2
3
2
2
2
5
*
1
1
1
1
2
3
5
3
1
1
1
2
4
3

10. (ASKED OF LEANED DEMOCRATS) Regardless of who you yourself support, which
candidate do you think is most likely to win the Democratic nomination for president?
(Candidates not read)
10/18/15
65
14
11
1
*
NA
1
8

Hillary Clinton
Joe Biden
Bernie Sanders
Jim Webb
Martin O'Malley
Elizabeth Warren
Other (vol.)
No opinion

3/29/15
72
13
1
1
1
1
*
10

11. (ASKED OF LEANED DEMOCRATS) Thinking just about Clinton and Sanders, who do you think
[ITEM]?
Full item wording:
a. is more honest and trustworthy
b. has a better chance of getting elected president in November 2016
c. is closer to you on the issues
d. better understands the problems of people like you
10/18/15 - Summary Table
Clinton
Sanders
Both (vol.)
Neither (vol.)
No opinion

Honest
42
41
7
7
4

Best chance
73
21
2
2
3

Issues
53
36
3
2
5

Understands
51
37
3
5
4

12. (ASKED OF LEANED DEMOCRATS) From what you’ve seen, heard or read about it, who, in your
opinion, won the Democratic primary debate held earlier this week?

10/18/15

Clinton
45

Sanders
19

O’Malley
*

Webb
*

7

Chafee
0

None
(vol.)
6

No
opinion
29

 13. (ASKED OF LEANED DEMOCRATS) Regardless of who you may support, would you say that the
more you hear about [ITEM] the more you like him/her, or the more you hear about [ITEM] the
less you like him/her?
10/18/15 - Summary Table
a. Hillary Clinton
b. Bernie Sanders

More
60
58

Less
22
23

No difference
12
7

Haven’t heard enough
2
8

No opinion
3
4

14. (ASKED OF LEANED REPUBLICANS) Regardless of who you may support, would you say that the
more you hear about [ITEM] the more you like him/her, or the more you hear about [ITEM] the
less you like him/her?
10/18/15 - Summary Table
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.

More
47
64
47
41
52
41

Donald Trump
Ben Carson
Carly Fiorina
Jeb Bush
Marco Rubio
Ted Cruz

Less
45
18
30
47
29
33

No difference
5
4
4
6
4
5

Haven’t heard enough
0
9
12
4
10
14

No opinion
3
5
6
3
5
7

15. Regardless of who you support, just your best guess, who do you think will win the
general election for president in November 2016? (Candidates not read)
Hillary Clinton
Donald Trump
Ben Carson
Bernie Sanders
Joe Biden
Jeb Bush
Marco Rubio
Ted Cruz
Carly Fiorina
Mike Huckabee
John Kasich
Rand Paul
Chris Christie
Jim Webb
Other (vol.)
No opinion

10/18/15
37
20
7
7
4
4
3
2
1
*
*
*
*
*
2
13

16. All else equal, would you like the next president to be someone who supports the
international trade agreement know as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or someone who opposes
this agreement?

10/18/15

Supports
TPP
44

Opposes
TPP
32

No
opinion
25

17. All else equal, would you like the next president to be someone who favors stricter
regulation of financial institutions on Wall Street, or someone who opposes this idea?

10/18/15

Favors stricter
regulation
67

Opposes stricter
regulation
24

8

No
opinion
9

 18. All else equal, would you like the next president to be someone who supports building the
Keystone oil pipeline from Canada to Texas, or opposes it?

10/18/15

Supports
pipeline
55

Opposes
pipeline
34

No
opinion
11

19. All else equal, would you like the next president to be someone who has experience in how
the political system works, or someone from outside the existing political establishment?

10/18/15

Experience in
political system
57

Outside
establishment
39

No
opinion
4

20. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Hillary Clinton is handling questions
about [ITEM]?
10/18/15 - Summary Table
Disapprove

No
opinion

36

57

7

35

54

11

Approve
a. Her use of personal e-mail while she was
secretary of state
b. The attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi,
Libya, in 2012 while she was secretary of state
Trend:
a. Her use of personal e-mail while she was secretary of state?
10/18/15
9/10/15
5/31/15

Approve
36
34
31

Disapprove
57
55
55

No opinion
7
11
14

b. The attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012 while she was
secretary of state
10/18/15
5/31/15

Approve
35
33

Disapprove
54
50

No opinion
11
17

21. Do you think Republicans in Congress are (mainly raising legitimate concerns) in
their investigation of what occurred in Benghazi, or are they (mainly trying to damage
Clinton politically)?

10/18/15

Raising legitimate
concerns
35

Damage Clinton
politically
53

Both
(vol.)
6

No
opinion
7

Compare to:
Republicans in Congress have criticized the way the Obama administration handled the
attack that killed a U.S. ambassador in Benghazi, Libya last fall. Do you think
Republicans in Congress are (raising legitimate concerns), or are they (just political
posturing)?

5/19/13

Raising legitimate
concerns
44

Just political
posturing
45

9

Both
(vol.)
2

No
opinion
9

 22. Do you think gun violence is a very serious problem in this country, somewhat
serious, not so serious or less of a problem than that?

10/18/15

---- More serious --NET
Very
Somewhat
82
58
24

--- Less serious -NET
Not so
Less
17
9
8

No
opinion
1

23. Which do you think should be a higher priority right now – (enacting new laws to
try to reduce gun violence), or (protecting the right to own guns)? Do you feel that
way strongly or somewhat?

10/18/15
4/14/13

Enacting new laws
NET
Strg
Smwt
46
38
8
52
NA
NA

Right to own guns
NET
Smwt
Strg
47
7
40
40
NA
NA

Both
(vol.)
4
3

Neither
(vol.)
1
2

No
opinion
2
3

24. Do you think that mass shootings in this country are more a reflection of
(problems identifying and treating people with mental health problems) or (inadequate
gun control laws)?

10/18/15

Mental health
problems
63

Gun control
laws
23

Both
(vol.)
10

Neither
(vol.)
3

No
opinion
1

Party ID. Generally speaking, do you usually think of yourself as (a Democrat), (a
Republican), an independent or what?
10/18/15
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
30
33
30
30
30
30
26
32
31
33

Republican
24
22
21
22
22
24
23
24
24
23

Independent
39
35
39
36
38
37
41
36
36
38

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

No opinion
2
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 4. Demographics and questions on voter registration and religious
identity 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.

10

 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 350 interviews completed on landlines and 651 interviews completed via
cellular phones, including 395 interviews with adults in cell phone-only households.
This survey uses statistical weighting procedures to account for deviations in the
survey sample from known population characteristics, which helps correct for
differential survey participation and random variation in samples. The overall adult
sample is weighted to correct for differential probabilities of selection among
individuals who are landline-only, cell phone-only or dual users. Results are also
weighted match the demographic makeup of the population by sex, region, age, education
and race/ethnicity according to the latest Current Population Survey March Social and
Economic Supplement by age, race/ethnicity, sex and education.
All error margins have been adjusted to account for the survey’s design effect, which
is 1.30 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

Unweighted
sample size
1,001
809
444
423
352
364

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

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.

11