CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL

Rising Concerns About Terror Attack

December 4-8, 2015
Q1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President?

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
44
7
81
40
48
91
15
46
8
2
5
14

Nov15e
%
42
47
11

Q2. Do you feel things in this country are generally going in the right direction or do you feel things have pretty seriously
gotten off on the wrong track?

Right direction
Wrong track
Don't know/No answer

24
68
8

5
92
3

42
47
11

23
69
8

Nov15a
33
62
6

Q3. What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?

Terrorism (general)
14
Economy & jobs
12
Guns/Gun policy
6
Immigration/illegal immigrants
5
Islamic Extremist groups/Al Qaeda/ISIS 5
Crime/violence (general)
4
Racism/race relations
3
Health care/health insurance
3
Homeland security
3
Environment/global warming
2
Miscellaneous social issues
2
Barack Obama/the president
2
Miscellaneous govt issues
2
Community/lack of unity
2
Religious values/prayer in schools
2
Budget/national debt/deficit/surplus
2
Other
27
Don't know/No answer
4

17
13
4
8
8
2
2
3
6
*
*
4
3
*
3
3
22
2

13
13
12
5
4
5
4
4
1
4
1
1
1
2
*
1
26
3

13
11
3
4
5
4
2
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
32
5

Nov15e
14
16
*
6
8
1
1
4
3
1
5
4
2
1
1
1
27
5

Q4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the economy?
Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

45
46
9

11
82
8

74
17
8

45
45
9

44
49
7

Q5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the threat of terrorism?

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
34
7
65
30
57
90
28
59
8
4
8
11

Nov15e
%
36
56
8

Q6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

15
74
11

12
78
10

13
77
10

18
71
12

Oct15d
13
75
12

Q7. Which comes closest to your feelings about the way things are going in Washington enthusiastic, satisfied but not
enthusiastic, dissatisfied but not angry, or angry?

Enthusiastic
Satisfied but not enthusiastic
Dissatisfied but not angry
Angry
Don't know/No answer

1
12
53
31
3

1
4
52
40
2

2
20
51
24
3

1
10
54
30
5

Nov15a
3
16
48
32
2

Q8. How would you rate the condition of the national economy these days? Is it very good, fairly good, fairly bad or very
bad?

Very good
Fairly good
Fairly bad
Very bad
Don't know/No answer

4
42
31
22
2

1
27
38
33
2

8
56
19
16
1

4
40
34
20
2

Oct15d
4
34
33
27
3

Q9 Q55 RELEASED SEPARATELY

Q56. Which comes closer to your opinion about Syrian refugees who want to come to the United States? 1. (The U.S.
should allow refugees from Syria into the United States as long as they go through a security clearance process.) OR 2.
(The U.S. should not allow any refugees from Syria into the United States at this time.)

Should allow
Should not allow
Don't know/No answer

49
47
3

22
76
1

66
32
2

53
43
4

Nov15e
47
50
3

Q57. From what youve heard or read, do you approve or disapprove of the health care law that was enacted in 2010?

Strongly approve
Somewhat approve
Somewhat disapprove
Strongly disapprove
Don't know/No answer

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
20
4
39
17
20
7
30
20
15
13
9
19
37
70
15
34
8
6
7
10

Jun15b
%
24
23
14
30
9

Q58. Compared to two years ago, is your family's financial situation better today, worse today, or about the same?

Better today
Worse today
About the same
Don't know/No answer

20
24
55
1

13
30
56
1

32
16
52
*

17
27
56
1

Oct10e
12
42
45
1

Q59. How likely do you think it is that there will be a terrorist attack in the United States within the next few months
very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not at all likely?

Very likely
Somewhat likely
Not very likely
Not at all likely
Don't know/No answer

44
35
11
6
5

61
29
3
2
4

33
41
13
8
5

42
34
13
7
5

Nov15e
28
41
20
8
5

Q60. How concerned are you about the threat of terrorism against Americans committed by terrorists entering the US
from other countries? Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned or not concerned at all?
Very concerned
Somewhat concerned
Not very concerned
Not at all concerned
Don't know/No answer

59
26
10
4
1

79
17
3
1
-

48
34
13
5
*

57
26
11
6
1

Q61. How concerned are you about the threat of terrorism against Americans committed by people currently living in
the US who are inspired by foreign extremists? Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned or
not concerned at all?
Very concerned
Somewhat concerned
Not very concerned
Not at all concerned

63
26
7
4

76
21
2
2

57
30
9
3

60
26
8
5

Don't know/No answer

Q62. How would you say things are going for the U.S. in its fight against the militant group ISIS (eye-sis) in Iraq and Syria?
Would you say things are going very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or very badly?

Very well
Somewhat well
Somewhat badly
Very badly
Don't know/No answer

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
3
1
4
3
22
12
33
20
37
33
39
38
34
51
18
35
5
4
5
5

Nov15e
%
3
26
33
29
9

Q63. Do you think the militant group ISIS is a threat to the security of the United States, or not?

Yes, major
Yes, minor
Not a threat
Don't know/No answer

70
16
11
3

87
10
3
1

65
18
14
3

65
18
13
4

Mar15c
62
21
13
5

Q64. In general, do you think laws covering the sale of guns should be made more strict, less strict, or kept as they are
now?

More strict
Less strict
Kept as they are
Don't know/No answer

51
10
36
3

23
17
59
1

76
3
19
1

51
12
34
4

Oct15d
58
8
31
3

Q65. Do you favor or oppose a nationwide ban on assault weapons?

Favor ban
Oppose ban
Don't know/No answer

44
50
6

25
69
6

64
32
4

42
51
7

Jan11c
63
34
3

Q66. How much do you think stricter gun laws would do to help prevent gun violence? Would stricter laws help a lot,
some, not much, or not at all?

A lot
Some
Not much
Not at all
Don't know/No answer

26
24
15
33
2

7
14
19
58
1

45
31
10
13
1

25
25
16
32
2

Oct15d
29
30
15
25
1

Q67. How much do you think better mental health screening and treatment would do to help prevent gun violence?
Would better mental health screening and treatment help a lot, some, not much, or not at all?

A lot
Some
Not much
Not at all
Don't know/No answer

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
45
41
50
45
32
33
35
31
11
15
9
11
8
10
6
9
2
2
1
3

Oct15a
%
50
33
9
7
1

Q68. How concerned are you about the threat of a mass shooting in the area where you live? Are you very concerned,
somewhat concerned, not very concerned or not concerned at all?
Very concerned
Somewhat concerned
Not very concerned
Not at all concerned
Don't know/No answer

23
30
29
18
*

20
30
32
18
*

28
28
28
16
*

23
31
28
18
1

Q69. Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the (Republican Party) or the (Democratic Party) would make the
right decisions when it comes to gun laws?
Republican party
Democratic party
Both
Neither
Don't know/No answer

41
37
2
9
12

84
5
1
6
5

12
74
2
4
8

36
32
2
13
17

Q70. Regardless of how you usually vote, do you think the (Republican Party) or the (Democratic Party) would make the
right decisions when it comes to dealing with terrorism?
Republican party
Democratic party
Both
Neither
Don't know/No answer
Total Respondents
Total Republicans
Total Democrats
Total Independents

41
34
4
8
13

84
4
*
4
7

13
69
6
4
8

Unweighted
1,275
342
383
550

36
28
5
12
19
Weighted

304
365
607