CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL

Republicans Express Deep Concerns about the Federal Government

October 21-25, 2015
Q1. 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

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
26
12
41
24
64
84
48
63
10
4
12
13

Oct15a
%
30
63
6

Q2. What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?

Economy & jobs

19
Immigration/illegal immigrants
5
Racism/race relations
4
Barack Obama/the president
3
Budget/national debt/deficit/surplus
3
Miscellaneous government issues
3
Income gap/disparity between
3
Guns/protect our 2nd amendment
3
Health care/health insurance/coverage 2
Foreign policy/foreign affairs
2
Moral values/family values (not in gov't) 2
Poverty/homelessness/hunger
2
Education/school loans/better quality 2
Crime/violence (general)
2
Welfare/AFDC mention/ public dole
2
Politicians/corrupt politicians
2
Partisan politics/negativity/nastiness
2
Community/lack of unity
2
Religious values/prayer in schools
2
Miscellaneous economic issues
2
Other
27
Don't know/No answer
6

19
10
1
6
5
5
*
*
2
2
3
1
1
3
1
1
1
2
3
1
29
4

17
2
6
1
3
2
7
5
3
1
2
4
4
2
*
1
3
1
1
2
27
6

Jul15e
22
7
3
3
3
2
2
1
4
3
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
*
29
7

22
4
3
3
3
4
3
2
2
1
3
2
2
1
4
3
1
2
3
1
23
8

Q3. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

Total
%
13
75
12

Rep
%
12
80
8

Dem
%
15
74
11

Ind
%
12
73
14

Rep. Reg. Vtrs

%
11
83
6

Oct15a
%
12
79
9

Q4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job?

Strongly approve
Somewhat approve
Somewhat disapprove
Strongly disapprove
Don't know

*********** REPUBLICANS *******

Total
Rep. Reg. Vtrs
%
%
7
8
23
21
35
39
26
28
8
4

Q5. In general, is your opinion of the Republican Party favorable or not favorable?

Favorable
Not favorable
Don't know/No answer

76
22
2

74
24
2

Oct15a
%
64
31
6

Q6. 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

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
2
*
2
2
17
10
28
14
53
54
50
55
23
34
17
22
4
2
3
7

Jul15e
2
20
48
28
3

Q7. 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
34
33
27
3

1
27
40
31
*

6
49
26
17
2

4
27
33
32
5

Oct15a
6
40
31
22
2

Q8. Do you think the economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?
Better
Worse
Same
Don't know/No answer
Q9-Q29 Released separately

23
30
45
2

10
38
51
*

41
21
36
2

17
32
47
4

24
29
45
1

Q30. Do you approve or disapprove of the way John Boehner is handling his job as Speaker of the House of
Representatives?

Approve
Disapprove
Don't know/No answer

* REPUBLICAN REGISTERED VOTERS *

%
38
46
16

Oct15a
%
21
61
17

Q30A. Is your opinion of George W. Bush favorable, not favorable, undecided, or havent you heard enough about
George W. Bush yet to have an opinion?

Favorable
Not favorable
Undecided
Haven't heard enough
Don't know/No answer

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
29
67
7
23
36
8
65
32
16
10
16
19
14
11
7
20
5
3
4
6

Apt15d
%
30
46
16
7
1

Q31. Is your opinion of Paul Ryan favorable, not favorable, undecided, or haven't you heard enough about Paul Ryan yet
to have an opinion?

Favorable
Not favorable
Undecided
Haven't heard enough
Don't know/No answer

* REPUBLICAN REGISTERED VOTERS *

%
40
12
15
32
1

Oct12c
%
67
7
7
17
2

Q32. Would you describe the Republican Party today as united or divided?

United
Divided
Don't know/No answer

22
75
3

Apr11a
51
45
4

Q33. When you think about the future of the Republican Party, do you feel mostly hopeful or mostly discouraged?

Mostly hopeful
Mostly discouraged
Both (Vol.)
Neither (Vol.)
Don't know/No answer
Q34 Blank

64
34
*
1
1

Jun14d
55
41
2
1
2

Q35. Which of these comes closer to your view? The US political system is working the way it is supposed to work with
both sides fighting hard for what they believe is right. The US political system is not working because of all the fighting
and gridlock.
* REPUBLICAN REGISTERED VOTERS *
%
Political system is working
22
Political system is not working
74
Neither (Vol.)
2
Don't know/No answer
2

Oct13d
%
18
81
*
1

Q36. BLANK
Q37. These days, how much do you blame the Republicans in Congress for gridlock in Washington--a lot, some, not
much or not at all?

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

17
53
18
11
1

Jul13b
16
47
23
9
5

Q38. These days, how much do you blame Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress for gridlock in Washington -- a
lot, some, not much or not at all?
A lot
Some
Not much
Not at all
Don't know/No answer

63
29
5
1
2

56
30
10
1
3

Q39. Which do you think the Republicans in Congress should do compromise some of their positions in order to get
things done, or stick to their positions even if it means not getting as much done?
Compromise
Stick to their positions
Depends (vol.)
Don't know/No answer
Q40-Q41 BLANK

56
39
3
2

68
27
2
3

Q43. Do you consider the federal government mostly a protector of your life and liberty or mostly a threat to your life
and liberty?

Protector
Threat
Neither (vol.)
Both (vol.)
Don't know/No answer

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
53
47
68
47
33
48
18
35
5
3
2
7
3
*
5
4
6
2
7
8

Q44. BLANK
Q45. Do you think any plan to reduce the federal budget deficit should include only tax increases, or only spending cuts,
or a combination of both tax increases and spending cuts?

Only tax increases

Only spending cuts
Both
Don't know/No answer

4
27
63
6

1
42
55
2

6
16
73
6

4
26
62
8

Feb14c
4
29
65
3

Q42. Do you think the federal government in Washington is violating any of your constitutional rights, or not?

Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

47
46
7

60
34
6

36
57
7

46
46
8

Dec01a*
24
71
5

*wording change: violating any of your constitutional rights these days

Q46. Do you feel that the distribution of money and wealth in this country is fair, or do you feel that the money and
wealth in this country should be more evenly distributed among more people?

Fair
Should be more even
Don't know/No answer

28
65
7

52
42
6

10
85
5

27
63
10

Jul15e
30
63
7

Q47. Do you think it is ever justified for citizens to take violent action against the government, or is it never justified?

Justified
Never justified
Don't know/No answer

23
69
8

22
70
8

18
76
6

27
64
9

Jan11b
16
76
8

Q47a. Do you think it should be legal or not legal for same sex couples to marry?

Legal
Not legal
Don't know/No answer

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
56
37
66
61
34
56
26
27
10
7
8
13

Sep15a1
%
55
37
8

Q48. Which comes closest to your view about illegal immigrants who are living in the U.S.? 1. They should be allowed to
stay in the U.S and eventually apply for citizenship, 2. They should be allowed to stay in the U.S. legally, but not be
allowed to apply for citizenship or 3. They should be required to leave the U.S.
Stay & apply for citizenship
Stay in the U.S. legally, but not apply
Required to leave the U.S.
Don't know/No answer

58
11
26
5

44
15
37
4

75
9
12
4

55
11
29
5

58
10
27
5

Q47b. How concerned are you about the federal government interfering with the ability of people to freely practice
their religion very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned, or not at all concerned?
Very concerned
Somewhat concerned
Not very concerned
Not at all concerned
Don't know/No answer

34
22
18
25
1

49
21
14
16
*

21
23
22
33
1

34
22
17
25
2

Q49. 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

58
8
31
3

41
14
45
1

79
2
15
3

53
8
36
4

Jul15e
52
13
32
2

Q50. Do you favor or oppose a federal law requiring background checks on all potential gun buyers?
Favor
Oppose
Don't know/No answer

92
7
1

87
12
1

98
2
*

90
7
2

88
10
1

Q51. 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

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
29
14
46
26
30
25
36
28
15
17
9
18
25
42
8
27
1
1
1

Jul15e
%
27
25
16
31
1

Q52. 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

50
33
9
7
1

47
34
11
7
1

56
33
6
3
1

47
32
10
9
2

Dec13b
44
33
13
8
2

Q53. Do you favor or oppose allowing more teachers and school officials to carry guns in schools?
Favor
Oppose
Don't know/No answer

38
57
4

64
34
2

19
79
2

38
55
7

Q54. How likely do you think it is that stricter gun laws will eventually lead to the federal government trying to take
away guns from Americans who legally own them 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

29
23
23
23
2

43
25
20
11
1

14
23
29
32
2

31
22
21
23
2

Q57. Do you think the Tea Party movement has too much influence, too little influence, or the right amount of influence
in the Republican Party?

Too much
Too little
Right amount
Don't know/No answer

* REPUBLICAN REGISTERED VOTERS *

%
18
25
45
12

Apr13d
%
26
25
43
7

tea. Do you consider yourself to be a supporter of the Tea Party movement, or not?

Yes
No
Don't know/No answer

** TOTAL RESPONDENTS **
Total Rep
Dem Ind
%
%
%
%
19
43
7
13
66
45
82
67
15
12
11
20

Unweighted
1,289

Weighted

Total Respondents
Total Republicans
Total Democrats
Total Independents

529
349
411

323
402
564

Total Registered Voters

1,136

996

Oct15a
%
23
68
9