KAET-ASU Poll

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/25/01
CONTACT: Dr. Bruce Merrill 480-965-7051

For more information and analysis of this poll,
watch HORIZON tonight at 7pm on Channel 8.

KAET POLL
ARIZONANS SUPPORT PRESIDENT BUSH & MILITARY ACTION;
MORE TERRORISM EXPECTED BUT NOT IN ARIZONA;
ARIZONANS UNCERTAIN ABOUT THE ECONOMY

Arizona joins the rest of the nation in its overwhelming support of President George W. Bush. Ninety-one percent (91%) of registered voters in Arizona approve of the way President Bush is handling the terrorist attacks against the United States. Five percent (5%) disapprove and four percent had no opinion. The most recent Gallup Poll shows President Bush with a ninety-one percent (91%) rating nationwide.

This KAET Poll of 560 registered voters living in Arizona was conducted between September 20 and September 23, 2001. KAET-TV and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication at Arizona State University conduct the poll.

An overwhelming percentage of the Arizona electorate (87 percent) also said they feel the United States should take military action against those responsible for the attacks even at the risk of war. Six percent (6 %) were opposed to military action and seven percent had no opinion. Opinions were more evenly divided over whether or not the terrorist attacks represent a failure of the American intelligence system. Forty-eight percent (48%) believe there was a failure, thirty six percent (36%) did not feel U.S. intelligence had failed, and sixteen percent had no opinion.

Eighty-two percent (82%) of those interviewed think additional attacks on America within the next year are either likely or very likely. Only thirty-six percent (36%) think attacks in Arizona are very (6 percent) or somewhat (30 percent) likely.

Arizonans are divided about economic recovery. Thirty-six percent (36%) feel that one year from now the economy will be better, thirty-five percent (35%) feel it will be about the same as it was before the attacks, twenty-three percent (23%) feel the economy will continue to struggle and six percent had no opinion.

Q1: First, we would like to know if you approve or disapprove of the way President George W. Bush is handling the terrorist attacks against the United States in New York City and Washington D.C.?

Q2: Should the U.S. take forceful military action against the people who are responsible for these attacks, even if it means risking further retaliation and the threat of war?

Q3: Do you think the terrorist attacks represent a failure of the American intelligence system, or were these attacks beyond what is reasonable to expect the American intelligence system to uncover?

Q4: Thinking of the next year or so, do you think more terrorist attacks against the United States are very likely, likely or not very likely?

Q5: How about here in Arizona during the next year or so, do you think a terrorist attack is very likely, likely or not very likely?

Q6: Now, thinking about the U.S. economy a year from now, do you think the economy will:

1. Still be struggling because of the terrorist attacks
2. Will be about where it was before the attacks
3. Will be stronger than where it was before the attacks

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1%. Forty-three percent (43%) of those interviewed were Republican, forty percent (40%) Democrat and seventeen percent identified themselves as Independent or "others". Fifty-seven percent (57%) lived in Maricopa County, eighteen percent (18%) in Pima County and twenty-five percent (25%) in counties other than Maricopa and Pima.

PROGRAM NOTE: Dr. Bruce Merrill will appear on Channel 8’s HORIZON program Thursday, September 27 at 7p.m. to discuss results of another poll measuring the psychological impact of the terrorists attacks on Arizonans.

KAET-TV/Channel 8 is a part of Arizona State University.