GALLUP NEWS SERVICE
PRINCETON, NJ -- Satisfaction with the way things are going in the nation continues to decline, as now fewer than 4 in 10 Americans are satisfied. The current figures are the lowest since last March and rank among the lowest of the Bush presidency. They also reflect a considerable partisan divide. Americans most often mention economic concerns as the most important problem facing the country. National security issues such as Iraq and terrorism also figure prominently in Americans' minds.
The latest Gallup Poll shows 39% of Americans satisfied, and 60% dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time. That's the lowest satisfaction level since March 2003 (36%) and among the lowest of the Bush presidency.
| Satisfaction With the State of the Nation |
 |
While extreme satisfaction ratings can be predictive of election outcomes, a satisfaction rating like the current one does not necessarily spell doom for President Bush's re-election effort. In fact, Bill Clinton was re-elected in 1996 when an identical 39% of Americans were satisfied with the direction of the nation in October of that year. Ronald Reagan was re-elected in 1984 with 48% of Americans satisfied with the state of the nation (measured in September and October), while George H.W. Bush was defeated with only about 20% of Americans expressing satisfaction in 1992.
For incumbent presidents, job approval ratings are more significant predictors of their electoral fortunes. Even though satisfaction ratings were somewhat weak in October 1996, Clinton's job approval rating was above 50%. The elder Bush's approval rating was 40% or less at the same time satisfaction levels (measured in August and September 1992) were at 22%. The current President Bush's job approval rating stands at 50%.
As is true for Bush's job approval rating, the March 2004 satisfaction numbers show a wide partisan divide. Sixty-nine percent of Republicans are satisfied, compared with 36% of independents and only 15% of Democrats. Eighty-four percent of Democrats are dissatisfied. Those are the most negative numbers for Democrats during the Bush presidency.
| Satisfaction With the State of the Nation by Party Identification |
 |
| March 8-11, 2004 |
Most Important Problem
As they have been for the last two months, economic concerns remain the most frequent responses for Americans when they are asked to name the most important problem facing the country. About one in five say that either the economy (21%) or unemployment (19%) is the nation's top problem. Eleven percent mention the war in Iraq or fear of war, 10% mention terrorism, and 7% mention national security. There has been a slight increase in the percentage of Americans naming "national security" specifically as the most important problem compared with previous months. Other topics mentioned include dissatisfaction with government (6%), healthcare (6%), education (5%), moral decline (5%), and the federal budget deficit (5%).
What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today? [Open-ended]
|
Economy in general |
21% |
|
Unemployment/Jobs |
19 |
|
War in Iraq/Fear of war |
11 |
|
Terrorism |
10 |
|
National security |
7 |
|
Dissatisfaction with government/Poor leadership |
6 |
|
Healthcare |
6 |
|
Education |
5 |
|
Ethics/Moral/ Religious/Family decline |
5 |
|
Federal budget deficit/Federal debt |
5 |
The current data show that Democrats tend to be more concerned than Republicans about economic issues. Fifty-seven percent of Democrats mention any economic issue, compared with 35% of Republicans. Unemployment is a specific area where the partisan groups differ greatly, as 27% of Democrats cite it as the most important problem, compared with 12% of Republicans (and 17% of independents).
On the other hand, Republicans tend to be more concerned about security issues. For example, 15% say terrorism is the most important problem, compared with 8% of independents and 7% of Democrats. Also, 15% of Republicans say national security is the most important problem, compared with 4% of independents and 3% of Democrats.
Survey Methods
These results are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,005 adults, aged 18 and older, conducted March 8-11, 2004. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is ±3 percentage points. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
3. In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States at this time?
|
Satisfied |
Dissatisfied |
No opinion |
|
|
% |
% |
% |
|
|
2004 |
|||
|
2004 Mar 8-11 |
39 |
60 |
1 |
|
2004 Feb 9-12 |
45 |
54 |
1 |
|
2004 Jan 12-15 |
46 |
53 |
1 |
|
2004 Jan 2-5 |
55 |
43 |
2 |
|
2003 |
|||
|
2003 Dec 11-14 |
50 |
48 |
2 |
|
2003 Nov 3-5 |
44 |
54 |
2 |
|
2003 Oct 6-8 |
41 |
57 |
2 |
|
2003 Sep 8-10 |
40 |
58 |
2 |
|
2003 Aug 4-6 |
46 |
52 |
2 |
|
2003 Jul 7-9 |
50 |
48 |
2 |
|
2003 Jun 12-15 |
47 |
51 |
2 |
|
2003 May 5-7 |
54 |
45 |
1 |
|
2003 Apr 7-9 |
55 |
41 |
4 |
|
2003 Mar 22-23 |
60 |
38 |
2 |
|
2003 Mar 3-5 |
36 |
61 |
3 |
|
2003 Feb 17-19 |
39 |
58 |
3 |
|
2003 Feb 3-6 |
40 |
58 |
2 |
|
2003 Jan 13-16 |
42 |
56 |
2 |
|
2002 |
|||
|
2002 Dec 5-8 |
46 |
51 |
3 |
|
2002 Nov 11-14 |
48 |
48 |
4 |
|
2002 Oct 31-Nov 3 |
48 |
47 |
5 |
|
2002 Oct 3-6 |
47 |
49 |
4 |
|
2002 Sep 5-8 |
47 |
51 |
2 |
|
2002 Aug 5-8 |
47 |
50 |
3 |
|
2002 Jul 26-28 |
48 |
49 |
3 |
|
2002 Jul 22-24 |
49 |
47 |
4 |
|
2002 Jul 9-11 |
49 |
48 |
3 |
|
2002 Jun 3-6 |
52 |
44 |
4 |
|
2002 May 6-9 |
56 |
40 |
4 |
|
2002 Apr 8-11 |
61 |
37 |
2 |
|
2002 Mar 4-7 |
61 |
37 |
2 |
|
2002 Feb 4-6 |
61 |
37 |
2 |
|
2002 Jan 7-9 |
65 |
32 |
3 |
|
2001 |
|||
|
2001 Dec 6-9 |
70 |
28 |
2 |
|
2001 Nov 8-11 |
65 |
33 |
2 |
|
2001 Oct 11-14 |
67 |
29 |
4 |
|
2001 Sep 14-15 |
61 |
36 |
3 |
|
2001 Sep 7-10 |
43 |
55 |
2 |
|
2001 Aug 16-19 |
48 |
49 |
3 |
|
2001 Jul 19-22 |
51 |
46 |
3 |
|
2001 Jun 11-17 |
51 |
46 |
3 |
|
2001 May 10-14 |
46 |
50 |
4 |
|
2001 Apr 6-8 |
50 |
47 |
3 |
|
2001 Mar 5-7 |
53 |
44 |
3 |
|
2001 Feb 1-4 |
51 |
45 |
4 |
|
2001 Jan 10-14 |
56 |
41 |
3 |
|
2000 |
|||
|
2000 Dec 2-4 |
51 |
46 |
3 |
|
2000 Nov 13-15 |
58 |
41 |
1 |
|
2000 Oct 6-9 |
62 |
36 |
2 |
|
2000 Aug 29-Sep 5 |
59 |
38 |
3 |
|
2000 Aug 18-19 |
63 |
33 |
4 |
|
2000 Jul 14-16 |
61 |
35 |
4 |
|
2000 Jun 22-25 |
56 |
39 |
5 |
|
2000 May 18-21 |
55 |
42 |
3 |
|
2000 Apr 3-9 |
59 |
37 |
4 |
|
2000 Feb 25-27 |
65 |
32 |
3 |
|
2000 Jan 7-10 |
69 |
28 |
3 |
|
1999 |
|||
|
1999 Sep 23-26 |
52 |
45 |
3 |
|
1999 Aug 24-26 |
62 |
35 |
3 |
|
1999 Jun 11-13 |
55 |
42 |
3 |
|
1999 May 23-24 |
51 |
46 |
3 |
|
1999 Apr 26-27 |
51 |
45 |
4 |
|
1999 Apr 13-14 |
58 |
39 |
3 |
|
1999 Feb 12-13 |
71 |
26 |
3 |
|
1999 Jan 15-17 |
70 |
28 |
2 |
|
1998 |
|||
|
1998 Dec 28-29 |
50 |
48 |
2 |
|
1998 Oct 29-Nov 1 |
60 |
34 |
6 |
|
1998 Aug 21-23 |
63 |
34 |
3 |
|
1998 Aug 10-12 |
60 |
36 |
4 |
|
1998 May 8-10 |
59 |
36 |
5 |
|
1998 Apr 17-19 |
58 |
38 |
4 |
|
1998 Feb 20-22 |
64 |
32 |
4 |
|
1998 Feb 13-15 |
59 |
37 |
4 |
|
1998 Jan 30-Feb 1 |
63 |
35 |
2 |
|
1997 |
|||
|
1997 Dec 18-21 |
50 |
46 |
4 |
|
1997 Aug 22-25 |
50 |
48 |
2 |
|
1997 May 6-7 |
46 |
51 |
3 |
|
1997 Jan 10-13 |
50 |
47 |
3 |
|
1996 |
|||
|
1996 Dec 9-11 |
43 |
55 |
2 |
|
1996 Nov 21-24 |
47 |
47 |
6 |
|
1996 Oct 26-29 |
39 |
56 |
5 |
|
1996 Aug 30-Sep 1 |
45 |
50 |
5 |
|
1996 Aug 16-18 |
38 |
57 |
5 |
|
1996 May 9-12 |
37 |
60 |
3 |
|
1996 Mar 15-17 |
36 |
61 |
3 |
|
1996 Mar 8-10 |
41 |
56 |
3 |
|
1996 Jan 5-7 |
24 |
72 |
4 |
|
1995 |
|||
|
1995 Aug 11-14 |
33 |
64 |
3 |
|
1995 Jul 7-9 |
32 |
65 |
3 |
|
1995 Mar 27-29 |
30 |
66 |
4 |
|
1994 |
|||
|
1994 Nov 28-29 |
29 |
67 |
4 |
|
1994 Nov 2-6 |
30 |
66 |
4 |
|
1994 Oct 22-25 |
31 |
66 |
3 |
|
1994 Jul 15-17 |
33 |
65 |
2 |
|
1994 May 20-22 |
33 |
64 |
3 |
|
1994 Apr 22-24 |
32 |
65 |
3 |
|
1994 Mar 25-27 |
35 |
62 |
3 |
|
1994 Feb 26-28 |
36 |
61 |
3 |
|
1994 Jan 15-17 |
35 |
62 |
3 |
|
1993 |
|||
|
1993 Dec 4-6 |
34 |
63 |
3 |
|
1993 Nov 2-4 |
27 |
70 |
3 |
|
1993 May 21-23 |
24 |
73 |
3 |
|
1993 Feb 12-14 |
25 |
71 |
4 |
|
1993 Jan 8-11 |
29 |
68 |
3 |
|
1992 |
|||
|
1992 Nov 11-12 |
26 |
68 |
6 |
|
1992 Aug 28-Sep 2 ‡ |
22 |
73 |
5 |
|
1992 Jul 31-Aug 2 |
17 |
80 |
3 |
|
1992 Jun 12-14 |
14 |
84 |
2 |
|
1992 May 7-10 |
20 |
77 |
3 |
|
1992 Apr 20-22 ^ |
19 |
80 |
1 |
|
1992 Mar 20-22 |
19 |
80 |
1 |
|
1992 Feb 28-Mar 1 |
21 |
78 |
1 |
|
1992 Jan 31-Feb 2 ^ |
24 |
75 |
1 |
|
1992 Jan 3-6 ^ |
24 |
74 |
2 |
|
1991 |
|||
|
1991 Dec 5-8 |
37 |
60 |
3 |
|
1991 Oct 31-Nov 2 |
35 |
62 |
3 |
|
1991 Oct 10-13 |
39 |
57 |
4 |
|
1991 Aug 23-25 |
49 |
45 |
6 |
|
1991 Jul 11-14 |
43 |
50 |
7 |
|
1991 May 23-26 |
49 |
49 |
2 |
|
1991 Mar 21-24 |
52 |
43 |
5 |
|
1991 Feb 28-Mar 3 |
66 |
31 |
3 |
|
1991 Feb 14-17 |
54 |
40 |
6 |
|
1991 Jan 17-21 |
62 |
33 |
5 |
|
1991 Jan 3-6 |
32 |
61 |
7 |
|
1990 |
|||
|
1990 Dec 13-16 |
33 |
64 |
3 |
|
1990 Nov 1-4 |
32 |
64 |
4 |
|
1990 Oct 25-28 |
31 |
66 |
3 |
|
1990 Oct 11-14 |
29 |
67 |
4 |
|
1990 Sep 27-30 |
37 |
58 |
5 |
|
1990 Aug 30-Sep 2 |
51 |
44 |
5 |
|
1990 Aug 9-12 |
43 |
51 |
6 |
|
1990 Jul 19-22 |
45 |
51 |
4 |
|
1990 Feb 8-11 |
55 |
39 |
6 |
|
1989 |
|||
|
1989 May 4-7 |
44 |
50 |
6 |
|
1989 Feb |
45 |
50 |
5 |
|
1988 |
|||
|
1988 Sep 25-Oct 1 |
56 |
40 |
4 |
|
1988 May 13-15 |
41 |
54 |
5 |
|
1987 |
|||
|
1987 Aug 24-Sep 2 |
45 |
49 |
6 |
|
1986 |
|||
|
1986 Dec 4-5 † |
47 |
49 |
4 |
|
1986 Sep 3-17 |
58 |
38 |
4 |
|
1986 Jun 9-16 |
69 |
26 |
5 |
|
1986 Mar 7-10 |
66 |
30 |
4 |
|
1985 |
|||
|
1985 Nov 11-18 |
51 |
46 |
3 |
|
1984 |
|||
|
1984 Dec |
52 |
40 |
8 |
|
1984 Sep 28-Oct 1 |
48 |
45 |
7 |
|
1984 Feb 10-13 |
50 |
46 |
4 |
|
1983 |
|||
|
1983 Aug 5-8 |
35 |
59 |
6 |
|
1982 |
|||
|
1982 Nov 5-8 |
24 |
72 |
4 |
|
1982 Sep 17-20 |
24 |
72 |
4 |
|
1982 Apr 2-5 |
25 |
71 |
4 |
|
1981 |
|||
|
1981 Dec 11-14 |
27 |
67 |
6 |
|
1981 Jun 5-8 |
33 |
61 |
6 |
|
1981 Jan 9-12 |
17 |
78 |
5 |
|
1979 |
|||
|
1979 Nov 2-5 |
19 |
77 |
4 |
|
1979 Jul 13-16 |
12 |
84 |
4 |
|
1979 Feb 2-5 |
26 |
69 |
5 |
|
^ registered voters |
|||
|
† Gallup/Newsweek |
|||
|
‡ Gallup/CNN/Knight-Ridder |
|||
4. What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today? [Open-ended]
|
Mar |
Feb |
Jan |
||
|
% |
% |
% |
||
|
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS (NET) |
47 |
46 |
37 |
|
|
1 |
Economy in general |
21 |
21 |
16 |
|
2 |
Unemployment/Jobs |
19 |
20 |
13 |
|
3 |
Federal budget deficit/Federal debt |
5 |
5 |
4 |
|
4 |
Fuel/Oil prices |
2 |
* |
* |
|
5 |
Lack of money |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
6 |
Foreign trade/Trade deficit |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
7 |
Taxes |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
8 |
Wage issues |
1 |
-- |
1 |
|
9 |
Corporate corruption |
* |
* |
* |
|
10 |
Gap between rich and poor |
* |
1 |
1 |
|
11 |
High cost of living/inflation |
* |
* |
1 |
|
Recession |
-- |
* |
* |
|
|
NON-ECONOMIC PROBLEMS (NET) |
62 |
69 |
74 |
|
|
1 |
Fear of war/Feelings of fear in this country/ War in Iraq |
11 |
14 |
16 |
|
2 |
Terrorism |
10 |
11 |
10 |
|
3 |
National security |
7 |
4 |
3 |
|
4 |
Dissatisfaction with government/Congress/ politicians/ candidates; Poor leadership; Corruption |
6 |
8 |
7 |
|
5 |
Poor health care/ hospitals; high cost of health care |
6 |
11 |
8 |
|
6 |
Education/Poor education/Access to education |
5 |
6 |
7 |
|
7 |
Ethics/Moral/Religious/Family decline; Dishonesty; Lack of integrity |
5 |
6 |
5 |
|
8 |
Poverty/Hunger/Homelessness |
3 |
5 |
5 |
|
9 |
Foreign aid/Focus overseas |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
10 |
Medicare/Social Security issues |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
11 |
Homosexuality/Gay issues |
2 |
-- |
-- |
|
12 |
Crime/Violence |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
13 |
Environment/Pollution |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
14 |
Children's behavior/way they are raised |
2 |
* |
* |
|
15 |
International issues/problems |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
16 |
Drugs |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
17 |
Lack of respect for each other |
1 |
-- |
2 |
|
18 |
Judicial system/Courts/Laws |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
19 |
Immigration/Illegal aliens |
1 |
2 |
5 |
|
20 |
Unifying the country |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
21 |
Abortion |
1 |
* |
* |
|
22 |
Care for the elderly |
1 |
1 |
* |
|
23 |
Election year/Presidential choices/ Election reform |
* |
* |
1 |
|
24 |
Welfare |
* |
1 |
1 |
|
25 |
Race relations/ Racism |
* |
* |
* |
|
26 |
Child abuse |
* |
* |
-- |
|
27 |
The media |
* |
1 |
* |
|
28 |
Overpopulation |
* |
* |
* |
|
29 |
Lack of energy sources; The energy crisis |
* |
-- |
* |
|
30 |
Guns/Gun control |
* |
* |
* |
|
Cancer/Diseases |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
Space program/NASA |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
Abuse of power |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
Lack of military defense |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
Other non-economic |
3 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
No opinion |
3 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
Total |
131% |
143% |
135% |
|
|
* Less than 0.5% |
||||