Survey of Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the 2004 Republican and Democrat National Conventions August 2004
SECTION I: FEDERAL LEVEL ISSUE QUESTIONS
1. We would like to know how you would rate the importance of the following issues:
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Economy |
7.6
|
7.9
|
| Job Security/Unemployment |
5.7
|
6.9
|
| Job Outsourcing to other Nations |
5.3
|
7.4
|
| Iraq |
7.0
|
7.0
|
| War on Terror |
8.4
|
7.3
|
| Federal Budget Deficit |
5.9
|
6.6
|
| Health Care Reform |
5.3
|
7.6
|
| Medicare/Medicaid |
4.3
|
4.1
|
| Gay Marriage |
4.2
|
4.5
|
| Environment |
4.8
|
6.0
|
| Crime |
5.5
|
5.8
|
| Abortion |
6.6
|
5.5
|
| Tax Cuts |
7.0
|
5.7
|
| Social Security |
5.7
|
6.5
|
2. Do you think the creation of a cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security was a necessary move?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| YES |
90%
|
57%
|
| NO |
8%
|
40%
|
| NO OPINION |
2%
|
3%
|
3. As a result of the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, do you think America is safer and less likely to suffer another catastrophic terrorist attack?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| SAFER |
80%
|
11%
|
| ABOUT THE SAME |
18%
|
66%
|
| LESS SAFE |
2%
|
20%
|
| NO OPINION |
0%
|
3%
|
4. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 , do you think there has been an overall improvement in America ‘s intelligence gathering abilities?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| YES |
84%
|
17%
|
| NO, ABOUT THE SAME |
10%
|
77%
|
| WEAKENED |
0%
|
3%
|
| NO OPINION |
6%
|
3%
|
5. Do you think American intervention in Afghanistan was justified?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| YES |
100%
|
77%
|
| NO |
0%
|
11%
|
| NO OPINION |
0%
|
11%
|
6. Do you think the American intervention in Iraq was justified?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| YES |
96%
|
6%
|
| NO |
4%
|
91%
|
| NO OPINION |
0%
|
3%
|
7. Generally speaking, do you think the U.S. Military has sufficient resources to fulfill its current world mission, or do our armed forced need to be expanded?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| SUFFICIENT |
20%
|
26%
|
| NEED EXPANDED |
75%
|
57%
|
| NO OPINION |
5%
|
17%
|
8. Generally speaking, do you think the U.S. economy is on the right track,or is it seriously off in the wrong direction?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| RIGHT TRACK |
96%
|
3%
|
| WRONG DIRECTION |
2%
|
94%
|
| NO OPINION |
2%
|
3%
|
9. Which of the following best describes how you feel the Federal Budget Deficit should be cut? ( Select one )
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| RELY ON SPENDING CUTS WITHOUT ANY TAX INCREASES |
76%
|
14%
|
| RELY MOSTLY ON SPENDING CUTS WITH SOME TAX INCREASES |
16%
|
14%
|
| RELY ON AN EVEN MIXTURE OF SPENDING CUTS AND TAX INCREASES |
8%
|
29%
|
| RELY MOSTLY ON TAX INCREASES WITH SOME SPENDING CUTS |
0%
|
20%
|
| RELY ON TAX INCREASES WITHOUT ANY SPENDING CUTS |
0%
|
14%
|
| NO OPINION |
0%
|
9%
|
10. Do you think the U.S. Constitution should be amended to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY SUPPORT |
49%
|
6%
|
| SOMEWHAT SUPPORT |
27%
|
3%
|
| NO OPINION |
6%
|
11%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
6%
|
11%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
12%
|
71%
|
11. Do you SUPPORT or OPPOSE: A constitutional amendment requiring a balanced Federal budget?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY SUPPORT |
31%
|
14%
|
| SOMEWHAT SUPPORT |
43%
|
29%
|
| NO OPINION |
12%
|
9%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
10%
|
14%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
4%
|
34%
|
12. Do you SUPPORT OR OPPOSE: Allowing individuals to establish tax-free savings accounts to help save money for first-time home purchases, college education, and/or medical expenses?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONLY SUPPORT |
71%
|
34%
|
| SOMEWHAT SUPPORT |
25%
|
43%
|
| NO OPINION |
2%
|
6%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
0%
|
11%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
2%
|
6%
|
13. Do you SUPPORT OR OPPOSE: Lowering income taxes to stimulate economic growth?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY SUPPORT |
76%
|
11%
|
| SOMEWHAT SUPPORT |
18%
|
23%
|
| NO OPINION |
0%
|
17%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
6%
|
26%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
0%
|
23%
|
14. Do you SUPPORT OR OPPOSE: A flat tax plan eliminating all deductions?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY SUPPORT |
29%
|
6%
|
| SOMEWHAT SUPPORT |
37%
|
26%
|
| NO OPINION |
10%
|
20%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
14%
|
11%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
10%
|
37%
|
15. Do you SUPPORT OR OPPOSE: A flat tax plan that retains limited mortgage interest and charitable donation deductions?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY SUPPORT |
33%
|
14%
|
| SOMEWHAT SUPPORT |
31%
|
23%
|
| NO OPINION |
10%
|
20%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
16%
|
14%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
10%
|
29%
|
16. Do you SUPPORT OR OPPOSE: Abolishment of the inheritance or “death tax”?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY SUPPORT |
73%
|
20%
|
| SOMEWHAT SUPPORT |
24%
|
26%
|
| NO OPINION |
0%
|
9%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
2%
|
11%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
2%
|
34%
|
17: Do you SUPPORT OR OPPOSE: A national sales tax?
| R | D | |
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY SUPPORT | 24% | 17% |
| SOMEWHAT SUPPORT | 16% | 17% |
| NO OPINION | 14% | 17% |
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE | 10% | 31% |
| STRONGLY OPPOSE | 37% | 17% |
18. Do you SUPPORT OR OPPOSE: Substantially overhauling, but retaining the current tax system?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY SUPPORT |
12%
|
14%
|
| SOMEWHAT SUPPORT |
35%
|
60%
|
| NO OPINION |
20%
|
11%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
12%
|
14%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
22%
|
0%
|
19. Do you SUPPORT OR OPPOSE: Increasing the Federal minimum wage requirement?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY SUPPORT |
10%
|
69%
|
| SOMEWHAT SUPPORT |
18%
|
26%
|
| NO OPINION |
12%
|
3%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
27%
|
3%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
33%
|
0%
|
20. Generally speaking, do you FAVOR or OPPOSE free trade policies?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY FAVOR |
37%
|
14%
|
| SOMEWHAT FAVOR |
47%
|
49%
|
| NO OPINION |
12%
|
6%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
2%
|
17%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
2%
|
14%
|
21. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY FAVOR |
20%
|
11%
|
| SOMEWHAT FAVOR |
45%
|
23%
|
| NO OPINION |
20%
|
14%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
12%
|
26%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
4%
|
26%
|
22. Would you FAVOR or OPPOSE expansion of the NAFTA to include the countries of South America ?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY FAVOR |
10%
|
3%
|
| SOMEWHAT FAVOR |
47%
|
26%
|
| NO OPINION |
22%
|
20%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
12%
|
26%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
10%
|
26%
|
23. Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT)?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY FAVOR |
12%
|
3%
|
| SOMEWHAT FAVOR |
35%
|
23%
|
| NO OPINION |
39%
|
37%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
12%
|
17%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
2%
|
20%
|
24. Do you SUPPORT or OPPOSE: Placing limits on the terms of Members of Congress?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY SUPPORT |
29%
|
11%
|
| SOMEWHAT SUPPORT |
25%
|
20%
|
| NO OPINION |
4%
|
9%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
16%
|
23%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
25%
|
37%
|
25. Do you SUPPORT or OPPOSE: Further overhaul of the nation’s campaign finance laws?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY SUPPORT |
29%
|
40%
|
| SOMEWHAT SUPPORT |
20%
|
31%
|
| NO OPINION |
6%
|
9%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
20%
|
9%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
25%
|
11%
|
26. Do you SUPPORT or OPPOSE: Providing for taxpayer funding for Congressional elections?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY SUPPORT |
4%
|
23%
|
| SOMEWHAT SUPPORT |
8%
|
34%
|
| NO OPINION |
8%
|
11%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
20%
|
14%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
61%
|
17%
|
27. Do you believe the Federal government is primarily an adversarial force when it comes to helping people solve their problems, or is the Federal government a positive force in helping people in need?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| POSITIVE FORCE |
22%
|
69%
|
| ADVERSARIAL FORCE |
53%
|
11%
|
| NO OPINION |
25%
|
20%
|
28. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE that damage to the environment should be avoided no matter what it costs?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| AGREE |
8%
|
51%
|
| NO OPINION |
4%
|
6%
|
| DISAGREE |
88%
|
43%
|
29. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE that environmental protection is an important goal that should be balanced against economic costs?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| AGREE |
90%
|
77%
|
| NO OPINION |
4%
|
3%
|
| DISAGREE |
6%
|
20%
|
30. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE that environmental protection is costing too much and is leading to the loss of jobs?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| AGREE |
55%
|
9%
|
| NO OPINION |
6%
|
6%
|
| DISAGREE |
39%
|
86%
|
SECTION II: STATE LEVEL ISSUE QUESTIONS
1. Do you feel the property tax-based system currently utilized by school districts, local and county governments to fund government services is fair and equitable to most segments of your community?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| FAIR |
20%
|
3%
|
| UNFAIR |
78%
|
97%
|
| NO OPINION |
2%
|
0%
|
2. Would you favor or oppose replacing property/real estate taxes with a local tax on earned income?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| FAVOR |
43%
|
71%
|
| OPPOSE |
57%
|
20%
|
| NO OPINION |
0%
|
9%
|
3. Would you favor or oppose replacing property/real estate taxes with a local sales tax?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| FAVOR |
63%
|
49%
|
| OPPOSE |
31%
|
40%
|
| NO OPINION |
6%
|
11%
|
4. If your ONLY choices were replacing property/real estate taxes with either a local earned income tax or a sales tax, which would you favor?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| SALES TAX |
69%
|
43%
|
| EARNED INCOME TAX |
29%
|
54%
|
| NO OPINION |
2%
|
3%
|
5. Would you favor or oppose allowing school districts, municipal and county governments to enact a COMBINATION of property/real estate taxes, earned incomes taxes, and local sales taxes?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| FAVOR |
20%
|
66%
|
| OPPOSE |
67%
|
26%
|
| NO OPINION |
14%
|
9%
|
6. Should government provide financial support for profit seeking entertainment businesses, such as sports teams, by building structures such as stadiums and arenas?
| R | D | |
|---|---|---|
| YES | 27% | 29% |
| NO | 69% | 69% |
| NO OPINION | 4% | 2% |
7. Generally speaking, do you feel PERSONAL INCOME TAXES in Pennsylvania are too high, about right, or too low?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| TOO HIGH |
57%
|
20%
|
| ABOUT RIGHT |
41%
|
63%
|
| TOO LOW |
2%
|
17%
|
| NO OPINION |
0%
|
0%
|
8. Generally speaking, do you feel BUSINESS TAXES in Pennsylvania are too high, about right, or too low?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| TOO HIGH |
78%
|
20%
|
| ABOUT RIGHT |
20%
|
54%
|
| TOO LOW |
2%
|
23%
|
| NO OPINION |
0%
|
2%
|
9. If you had the choice of cutting one or the other, would you prefer to see cuts in PERSONAL INCOME or BUSINESS taxes?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| PERSONAL INCOME |
51%
|
57%
|
| BUSINESS TAXES |
43%
|
29%
|
| NO OPINION |
6%
|
14%
|
10. Do you expect to receive a significant reduction in your real estate/property taxes as a result of recently enacted legislation directing a portion of state revenue from slot/casino gambling to property tax relief?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION |
2%
|
0%
|
| MODEST REDUCTION |
18%
|
43%
|
| NO SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION |
80%
|
57%
|
11. Do you think school district property tax increases will be significantly curtailed as a result of the voter referendum now required for before certain tax increases can tax effect?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| SIGNIFICANTLY CURTAIL TAX INCREASES |
16%
|
23%
|
| MODESTLY CURTAIN TAX INCREASES |
45%
|
37%
|
| NO SIGNIFICANT CURTAILMENT |
39%
|
37%
|
| NO OPINION |
0%
|
2%
|
12. Do you think the “No Child Left Behind” law has improved the quality of public education in America ?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| YES |
65%
|
6%
|
| NO |
22%
|
94%
|
| NO OPINION |
14%
|
0%
|
13. Generally speaking, are you in favor of the concept of “school choice”?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| YES |
86%
|
31%
|
| NO |
14%
|
66%
|
| NO OPINION |
0%
|
2%
|
4. Do you feel vouchers or grants should be made available to students who wish to attend a PUBLIC SCHOOL in a district other than their district of residence?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| YES |
73%
|
34%
|
| NO |
25%
|
60%
|
| NO OPINION |
2%
|
6%
|
15. Do you feel vouchers or grants should be made available to students who wish to attend a PAROCHIAL SCHOOL?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| YES |
78%
|
17%
|
| NO |
18%
|
83%
|
| NO OPINION |
4%
|
0%
|
16. Do you feel vouchers or grants should be made available to students who wish to attend a NON-RELIGIOUS PRIVATE SCHOOL?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| YES |
78%
|
14%
|
| NO |
18%
|
80%
|
| NO OPINION |
4%
|
6%
|
17. Do you support the concept of CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| YES |
75%
|
49%
|
| NO |
16%
|
46%
|
| NO OPINION |
10%
|
6%
|
18. Should local school boards be allowed to contract with private companies to provide instructional, administrative, and operational services?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| YES |
88%
|
37%
|
| NO |
6%
|
51%
|
| NO OPINION |
6%
|
11%
|
19. Should local school boards be given the ability to hire and retain staff (including teachers) on the basis of performance?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| YES |
94%
|
80%
|
| NO |
4%
|
14%
|
| NO OPINION |
2%
|
6%
|
20. Generally speaking, do you feel our public schools are doing a better job, about the same job, or a worse job of educating our young people than they did ten years ago?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| BETTER JOB |
22%
|
23%
|
| ABOUT THE SAME |
27%
|
40%
|
| WORSE JOB |
47%
|
31%
|
| NO OPINION |
4%
|
6%
|
21 Generally speaking, do you think too much, about the right amount, or not enough tax money is presently being spent on public education in Pennsylvania today?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| TOO MUCH |
63%
|
6%
|
| ABOUT THE SAME |
27%
|
26%
|
| NOT ENOUGH |
10%
|
66%
|
| NO OPINION |
0%
|
3%
|
22. If you were asked to assign a letter grade based on the overall job our public schools are doing in educating our young people today, what would that grade be?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| A |
2%
|
0%
|
| B |
22%
|
34%
|
| C |
45%
|
43%
|
| D |
20%
|
9%
|
| F |
12%
|
6%
|
| N/A |
0%
|
9%
|
23. Some states within the nation have a Right to Work law, which means that a worker cannot be fired or kept from having a job for either joining or not joining a labor union. Do you favor or oppose such a law for Pennsylvania ?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY FAVOR |
63%
|
29%
|
| SOMEWHAT FAVOR |
29%
|
20%
|
| NO OPINION |
2%
|
6%
|
| SOMEWHAT OPPOSE |
4%
|
6%
|
| STRONGLY OPPOSE |
2%
|
40%
|
24. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , all employees such as teachers, firemen, state workers and local government employees are required to join or pay dues to a union as a condition of employment. Do you agree or disagree with this arrangement that requires public employees to support a union in order to work for the government in Pennsylvania ?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY AGREE |
2%
|
54%
|
| SOMEWHAT AGREE |
6%
|
14%
|
| NO OPINION |
0%
|
6%
|
| SOMEWHAT DISAGREE |
22%
|
17%
|
| STRONGLY DISAGREE |
71%
|
9%
|
25. Do you think, as a condition of employment, government workers should be prohibited form going on strike?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY AGREE |
57%
|
20%
|
| SOMEWHAT AGREE |
25%
|
14%
|
| NO OPINION |
6%
|
6%
|
| SOMEWHAT DISAGREE |
10%
|
26%
|
| STRONGLY DISAGREE |
2%
|
34%
|
26. Do you think public school teachers should be required to join a labor union and be required to pay union dues as a condition of their employment?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY AGREE |
2%
|
43%
|
| SOMEWHAT AGREE |
2%
|
14%
|
| NO OPINION |
2%
|
11%
|
| SOMEWHAT DISAGREE |
18%
|
14%
|
| STRONGLY DISAGREE |
76%
|
17%
|
27. If “Yes,” do you think public school teachers should be required to join a labor union and be required to pay union dues as a condition of their employment if a portion of those dues goes to union political activities?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY AGREE |
4%
|
43%
|
| SOMEWHAT AGREE |
0%
|
14%
|
| NO OPINION |
4%
|
31%
|
| SOMEWHAT DISAGREE |
9%
|
6%
|
| STRONGLY DISAGREE |
83%
|
6%
|
28. Do you agree or disagree with the recent legalization of slot machine gambling in Pennsylvania ?
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| STRONGLY AGREE |
25%
|
53%
|
| SOMEWHAT AGREE |
16%
|
26%
|
| NO OPINION |
2%
|
3%
|
| SOMEWHAT DISAGREE |
14%
|
8%
|
| STRONGLY DISAGREE |
43%
|
11%
|
Please answer the following questions about yourself.
Are you:
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| VERY CONSERVATIVE |
24%
|
0%
|
| SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE |
55%
|
6%
|
| MODERATE |
18%
|
46%
|
| SOMEWHAT LIBERAL |
2%
|
31%
|
| VERY LIBERAL |
0%
|
11%
|
| NO ANSWER |
2%
|
6%
|
Gender:
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| MALE |
71%
|
49%
|
| FEMALE |
29%
|
46%
|
| N/A |
0%
|
6%
|
Age:
|
R
|
D
|
|
|---|---|---|
| 18-30 |
8%
|
6%
|
| 30-50 |
45%
|
29%
|
| 50-65 |
27%
|
46%
|
| Over 65 |
18%
|
20%
|
| N/A |
2%
|
0%
|
Methodology
The Lincoln Institute mailed a survey instrument for the 2004 Poll of Delegates and Alternates to the Democrat and Republican national conventions to the Delegates and Alternates on August 2, 2004. A total of 51 Republicans and 35 Democrats responded to the survey as of the poll’s deadline of August 20, 2004.
