Poll Watch: CNN/Opinion Research Survey on Barack Obama and the Death of Osama bin Laden

CNN/Opinion Research Survey on Barack Obama and the Death of Osama bin Laden

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?

• Approve 52%
• Disapprove 43%

Among Democrats

• Approve 83%
• Disapprove 14%

Among Republicans

• Approve 22%
• Disapprove 72%

Among Independents

• Approve 50%
• Disapprove 43%

Among Men

• Approve 48%
• Disapprove 45%

Among Women

• Approve 56%
• Disapprove 41%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling:

The economy

• Approve 42%
• Disapprove 56%

The situation in Afghanistan

• Approve 58%
• Disapprove 36%

Terrorism

• Approve 67%
• Disapprove 30%

The federal budget deficit

• Approve 35%
• Disapprove 61%

Thinking about the following characteristics and qualities, please say whether you think it applies or doesn’t apply to Barack Obama.

Is a strong and decisive leader

• Applies 58%
• Does not apply 41%

Can unite the country and not divide it

• Applies 50%
• Does not apply 48%

Inspires confidence

• Applies 57%
• Does not apply 42%

How likely is it that there will be further acts of terrorism in the United States over the next several weeks -- very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely?

• Very likely 26%
• Somewhat likely 42%
• Not too likely 23%
• Not at all likely 6%

What is your personal reaction to the death of Osama bin Laden?  Are you thrilled, happy, unhappy, or don't you care one way or the other? 

• Thrilled 37%
• Happy 42%
• Unhappy 4%
• Don't care 11%

Do you consider the death of Osama bin Laden to be a major achievement for the United States, a minor achievement, or not an achievement at all?

• Major achievement 67%
• Minor achievement 23%
• Not an achievement at all 9%

Who do you think is currently winning the war on terrorism -- the U.S. and its allies, neither side, or the terrorists?

• U.S. and its allies 44%
• Neither side 45%
• The terrorists 9%

Now that Osama bin Laden has been killed, do you think the threat to the U.S. from the al Qaeda terrorist network will be eliminated, or that the al Qaeda terrorist network will still remain a threat to the U.S.?

• Will remain a threat 94%
• Threat eliminated 5%

Based on what you have read or heard about the events surrounding Osama bin Laden's death, would you say you are proud of the way the U.S. military forces involved in that operation handled themselves, or don't you feel that way?

• Yes, proud 88%
• No, not proud 8%

Do you think that the U.S. government should or should not publicly release a picture of the body of Osama bin Laden? 

• Should 56%
• Should not 39%

Among Democrats

• Should 50%
• Should not 46%

Among Republicans

• Should 58%
• Should not 36%

Among Independents

• Should 60%
• Should not 37%

Among Men

• Should 61%
• Should not 35%

Among Women

• Should 52%
• Should not 43%

Do you favor or oppose the U.S. war in Afghanistan?

• Favor 42%
• Oppose 52%

Among Democrats

• Favor 36%
• Oppose 61%

Among Republicans

• Favor 57%
• Oppose 37%

Among Independents

• Favor 37%
• Oppose 56%

Among Men

• Favor 52%
• Oppose 43%

Among Women

• Favor 33%
• Oppose 61%

In general, how would you say things are going for the U.S. in Afghanistan – very well, moderately well, moderately badly, or very badly?

• Very well 5%
• Moderately well 56%
• Moderately badly 27%
• Very badly 9%

Which comes closest to your view about what the U.S. should now do about the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan -- the U.S. should send more troops to Afghanistan, the U.S. should keep the number of troops as it is now, the U.S. should withdraw some troops from Afghanistan, or the U.S. should withdraw all of its troops from Afghanistan?

• The U.S. should send more troops to Afghanistan 4%
• The U.S. should keep the number of troops as it is now 28%
• The U.S. should withdraw some troops from Afghanistan 34%
• The U.S. should withdraw all of its troops from Afghanistan 30%

Among Democrats

• The U.S. should send more troops to Afghanistan 1%
• The U.S. should keep the number of troops as it is now 19%
• The U.S. should withdraw some troops from Afghanistan 48%
• The U.S. should withdraw all of its troops from Afghanistan 29%

Among Republicans

• The U.S. should send more troops to Afghanistan 4%
• The U.S. should keep the number of troops as it is now 44%
• The U.S. should withdraw some troops from Afghanistan 26%
• The U.S. should withdraw all of its troops from Afghanistan 21%

Please tell me which of the following best describes how you would vote in 2012, if Barack Obama runs for re-election.  Would you definitely vote for Obama, probably vote for Obama, probably not vote for Obama, or definitely not vote for Obama?

Among Registered Voters

• Definitely vote for Obama 25%
• Probably vote for Obama 21%
• Probably not vote for Obama 13%
• Definitely not vote for Obama 38%

Among Democrats

• Definitely vote for Obama 57%
• Probably vote for Obama 26%
• Probably not vote for Obama 7%
• Definitely not vote for Obama 9%

Among Republicans

• Definitely vote for Obama 5%
• Probably vote for Obama 11%
• Probably not vote for Obama 13%
• Definitely not vote for Obama 69%

Among Independents

• Definitely vote for Obama 18%
• Probably vote for Obama 26%
• Probably not vote for Obama 17%
• Definitely not vote for Obama 35%

Please give me your best guess -- if Barack Obama decides to run for re-election, do you think he will win the presidential election in 2012, or do you think he will lose?

Among Registered Voters

• Obama will win 50%
• Obama will lose 44%

Among Democrats

• Obama will win 76%
• Obama will lose 20%

Among Republicans

• Obama will win 21%
• Obama will lose 72%

Among Independents

• Obama will win 52%
• Obama will lose 42%

Survey of 700 adults, including a subsample of 649 registered voters, was conducted May 2, 2011.  The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points among all adults; +/- 4 percentage points among registered voters.