Poll Watch: New York Times/CBS News Survey on Barack Obama and the Killing of Osama bin Laden

New York Times/CBS News Survey on Barack Obama and the Killing of Osama bin Laden

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

• Approve 57%
• Disapprove 37%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling foreign policy?

• Approve 52%
• Disapprove 34%

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

• Approve 34%
• Disapprove 55%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the situation with Afghanistan?

• Approve 61%
• Disapprove 29%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling the threat of terrorism?

• Approve 72%
• Disapprove 19%

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama handled the pursuit of Osama bin Laden?

• Approve 85%
• Disapprove 7%

What is your impression of how the campaign against terrorism is going for the United States right now - very well, somewhat well, somewhat badly, or very badly?

• Very well 16%
• Somewhat well 60%
• Somewhat badly 13%
• Very badly 5%

Who do you think is currently winning the war against terrorism -- the United States and its allies, neither side, or the terrorists?

• U.S. and allies 44%
• Neither side 45%
• Terrorists 5%

As you may know, Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan. Do you think this is a major victory for the U.S. in the war against terrorism, a minor victory, or not a victory in the war against terrorism?

• Major victory 47%
• Minor victory 40%
• Not a victory 11%

As a result of the killing of Osama bin Laden, in the next few months do you think the threat of terrorism against the United States will increase, decrease, or stay about the same?

• Increase 62%
• Decrease 5%
• Stay the same 28%

How about in the long term? As a result of the killing of Osama bin Laden, in the long term do you think the threat of terrorism against the United States will increase, decrease, or stay about the same?

• Increase 27%
• Decrease 26%
• Stay the same 41%

Now that Osama bin Laden has been killed, do you personally feel more safe from the threat of terrorism, less safe, or has this had no effect on how safe you feel?

• More safe 16%
• Less safe 14%
• No effect 70%

Has the killing of Osama bin Laden by the U.S. brought a sense of closure for you concerning the events of September 11th, or hasn't it done that?

• Has brought closure 50%
• Has not 45%

Until he was killed, do you think Osama bin Laden was still in charge of the Al Qaeda terrorist network, or do you think other people had really been running Al Qaeda?

• Osama bin Laden in charge 50%
• Other people running Al Qaeda 39%

Now that Osama Bin Laden has been killed, do you think that the United States has completed its primary mission in Afghanistan and the surrounding areas, or not?

• Completed mission 32%
• Not completed mission 64%

From what you have seen or heard about the situation in Afghanistan, what should the United States do now -- should the U.S. increase the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, keep the same number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan as there are now or decrease the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan?

• Increase 6%
• Keep same 40%
• Decrease 48%

How likely do you think it is that there will be another terrorist attack in the United States within the next few months -- very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, not at all likely?

• Very likely 21%
• Somewhat likely 48%
• Not very likely 22%
• Not at all likely 7%

How proud are you to be an American -- Extremely proud, very proud, moderately proud, only a little proud or not at all proud?

• Extremely proud 61%
• Very proud 25%
• Moderately proud 12%
• Only a little proud 1%
• Not at all proud 0%

Survey of 532 adults was conducted May 2-3, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 4 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 36% Democrat; 24% Republican; 32% Independent. Political ideology: 39% Moderate; 30% Conservative; 23% Liberal.