Which 1 or 2 issues mattered most in deciding how you voted (for President 1992)?

Asked of half sample (54% of voters)

Note: Adds to more than 100% due to multiple responses

20%  Health care21   Federal budget deficit12   Abortion13   Education42   Economy/Jobs5    Environment14   Taxes8    Foreign policy15   Family values13   Don’t know/No answer

Survey by ABC News, CBS News, CNN, NBC News. Methodology: Conducted by Voter Research & Surveys on November 3, 1992 and based on self-administered interviews with a national adult exiting voters sample of 15,490. There were four versions of the questionnaires which included some questions in common, and some that were unique. Data provided by The Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, University of Connecticut.

Which of the following is your biggest source of personal concern about how the economy might affect you?

Asked of half sample (n=603)

26% Losing your job24 Not being able to pay for health care12 Losing money in the stock market7 Not being able to pay your rent or mortgage7 Not being able to pay your other bills5 Rising personal debt6 Losing job benefits8 None of these (VOL)5 Other (VOL)1 Don’t know/Refused

Survey by Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Harvard School of Public Health. Methodology: Fieldwork conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates, June 5-8, 2003 and based on telephone interviews with a national adult sample of 1,210.

Now, I am going to read you a list of some different things the President (Bill Clinton) and the new Congress might try to do in the next year. As I read each one, tell me if you think it should be one of their top priorities, important but a lower priority, not too important, or should not be done.

Passing laws to make Social Security financially sound80%  A top priority15   Important but lower priority2    Not too important2    Should not be done1    Don’t know/Refused

Passing laws to make Medicare financially sound73%  A top priority21   Important but lower priority3    Not too important1    Should not be done2    Don’t know/Refused

Passing laws to help uninsured Americans get health insurance61%  A top priority28   Important but lower priority5    Not too important4    Should not be done2    Don’t know/Refused

Passing a law setting federal education standards for public schools nationwide55%  A top priority24   Important but lower priority7    Not too important11   Should not be done3    Don’t know/Refused

Passing HMO and managed care reform54%  A top priority27   Important but lower priority9    Not too important4    Should not be done6    Don’t know/Refused

Cutting taxes50%  A top priority33   Important but lower priority11   Not too important5    Should not be done1    Don’t know/Refused

Passing tougher gun control laws41%  A top priority27   Important but lower priority11   Not too important19   Should not be done2    Don’t know/Refused

Passing a law to ban late-term or ‘partial birth’ abortions39%  A top priority22   Important but lower priority11   Not too important23   Should not be done5    Don’t know/Refused

Passing stricter environmental regulations37%  A top priority43   Important but lower priority12   Not too important6    Should not be done2    Don’t know/Refused

Passing anti-tobacco laws to reduce teen smoking34%  A top priority33   Important but lower priority16   Not too important16   Should not be done1    Don’t know/Refused

Survey by Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Harvard School of Public Health. Methodology: Fieldwork conducted by telephone by Princeton Survey Research Associates with 1,501 adults nationwide, 18 years and older, including 751 voters in the November election, between November 4 and December 6, 1998.

I have some questions about what the President (Bill Clinton) and the new Congress should try to accomplish in the next year. What do you think is the single most important issue or problem they should deal with?

Asked of half sample

Note: Totals exceed one hundred percent due to multiple responses

15%   Education13   Social Security12   Health care11   Clinton/Lewinsky/Impeachment10   Economy/jobs8    Foreign policy/International6    Taxes5    National debt/deficit/budget3    Morality/Moral standards2    Crime5    Other social issues7    All other issues/problems13   Don’t know

Survey by Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Harvard School of Public Health. Methodology: Fieldwork conducted by telephone by Princeton Survey Research Associates with 1,501 adults nationwide, 18 years and older, including 751 voters in the November election, between November 4 and December 6, 1998.

If a presidential candidate’s position on health care differs from your own, how likely is it that this particular difference ALONE would determine your vote on election day?

(Asked of registered voters who think the issue of health care (other than Medicare) is one of the deciding factors in who to choose for president)

6% Certain to determine your vote23 Very likely49 Somewhat likely30 Not too likely1 Don’t know

This survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,183 registered voters was conducted by The Washington Post, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University by telephone between July 5 and 18, 2000. The survey included an oversample of 176 registered voters who said that Medicare and/or health care other than Medicare would be one of the most important issues helping them to decide which presidential candidate to support. A total of 614 voters fell into this category and were classified as “health care or Medicare-oriented voters.” Fieldwork was conducted by ICR/International Communications Research of Media, Pennsylvania.

If a presidential candidate’s position on Medicare differs from your own, how likely is it that this particular difference ALONE would determine your vote on election day?

(Asked of those who think the issue of Medicare is one of the deciding factors in who to choose for president)

11% Certain to determine your vote20 Very likely40 Somewhat likely27 Not too likely3 Don’t know

This survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,183 registered voters was conducted by The Washington Post, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University by telephone between July 5 and 18, 2000. The survey included an oversample of 176 registered voters who said that Medicare and/or health care other than Medicare would be one of the most important issues helping them to decide which presidential candidate to support. A total of 614 voters fell into this category and were classified as “health care or Medicare-oriented voters.” Fieldwork was conducted by ICR/International Communications Research of Media, Pennsylvania.

Now thinking specifically about health care…I’m going to read you a list of health care issues you might consider in deciding who to vote for in this year’s presidential election. As I read each one, please tell me if you think it will be very important in deciding your vote for president, fairly important, not too important, or not at all important. Which ONE of these do you think will be the MOST important in deciding your vote?

Among those who say they are registered to vote:15%  Protecting patients’ rights in health plans14  Helping people age 65 and over to pay for medicines20  Making Medicare financially sound19  Increasing the number of Americans with health insurance11  Regulating the cost of medicines11  Helping families with the cost of caring for elderly or disabled family members10  Don’t know/none are important

Among registered voters who say health care or Medicare will be one of the two most important issues determining their vote:13%  Protecting patients’ rights in health plans18  Helping people age 65 and over to pay for medicines18  Making Medicare financially sound21  Increasing the number of Americans with health insurance12  Regulating the cost of medicines13  Helping families with the cost of caring for elderly or disabled family members4  Don’t know/none are important

This survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,183 registered voters was conducted by The Washington Post, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University by telephone between July 5 and 18, 2000. The survey included an oversample of 176 registered voters who said that Medicare and/or health care other than Medicare would be one of the most important issues helping them to decide which presidential candidate to support. A total of 614 voters fell into this category and were classified as “health care or Medicare-oriented voters.” Fieldwork was conducted by ICR/International Communications Research of Media, Pennsylvania.

Now, thinking specifically about health care… What health care issue, if any, will be most important to you in deciding how to vote for US Congress? (PROBE: Is there another health care issue that will be almost as important to you?)

21% Prescription Drug Costs18 Health Care Costs16 Expanding Insurance Coverage13 Medicare/Medicaid/Care for Elderly2 Patient’s Bill of Rights14 No Issue18 Don’t know

Now I’m going to read you a list of health care issues you might or might not consider important in deciding how to vote for a candidate for US Congress. As I read each one, please tell me if you think it will be very important in deciding your vote, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important in deciding your vote. Which ONE of these do you think will be the MOST important in deciding your vote?

27% Helping control the cost of health care24 Helping the uninsured get health insurance coverage19 Helping people age 65 and over pay for prescription medicines11 Helping make Medicare more financially secure7 Protecting the privacy of medical records5 Protecting consumer rights in HMOs and managed care plans7 None of these

Survey by National Public Radio, Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Methodology: Fieldwork conducted by ICR–International Communications Research, October 23-October 27, 2002 and based on telephone interviews with a national adult sample of 1,007.

Now, I’d like to ask you a question about a story that has been in the news recently. If you’re not sure of the answer, that’s okay. Just tell me and I’ll go to the next question. You may have heard news about recent debates in Congress on a bill that would add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare. To the best of your knowledge, has this bill been passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush, or not?

Total

Ages 18-64

Ages 65+

Yes, has been passed

23%

21%

32%

No, has not been passed

24

24

27

Don’t know

53

55

41

As you may know, President (George W.) Bush and the U.S. (United States) Congress recently approved a new Medicare law that includes some coverage of prescription drug costs for seniors. How well would you say you understand this new law? Would you say you understand it very well, somewhat well, not too well, or not well at all?

Total

Ages 18-64

Ages 65+

Very well

7%

5%

15%

Somewhat well

26

26

24

Not too well

34

34

39

Not well at all

30

32

21

Don’t know/Refused

3

3

1

Given what you know about it, in general, do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of this new Medicare law?

Total

Ages 18-64

Ages 65+

Favorable

25%

27%

17%

Unfavorable

38

34

55

Neither/neutral (vol.)

13

14

9

Don’t know/Refused

24

25

19

Survey by Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Harvard School of Public Health. Methodology: Fieldwork conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates, February 5-8, 2004 and based on telephone interviews with a national adult sample of 1,201.

Which ONE issue mattered most in deciding how you voted today? (Check only one)

41%  Economy/Jobs19  Health care/Medicare17  War in Iraq7  Education7  Taxes3  Terrorism/National security

2004 Democratic primary exit polls conducted for the National Election Poll by Edison Media Research/Mitofsky International. Conducted February 17, 2004 among a sample of 2,277 voters exiting the Wisconsin Democratic primary.