November 5, 2015 - American Voters Say Carter Is Best Ex-President, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; The Word 'control' Affects Attitudes On Guns

PDF format



Additional Trend Information



Former President Jimmy Carter "has had the best post presidency," 40 percent of American voters, including 29 percent of Republicans and 49 percent of Democrats, say in a Quinnipiac University National poll released today.





President Ronald Reagan is the best ex-president, 24 percent of voters say, with 19 percent for President Bill Clinton, 6 percent for George W. Bush and 5 percent for President George H.W. Bush, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds.





"Pummeled for his presidency but praised for how he conducted his post White House life, Jimmy Carter far surpasses Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton for what he accomplished once he left the Oval Office," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.





In a test of how language influences attitudes, half of the respondents were asked one question and the other respondents were asked a question with different wording:

Support for "stricter gun control laws," asked of the first group, is a negative 46 - 51 percent;

Support for "stricter gun laws," without the word "control," asked of the second group, is 52 - 45 percent.

Republican voters oppose either option by wide margins, while Democrats support either option by similarly wide margins.





The most pronounced difference is among independent voters who oppose "stricter gun control laws" 57 - 39 percent, but support "stricter gun laws" 50 - 45 percent.





All American voters support 93 - 5 percent requiring background checks for all gun buyers. Among voters in households with a legal gun, support for background checks is 92 - 7 percent. Support for universal background checks ranges from 88 percent to 93 percent in every Quinnipiac University poll since February 7, 2013, two months after the Sandy Hook massacre.





American voters say 59 - 33 percent that "it's possible to make new gun laws without interfering with gun rights." Republicans are divided as 48 percent say gun laws will interfere with gun rights while 44 percent say they won't. All other party, gender, education, age and racial groups believe new gun laws are possible without interfering with gun rights.





If a presidential candidate is supported by gun rights groups, 20 percent say they are more likely to vote for the candidate, with 23 percent less likely and 56 percent saying this won't affect their vote.





If more people carry guns, the U.S. would be less safe, 49 percent of voters say, while 41 percent say the U.S. would be safer.





"American voters just don't like the term 'gun control,' but they believe overwhelmingly there should be background checks," Malloy said. "And about the axiom that more people packing makes the country a safer place. Not the case, voters say by a small margin."





American voters support 54 - 38 percent sending U.S. troops to fight ISIS in Iraq and





Syria. The U.S. and its allies are losing the fight against ISIS, voters say 66 - 16 percent, with no listed group disagreeing.





On strictly partisan lines, 45 percent of voters, including 75 percent of Republicans, say removing U.S. troops from Iraq is more to blame for the rise of ISIS, while 42 percent, including 68 percent of Democrats, say going to war in Iraq is more to blame. Independent voters are divided 43 - 44 percent.





President Barack Obama gets a negative 42 - 54 percent job approval rating, continuing a negative streak that began with a 45 - 49 percent approval rating in a May 30, 2013, Quinnipiac University poll.





Voters disapprove 83 - 12 percent of the job Republicans in Congress are doing and disapprove 70 - 26 percent of Democrats in Congress.





From October 29 - November 2, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,144 registered voters nationwide with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.





The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research.





For more information, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.





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

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 42% 7% 81% 37% 38% 45% 48% 38% Disapprove 54 92 12 59 58 50 49 56 DK/NA 5 2 7 4 4 5 3 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 57% 39% 38% 41% 33% 36% 35% 83% Disapprove 36 57 58 55 64 58 61 10 DK/NA 8 5 4 4 3 5 4 8

36. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling their job?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 12% 23% 7% 5% 11% 13% 10% 13% Disapprove 83 72 88 93 85 82 88 81 DK/NA 4 5 5 2 4 5 2 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 26% 11% 8% 10% 11% 12% 12% 10% Disapprove 71 84 89 86 85 83 84 85 DK/NA 3 5 3 5 4 5 4 4

37. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the Democrats in Congress are handling their job?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 26% 4% 55% 15% 21% 31% 29% 25% Disapprove 70 94 37 83 77 63 67 71 DK/NA 4 2 8 2 2 7 4 5 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Approve 34% 24% 23% 28% 15% 25% 20% 56% Disapprove 61 71 74 67 84 70 76 36 DK/NA 5 6 3 5 2 6 4 8

38. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in the nation today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very satisfied 2% 1% 5% 2% 2% 3% 2% 2% Smwht satisfied 23 10 38 21 22 25 29 21 Smwht dissatisfied 31 28 38 30 28 34 33 30 Very dissatisfied 43 61 19 48 48 38 36 46 DK/NA - - - - 1 - - - AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Very satisfied 2% 2% 2% 4% 2% 1% 1% 8% Smwht satisfied 35 23 20 20 20 26 23 27 Smwht dissatisfied 33 31 31 32 25 30 28 43 Very dissatisfied 29 43 48 43 52 44 48 21 DK/NA - 1 - 1 1 - - 1

39. Is your opinion of the Democratic Party favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about it?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 37% 6% 76% 24% 32% 41% 42% 34% Unfavorable 52 86 14 61 59 46 51 53 Hvn't hrd enough 9 7 9 11 7 11 6 11 REFUSED 2 1 1 4 2 2 1 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 48% 37% 33% 34% 24% 35% 30% 74% Unfavorable 38 51 59 55 67 51 59 19 Hvn't hrd enough 14 11 6 10 7 12 10 5 REFUSED - 2 2 2 2 2 2 1

40. Is your opinion of the Republican Party favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about it?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 31% 65% 5% 25% 32% 30% 29% 33% Unfavorable 55 26 82 58 56 54 63 51 Hvn't hrd enough 11 8 13 11 9 13 6 14 REFUSED 2 - 1 6 2 2 2 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 29% 31% 36% 29% 34% 37% 36% 11% Unfavorable 51 57 54 57 55 49 51 78 Hvn't hrd enough 19 10 9 11 9 12 10 10 REFUSED 1 2 1 3 3 3 3 -

41. Who do you trust more to make decisions that are good for the country, President Obama or the Republicans in Congress?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Obama 44% 6% 85% 39% 39% 48% 53% 40% Reps in Congress 45 84 10 46 48 42 39 49 DK/NA 11 10 5 15 12 9 9 12 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Obama 57% 42% 38% 45% 34% 39% 36% 84% Reps in Congress 37 44 50 46 55 51 52 12 DK/NA 6 14 12 9 12 10 11 4

42. Is your opinion of John Boehner favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 21% 29% 15% 21% 24% 19% 28% 18% Unfavorable 49 50 52 45 55 43 52 47 Hvn't hrd enough 29 19 33 33 20 36 17 34 REFUSED 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 7% 18% 25% 33% 26% 21% 24% 15% Unfavorable 34 51 54 48 56 45 51 44 Hvn't hrd enough 57 30 20 17 16 31 24 40 REFUSED 2 - 1 2 1 2 2 -

43. Is your opinion of Paul Ryan favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 34% 60% 12% 36% 38% 31% 43% 30% Unfavorable 25 12 42 21 27 24 31 23 Hvn't hrd enough 39 28 45 41 34 44 26 46 REFUSED 1 - - 2 1 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Favorable 21% 34% 39% 43% 41% 36% 38% 14% Unfavorable 28 25 26 26 26 25 25 24 Hvn't hrd enough 52 40 35 30 33 39 36 57 REFUSED - 2 1 1 1 1 1 5

91. Now thinking about the last five presidents before Barack Obama - George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George Bush Sr., Ronald Reagan, and Jimmy Carter - thinking about the work they did after they left office, who do you think has had the best post presidency?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Bush 6% 13% 1% 5% 5% 7% 6% 6% Clinton 19 7 34 16 19 20 18 20 Bush Sr. 5 9 2 5 6 4 6 4 Reagan 24 36 8 26 25 22 16 27 Carter 40 29 49 42 40 39 50 34 DK/NA 7 7 6 6 5 8 4 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Bush 7% 4% 6% 8% 6% 7% 6% 2% Clinton 28 25 13 16 14 13 13 47 Bush Sr. 5 5 4 7 6 5 5 4 Reagan 28 20 26 20 27 26 26 5 Carter 19 41 47 46 43 44 44 35 DK/NA 14 5 5 3 6 5 6 8

92. How likely do you think it is that in the near future there will be a terrorist attack in the United States causing large numbers of lives to be lost; very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not likely at all?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very likely 32% 48% 16% 30% 35% 30% 24% 37% Smwht likely 41 38 41 48 38 44 46 39 Not very likely 19 12 30 17 21 18 23 17 Not likely at all 5 1 8 4 5 4 4 5 DK/NA 3 1 5 1 1 4 2 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Very likely 19% 32% 39% 35% 35% 34% 34% 20% Smwht likely 39 36 41 45 40 44 42 41 Not very likely 35 21 16 12 21 17 19 25 Not likely at all 7 6 2 5 4 2 3 8 DK/NA - 4 2 5 1 3 2 7

93. Would you describe the state of the nation's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Excellent 1% - 2% 2% 2% 1% 1% 1% Good 26 13 39 27 27 25 36 21 Not so good 39 40 42 36 38 41 39 40 Poor 32 45 17 34 33 32 24 37 DK/NA 1 1 1 - 1 1 - 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Excellent 3% - 1% 2% 1% - 1% 2% Good 30 27 24 25 25 26 26 36 Not so good 45 35 40 39 38 41 40 42 Poor 22 37 35 31 34 32 33 20 DK/NA - 1 - 2 1 1 1 -

94. Do you think the nation's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Better 26% 8% 48% 21% 23% 28% 32% 22% Worse 32 47 12 38 34 31 26 36 The same 41 44 40 40 43 40 42 41 DK/NA 1 1 - - - 1 - 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Better 39% 23% 23% 22% 19% 25% 22% 40% Worse 21 37 32 34 34 33 34 26 The same 40 40 45 42 46 40 43 34 DK/NA - - - 2 1 1 1 -

95. Would you say that you are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Better off 39% 31% 48% 35% 43% 35% 44% 36% Worse off 37 43 27 39 33 40 28 41 SAME(VOL) 23 25 22 25 22 24 27 21 DK/NA 1 1 2 - 1 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Better off 64% 43% 31% 27% 41% 34% 37% 47% Worse off 21 38 43 38 34 39 36 35 SAME(VOL) 14 18 25 33 24 27 25 15 DK/NA 2 2 - 2 1 1 1 3

96. Thinking about the 2016 Presidential election, would your family be better off financially with a Republican or a Democrat in The White House?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Republican 47% 84% 10% 50% 50% 43% 47% 46% Democrat 38 5 79 27 34 42 41 37 DK/NA 15 11 11 23 16 14 12 16 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Republican 37% 46% 52% 45% 55% 51% 53% 16% Democrat 55 36 34 38 29 34 31 77 DK/NA 8 18 14 17 16 15 16 7

97. (Split Sample) Do you support or oppose stricter gun control laws in the United States?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 46% 21% 78% 39% 33% 58% 56% 41% Oppose 51 76 19 57 65 37 40 55 DK/NA 3 3 3 4 2 4 3 3 Gun DENSITY............ HsHld Urban Suburb Rural Support 30% 54% 47% 35% Oppose 68 41 52 63 DK/NA 2 5 1 2

98. (Split Sample) Do you support or oppose stricter gun laws in the United States?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 52% 22% 83% 50% 48% 56% 68% 43% Oppose 45 77 14 45 50 41 32 53 DK/NA 3 1 4 5 2 3 1 4 Gun DENSITY............ HsHld Urban Suburb Rural Support 34% 57% 56% 41% Oppose 63 37 43 57 DK/NA 2 6 1 2

99. Do you support or oppose requiring background checks for all gun buyers?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 93% 88% 98% 95% 90% 97% 96% 92% Oppose 5 10 1 3 9 2 3 6 DK/NA 1 2 - 1 2 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Support 96% 93% 91% 96% 90% 97% 93% 98% Oppose 4 3 8 4 9 3 6 2 DK/NA - 3 1 - 2 1 1 - Gun DENSITY............ HsHld Urban Suburb Rural Support 92% 95% 94% 90% Oppose 7 4 5 7 DK/NA 1 1 1 2

100. Do you think any new gun laws will interfere with the right to own guns, or do you think it's possible to make new gun laws without interfering with gun rights?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Will interfere 33% 48% 15% 32% 40% 26% 24% 37% Won't interfere 59 44 78 58 53 65 68 55 NO RIGHT TO OWN(VOL) 1 - 2 - - 1 1 - DK/NA 7 8 6 9 7 8 6 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Will interfere 33% 28% 37% 30% 41% 27% 34% 25% Won't interfere 66 63 54 59 52 64 58 67 NO RIGHT TO OWN(VOL) - 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 DK/NA 1 8 7 11 6 8 7 8 Gun DENSITY............ HsHld Urban Suburb Rural Will interfere 41% 28% 30% 42% Won't interfere 52 62 63 52 NO RIGHT TO OWN(VOL) - 1 - 1 DK/NA 6 9 6 6

101. If a presidential candidate is supported by gun rights groups, does that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely to vote for that candidate, or doesn't it make a difference?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No More likely 20% 35% 7% 15% 23% 18% 11% 25% Less likely 23 7 42 19 19 26 36 16 No difference 56 58 49 65 58 54 51 58 DK/NA 1 - 2 2 1 2 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk More likely 24% 17% 19% 20% 24% 18% 21% 16% Less likely 18 25 22 25 17 27 22 25 No difference 56 58 57 53 58 54 56 58 DK/NA 1 - 1 2 - 1 1 1 Gun DENSITY............ HsHld Urban Suburb Rural More likely 25% 16% 18% 26% Less likely 16 26 25 17 No difference 58 56 56 56 DK/NA 1 2 1 -

102. If more people carried guns, do you think the United States would be safer or less safe?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Safer 41% 65% 14% 42% 49% 35% 29% 47% Less safe 49 24 79 47 41 57 59 44 DK/NA 9 11 6 11 10 9 11 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Safer 41% 44% 44% 33% 52% 40% 46% 17% Less safe 54 47 46 57 37 50 44 80 DK/NA 6 9 10 11 11 10 11 3 Gun DENSITY............ HsHld Urban Suburb Rural Safer 55% 34% 40% 53% Less safe 33 59 50 37 DK/NA 12 7 10 10

103. Have the mass shootings that have taken place in the United States in the last few years made you more likely to purchase a gun, less likely to purchase a gun, or haven't they had any effect either way on your likelihood of purchasing a gun?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No More likely 24% 35% 12% 24% 24% 25% 19% 27% Less likely 11 5 20 6 8 13 11 10 No effect 64 59 67 69 67 61 70 61 DK/NA 1 1 1 1 1 2 - 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk More likely 33% 25% 23% 18% 24% 25% 25% 14% Less likely 11 7 9 17 6 9 8 20 No effect 56 65 68 62 70 64 67 65 DK/NA - 2 - 2 - 1 1 - Gun DENSITY............ HsHld Urban Suburb Rural More likely 32% 21% 24% 30% Less likely 5 12 8 11 No effect 62 66 68 57 DK/NA 1 1 - 2

104. Have the mass shootings that have taken place in the United States in the last few years made you more likely to carry a gun, less likely to carry a gun, or haven't they had any effect either way on your likelihood of carrying a gun?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No More likely 24% 38% 13% 21% 27% 22% 17% 28% Less likely 11 4 19 7 8 13 10 11 No effect 64 59 67 71 65 63 73 60 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 - 2 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk More likely 34% 24% 25% 18% 28% 21% 24% 19% Less likely 6 9 10 19 6 10 8 20 No effect 60 65 65 62 65 67 66 60 DK/NA - 2 - 2 - 1 1 - Gun DENSITY............ HsHld Urban Suburb Rural More likely 36% 21% 23% 31% Less likely 6 13 9 10 No effect 57 65 68 59 DK/NA 1 2 - 1

105. Would you support or oppose the U.S. sending ground troops to fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 54% 68% 41% 57% 58% 51% 52% 56% Oppose 38 23 51 34 37 39 39 37 DK/NA 8 9 7 9 6 10 9 8 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Support 52% 55% 57% 54% 60% 55% 57% 40% Oppose 44 38 35 35 33 34 34 55 DK/NA 4 6 8 11 6 11 9 5

106. Do you think the United States and its allies are winning or losing the fight against ISIS?

COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Winning 16% 11% 24% 13% 16% 16% 16% 17% Losing 66 81 47 72 67 65 69 64 DK/NA 18 8 29 15 16 19 16 19 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Winning 28% 19% 13% 11% 15% 13% 14% 25% Losing 48 65 73 70 69 71 70 49 DK/NA 24 16 15 19 16 15 16 26

107. Which do you blame more for the rise of ISIS: the United States going to war in Iraq in 2003 or the United States removing all troops from Iraq by the end of 2011?