ASSOCIATED PRESS/KNOWLEDGE NETWORKS OVERNIGHT POLL SHOWS 60% OF VOTING-AGE AMERICANS SAY TONIGHT'S PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE SHOULD TAKE PLACE AS SCHEDULED
Results show high degree of uncertainty among Independents about financial bailout,candidates' ability to handle it
Nationwide survey – conducted last night – provides accurate, up-to-the-minute snapshot of electorate, reveals differences by party identification
Menlo Park, CA; September 26, 2008: An overnight poll from the Associated Press and Knowledge Networks – conducted on the only Internet panel that is representative of the U.S. population – shows that nearly two-thirds of Americans, ages 18 and above, want tonight's planned presidential debate to take place as scheduled.
The survey also indicates that Independent voters are highly uncertain about whether the President's bailout plan will solve the current financial crisis – and which candidate would do a better job at that task. The poll provides a snapshot of Americans' views on the financial crisis, which candidate they feel is best equipped to manage it, and whether President Bush is providing adequate leadership. Knowledge Networks' KnowledgePanel® represents the U.S. population by using a random selection of respondents nationwide and providing those who do not have online access with an Internet connection and device.
Results from the poll, which were examined for the voting-age population and by party identification, show that
- when asked whether they trust Barack Obama or John McCain more when it comes to handling the financial crisis, respondents split largely along party lines (see table below); nearly two-thirds (60%) of Independents say they are "not sure"
- 28% of Democrats, 38% of Republicans, and 7% of Independents say they "somewhat" or "strongly support" the $700 million bailout of financial institutions currently being considered by the Congress; close to half (44%) of Independents say they are "not sure" about the bailout
- 65% of Democrats, 30% of Republicans, and 51% of Independents say they "strongly" or "somewhat" disapprove of President Bush's handling of the financial crisis
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The survey was designed by Associated Press and Knowledge Networks and conducted last night among 671 members nationwide of Knowledge Networks' KnowledgePanel® members; KnowledgePanel® is a probability-based Panel designed to be representative of the U.S. population. Initially, participants are chosen scientifically by a random selection of telephone numbers. Persons in selected households are then invited by telephone to participate in the web-enabled KnowledgePanel. For those who agree to participate, but do not already have Internet access, Knowledge Networks provides at no cost an Internet appliance and Internet service connection. People who already have computers and Internet service are permitted to participate using their own equipment. Panelists then receive unique log-in information for accessing surveys online, and then are sent emails three to four times a month inviting them to participate in research. More technical information is available at http://www.knowledgenetworks.com/ganp/reviewer-info.html.
The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.8% among all adults; ±5.4 for Democrats; ±6.0 for Republicans and ±12% for Independents.
About the Associated Press (AP)
The Associated Press is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world, to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the largest and most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world's population sees news from AP.
About Knowledge Networks
Knowledge Networks specializes in solving complex, high-impact problems, providing extraordinary quality and service to leaders in business, government and academia. We work closely with clients to create healthy consumer-brand connections, effective marketing and advertising, sound public policies, and accurate social science research. We have established respected practices in media, marketing, advertising, and government & academic studies. KN excels in study design, analytics, and custom panel creation; we deliver affordable, statistically valid online research through KnowledgePanel – the only available probability selected, nationally representative Internet panel.
