TARP, The Auto Bailout, and The Stimulus: Attitudes About The Economic Crisis

AEI Public
S
Opinion
Studies
TARP, the Auto Bailout, and the

Stimulus: Attitudes about the
Economic Crisis
Compiled by Karlyn Bowman, Senior Fellow, AEI and Andrew Rugg, Research
Assistant
(Updated May 2010)
Separate AEI Public Opinion Studies are available on
Enron and Company
Taking Stock of Business
For a full list of AEI Public Opinion Studies, please visit here.
1
Contents
Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 2
TARP .............................................................................................................................................. 3
Second Half of TARP and Beyond ............................................................................................... 16
Auto Bailout .................................................................................................................................. 24
Mortgage Help .............................................................................................................................. 30
The Stimulus ................................................................................................................................. 33
Key Events in the Financial Crisis ................................................................................................ 52

2
TARP: This section covers early reaction to the TARP program. In a mid-September 2008 Pew poll,
57 percent thought the government potentially investing billions to try to keep financial institutions
and markets secure was the right thing to do. That dropped to a 45 percent plurality by late
September. In late September CBS News/New York Times poll, people were evenly divided, 43 to 43
percent, on providing money to financial institutions to avoid a crisis, but by mid-October in this poll,
opinion had moved against, with 38 percent in favor and 48 percent opposed. November and
December 2008 Gallup polls showed opinion divided about whether, all in all, the government
provided assistance to the financial institutions was a good idea. The resistance to government help is
interesting because most Americans acknowledged in the fall of 2008 the situation was a crisis, or in
the words of a CBS News poll from late September, a situation in which the “problems with the
financial institutions threaten the entire economy.” Around seven in ten in Pew polls said they were
following news about the economy “very closely” in late September and early October 2008.
In an early October 2008 CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, a strong majority, 76
percent, opposed another bill if banks and financial institutions continued to have similar problems. In
CNN/ORC polls in January and February 2009 (shown in the next section of this document), around
six in ten were opposed to providing the remaining half of the TARP money to banks and financial
institutions.
Q: As you may know, the government is potentially investing billions to try to keep financial institutions and markets
secure. Do you think this is the right thing or the wrong thing for the government to be doing?
Right thing Wrong thing

Sep.19-22, 2008 PSRA/Pew 57% 30%
Sep. 27-29, 2008 PSRA/Pew 45 38
Oct. 16-19, 2008 PSRA/Pew 47 37
Nov. 14-17, 2008 PSRA/Pew 40 43
Dec. 3-7, 2008 PSRA/Pew 47 43
Mar. 9-12, 2009 PSRA/Pew 48 40
Feb. 3-9, 2010 PSRA/Pew 40 51
Note: In December 2008, the question was worded “As you may know, the government is investing billions of
dollars to try to keep financial institutions and markets secure. Do you think this is the right thing or the wrong thing
for the government to be doing?” The November and October surveys did not include the phrase “of dollars” after
“billions.” In late September 2008, an experiment testing the word “committing” instead of “investing” showed no
difference in the results. Results for the two versions have been combined. The March 2009 question was worded
“In addition to the economic stimulus program Congress recently passed, the government is investing roughly 700
billion dollars to try to keep financial institutions and markets secure. Do you think this is the right thing or the
wrong thing for the government to be doing?” The February 2010 question was worded “In 2008, the government
made loans of roughly 700 billion dollars to try to keep financial institutions and markets secure. Do you think this
was the right thing or the wrong thing for the government to do?”
Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the federal government providing money to financial institutions to avoid a
crisis?
Approve Disapprove
Sep. 27-30, 2008 CBS/NYT 43% 43%
Oct. 3-5, 2008 CBS 36 52
Oct. 10-13, 2008 CBS/NYT 38 48
Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the federal government providing money to banks and other financial
institutions to try to help fix the country’s economic problems?
Approve Disapprove
Dec. 4-8, 2008 CBS News 46% 44%
3
Feb. 2-4, 2009 CBS News 42 47
Feb. 18-22, 2009 CBS News/NYT 39 50
Mar. 12-15, 2009 CBS News 37 53
Mar. 20-22, 2009 CBS News 41 50
Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the economic bailout plan that was passed by Congress and signed into law by
the President?
Approve Disapprove
Oct. 10-13, 2008 CBS/NYT 28% 53%
Oct. 19-22, 2008* CBS/NYT 32 53
Note: * Question wording added “George W. Bush” at the end of the question.
Q: As you may know, this past week the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed a bill to address the
problems being faced by U.S. financial institutions. All in all, do you think it is a good thing or a bad thing that
Congress passed this bill?
Good thing Bad thing

Oct. 3-5, 2008 Gallup/USA Today 50% 41%
Nov. 13-16, 2008* Gallup/USA Today 47 45
Dec. 4-7, 2008** Gallup/USA Today 46 47
Note: *Question wording read “All in all do you think it is a good or a bad thing that the government passed
legislation to provide up to $700 billion of assistance to address the problems faced by U.S. financial institutions…”.
**Question wording read “Next, as you may know, in early October (2008) Congress and the president passed
legislation to provide up to $700 billion of government assistance to address the problems being faced by US
financial institutions…”.
Q: As you may know, earlier this month Congress and President Bush approved a government program that would
spend up to seven hundred billion dollars to provide assistance to banks and other large financial institutions.
Based on what you have read or heard about this bill, do you favor or oppose it?
Favor Oppose
Oct. 3-5, 2008 CNN/ORC 46% 53%
Oct. 17-19, 2008 CNN/ORC 40 56
(If oppose) Would you have favored a different proposal to provide government assistance to financial
institutions if some major changes were made, or do you think that the federal government should have
stayed out of this matter and let the economy and the financial markets recover on their own?
Oppose, favor Oppose, government

different proposal should stay out
Oct 3-5, 2008 CNN/ORC 22% 30%
Q: In the recent financial crisis, do you approve or disapprove of the government’s decision to bail out some
financial institutions that were facing bankruptcy?
Approve bail out Disapprove

Sep. 22-23, 2008 Fox/OD 41% 45%
Mar. 31-Apr. 1, 2009* Fox/OD 35 59
Note: *Question wording read “the current financial crisis”.
Q: Last week, Congress passed a bill that included a seven hundred billion dollar rescue package for financial
institutions. Do you approve or disapprove of Congress passing the rescue plan?
Approve Disapprove
Oct. 8-9, 2008 Fox/OD 34% 53 %
4
Oct. 20-21, 2008* Fox/OD 42 48
Note: *Question wording read, “Recently…”
Q: As you may know, the Bush administration has proposed a plan that would allow the Treasury Department to
buy and re-sell up to $700 billion of distressed assets from financial companies. What would you like to see
Congress do – pass a plan similar to what the Bush administration has proposed, take action but pass something
different from what the Bush administration has proposed or not take any action on this matter?
Pass plan Pass plan Not take

like Bush’s not like Bush’s action
Sep. 24, 2008 Gallup/USA Today 22% 56% 11%
Q: Do you think the country’s current financial situation is a crisis, a serious problem but not a crisis, a problem
but not a serious one, or not much of a problem at all?
Serious Not a serious Not much of a

Crisis problem problem problem at all
Sep. 29, 2008* ABC/Wash Post 52% 43% 4% *
Dec. 17, 2008 ABC/Wash Post 54 36 7 3%
Note: * Question wording reads, reads “In terms of its potential impact on the broader economy, do you think the
country's current financial situation…”.
Q: Do you think the problems with the financial institutions threaten the entire economy, or are those problems
something that the economy is strong enough to survive without government involvement?
Threatens entire Economy can

economy survive
Sep. 27-30, 2008 CBS 67% 22 %
Q: The government has proposed using up to 700 billion dollars to shore up failing financial institutions on Wall
Street. Some people say it’s a bailout that those companies don’t deserve. Other people say it’s necessary to protect
the broader economy. On balance, do you support or oppose this plan?
Support Oppose
Sep. 29, 2008 ABC/Wash Post 45% 47 %
Q: As you may know, the House of Representatives on Monday voted against a proposed 700-billion dollar bill to
deal with the current financial crisis. What do you think Congress should do now: pass a bill similar to the one that
was defeated, start over and come up with a new plan or not pass any bill addressing this matter?
Similar bill New plan No bill

Sep. 30, 2008 Gallup/USA Today 20% 57% 14%
Q: If banks and other financial institutions continue to have the kind of problems they are currently facing, would
you favor or oppose another bill which would provide additional government assistance beyond the seven hundred
billion dollars in the program that was recently approved?
Favor Oppose
Oct. 3-5, 2008 CNN/ORC 22% 76%
Q: In one specific program, the federal government has provided financial assistance to several major banks, and
exchange the government will own a share of those banks along with other investors. Do you think this is a good
idea or bad idea?
Good idea Bad idea

Oct 17-19, 2008 CNN/ORC 44% 53%
5
Q: As you may have heard, last week Congress passed a bill that provides up to seven hundred billion dollars to
help stabilize the financial markets. Do you think lawmakers did the right or wrong thing for the country when it
passed this financial package?
Oct. 10-13, 2008 LAT/Bloomberg 44% 37%
Q: The government has announced a plan to take over bad mortgages and other troubled investments from financial
firms. This plan could cost the government as much as seven hundred billion dollars but would try to stabilize
financial markets, make credit available to business and consumers, and protect some homeowners. Do you
approve or disapprove of this plan?
Approve Disapprove
Oct. 4-5, 2008 NBC/WSJ 40% 38%
Q: In October, the government announced a plan to take over bad mortgages and other troubled investments from
financial firms. The plan was estimated to cost the government as much as seven hundred billion dollars and has
been used to try to stabilize financial markets, make investments in financial institutions, and make credit available
to business and consumers. Do you approve or disapprove of this plan?
Approve Disapprove
Dec. 5-8, 2008 NBC/WSJ 27% 50%
Q: Do you support or oppose the $700 billion government plan to assist failing financial companies?
Support Oppose
Nov. 2008 NEP 39% 56%
Q: The federal government has either already committed to, or is considering, financial aid or loans to several
industries that are in financial trouble. Please tell me whether you approve or disapprove of the government
providing aid and loans to the following types of companies.
Dec. 5-8, 2008 NBC/WSJ
Approve Disapprove
Small businesses 82% 15%
Commercial banks 38 56
Mortgage lenders 35 58
Insurance companies 26 68
Investment firms 20 73
Q: We’d like your views about how much the federal government has spent so far to help certain groups affected by
the financial crisis. What about federal spending to help ______. Do you think there has been too much, too little, or
about the right amount?
Mar. 4-5, 2009 PSRA/Newsweek
----There has been----

Too much Too little Right amount
help for
Large banks and other financial
institutions in danger of failing 62% 8% 21%
U.S. auto companies in danger of going
bankrupt 58 12 24
Homeowners facing foreclosure or who
have already lost their homes to foreclosure 29 40 22
6
Approval of Policymakers Handling of the Crisis
Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the steps the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department have taken to try to
deal with the current situation involving the stock market and major financial institutions?
Approve Disapprove
Sep. 29, 2008 ABC/Wash Post 47% 42 %
Q: Next, please say whether you approve or disapprove of the way each of the following has responded to the
problems on Wall Street.
Sep. 26-27, 2008 Gallup/USA Today
Approve Disapprove
Senator Barack Obama 46% 43%
The Democratic leaders in Congress 39 50
Senator John McCain 37 53
The Republican leaders in Congress 31 58
Treasury Secretary, Hank Paulson 28 51
President George W. Bush 28 68
Q: What is your opinion of how Congress is responding to the recent problems in the financial markets, do you think
they are taking too much time debating the issue, being too hasty, or giving it the right amount of consideration.
Too much time Too hasty Right amount

Sep. 27-29, 2008 PSRA/Pew 32% 22% 37%
Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the job the federal government is doing in handling the current financial crisis?
-----Federal Government-----
Approve Disapprove
Oct. 17-20, 2008 NBC/WSJ 24% 66%
Dec. 5-8, 2008 NBC/WSJ 19 71
Q: And do you approve or disapprove of how this plan has been handled since it passed in October? If you do not
know enough about this to have an opinion, please just say so.
Approve Disapprove
Dec. 5-8, 2008 NBC/WSJ 11% 64%
Who Is to Blame?
Q: When you think about the current economic conditions, do you feel that this is a situation that Barack Obama has
inherited or is this a situation his policies are mostly responsible for?
Situation Obama’s
Situation Obama policies mostly Some
inherited responsible for of both
Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2009 NBC/WSJ 84% 8% 6%
Jun. 12-15, 2009 NBC/WSJ 72 14 10
Oct. 22-25, 2009 NBC/WSJ 63 20 15
Jan. 10-14, 2010* NBC/WSJ 65 17 16
Note: * Asked of half sample
7
Q: Do you think the Democrats or the Republicans are more responsible for the problems currently facing financial
institutions and the stock market?
Democrats Republicans Both (vol.)

Sep. 19-21, 2008 CNN/ORC 24% 47% 20%
Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2008 CNN/ORC 29 47 18
Q: Some people are saying that lack of regulation is partly responsible for the current financial and housing crisis,
do you agree or disagree with that?
Lack of regulation is partly responsible
Agree Disagree
Sep. 19-22, 2008 LAT/Bloomberg 62% 24%
Q: As you may know, some big investment banks and mortgage companies, such as Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns,
and American Insurance Group (known as AIG), have collapsed or gone into bankruptcy and many Americans face
financial crisis. Who or what do you think is primarily responsible for this financial crisis: the Bush administration,
or Wall Street financial institutions, or Congress, or is there another group or thing that you think is primarily
responsible?
Sep. 19-22, 2008 LAT/Bloomberg
Primarily responsible
Wall Street financial institutions 32%
Bush administration 26
All (vol.) 12
Congress 11
Don’t know 11
Other 7
No one in particular (vol.) 1
Q: Who do you think deserves the most blame for the current financial situation?
Sep. 29, 2008 ABC/Wash Post
President Bush 25%

Wall Street financial institutions/banks 18
Congress 8
The federal government 8
All/everyone/many different parties 7
People/homeowners who borrowed too much 5
Democrats 5
Republicans 5
Note: Answers only shown if 5 percent or more.
Q: Regardless of how you usually vote, who do you blame more for the recent problems experienced by financial
institutions – the Republican Party, or the Democratic Party, or do you blame both equally?
Republican Democratic Both

Party Party Equally
Sep. 27-30, 2008 CBS 24% 5% 65%
8
Q: How much do you think each of the following has contributed to the current problems with financial institutions
and markets?
Oct. 9-12, 2008 Pew
A lot Some Not very much Not at all

People taking on more debt than they can afford 79% 15% 3% 1%
Banks making risky loans 72 17 4 3
Weak government regulation of financial institutions 46 34 8 4
The financial system becoming too complicated 36 34 16 7
Growing financial ties between the United States and
other countries 35 37 15 6
Q: When elected officials criticize business during this financial crisis – it is justified or it is political
grandstanding?
Justified Grandstanding
Mar. 24-30, 2009 Quinnipiac 42% 49%
Q: Which one of the following do you think is most responsible for the country's financial crisis?...Congressional
leaders, corporate leaders, the Obama administration, the Bush administration
Congressional Corporate Obama Bush

leaders leaders administration administration
Mar. 31- Apr. 31, 2009 Fox/OD 19% 25% 5% 23%
Note: Twenty percent responded “Combination”.
Q: Would you describe yourself as angry or not angry about the role large business corporations have played in the
economic situation?
Angry Not angry
Mar. 26-29, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 68% 31%
Q: Now I am going to read you a series of things President Obama has done on the economy. For each one, please
tell me whether you approve or disapprove of that action?
January 2010 NBC/WSJ

Approve Disapprove
Placing new restrictions on credit card companies that govern
how they raise consumers’ interest rates 82% 16%
Extending unemployment benefits 82 16
Providing financial help to homeowners who were in danger
of losing their homes 69 25
Providing tax cuts to individuals are part of the stimulus package 68 25
Passing the economic stimulus package 49 43
Providing financial help to banks and other lending institutions 32 60
Having the federal government take a majority ownership stake in
General Motors 30 65

9
Government’s Responsibility?
Q: Do you think the government should use taxpayers’ dollars to rescue ailing private financial firms whose
collapse could have adverse effects on the economy and the market, or is it not the government’s responsibility to
bail out private companies with taxpayers’ dollars?
Government
should use taxpayers’ Not
dollars to rescue government’s
financial firms responsibility
Sep. 19-22, 2008 LAT/Bloomberg 31% 55%
Q: When you think about the problems on Wall Street is it better for the government to step in and rescue the
financial markets or it better if the government if the government does not rescue the financial markets?
Oct. 2-6, 2008 Ipsos/McClatchy
Better for government to step in and rescue financial markets 52%

Better if government does not rescues the financial markets 41
Q: When you think about the problems on Wall Street is it better for the government to bailout the financial markets
or is it better if the government does not bailout the financial markets?
Oct. 2-6, 2008 Ipsos/McClatchy
Better for government to step in and bailout the financial markets 42%
Better if government does not bailout the financial markets 51
Q: Do you think the government should use taxpayer money to bail out companies that are facing bankruptcy?
Yes No
Oct. 8-9, 2008 Fox News/OD 11% 82%
Q: Do you . . . ?
Oct. 10-13, 2008 CBS/NYT
Approve of the federal government providing money to

financial institutions to avoid a financial crisis 38%
Disapprove 48
Approve of the economic bailout plan that was passed by

Congress and signed into law by the President 28
Disapprove 53
Q: If a big company is in danger of going out of business, the federal government may give it financial assistance to
keep it in business and in exchange the government would own a share of that company along with other investors.
Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?
Good idea Bad idea

Oct 17-19, 2008 CNN/ORC 38% 58%
10
Q: Which of the following statements comes closer to your view: “The federal government should use taxpayers’
dollars to rescue failing financial institutions,” or “The federal government should let financial institutions fail if
they cannot support themselves”?
Rescue Let them fail

Dec. 6-8, 2008 LAT/Bloomberg 34% 48%
Q: Do you think it is the responsibility of the federal government to rescue failing financial institutions or is that not
the responsibility of the federal government?
Yes, it’s the

government’s responsibility No, it’s not
Feb. 17-18, 2009 Fox News/OD 28% 67%
Q: Do you . . . ?
Feb. 20-22, 2009 Gallup/USA Today
Favor the federal government temporarily taking over

major U.S. banks in danger of failing in an attempt to
stabilize them 54%
Oppose 44
Favor the federal government temporarily nationalizing

major U.S. banks in danger of failing in an attempt
to stabilize them 37%
Oppose 57
Q: Do you think it is the responsibility of the federal government to provide financial help to the banks so they can
avoid failing?
Yes, it’s the
Feb. 25-Mar. 2, 2009 Quinnipiac 34% 59%
Q: Given the problems the country is facing, do you think the government should or should not exert more control
over the nation’s financial system?
Should Should not Don’t know

Jul. 9-12, 2009 CBS 51% 42% 7%
Q: Do you favor or oppose new government regulations that would limit the size and activities of the country’s
largest banks?
Favor Oppose
Jan. 22-24, 2010 CNN/ORC 62% 35%
Q: In responding to the crisis in the financial markets of the last two years, the government has increased regulation
of banks, brokerage house and other financial institutions. Do you think this should be a temporary policy or
lasting policy?
Temporary Policy Lasting Policy

Apr. 22-26, 2010 All State/National Journal 49% 43%
Will It Work?
11
Q: Which comes closer to your opinion? 1. A government bailout of the financial industry would stop a collapse of
the U.S. economy that would cause economic hardship for average Americans or 2. A government bailout of the
financial industry would burden American taxpayers and only help the financial institutions that are failing.
Bailout necessary Bailout a burden

Sep. 27-30, 2008 CBS 34% 53%
Q: Do you think the new program that Congress and the President recently approved will or will not prevent the
economy from going into a deep and prolonged recession?
Yes, the program will No, recession even if

prevent a recession No, it won’t Congress had not acted
Oct. 3-5, 2008 CNN/ORC 43% 51% 3%
Q: All in all, do you think the Congressional financial rescue package will help or hurt the nation’s economy, or will
it not make much of a difference?
Help Hurt No difference

Oct. 8-9, 2008 Fox/OD 33% 26% 29%
Q: From what you know, do you think the economic bailout plan passed by Congress in an effort to lessen the
current economic crisis will make things better, make things worse, or will it have no impact?
Better Worse No impact

Oct. 10-13, 2008 CBS/NYT 34% 15% 38%
Q: As you may know, last fall Congress and President Bush approved a government program that would spend up to
seven hundred billion dollars to provide assistance to banks and other large financial institutions. Based on what
you have read or heard about this program, do you think it has or has not done what it was supposed to do to help
the economy?
Has done what it was Has not done what it
supposed to was supposed to
Jan. 12-15, 2009 CNN/ORC 14% 86 %
Q: The federal government will purchase investments from financial institutions that are in trouble and eventually
sell those investments to different institutions. Do you think the government will eventually get back all of the money
it spends on this program, will get most of it back, will get only a little of it back, or won’t get any of that money
back?
Govt. will get all of

the money it spent back Most back Only a little back None
Oct. 3-5, 2008 CNN/ORC 4% 25% 51% 20%
Effects on Individuals
Q: How much do you think your own financial situation has been harmed by the events of the last two weeks – a
great deal, a moderate amount, not much, or not at all?
----Have been harmed by the events of the last month----

Great deal Moderate amount Not much Not at all
Sep. 30, 2008 Gallup 20% 36% 26% 16%
Oct. 10-12, 2008* Gallup 29 37 22 11
Dec. 12-14, 2008^ Gallup 27 38 23 12
Note: * Question wording read “events of the last month”. ^ Question wording read “events of the past few
months”.
12
Q: Now, I’d like you to think about the events of the last two weeks and any future problems that might result from
them. How much do you think your own financial situation will be harmed in the long run - a great deal, a
moderate amount, not much, or not at all?
----Will be harmed in the long run----

Great deal Moderate amount Not much Not at all
Sep. 30, 2008 Gallup 28% 41% 22% 7%
Oct. 10-12, 2008 Gallup 29 41 21 6
Q: Do you think the problems currently facing financial institutions and the stock market will affect you and your
family immediately, will affect you in a year or so, will eventually affect you, or will never affect you?
Immediately In a year or so Eventually Never

Sep. 19-21, 2008 CNN/ORC 32% 20% 38% 9%
Oct. 3-5, 2008 CNN/ORC 36 19 37 8
Q: How worried are you about the safety of money you have deposited in banks and other financial institutions –
very worried, moderately worried, not too worried, or not worried at all?
Very Moderately Not too Not worried

worried worried worried at all
Sep. 26-27, 2008 Gallup/USA Today 16% 29% 27% 24%
Q: As a result of the problems on Wall Street in recent weeks, have you postponed making a major purchase,
seriously considered doing so, or not seriously considered doing so?
Postponed Seriously Not seriously

major purchase considered considered
Sep. 26-27, 2008 Gallup/USA Today 15% 14% 67%
Q: As a result of the problems on Wall Street in recent weeks, have you taken money out of the stock market,
seriously considered doing so, or not seriously considered doing so?
Taken Seriously Not seriously

money out considered considered
Sep. 26-27, 2008 Gallup/USA Today 8% 20% 70%
Note: Asked of stockowners.
Q: As a result of the recent problems on Wall Street, are you now more worried that . . . ?
Sep. 26-27, 2008 Gallup/USA Today

More worried Not more worried
Your benefits will be reduced 46% 52%
That you will earn less money than you expected to earn 44 55
You might lose your job 26 74
Q: How much are you personally being affected by the crisis on Wall Street and in the mortgage and housing
markets—a great deal, some, only a little, or not at all?
A great deal Some Only a little Not at all

Oct. 4-5, 2008 NBC/WSJ 20% 29% 25% 25 %
13
Q: All in all, do you think the Congressional financial rescue package will help or hurt your family’s financial
situation, or will it not make much of a difference?
-------The rescue package will------
Help my family’s situation Hurt No difference
Oct. 8-9, 2008 Fox/OD 16% 28% 47%
Handling the Crisis: Obama v. McCain
Q: Who do you think would be better when it comes to ____ Barack Obama or John McCain, or do you think that
both would be equally good or neither would be good?
NBC/WSJ
Obama McCain Equally good Neither

The mortgage and housing crisis
Sep. 6-8, 2008 35% 25% 14% 17%
Sep. 19-22, 2008 38 30 12 12
Oct. 4-5, 2008 42 27 13 13
Oct. 17-20, 2008 45 24 11 15
Dealing with the Wall Street financial crisis
Sep. 19-22, 2008 35 30 12 13
Oct. 4-5, 2008 36 30 12 17
Oct. 17-20, 2008 42 25 10 17
Q: Now I’m going to mention a few issues and for each one, please tell me if you think Barack Obama or John
McCain would better handle that issue if they were elected President.
CNN/ORC
The current financial crisis

Obama McCain Neither
Oct. 3-5, 2008 53% 36% 11%
Oct. 17-19, 2008 53 38 9
Providing help to the middle class

Oct. 3-5, 2008 63 32 5
Q: If _______ is elected president, are you confident that he and his economic advisors can fix the economy, or not?
Oct. 10-12, 2008 Gallup/USA Today
Confident No, not confident

Barack Obama 44% 50%
John McCain 31 63
Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the way ____ is handling the current economic crisis?
----Barack Obama---- ----John McCain----

Approve Disapprove Approve Disapprove
Sep. 27-30, 2008 CBS 44% 32% 35% 46%
14

Miscellaneous
Q: How important is it to you that any government plan to deal with the financial problems _____?
Sep. 24, 2008 Gallup/USA Today
Very Somewhat Not too Not important

important important important at all
Set limits on compensation for executives
at corporations that participate in the plan 63% 18 % 9% 7%
Include provisions to help homeowners who
cannot pay their mortgages 49 31 10 9
Q: As I read statements about the current financial situation, please tell me how concerned, if at all, you are about
each. Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not too concerned, or not at all concerned that . . . ?
Sep. 27-29, 2008 PSRA/Pew

Very Somewhat Not too Not at all
concerned concerned concerned concerned
The government is becoming too involved
in financial markets 44% 33% 12% 7%
Those who are responsible for causing the
crisis will be let off the hook 72 17 5 3
The government’s actions won’t fix the things
that caused this problem in the first place 63 27 5 2
The government’s actions won’t do enough
to help homeowner’s in danger of losing
their homes 54 27 9 6
Q: As you may know, the U.S. went through a depression in the 1930s which roughly one out of four workers were
unemployed, banks failed across the country, and millions of ordinary Americans were temporarily homeless or
unable to feed their families. Do you think it is very likely, somewhat likely, not very likely, or not likely at all that
another depression like that could occur in the U.S.?
----Another depression could occur----

Very Somewhat Not very Not likely
Likely likely likely at all
Oct. 3-5, 2008 CNN/ORC 21% 38% 29% 13%
Dec. 1-2, 2008 CNN/ORC 10 28 41 20
Mar. 12-15, 2009 CNN/ORC 12 33 36 18
Jul. 21-Aug. 3, 2009* CNN/ORC 12 29 36 22
Dec. 2-3, 2009* CNN/ORC 17 26 39 19
Note: *Question added “within the next twelve months” to the end of the question.
Q: Regardless of whether you favor or oppose the new government program, do you consider it mostly a bailout for
Wall Street or do you consider it mostly an attempt to rescue the economy in order to help average Americans?
Mostly a bailout Rescue

Oct. 3-5, 2008 CNN/ORC 53% 40%
15
Q: Who do you think will benefit from the government money used in the plan – mostly just a few big investors and
people who work on Wall Street, or homeowners and people throughout the country as well?
Just Wall Street People throughout country

Oct. 10-13, 2008 CBS/NYT 63% 28%
Second Half of TARP and Beyond: A January 2009 ABC News/Washington Post survey

found 58 percent opposed to the release of the second half of the TARP money with 39 percent
supporting it. Mid-January and February CNN/Opinion Research Corporation polls produced
similar results. Around 60 percent said the remaining money should not be provided. In a mid-
January Gallup question, 62 percent said that Congress should block the release of the funds until
more details were provided about how the money will be used.
Q: As you may know, last fall Congress and President Bush approved a government program that would spend up to
seven hundred billion dollars to provide assistance to banks and other large financial institutions. About half that
money has already been spent. Do you think Congress and President Obama should or should not provide the
remaining money to banks and other financial institutions?
Should provide remaining money Should not

Jan. 12-15, 2009* CNN/ORC 38% 61%
Feb. 18-19, 2009 CNN/ORC 36 62
Note: * January wording was “President-elect Obama”.
Q: As you may know, about half of the money from last year’s $700 billion financial rescue plan has been used and
President-elect Obama has now asked Congress for the other half to be released. Which would you rather see
happen – for Congress to allow the remaining $350 billion to be released, for Congress to block the release unless
more details are provided about how the funds will be used, or for Congress to block the release of the $350 billion
entirely?
Allow the remaining Block unless more

money to be released details are given Block the money
Jan. 13, 2009 Gallup 20% 62% 12%
Q: In another program, the federal government has approved using up to 700 billion dollars to help shore up
financial institutions in an attempt to help stabilize the economy. Half of that money has been used. Do you support
or oppose now making the other half available to troubled financial institutions
Support Oppose
Jan. 13-16, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 39% 58%
Q: As you may recall, last October, Congress passed and President Bush signed into law a $700 billion Troubled
Asset Relief Program, referred to as TARP, to aid the financial sector by purchasing failing bank assets. The first
half of that money, $350 billion, was authorized and distributed late last year. Last week, the Senate approved the
second half of that money, which will soon be distributed. In your opinion, was the approval of $350 billion to aid
the financial sector a . . . ?
---Approval of $350 billion---
Good idea Bad idea
Jan. 21-24, 2009 FD/Diageo/Hotline 56% 32%
16
Q: President Obama said he understands public frustration with the government help for private banks. But he said
more than the 700 billion dollars already approved would be needed to keep the banks lending and getting the
economy moving again. Do you support or oppose spending more than the 700 billion dollars on helping banks?
Support spending more

than $700 billion Oppose
Q: I’d like to read you a list of some government policies that have been considered over the past 12 months. For
each one, I’d like you to tell me whether, overall, you think this policy will help the U.S. economy, will hurt the U.S.
economy, or will it have no impact?
Jan. 3-7, 2010 All State/National Journal
Help Hurt No Impact

The TARP program that provided
financial assistance to banks 36% 43% 15%
The stimulus bill that provided for
tax cuts, expansion of social welfare
benefits and domestic spending 45 38 12
Providing financial assistance to major
U.S. auto companies 34 45 18
each one, I’d like you to tell me whether, overall, you think this policy will your personal financial situation, will
hurt your personal financial situation, or will it have no impact?
Help Hurt No Impact

Q: Do you think providing government money to banks and other financial institutions was necessary to get the
economy out of recession, or would the economy probably have improved without doing that?
Necessary Economy will improve without it

Mar. 12-15, 2009 CBS News/NYT 41% 48%
Apr. 5-12, 2010 CBS News/NYT 39 51
17
Who’s to blame
Q: How much blame do you think ___ deserve(s) for the country’s economic situation – a great deal, a good
amount, only some, or hardly any?
ABC/Wash Post
Great deal Good amount Only some Hardly any
Banks
Mar. 26-29, 2009 56% 24% 15% 4%
Bush administration
Jul. 15-18, 2009 42 20 23 11
Mar. 26-29, 2009 47 23 21 7
Large business corporations
Mar. 26-29, 2009 57 23 14 5
Consumers
Mar. 26-29, 2009 39 33 20 7
Obama administration
Jul. 15-18, 2009 14% 17% 28% 34%
Mar. 26-29, 2009 13 13 27 39
Sept. 10-12, 2009 13 15 33 34
Jan. 12-15, 2010 14 21 36 25
Q: Thinking about the way the federal government has responded to the financial crisis in recent months, generally
speaking, do you approve or disapprove of the expansion of the government’s role in the economy?
----Expansion of government’s role in the economy----

Approve Disapprove
Mar. 27-29, 2009 Gallup/USA Today 53% 44%
Jan. 10-14, 2010 NBC/WSJ 39% 53
Q: How much blame do you think banks and other financial institutions deserve for the country’s economic
situation?
Great deal Good amount Only some Hardly any None
Feb-Mar. 2010 ABC News 33% 27% 30% 8% 1%
Q: Do you think banks and other financial institutions have or have not done enough to make amends for their role
in the financial crisis?
Have Have not
Feb. 26-Mar. 2, 2010 ABC News 15% 77%
Miscellaneous
Q: Do you think the Obama administration's proposals to help the banking system will benefit all Americans by
addressing a broad economic problem, or will it only benefit bankers?
Will benefit all Americans Just bankers

Feb. 18-22, 2009 CBS/NYT 29% 59%
Apr. 1-5, 2009 CBS/NYT 47 40
18
Q: Since last fall, the federal government has spent hundreds of billions of dollars to stabilize the nation's economy.
Which of the following statements do you think best describes the actions the government has taken? 1. Government
actions are basically working and without them things could have been a lot worse. 2. Government actions are
basically failing and without them things would be the same as they are today or even better.
Govt. action working Failing

Mar. 3-4, 2009 Fox/OD 38% 44%
Jun. 9-10, 2009 Fox/OD 46 39
Q: Would you like to have the government own and control the banks?
Like to have govt. own

and control banks Would not
Aug. 1937 Gallup 41% 42%
Feb. 2-4, 2009 CBS 14 76
Q: Who do you trust more to decide how money that the federal government provides to banks and financial
institutions should be spent – the federal government or the financial institutions themselves?
Trust govt. more Financial institutions

Feb. 2-4, 2009 CBS 54% 27%
Q: Who do you trust more to solve the United States’ economic problems – the U.S. government or U.S. businesses?
Trust U.S. government Businesses

Mar. 5-8, 2009 Gallup 53% 42%
Q: Do you think the Obama administration's economic plans would give the federal government too much control
over banks and financial institutions, OR not enough control over banks and financial institutions, OR the right
amount of control over banks and financial institutions?
Too much
govt. control Not enough Right amount
Feb. 18-22, 2009 CBS/NYT 28% 29% 34%
19
Q: As I read a list of some stories covered by news organizations this past week, please tell me if you
happened to follow each news story very closely, fairly closely, not too closely, or not at all closely. Did you follow
the economy very closely? (Pew Research Center)
Q: Are you hearing mostly good news about the economy these days, mostly bad news about the economy or a mix
of both good and bad news? (Pew Research Center)
Dow Jones Industrial Average Close (Dow Jones Averages)
Percent DJIA
90 16000
Hearing mostly bad
80 14000
news
DIJA
70
12000
60
10000
50
8000
40
Following very 6000
30
closely
4000
20
10 2000
0 0
Apr‐2008
May‐2008
Aug‐2008
Dec‐2008
Apr‐2009
May‐2009
Aug‐2009
Dec‐2009
Jan‐2008
Feb‐2008
Mar‐2008
Jun‐2008
Jul‐2008
Sep‐2008
Oct‐2008
Nov‐2008
Jan‐2009
Feb‐2009
Mar‐2009
Jun‐2009
Jul‐2009
Sep‐2009
Oct‐2009
Nov‐2009
Jan‐2010
Feb‐2010
---Followed the economy--- ---Kind of news about the economy--- ---Dow Jones---
Very closely Mostly Mostly A mix of DJIA close
good bad good and
news news bad news
Jan. 11-14, 2008 36% - - - 12099.30

Jan. 18-21, 2008 42 - - - 12207.17
Feb. 1-4, 2008 40 - - - 12182.13
Feb. 15-18, 2008 37 - - - 13381.02
Mar. 3, 2008 38 - - - 11893.69
Mar. 20-24, 2008 45 - - - 12216.40
Mar. 28-31, 2008 42 - - - 12609.42
Apr. 4-7, 2008 39 - - - 12325.42
Apr. 18-21, 2008 41 - - - 12891.86
May 2-5, 2008 43 - - - 12745.88
May 9-12, 2008 45 - - - 12986.80
Jun. 13-16, 2008 42 - - - 11842.69
Jun. 27-30, 2008 49 - - - 11288.53
Jul. 11-14, 2008 44 - - - 11496.57
Jul. 18-21, 2008 45 - - - 11370.69
Jul. 25-28, 2008 46 - - - 11326.32
Aug. 1-4, 2008 47 - - - 11734.32
Aug. 8-11, 2008 39 - - - 11659.90
20
Aug. 15-18, 2008 39 - - - 11628.06
Aug. 29-31, 2008 41 - - - 11543.55
Sep. 5-8, 2008 44 - - - 11421.99
Sep. 19-22, 2008 56 - - - 11143.13
Sep. 26-29, 2008 70 - - - 10831.07
Oct. 3-6, 2008 69 - - - 8451.19
Oct. 10-13, 2008 65 - - - 8852.22
Oct. 17-20, 2008 62 - - - 8378.95
Oct. 24-27, 2008 54 - - - 9325.01
Nov.3, 2008 64 - - - 8943.81
Nov. 7-10, 2008 54 - - - 8497.31
Nov. 14-17, 2008 56 - - - 8046.42
Nov. 21-24, 2008 59 - - - 8829.04
Dec. 5-8, 2008 42 1% 80% 19% 8629.68
Dec. 12-15, 2008 51 - - - 8579.11
Jan. 2-4, 2009 42 - - - 9034.69
Jan. 16-19, 2009 43 2 67 30 8281.22
Jan. 23-26, 2009 57 - - - 8000.86
Feb. 2, 2009 52 - - - 8280.59
Feb. 13-16, 2009 55 2 60 37 7365.67
Mar. 2, 2009 56 - - - 6626.94
Mar. 13-16, 2009 48 2 51 46 7278.38
Mar. 20-23, 2009 52 - - - 7776.18
Mar. 27-30, 2009 48 - - - 8017.59
Apr. 9-13, 2009 48 4 39 56 8131.33
Apr. 17-20, 2009 52 - - - 8076.29
May 1-4, 2009 47 - - - 8574.65
May 8-11, 2009 42 4 31 64 8268.64
May 15-18, 2009 44 - - - 8277.32
May 21-24, 2009 44 - - - 8500.33
Jun. 1, 2009 43 - - - 8763.13
Jun. 5-8, 2009 41 - - - 8799.26
Jun. 12-15, 2009 41 4 37 59 8539.73
Jun. 19-22, 2009 42 - - - 8438.39
Jul. 2-5, 2009 38 3 41 56 8146.52
Jul. 10-13, 2009 37 - - - 8743.94
Jul. 17-20, 2009 45 - - - 9093.24
Jul. 24-27, 2009 45 - - - 9171.61
Aug. 3, 2009 46 - - - 9370.07
Aug. 7-10, 2009 42 11 29 59 9321.4
Aug. 14-17, 2009 41 - - - 9505.96
Aug. 21-24, 2009 50 - - - 9544.2
Aug. 28-31, 2009 45 - - - 9441.27
Sep. 3-6, 2009 41 5 27 68 9605.41
Sep. 11-14, 2009 45 - - - 9820.2
Sep. 18-21, 2009 44 - - - 9665.19
Sep. 25-28, 2009 44 - - - 9487.67
Oct. 2-5, 2009 44 - - - 9864.94
Oct. 9-12, 2009 41 5 31 62 9995.91
Oct. 23-26, 2009 44 - - - 9712.73
Nov. 2, 2009 34 5 31 62 10023.42
Nov. 13-16, 2009 38 - - - 10318.16
Dec. 4-7, 2009 41 7 33 59 10471.5
Dec. 11-14, 2009 42 - - - 10328.89
Dec. 18-21, 2009 45 - - - 10520.1
Jan. 8-11 2010 39 5 29 65 10609.65
21
Jan. 15-18, 2010 37 - - - 10172.98
Jan. 22-25, 2010 41 - - - 10067.33
Feb. 1, 2010 45 - - - 10012.23
Feb. 5-8, 2010 43 4 35 61 10099.14
Feb. 12-15, 2010 35 - - - 10402.35
Feb. 19-22, 2010 38 - - - 10325.26
Mar. 1, 2010 31 - - - 10566.2
Mar. 5-8, 2010 40 4 30 66 10624.69
Note: The Dow Jones index numbers listed are the final closing measurements of the Dow at 4 p.m. on the last day
of the corresponding month.
Sources: PSRA/Pew, latest that of March 2010; Dow Jones Averages.
Q: Do you think individuals in Wall Street banks whose actions helped cause the financial crisis should be punished
by the federal government by limiting their compensation or banning them for working in the industry, or do you
think the banks are best able to address individual issues and government should not be dictating what happens at
this level?
Mar. 19-22, 2010 Bloomberg
Should be punished by federal government 56%

Banks can address and government should
not dictate at this level 40
Q: Congress is considering a proposal to increase oversight of consumer credit, including mortgages and credit
cards. To best serve consumers, do you think this should be a new, separate agency, with complete independence
and its own authority to make rules for consumer credit, or would it be better to enhance the existing system to make
sure bank regulators do more to protect consumers?
Mar. 19-22, 2010 Bloomberg
New, separate agency 24%

Enhance the existing system 69
Q: When President Obama took office, he said he was determined to address the roots of the financial crisis so that
another meltdown would not happen. Do you believe the government has taken enough action to fix what was
wrong in the financial industry, has taken too little action, or do you think the government has gone too far and
taken action that will be harmful down the road?
Has taken Has taken Has gone

enough action too little action too far
Mar. 19-22, 2010 Bloomberg 18% 37% 42%
Q: What about Wall Street banks themselves? Do you think banks have taken enough action to change what they do
to avoid a future meltdown, have taken too little action, or do you think they’ve gone too far and made changes that
will be harmful down the road?
Have taken Has taken Has gone

enough action too little action too far
Mar. 19-22, 2010 Bloomberg 12% 58% 23%
22
Q: Do you think these banks and other financial institutions [those that took government loans to avoid bankruptcy]
owe it to the country to try to help Americans who are struggling with the economy, or do you think it’s not the
responsibility of banks and financial institutions to do that?
Banks owe to the country Not their responsibility

Feb. 26-Mar. 2, 2010 ABC News 69% 26%
Q: How much do you trust the following groups to fix the problems that caused the financial crisis?
April 24-27, 2010 Economist/YouGov
Wall Street companies 5% 18% 25% 45% 7%

Major banks and
financial institutions 6 17 28 42 6
The Securities Exchange
Commission and other
Government agencies 6 21 32 32 9
The Obama Administration 22 25 13 34 6
American consumers 21 33 22 15 9
Congress 8 21 28 38 6
Obama and the Banks

Q: Do you think big financial institutions such as major banks, and insurance companies do or do not have too
much influence over decisions made by the Obama administration?
Too much influence No

Apr. 23-26, 2009 CNN/ORC 58% 37%
Dec. 16-20, 2009 CNN/ORC 61 36
Q: Do you think Barack Obama is paying too much attention, not enough attention, or about the right amount of
attention to the concerns of banks and financial institutions?
Too much Not enough Right amount

Oct. 28-Nov. 30, 2009 PSRA/Pew 33% 21% 35%
Q: Do you think Barack Obama has paid more attention to the problems faced by middle class Americans or the
problems faced by banks and other financial institutions?
Problems faced by Problems faced by

middle class banks and other
Americans financial institutions
Jan. 22-24, 2010 CNN/ORC 28% 60%
Q: In his first year in office, do you think Barack Obama has done too much for the nation’s banks and financial
institutions?

Jan. 14-17, 2010 CBS News 49% 9% 34%
23
Auto Bailout: Most polls showed more opposition than support to providing help for the auto
companies. Americans were solidly against providing them with additional funds. Seventy percent
in a December 2008 CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll said the federal government should let
the companies go into bankruptcy if they asked for more money in 2009. The public’s opposition is
impressive given the fact that a solid majority, 55 percent, felt that if one of the auto companies were
to go out of business, it could have a “major” impact on the country’s economy.
Q: Would you favor or oppose the federal government giving major financial assistance to the big three U.S.
automotive companies if they are close to going broke or declaring bankruptcy?
Favor Oppose
Nov. 13-16, 2008 Gallup 47% 49%
Dec. 4-7, 2008 Gallup 43 51
--(If oppose) Suppose one or more of the three major U.S. automotive companies was certain to fail unless
the government provided assistance. In that case, would you favor or oppose the federal government
providing assistance to the major U.S. automotive companies?
Favor Oppose
Nov. 13-16, 2008 Gallup 18% 79%
Dec. 4-7, 2008 Gallup 18 79
Q: The big three automakers in the United States have asked for a 25 billion dollar loan from the government.
Some people say (it’s a bailout those companies don’t deserve, and that they’d be better off reorganizing under
bankruptcy laws). Other people say (it’s necessary to protect auto workers and save a key part of the U.S.
economy). On balance, do you support or oppose this plan?
Support Oppose
Nov. 19-23, 2008 ABC/Wash Post 35% 57%
Q: The major U.S. auto companies have asked the government for a program that would provide them with several
billion dollars in assistance. The auto companies say they may go into bankruptcy without that assistance. Based
on what you have read or heard, do you favor or oppose this program?
Favor Oppose
Dec. 1-2, 2008 CNN/ORC 36% 61%
Q: The big three automakers in the United States have asked for up to 34 billion dollars in loans from the
government. Some people say it’s a bailout those companies don’t deserve, and that they’d be better off
reorganizing under bankruptcy laws. Other people say it’s necessary to protect auto workers and save a key part of
the U.S. economy. On balance, do you support or oppose this plan?
Support Oppose
Dec. 3-7, 2008 ABC/Wash Post 37% 54%
Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the federal government providing money to the big three automakers if it would
prevent them from going out of business or declaring bankruptcy?
Approve Disapprove
Dec. 4-7, 2008 CBS News 45% 44%
24
Q: If the government provides several billion dollars in assistance to the auto companies, do you think that program
would treat U.S. taxpayers fairly or unfairly?
Fairly Unfairly
Dec. 1-2, 2008 CNN/ORC 29% 70%
Q: The American automobile manufacturers—General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler—have asked Congress for
financial aid and loans to keep the companies from failing and declaring bankruptcy. In exchange, the companies
say they will change how they do business by cutting costs and focusing on producing fuel-efficient vehicles. Would
you approve or disapprove of the federal government providing financial aid and loans to the U.S. automakers? If
you do not know enough about this to have an opinion, please just say so.
Approve Disapprove
Dec. 5-8, 2008 NBC/WSJ 46% 42%
Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the federal government giving the big three U.S. automakers billions of dollars
in loan money?
Approve Disapprove
Dec. 9-10, 2008 Fox/OD 37% 58 %
Q: The federal government is considering loaning up to 14 billion dollars to the Big Three U.S. automakers and
putting in place a government board to oversee their reconstruction. Some people say it’s a bailout those
companies don’t deserve, and that they’d be better off reorganizing under bankruptcy laws. Other people say it’s
necessary to protect auto workers and save a key part of the U.S. economy. On balance, do you support or oppose
this plan?
Support Oppose
Dec. 11-14, 2008 ABC/Wash Post 42% 55%
Q: The federal government will provide some of the major U.S. auto companies with more than thirteen billion
dollars in loans in order to prevent them from going into bankruptcy. In exchange for the loans, the government
wants the auto companies to produce plans by the end of March that show how they would become viable businesses
in the long run. Do you favor or oppose this decision?
Favor Oppose
Dec. 19-21, 2008 CNN/ORC 63% 37%
Q: As you may know, the federal government has taken many steps to deal with problems in the economy in recent
months. Please tell me whether, in general, you favor or oppose the government doing each of the following. How
about ______?
Feb. 20-22, 2009 Gallup/USA Today
Favor Oppose
Funding new government programs to help create jobs 83% 17%
Giving aid to state governments in serious financial trouble 67 30
Giving aid to homeowners who are in danger of losing their
homes to foreclosure 64 33
Giving aid to U.S. automakers who are in danger of going bankrupt 41 58
Giving aid to U.S. banks and financial companies in danger
of failing 39 59
25
Q: Now I am going to read you a series of things President Obama has done on the economy. For each one, please
tell me whether you approve or disapprove of that action?
Jan. 10-14, 2010 NBC/WSJ

Approve Disapprove
Placing new restrictions on credit card companies that govern
how they raise consumers’ interest fees 82% 16%
Extending unemployment benefits 82 16
Providing financial help to homeowners who were in danger
of losing their homes 69 25
Providing tax cuts to individuals are part of the stimulus package 68 25
Passing the economic stimulus package 49 43
Providing financial help to banks and other lending institutions 32 60
Having the federal government take a majority ownership in
General Motors 30 65
Q: In terms of improving the economy, please say whether each of the following is critical for Barack Obama to do
as president, very important but not critical, important, but not important.
Nov. 7-9, 2008 Gallup/USA Today
Critical Very important Important Not important

Passing a tax cut for the middle class 18% 31% 33% 16%
Helping homeowners in danger of
losing their homes 22 29 33 15
Passing an additional economic
stimulus plan 15 19 36 28
Providing loans and other help to
large financial institutions 7 14 26 51
Providing loans and other help to
automobile companies 7 13 32 47
Passing new, stricter regulations on
financial institutions 27 33 29 10
----There has been----

Too much
spending on Too little Right amount
bankrupt 58 12 24
Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the Obama Administration's recent proposals to deal with the financial
problems of the auto industry?
Approve Disapprove
Apr. 15-20, 2009 CBS/NYT 47% 38%
26
Q: Let me read you a series of actions taken by President Obama since he was inaugurated. For each one, please
tell me whether you approve or disapprove of this action. Dismissing GM’s chief executive and requiring big
changes in the company’s business plans as a condition for federal government loans
Approve of dismissing
GM execs and requiring
changes in business plans Disapprove
Apr. 23-26, 2009 NBC/WSJ 66% 29%
Help Hurt No Impact

A Second Aid Package for Automakers?
Q: If the major U.S. auto companies ask for more money next year, do you think the federal government should give
them any additional assistance, or should the government let them go into bankruptcy?
Additional assistance Bankruptcy

Dec. 19-21, 2008 CNN/ORC 28% 70%
Q: Changing topics, imagine if one or more of the big U.S. automakers filed for protection under bankruptcy laws
while it reorganized its business structure. Do you think that would be a good thing or a bad thing for the auto
industry in the long run, or would not make much difference either way?
Good Bad Not much

thing thing difference
Apr. 21-24, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 43% 21% 31%
Q: U.S. automakers received billions of dollars of loan money from the federal government in December. Do you
approve or disapprove giving two U.S. automakers—General Motors and Chrysler—billions of dollars in additional
loan money?
Approve more loans Disapprove

Mar. 31-Apr. 1, 2009 Fox/OD 31% 65%
Q: As you may know, in December the federal government gave 17 billion dollars in loans to General Motors and
Chrysler to keep those auto manufacturers from going bankrupt. Earlier this week, General Motors and Chrysler
asked the government for 21 billion dollars in additional loans as part of restructuring plans they submitted to the
Treasury Department. Do you think Congress should or should not approve these additional loans?
Should approve more loans Should not

Feb. 20-22, 2009 Gallup/USA Today 25% 72%
27
Q: Two of the major U.S. auto companies have asked the government for a program that would provide them with
several billion dollars in assistance. The auto companies say they may go into bankruptcy without that assistance.
Based on what you have read or heard, do you favor or oppose this program?
Favor Oppose
Feb. 18-19, 2009 CNN/ORC 37% 61%
Q: The federal government has given some of the major U.S. auto companies more than $13 billion dollars in loans
to prevent them from going into bankruptcy. Some of those auto companies now say they need more money. Should
the federal government give them additional financial assistance, or not?
More assistance No more

Feb. 18-22, 2009 CBS/NYT 22% 68%
Q: The federal government has provided 25 billion dollars in loans to two of the big U.S. automakers and put in
place a government board to oversee their restructuring. These automakers now say they need an additional 14
billion dollars in government loans in order to stay out of bankruptcy. Do you support or oppose providing these
additional government loans to the U.S. automakers?
Support Oppose
Feb. 19-22, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 30% 68%
Q: As you may know, U.S. automobile companies General Motors and Chrysler recently asked the government for
$21.6 billion in loans to help them avoid bankruptcy. This is in addition to their existing $17 billion government
loans. Do you support or oppose providing GM and Chrysler with these funds?
Support Oppose
Feb. 28-Mar. 2, 2009 FD/Diageo/Hotline 28% 66%
Significance of the Problem
Q: If one or more of the big three automakers were to go out of business, how much of an impact do you think that
would have on the nation’s economy? Do you think it would have a major impact, a minor impact, not much impact,
or no impact at all?
----On the nation’s economy----

Major impact Minor impact Not much No impact
Dec. 4-7, 2008 CBS News 55% 35% 6% 2%
Q: If one or more of the major U.S. auto companies went into bankruptcy, what effect do you think that would have
on the U.S. economy? Do you think that would cause a crisis, major problems, minor problems, or no problems at
all for the U.S. economy?
A crisis Major problems Minor problems No problems

Dec. 19-21, 2008 CNN/ORC 15 51 28 5
Apr. 3-5, 2009 CNN/ORC 10 37 44 9
Q: Just your best guess, do you think one or more of the big three U.S. auto companies will go out of business, or
will all three find a way to survive?
One or more will All three will

go out of business survive
Dec. 12-14, 2009 Gallup/USA Today 40% 57%
Feb. 20-22, 2009 Gallup/USA Today 47 51
28
Who Is to Blame?
Q: Please tell me whether you think each of the following deserves a great deal of blame, some blame, not much
blame, or no blame at all for the problems faced by the three major U.S. auto companies. How about ______?
Dec. 4-7, 2008 Gallup
Great deal Some Not much None at all

The executives who run
the U.S auto companies 65% 27% 3% 3%
The labor unions that represent
many U.S. auto workers 34 41 11 11
The current economic recession 29 51 9 8
Government laws and regulations
that affect the auto industry 17 46 18 14
American consumers who decide to buy
foreign cars rather than American cars 15 36 20 27
Q: Which one of the following do you think is most to blame for the U.S. auto industry’s troubles?
Unions Management Regulation The economy

Dec. 9-10, 2008 Fox/OD 15% 43% 4% 13%
Q: Do you think the automakers’ problems are mainly the fault of the bad economy or mainly the fault of their own
management?
Bad Economy Own management

Dec. 11-14, 2008 ABC/Wash Post 22% 75%
Miscellaneous
Q: If the U.S. automakers receive a government loan, how likely do you think it is that they will eventually pay back
the money?
Very likely Somewhat Not very likely Not at all likely

Dec. 9-10, 2008 Fox/OD 14% 34% 27% 23%
Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Obama is handling the situation involving the big U.S. automakers?
Approve Disapprove
Apr. 21-24, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 41% 53%
June 18-21, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 45 50
Q: Do you think the U.S. car companies will 1. Survive on their own—without government loan money 2. Survive
only if the government loans them money 3. Fail – with our without the government loan?
Survive on Survive with Fail

their own govt. loans either way
Dec. 9-10, 2008 Fox/OD 31% 36% 25%
Q: If the government does provide money to the big three automakers, should the government get a say in how these
companies are managed, or should the government not be involved in the companies’ management decisions?
Should get a say Not involved

Dec. 4-7, 2008 CBS 69% 28%
29
Q: If the government does provide money to the big three automakers, should it require these automakers to build
more cars that use alternative fuels or should the government not be involved in deciding what kinds of cars these
companies make?
New cars Not be involved

Dec. 4-7, 2008 CBS 66% 29%
Q: Do you think it is the responsibility of the federal government to provide financial help to U.S. auto companies so
they can avoid bankruptcy?
Govt.’s responsibility Is not

Q: Do you think the government should play a role in ensuring that the major U.S. automobile companies do not fall
into bankruptcy?
Yes No
Q: Do you think the government is treating the financial institutions better than the U.S. automakers, or is the
government treating the U.S. automakers better than the financial institutions, or are they treating neither one better
than the other?
Financials better Autos Neither

Apr. 1-5, 2009 CBS/NYT 34% 6% 45%
Mortgage Help: In February of 2009, Obama announced the Homeowner Affordability and

Stability Plan, which provided low-cost refinancing to homeowners, aid to homeowners struggling to
pay their mortgage, and aid to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The public generally supported
providing assistance to homeowners, even as they said this wasn’t a government responsibility and
that it was unfair to reward people who had not been financially responsible.
Q: Do you think the federal government should provide financial help to homeowners who are having trouble
repaying their mortgages because their rates went up, or shouldn’t the federal government do this?
Should Should not

provide financial assistance to homeowners
Early Sep. 2008 CBS News 58% 34%
Sep. 27-30, 2008 CBS News 60 35
Oct. 10-13, 2008 CBS/NYT 52 38
Q: Do you favor or oppose the federal government providing assistance to homeowners who cannot pay their
mortgages?
Favor assistance to homeowners Oppose
Oct. 17-19, 2008 CNN/ORC 58% 40%
Feb. 18-19, 2009 CNN/ORC 63 36
Mar. 12-15, 2009 CNN/ORC 56 43
Q: Do you think it is the responsibility of the federal government to provide financial help to homeowners so they
can avoid foreclosure?
30
Yes, it’s the
Feb. 25-Mar. 2, 2009 Quinnipiac 43% 51 %
Q: Thinking about the home mortgage crisis, who do you think is more to blame, the homeowners who took out
loans that they may not be able to pay back or the mortgage lenders who loaned the money to people who may not
be able to pay it back?
Homeowners Lenders
Q: The Obama administration has a plan to help homeowners refinance their mortgages, avoid foreclosure, and
make more credit available for mortgages. Do you think the federal government should provide this financial help to
homeowners, or shouldn't the federal government do this, or don't you know enough yet to say?
Govt. should help homeowners Shouldn’t

Feb. 18-22, 2009 CBS/NYT 61% 20%
Q: On another economic issue, would you support or oppose the federal government using 75 billion dollars to
provide refinancing assistance to homeowners to help them avoid foreclosure on their mortgages?
Support Oppose
Feb. 19-22, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 64% 35%
Q: Last week President Obama announced a proposal to deal with the housing mortgage situation facing the
country. The program is designed to help homeowners refinance their mortgages and avoid foreclosure. The
government would provide lenders and borrowers with up to seventy-five billion dollars in funds to allow more
homeowners to refinance and renegotiate the terms of mortgages for homeowners who are at-risk of heading to
foreclosure. Do you think that this proposal to deal with the housing mortgage situation is a good idea or a bad
idea? If you do not have an opinion either way, please just say so.
Good idea Bad idea

Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2009 NBC/WSJ 56% 27%
Q: As you know, part of the program is to provide financial assistance to homeowners who are at-risk of defaulting
on their mortgage, but have not yet done so. Do you think that this condition seems fair and provides assistance to
people who have been caught up by the worst conditions in the past fifty years, or seems unfair and rewards people
who have not been financially responsible?
Seems fair Unfair

Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2009 NBC/WSJ 36% 48%
Q: Do you think providing government aid to certain homeowners who cannot pay their mortgage is fair, or unfair?
Fair Unfair
Q: Do you approve or disapprove of President Obama's 75 billion dollar plan to help homeowners avoid
foreclosure?
Support Obama’s
homeowner plan Oppose
31
Q: Do you think providing government aid to certain homeowners who cannot pay their mortgages is necessary, or
not necessary to help stabilize the U.S. housing market?
Aid to homeowners
is necessary Isn’t necessary
Q: And, from what you have seen, read or heard about President Obama’s proposed $75 billion in which the
government would help prevent foreclosures on individual homes, do you support or oppose this proposal?
Support Oppose
Q: And, putting aside for a moment whether or not you, personally, support or oppose this plan, do you think that it
will help bring stability to the housing market?
Yes No
Q: As you may know, the government has taken or is considering other steps to address economic problems facing
the nation. Do you think it is the right thing or the wrong thing for the government to spend billions of dollars?
Pew Research Center

To substantially increase spending on roads, bridges,
and other public works projects
Dec. 3-8, 2008 70% 24%
Mar. 9-12, 2009 77 19
To help homeowners facing foreclosure on mortgages

they cannot afford
Dec. 3-8, 2008 49 43
Mar. 9-12, 2009 46 46
In loans to General Motors and Chrysler to keep them
in business
Dec. 3-8, 2008 39 54
Mar. 9-12, 2009 30 63
Q: Some people say that President Obama's plan to help homeowners avoid foreclosure isn't fair to mortgage
holders who make payments on time. Do you agree or disagree?
Agree Disagree
32
The Stimulus: Majorities favored the stimulus package in most early polls about it. According
to CBS News’s February 2009 poll, 51 percent approved of the federal government plan of about
$800 billion. Still, there was a good amount of skepticism and dissatisfaction with the package. When
Gallup asked about it in their late January-early February survey, only 38 percent wanted to pass the
bill as is. Thirty-seven percent wanted major changes and 17 percent said the bill should be rejected.
. President Obama signed the legislation on February 17, 2009. In a mid-February Fox News/Opinion
Dynamics poll, 58 percent said it was necessary for Congress to pass legislation for the economy to
improve, while 34 percent said it would have improved on its own.
People’s enthusiasm about the stimulus package started dimming in the summer. In late
September-early October 2009 Pew poll, people were split about whether they favored or opposed it.
In their February 2010 poll, 38 percent favored it and 49 percent were opposed. Other polls from
early 2010 show more opposition than support. In a February 2010 CBS News/New York Times poll,
just 6 percent said the stimulus had already created a substantial number of new jobs, 41 percent said
it would create a substantial number but had not done so yet, and 48 percent said it would not create
a substantial number of new jobs.
Q: As you may know, the federal government will spend up to 700 billion dollars on construction projects and other
programs. Do you support or oppose this plan? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
Strongly Somewhat Somewhat Strongly

support support oppose oppose
Dec. 2008 ABC/Wash Post 37% 28% 13% 18%
Jan. 13-16, 2009* ABC/Wash Post 43 27 9 17
Feb. 18-22, 2009 ** ABC/Wash Post 34 30 10 24
Note: *Question wording read “about 800 billion dollars on tax cuts, construction projects, energy, education, and
health care to try to stimulate the economy.” **Question wording read “…about 800 billion dollars on tax cuts,
construction projects and aid to states and individuals to try to stimulate the economy.”
Q: Do you favor or oppose Congress passing a new $775 billion dollar economic stimulus package?
Favor Oppose
Jan. 6-7, 2009 Gallup 53% 36 %
Q: As you may know, Congress is considering a new economic stimulus package of at least 800 billion dollars. Do
you favor or oppose Congress passing this legislation?
Favor Oppose
Jan. 27, 2009 Gallup 52% 37%
Feb. 4, 2009 Gallup 52 38
Feb. 17, 2009 Gallup 59 33
Q: When it comes to the economic stimulus plan proposed by the Obama administration, which of these two
statements comes closer to your point of view? Statement A: The economic stimulus plan is a good idea because it
will help make the recession shorter, get people back to work, and provide money for transportation, education, and
Medicaid programs. Statement B: The economic stimulus plan is a bad idea because it will do little to shorten the
recession, the jobs are temporary, and it will significantly increase the deficit.
Stimulus is a good idea Bad idea

Jan. 9-12, 2009 NBC/WSJ 57% 36%
33
Q: Do you think that the recently proposed economic stimulus legislation is a good idea or a bad idea?
Good idea Bad idea

Jan. 9-12, 2009 NBC/WSJ 43% 27%
Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2009* NBC/WSJ 44 36
Apr. 23-26, 2009 * NBC/WSJ 38 39
Jun. 12-15, 2009 NBC/WSJ 37 39
Jul. 24-27, 2009* NBC/WSJ 34 43
Sept. 17-20, 2009** NBC/WSJ 34 45
Mar. 13-14, 2010^ NBC/WSJ 35 42
Note:**The September 2009 word of the questions was phrased “the economic stimulus legislation passed earlier
this year…” *Question wording read “…the recently passed economic stimulus legislation…”. ^ Question wording
read “…the economic stimulus legislation passed in February of 2009…”.
Q: Let me read you a couple of programs that are being discussed right now. For each one please tell me whether
you tend to support this program or tend to oppose this program.
Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2009 NBC/WSJ
Support Oppose
The program to help some homeowners avoid foreclosure 68% 25%
President Obama's program to help some homeowners avoid foreclosure 67 28
President Obama's economic stimulus package 57 34
The economic stimulus package 57 34
Q: People have criticized a number of things about the stimulus package. Which one or two of the following
criticisms cause you the most concern?
Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2009 NBC/WSJ
Too much pork-barrel spending 36%

Does not provide enough tax cuts to individual taxpayers 21
Spending is focused on the wrong areas 21
Too much delayed spending on projects that will not start for several years 18
Too many advantages for big business 17
Not enough focus on job creation and worker training 16
Does not provide enough tax cuts to businesses 10
Q: Would you favor or oppose a proposal to attempt to stimulate the economy by increasing federal government
spending on construction projects and economic assistance to some Americans by about eight hundred billion
dollars?
Favor Oppose
Dec. 19-21, 2008 CNN/ORC 56% 42%
Jan. 12-15, 2009 CNN/ORC 58 40
--And if that economic stimulus plan also included tax cuts for individuals and businesses, would you favor
or oppose that proposal?
Favor Oppose
Jan. 12-15, 2009 CNN/ORC 71% 28%
34
Q: As you may know, the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a bill that would attempt to stimulate the economy by
increasing federal government spending and cutting taxes at a total cost to the government of about eight hundred
billion dollars. Based on what you have read or heard about this, do you favor or oppose the bill that the Senate is
expected to vote on?
Favor Oppose
Feb. 7-8, 2009 CNN/ORC 54% 45%
Q: As you may know, Congress passed and President Obama has signed a bill that will attempt to stimulate the
economy by increasing federal government spending and cutting taxes at a total cost to the government of about
eight hundred billion dollars. Based on what you have read or heard about this, do you favor or oppose that bill?
Favor bill Oppose

Feb. 18-19, 2009 CNN/ORC 60% 39%
Mar. 15-15, 2009 CNN/ORC 54 44
Jan. 8-10, 2010* CNN/ORC 42 56
Note: *The January iteration read “As you may know, last year Congress passed and President Obama signed a bill
that attempted to stimulate…”
Q: If that bill does not improve economic conditions, would you favor or oppose another bill that would increase
government spending even further in an attempt to stimulate the economy?
Favor another
Stimulus Oppose
Mar. 12-15, 2009 CNN/ORC 32% 66%
Q: Do you support or oppose Obama’s proposed economic recovery plan that would, among other things, use tax
dollars to increase spending by the federal government by up to nearly one trillion dollars on infrastructure projects
and tax cuts for middle class Americans?
Support Oppose
Jan. 13-14, 2009 Fox/OD 58% 29%
Q: Do you support or oppose the nearly 800 billion dollar economic stimulus and spending plan Congress passed
last week?
Support Oppose
Feb. 17-18, 2009 Fox/OD 51% 40%
--(If support) Which one of the following best describes the main reason you support the economic stimulus
and spending plan?
Best option and have to do something 37%

Infrastructure and stimulus spending 17
Belief in Obama and the Democrats 14
Believe it will work 11
Tax cuts 9
--(If oppose) Which one of the following best describes the main reason you oppose the economic stimulus
and spending plan?
Too much pork spending 32%

The cost—too much spending 21
Don’t think it will work 17
Not government’s role 9
Not enough tax cuts 3
35
Not enough spending 1
Q: Do you think it was necessary for Congress to pass legislation for the economy to improve or do you think the
economy would have improved anyway?
Legislation was necessary Would have improved anyway

Feb. 17-18, 2009 Fox/OD 58% 34%
Q: Barack Obama and his advisors as well as members of Congress has said the nation’s economy is in such bad
shape that a stimulus package of about $775 billion dollars is necessary to keep the economy from getting worse.
From what you have heard or read, do you mostly agree or disagree that a large stimulus package is needed in
order to keep the economy from getting worse?
Agree Disagree
Jan. 11-15, 2009 CBS/NYT 69% 23%
Q: Would you approve or disapprove of the federal government passing a 775 billion dollar economic stimulus
package in order to try to help the economy?
Approve Disapprove
Jan. 11-15, 2009 CBS/NYT 63% 24%
Q: Would you approve or disapprove of the federal government passing an economic stimulus bill costing more than
800 billion dollars in order to try to help the economy?
Approve Disapprove
Feb. 2-4, 2009 CBS 51% 39%
Q: If Congress passes an economic stimulus plan, do you think that the projects that the government will spend
money on will mostly be useful projects that will benefit the economy, or mostly be projects that are included for
purely political reasons and will have no economic impact.
CNN/ORC
----Stimulus projects have been----
Mostly useful/ Mostly political with no
will benefit economy economic impact
Jan. 12-15, 2009 57% 42%
Jan. 8-10, 2010* 36 63
Note: * Question wording in January 2010 was, “Do you think that the projects that the government has spend
money on under the bill have mostly been useful projects that will benefit the economy, or have mostly been
projects that were included in the bill for purely political reasons and will have no economic impact?” In the next
question in the poll when people were asked how much of the money spent under that bill so far has been wasted, 21
percent said nearly all, 24 percent most, 29 percent about half, 21 percent little, and 4 percent none.
Q: Based on what you have heard or read about the stimulus package so far, do you think it is about what is needed
to stimulate the economy, does it go too far, or does it not go far enough?
What is needed Goes too far Not far enough

Jan. 11-15, 2009 CBS/NYT 28% 23% 28%
Q: In response to the economic crisis, do you think Congress will move too quickly, will move too slowly, or will
move at about the right pace?
Too quickly Too slowly Right pace

Jan. 11-15, 2009 CBS/NYT 13% 42% 39%
36
Q: Congress has passed President Obama's economic stimulus package which includes tax cuts and new federal
spending of about 800 billion dollars. Do you support or oppose this economic stimulus package?
Support Oppose
Q: Do you think the economic stimulus and spending plan is too large, about the right size, or too small?
Too large About the right size Too small

Feb. 17-18, 2009 Fox/OD 46% 30% 14%
Q: With the current stimulus package being considered, the total cost of the economic stimulus could total one
trillion dollars. Is spending this amount of money . . . ?
Definitely Probably Probably Definitely

necessary necessary not necessary not necessary
Jan. 15-18, 2009 Ipsos/McClatchy 18% 37% 20% 21%
Q: Do you think that an economic stimulus package is necessary to improve the current state of the economy, or
not?
Necessary Not necessary

Jan. 15-18, 2009 Ipsos/McClatchy 62% 32%
Q: How much if anything , have you heard about the economic stimulus package being proposed by the President
Obama that might cost $800 billion?
Heard a lot/
Heard a little Heard nothing
Jan. 7-11, 2009 PSRA/Pew 86% 14%
Feb. 4-8, 2009 PSRA/Pew 91 9
Note: The January, 2009 question referred to the “economic stimulus package being proposed by President-elect
Obama.”
(If heard) From what you’ve read or heard, do you think this plan is a good idea or a bad idea?
Good idea Bad idea

Jan. 7-11, 2009 PSRA/Pew 57% 22%
Feb. 4-8, 2009 PSRA/Pew 51 34
Note: In January 2009, the question referred to “this proposal.” Asked of those who said they had heard a lot or a
little about the economic stimulus package proposed by Barack Obama that may cost about $800 billion.
Q: From what you’ve read and heard, do you think Barack Obama’s roughly 800 billion dollar economic stimulus
plan passed by Congress last month is a good idea or a bad idea?
Stimulus is a
good idea Bad idea
Mar. 9-12, 2009 PSRA/Pew 56% 35%
Q: From what you’ve read and heard, do you approve or disapprove of Barack Obama’s 800 billion dollar
economic stimulus plan passed by Congress in February 2009?
Approve Disapprove
Jun. 10-14, 2009 PSRA/Pew 55% 39%
Sept. 30-Oct. 4, 2009 PSRA/Pew 44 44
Feb. 3-9, 2010* PSRA/Pew 38 49
Note: * Question wording read “…last February?”
37
Q: Do you favor or oppose each of the following as part of a new economic stimulus package?
Jan. 6-7, 2009 Gallup

Favor Oppose
Income tax cuts of $500 for individuals and $1,000
for couples for most Americans 72% 22%
Tax cuts for businesses in order to help save and
create jobs 75 20
Creating new jobs with new government spending on
the nation’s infrastructure, such as bridges, highways
and power grids 78 18
Providing federal money to state governments that
are facing budget shortfalls 49 42
Q: Now I’m going to read you some areas where federal spending might be increased to try to stimulate the
economy or improve economic conditions over the long term. Please tell me if you would favor or oppose each of
the following spending increases, even if it means raising the federal budget deficit?
Jan. 14-15, 2009 PSRA/Newsweek
Favor Oppose
To build and repair roads, bridges, and other infrastructure 75% 23%
To provide loans and other financial support to U.S. industries
hurt by the mortgage crisis and problems on Wall Street 36 58
To develop new clean energy technology 74 23
To make health care more accessible and affordable 76 21
Q: Do you think Congress should pass Obama’s economic stimulus plan basically as Barack Obama has proposed
it, pass it but only after making major changes, or reject this plan?
Pass as proposed Major changes Reject

Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2009 Gallup/USA Today 38% 37% 17%
Q: Would you favor or oppose Congress passing a smaller economic stimulus package that would cut the size by up
to 200 billion dollars?
Favor Oppose
Feb. 4, 2009 Gallup/USA Today 48% 41%
Q: As you may know, Congress is considering a new economic stimulus package of at least $800 billion. Do you
favor or oppose Congress passing this legislation?
Favor Oppose
Feb. 10, 2009 Gallup 59% 33%
Q: Congress has passed President Obama's economic stimulus package which includes tax cuts and new federal
spending of about 800 billion dollars. Do you support or oppose this economic stimulus package?
Support package Oppose

Q: Which one of the following three statements best describes your opinion of the 800 billion dollar stimulus
package recently signed into law by the President? It’s the right amount of government spending to help turn the
economy around. Or, it’s a good start, but more spending will be needed for it to be effective. Or, it won’t work and
government should not be spending money for economic stimulus.
Right amount Good start Won’t work

Mar. 4-5, 2009 PSRA/Newsweek 15% 40% 37%
38

bankrupt 58 12 24
Q: Which of these do you think is more important right now – increasing federal spending to try to improve the
economy, even if it sharply increases the federal budget deficit, or avoiding a big increase in the federal budget
deficit, even if it means not increasing federal spending to try to improve the economy?
---More important now---

Increasing spending Avoiding deficit
Jan. 13-16, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 51% 44%
Mar. 26-29, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 49 47
Jul. 15-18, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 40 55
Q: In general do you support or oppose Congress and the President passing an $825 billion economic stimulus plan
to jumpstart the economy, even if it means increasing the federal deficit in order to do so?
Support Oppose
Q: As proposed , the $825 billion economic stimulus package would include $550 billion in new spending for
alternative energy technology, roads and bridges, state governments, and local school districts, and increasing
benefits for the unemployed. The remaining part of the stimulus package contains $275 billion in tax cuts and
credits for individuals and for business to help generate more jobs. In general, do you support or oppose Congress
and the President passing this $825 billion economic stimulus plan to jumpstart the economy, even if it means
increasing the federal deficit in order to do so?
Support Oppose
Help Hurt No Impact

39
Will It/Has It Work?
Q: Do you think that bill will or will not result in a significant improvement in the nation’s economy?
Significant improvement Not

Feb. 18-29, 2009 CNN/ORC 53% 44%
Mar. 12-15, 2009 CNN/ORC 52 47
Q: And, when thinking about the economic stimulus package passed by Congress and signed into law by the
president, how confident are you that it will be successful in turning around the economy?
Confident Not confident

Feb. 28 -Mar. 2, 2009* FD/Diageo/Hotline 53% 44%
Mar. 26-29, 2009 FD/Diageo/Hotline 57 40
Apr. 23-26, 2009 FD/Diageo/Hotline 57 42
Note: *Question wording read “…economic stimulus package recently passed…”.
Q: If the Senate bill becomes law, do you think that would help the economy a lot, some, not much, or not at all?
Help a lot Help some Not much help No help at all

Feb. 7-8, 2009 CNN/ORC 16% 48% 20% 16%
Q: From what you know, what impact will the stimulus package have on the current economic crisis – will it make
things better, make things worse, or will it have no impact?
Better Worse No impact

Feb. 18-22, 2009 CBS/NYT 53% 13% 24%
Q: From what you know so far, do you think the economic stimulus package will create a substantial number of
new jobs, or won't it create a substantial number of new jobs, or don't you know enough yet to say?
Will create jobs Won’t Don’t know enough

Feb. 18-22, 2009 CBS/NYT 32% 28% 38%
Q: Do you think that bill will or will not result in a significant improvement in the nation's economy?
Bill will result in a

significant improvement Will not
Feb. 18-19, 2009 CNN/ORC 53% 44%
Q: All in all, do you think Barack Obama’s proposed $825 billion dollar economic recovery plan will help or hurt
the nation’s economy, or will it not make much of a difference?
Obama’s plan will help

the economy Hurt No difference
Jan. 27-28, 2009* Fox/OD 45% 18% 29%
Feb. 17-18, 2009* Fox/OD 49 25 23
Note: *Asked about $800 billion dollar plan.
Q: So far, do you think the federal government’s stimulus package has made the economy better, made the economy
worse, or has it had no impact on the economy so far?
Better Worse No Impact

Jul. 9-12, 2009 CBS News 21% 15% 60%
Sept. 19-23, 2009 CBS News/NYT 36 13 46
40
Dec. 4-8, 2009 CBS News/NYT 32 15 46
Apr. 5-12, 2010 CBS News/NYT 32 18 44
Q: In the long run, do you think the federal government’s stimulus package will make the economy better, will make
the economy worse, or will it have no impact on the economy in the long run?
Better Worse No Impact

Jul. 9-12, 2009 CBS 42% 21% 29%
Sept. 19-23, 2009* CBS/NYT 47 21 24
Note: * Question wording did not include “federal”.
Q: From what you know so far, which comes closest to your own view?
CBS/NYT
February 5-10, 2010 July 24-28, 2009

The economic stimulus package has
already created a substantial number
of new jobs in the U.S. 6% 4%
It will create a substantial number
of new jobs but hasn’t done that yet 41 53
It will not create a substantial number
of new jobs 48 41
Q: So far, do you think the economic stimulus program has helped _____ , hurt, or hasn’t made much difference?
ABC/Wash Post
Helped Hurt No difference
The national economy
Apr. 21-24, 2009 33% 16% 49%
June 18-21, 2009 28 19 52
Sept. 10-12, 2009 32 19 47
Nov. 12-15, 2009 37 23 39
Your personal financial situation
Apr. 21-24, 2009 14 12 73
Your local community
Apr. 21-24, 2009 24 10 65
Q: Assuming, for a moment, that this stimulus package is passed by Congress and the President and becomes law,
how confident are you that the stimulus package will be effective in turning around the economy?

Feb. 17-18, 2009 FD/Diageo/Hotline 65% 32%
Q: What impact do you think the economic stimulus package _______ on our nation’s economy ?
Positive No Impact Negative

Will Have
March 27-31, 2009 Public Strategies/Politico 56% 18% 26%
July 9-12, 2009 Public Strategies/Politico 45 28 27
Is Having
October 9-13, 2009 Public Strategies/Politico 44 34 23
41
Q: And what impact do you think the economic stimulus package _______ on you personally?
Positive No impact Negative

Will Have
March 27-31, 2009 Public Strategies/Politico 36% 45% 20%
July 9-12, 2009 Public Strategies/Politico 22 56 23
Is having
October 9-13, 2009 Public Strategies/Politico 20 59 21
Q: Do you think the economic bill being negotiated by the President and Congress will shorten the length of the
recession, or not? If Yes, will the economic stimulus bill shorten the recession significantly, or not significantly?
The bill will shorten

the recession Yes but not
significantly significantly No will not shorten
Feb. 2-4, 2009 CBS 21% 18% 45%
Q: In terms of improving the economy, how important do you think it is that the government pass an economic
stimulus plan – critically important, important, but not critical or not that important?
Critically Important but Not that

important not critical important
Feb. 6-7, 2009 Gallup 51% 29% 16%
Q: Do you think the economic stimulus bill recently passed by Congress and signed by the President will shorten
the length of the current recession, or not? IF YES: Will the economic stimulus bill shorten the recession
significantly, or not?
Yes, shorten Yes, shorten No, will not
significantly not significantly not shorten
Feb. 18-22, 2009 CBS/NYT 19% 17% 50%
Q: How confident are you that this economic stimulus plan will make the current economic downturn less severe
than it would be otherwise – very confident, somewhat confident, not so confident or not confident at all?
Very Somewhat Not so Not confident

confident confident confident at all
Feb. 19-22, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 13% 45% 19% 22%
Q: Do you think the economic stimulus plan will help or hurt the local economy in your area? Do you think it will
help/hurt a great deal or just somewhat?
Help a great deal Somewhat Hurt somewhat A great deal

Feb. 19-22, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 16% 47% 13% 13%
Q: Do you think the economic stimulus plan will help or hurt your own personal financial situation? Do you think it
will help/hurt a great deal or just somewhat?
Help a great deal Somewhat Hurt somewhat A great deal

Feb. 19-22, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 11% 35% 11% 14%
Q: And thinking about the next twelve months, how much do you think the economic stimulus package will help the
American economy––a great deal, quite a bit, only a little, or not at all?
--------In the next twelve months, will help-----------

A great deal Quite a bit Only a little Not at all
Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2009 NBC/WSJ 8% 23% 51% 15%
42
Jul. 24-27, 2009 NBC/WSJ 8 20 47 20
Q: And thinking about the next two to four years, how much do you think the economic stimulus package will help
the American economy––a great deal, quite a bit, only a little, or not at all?
--------------In the next two to four years, will help---------------

A great deal Quite a bit Only a little Not at all
Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2009 NBC/WSJ 12% 25% 47% 12%
Q: Has the economic stimulus and spending plan that was passed in February been more or less effective than you
expected it would be, or has it been about as effective as you expected?
More Less As expected

Jul. 21-22, 2009 Fox/OD 8% 43% 45%
Q: Do you think that the recently passed economic stimulus legislation is beginning to help improve the economy,
will help improve the economy in the future, or will it not help improve the economy?
NBC/Wall Street Journal July 24-27, 2009* Sept. 17-20, 2009*^

Beginning to help improve the economy 16% 20%
Will help improve the economy in the future 32 27
Will not help improve the economy 38 38
Do not have an opinion either way 13 12
Note: *Asked on one-half of the respondents. ^Question wording read “Do you think that the economy stimulus
legislation…”.
Q: How effective do you think the economic stimulus and spending plan that was passed in February has been –
very effective, somewhat effective, not very effective or not at all effective?
Very Somewhat Not Very Not at all

effective effective effective effective
Oct. 27-28, 2009 Fox/OD 8% 40% 26% 24%
Q: Regardless of whether you favor or oppose the economic stimulus bill that Congress passed, do you think it
would have been better for the government to have spent more money to stimulate the economy, better for the
government to have spent less money to stimulate the economy, or was the amount of spending in the bill about
right?
Better to Better to have Amount

have spent more spent less about right
Aug. 6-9, 2009 Gallup/USA Today 13% 51% 31%
Q: Next, we’d like you to think about the 787 billion dollar economic stimulus plan passed earlier this year and its
effect on the U.S. economy, both in the short term and in the long term. First, in the short term do you think the
economic stimulus plan has made the economy better than if the stimulus plan was not passed, has it not had an
effect, or made the economy worse than if the stimulus plan had not passed?
Better No effect Worse

Q: In the long term, do you think the economic stimulus plan will make the economy better, not have an effect, or
make the economy worse?
Better No effect Worse

43
Q: Do you think that without the economic stimulus legislation that the U.S. economy would have gone into a
greater economic downturn than it did, or not?
Yes No
Sept. 17-20, 2009 NBC/WSJ 46 43
Mar. 11-14, 2010* NBC/WSJ 45 46
Note: *Asked of half sample.
Q: Many economists say that using standards they apply, the recession probably is over. Thinking about your own
experience of economic conditions, would you say that from your point of view the recession is over, or not over?
Over Not over No opinion

Oct. 18, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 16% 82% 1%
Dec. 13, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 13 86 1
Feb. 8, 2010 ABC/Wash Post 12 88 1
Q: Regardless of whether or not the recession is over, in terms of your own personal experience, do you feel the
economy has or has not begun to recover?
Has Has not No opinion

Nov. 9-13, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 44% 54% 1%
Dec. 10-13, 2009 ^ ABC/Wash Post 50 49 1
Feb. 4-8, 2010 ABC/Wash Post 45 53 1
Note: ^Question wording read “Regardless of whether or not the recession is over…”
Q: Do you think that the projects that the government has spent money on under that bill (stimulus) have mostly
been useful projects that will benefit the economy, or have mostly been projects that were included in the bill for
purely political reasons and will have no economic impact?
Projects to benefit Projects for

the economy political reasons
Jan. 12-15, 2009* CNN/OR 57% 42%
Jan. 8-10, 2010 CNN/OR 36 63
Note: question wording read “projects that the government will spend money on”.
Q: How much of the money spent under that bill so far do you think has been wasted – nearly all of it, most of it,
about half of it, only a little of it, or none of it?
Nearly all Most About Half Little None

Jan. 8-10, 2010* CNN/ORC 21% 24% 29% 21% 4%
Note: *Asked of a half sample.
Q: Do you think the economic stimulus package passed by Congress last year is helping the economy, is keeping the
economy from getting worse, is having no effect, or is hurting the economy?
Keeping from Having

Helping getting worse no effect Hurting
Mar. 19-22, 2010 Bloomberg 20% 17% 33% 27%
Q: Think about the economic stimulus passed by Congress last year do you think the stimulus has helped the job
situation, or has it not helped the job situation?
Helped Has not helped

Apr. 21-26, 2010 PSRA/Pew 33% 62%
44
Q: And thinking about the loans the federal government provided to troubled banks and financial institution, which
statement comes closer to your view?
The loans helped prevent The loans did not help

a more severe economic prevent a more severe
crisis economic crisis
Apr. 21-26, 2010 PSRA/Pew 42% 49%
Approval of Policymakers Handling of the Crisis
Q: Do you approve disapprove of the way each of the following has handled the government’s efforts to pass an
economic stimulus bill? How about _____?
Feb. 6-7, 2009 Gallup
Approve Disapprove
President Barack Obama 67% 25%
The Democrats in Congress 48 42
The Republicans in Congress 31 58
Q: In drafting the economic stimulus and spending plan, do you think Barack Obama has sincerely tried to reach
out to Republicans and be bipartisan, or not?
Yes, has tried to reach out No

Feb. 17-18, 2009 Fox/OD 66% 28%
Q: And do you think Republicans have sincerely tried to be helpful to Barack Obama and be bipartisan in drafting
the economic stimulus and spending plan, or not?
Yes, have tried to reach out No

Feb. 17-18, 2009 Fox/OD 33% 60%
Q: Regardless of how you feel about the bill itself, how do you feel about the fact that this bill was passed by
Congress within the first month of Obama's presidency? Do you consider the passage of this bill to be a major
victory for Obama, a minor accomplishment for Obama, or not a positive achievement at all?
Major Not a positive

victory Minor achievement
Feb. 18-19, 2009 CNN/ORC 49% 28% 22%
Effect on Individuals
Q: Do you think the economic recovery plan will help or hurt your personal financial situation, or will it not make
much difference?
Will help my situation Hurt No difference
Feb. 17-18, 2009 Fox/OD 24% 19% 54%
Q: Do you think that bill will or will not result in a significant improvement in your own personal financial
situation?
Bill will result in
significant improvement Will not
Feb. 18-29, 2009 CNN/ORC 31% 67%
45
Q: Next, please think about the effect of Barak Obama’s stimulus plan will have on your family’s financial situation
in the short and long therm. First, up until now, do you think Obama’s economic stimulus plan has made your
financial situation better, not had an effect, or made your financial situation worse?
---Stimulus has made your financial situation---

Better No Effect Worse
Jul. 17-19, 2009 Gallup/USA Today 14% 64% 22%
Aug. 6-9, 2009* Gallup/USA Today 18 68 13
Note: *Question wording read “the effect the economic stimulus plan will have…” and “…do you think the
economic stimulus plan has made your…”.
Q: In the long term, do you think Obama’s economic stimulus plan will make your financial situation better, not
have an effect, or make your financial situation worse?
----In the long run will make your financial situation-----

Better No Effect Worse
July 17-19, 2009 USA Today/Gallup 35 28 34
Aug. 6-9, 2009 USA Today/Gallup 29 36 34
Q: Do you think that bill (stimulus) has helped, hurt, or had no effect on each of the following groups . . .?
Jan. 8–10, 2010 CNN/Opinion Research
Helped Hurt No effect

High-Income Americans 29% 22% 48%
Middle Class Americans 25 38 36
Low-income Americans 33 31 35
Business executives 41 24 34
Bankers and investors 54 23 22
People who have lost a job
in the last few years 31 36 33
People in the community 25 30 45
Q: Which of the following statements comes closest to your view of the effect of that bill (stimulus) has had on
economic conditions in the country?
Q: Which of the following statements comes closest to your view of the effect that bill has had on your personal
financial situation?
Jan. 8-10, 2010 CNN/Opinion Research
--------Country-------- --------Personal--------
It has improved economic conditions 12% It has improved your situation 7%
Economic conditions have not, Your situation has not improved,
improved but it prevented conditions but it prevented conditions from
from becoming worse 46 becoming even worse 25
It had no effect on economic It had no effect on your situation 48
conditions 22
It has made economic conditions It has made your situation worse 20
worse 19
46
Miscellaneous
Q: How confident are you that the federal government will put in place adequate controls to avoid waste and fraud
in the use of federal money in the economic recovery effort?

Dec. 11-14, 2008 ABC/Wash Post 46% 54%
Jan. 13-16, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 45 54
Feb. 19-22, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 46 52
Apr. 21-24, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 46 53
Q: In your opinion which will do more to get the U.S. out of the current recession: increasing government spending,
or reducing taxes on business?
Govt. spending will do more Reducing taxes

Mar. 1938 Gallup 15% 63%
Feb. 2-4, 2009 CBS 22 59
Q: What do you think is the most effective way to help the economy out of recession – spending by individuals and
businesses or spending by government?
Indiv/Biz Government Combination (vol.)

Jan. 13-14, 2009 Fox/OD 52% 19% 22%
Q: Many different ideas are being considered for how best to stimulate the economy. Do you think the economic
stimulus plan should focus mainly on using taxpayer dollars to increase government spending on new programs and
infrastructure project or mainly on cutting taxes for businesses and individuals?
Focus on spending Taxes

Jan. 27-28, 2009 Fox /OD 29% 50%
Q: Does the news about stimulus packages and the federal government giving financial aid to several major
corporations make you feel like the country is drifting away from capitalism and more toward socialism or don’t
you feel that way?
Yes No
Jan. 13-14, 2009 Fox/OD 50% 37%
Q: Do you think the press is portraying the economic crisis to be worse than it really is, not as bad as it really is, or
is the press giving a fairly accurate portrayal of the economic crisis?
Worse Not as bad Accurate

Jan. 13-14, 2009 Fox/OD 28% 21% 43%
Q: Under one economic stimulus plan, most taxpayers would have their taxes cut by at least five hundred dollars. If
your taxes were cut by that much, what would you do with that money—spend it, save or invest it, pay off bills, or
donate it to charity?
Spend it Save/Invest Pay bills Donate

Jan. 12-15, 2009 CNN/ORC 20% 30% 47% 3%
47
Q: In general, do you think the federal government is doing too much to try to stimulate the economy at a time of
recession, not enough, or about the right amount?
Too much Not enough Right amount

Jan. 14-15, 2009 PSRA/Newsweek 22% 42% 25%
Q: How confident are you that the following elements of the proposed economic stimulus package will improve the
economy? What about _____?
Jan. 15-18, 2009 Ipsos/McClatchy
Very Somewhat Not very Not at all

confident confident confident confident
Tax cuts for workers 29% 42% 14% 13%
Tax cuts for businesses 23 41 17 16
Infrastructure improvements, such as
repairing and building roads 33 39 15 11
Aid to state and local governments 17 45 18 16
Q: Elected officials in Washington are trying to come up with ways to improve the economy – do you think they are
part of the problem or part of the solution?
Officials are part of

the problem Solution
Jan. 27-28, 2009 Fox/OD 61% 27%
Q: Do you think it is important for the economic stimulus bill to have the support of both Democrats and
Republicans in Congress, or do you think it is okay for the Democrats to pass the economic stimulus bill without
getting Republican support?
Bill needs support of Okay to just have

both parties Democratic support
Feb. 2-4, 2009 CBS 81% 13%
Q: In response to the current economic crisis, do you think Congress is moving too fast, moving too slowly, or
moving at about the right place?
Moving too fast Too slowly Right pace
Feb. 2-4, 2009 CBS 16% 38% 39%
Q: What do you think will do more right now to stimulate the economy and create jobs?
Tax cuts to individuals Spending on programs

and businesses and infrastructure projects
Feb. 4-8, 2009 PSRA/Pew 48% 39%
Q: Thinking about both the tax cuts and new government programs in the Senate bill, do you think the bill will result
in the government spending too much money, not enough money, or about the right amount of money?
Too much money Not enough Right amount

Feb. 7-8, 2009 CNN/ORC 55% 13% 30%
Q: Do you think the economic recovery legislation that passed last week is better described as a stimulus bill or a
spending bill?
Stimulus bill Spending bill

Feb. 17-18, 2009 Fox/OD 31% 52%
48
Q: Recently New York Senator Chuck Schumer said “the American people really don’t care” if the economic
recovery bill includes “porky amendments.” Do you care if the economic recovery bill includes earmarks or pork –
that is, spending items that only benefit certain Congressional districts or pet projects in elected official’s home
state?
Yes, I care No
Feb. 17-18, 2009 Fox/OD 79% 15%
Q: When talking about the economic situation, Barack Obama says a failure to act now will turn crisis into a
catastrophe and guarantee a longer recession – do you think this description is too negative and Obama is
intentionally overstating how bad things are, or is he giving what he thinks is an accurate description of the
country’s economic situation?
Too negative Accurate description

Feb. 17-18, 2009 Fox/OD 22% 70%
Q: In general, the stimulus package provides tax cuts for individuals and businesses, extends unemployment benefits
and tries to create jobs by spending money on technology and infrastructure programs like building highways. From
what you know, do you think the package is large enough to stimulate the economy or will more money be needed in
the months ahead to stimulate the economy?
Large enough Will need more money

Feb. 18-22, 2009 CBS/NYT 18% 69%
Q: From what you know so far, what do you think about the number of tax cuts for businesses and individuals
included in the economic stimulus package -- are there too many tax cuts, too few tax cuts, about the right amount of
tax cuts, or don't you know enough yet to say?
Too many cuts Too few About right Don’t know enough
Feb. 18-22, 2009 CBS/NYT 9% 20% 17% 51%
Q: From what you know so far, what do you think about the government spending on technology and infrastructure
projects included in the economic stimulus package -- is there too much spending on technology and infrastructure
projects, too little spending on technology and infrastructure projects, about the right amount of spending on
technology and infrastructure projects, or don't you know enough yet to say?
Too much Too little Right amount Don’t know enough

Feb. 18-22, 2009 CBS/NYT 18% 16% 25% 39%
Q: In your opinion, which will do MORE to protect or create jobs: increased government spending on
infrastructure, health care, education and other fields, OR tax cuts that would put more money in the hands of
individuals and businesses?
Govt. spending will

do more Tax cuts
Feb. 18-22, 2009 CBS/NYT 41% 50%
Q: Most Republican members of Congress opposed the stimulus package. Do you think they opposed it mostly
because they thought it would be bad for the economy or mostly for political reasons?
Opposed because they

thought it was bad for
the economy Political reasons
Feb. 18-22, 2009 CBS/NYT 29% 63%
49
Q: In terms of ______, do you think the stimulus package goes too far, does not go far enough, or is it about right?
Feb. 19-22, 2009 ABC News/Wash Post
Goes too far Not far enough About right

Tax cuts 15% 33% 46%
Spending on construction projects and aid to
states and individuals 24 24 46
Q: Would you support or oppose additional federal spending above the 787 billion dollars already set aside to try to
stimulate the economy? Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
Support Oppose
Jul. 15-18, 2009 ABC/Wash Post 35% 61%
Q: If the Congress had not passed the economic stimulus and spending bill and instead done nothing, do you think
the nation’s economy would be in better shape than it is today, worse shape, or would the economy be in about the
same shape as it is today?
Better Worse About the Same

Jul. 21-22, 2009 Fox/OD 18% 36% 41%
Q: Since the crisis in the financial markets last fall, how much progress has the government made in fixing the
problems that caused the crisis?
PSRA/Pew
Sept. – Oct. 2009 Apr. 2010
A great deal of progress 2% 3%
Some progress 26 28
Just a little progress 46 42
No progress 23 25
Q: Which do you think would do more to help create jobs right now – cutting taxes on individuals and small
businesses, or passing a new government stimulus plan focused on job creation?
Cutting taxes Passing job plan Both

Dec. 8-9, 2009 Fox/OD 50% 38% 5%
Q: What do you think should happen with the estimated two hundred billion dollars that is left over from the federal
government’s bank bailouts – should it be used to pay for other government programs, to reduce the federal deficit,
or should it be returned to taxpayers?
Pay for other Reduce the Returned to

programs deficit taxpayers
Dec. 8-9, 2009 Fox /OD 14% 41% 40%

50
Stimulus and the Deficit
Q: Which of the following concerns you more? That the federal government will spend too much money trying to
boost the economy and as a result will drive up the budget deficit, or that the federal government will spend too little
money trying to boost the economy and as a result the recession will be longer?
Concerned that the

the govt. will spend too Govt. spend too
much and drive up little and the
the deficit recession will be longer
Dec. 4-8, 2008 NBC/WSJ 56% 36%
Jan. 9-12, 2009 NBC/WSJ 60 33
Feb. 26 -Mar. 1 2009 NBC/WSJ 61 29

Q: Do you think Barack Obama has proposed spending too much money, not enough money, or about the right
amount of money to address the economic situation?
Too much Not enough About the

money money right amount
Mar. 9-12, 2009 PSRA/Pew 39% 13% 34%
51
Key Events in the Financial Crisis
• September 15, 2008: Lehman Brothers files for bankruptcy protection; Dow falls 504 points
• September 20, 2008: President Bush proposes $700 billion bailout plan
• September 29, 2008: House rejects Wall Street bailout plan; Dow falls 778 points.
• October 3, 2008: President Bush signs bailout bill
• December 1, 2008: News of official recession sends Dow down 680 points
• December 11, 2008: New jobless claims reach 26-year high
• January 20, 2009: Barack Obama inaugurated
• February 17, 2009: President Obama signs $787 billion stimulus package
• February 18, 2009: Obama announces the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan
• March 6, 2009: Unemployment rate hits 25-year high
• June 1, 2009: General Motors files for bankruptcy
• July 24, 2009: “Cash for Clunkers” program begins
Other Recent AEI Public Opinion Studies:
• Public Opinion Study on Abortion Marriage

• Are Attitudes Changing About the Proper • Voting by Key Groups in Presidential and
Role of the Federal Government? House Elections, 1952-2006
• Public Opinion on the War with Iraq • Women's Attitudes: Some Poll-Based
• Polls on the Environment and Global Observations
Warming • Polls on Patriotism and Military Service
• Taking Stock of Business • Public Opinion on the Supreme Court
• Economic Insecurity • Attitudes about Social Security Reform
• Public Opinion on Taxes • Polls on Patriotism and Military Service
• The State of the American Worker 2009 • The Politics of Compassion
• America and the War on Terrorism • The Nostalgia Impulse
• Polls on NAFTA and Free Trade • Attitudes toward Divided Government
• Attitudes toward the Federal Government • Attitudes about Welfare Reform
• Attitudes about Homosexuality and Gay
For a full listing of AEI’s Public Opinion Studies, please see

http://www.aei.org/raBasicPages/14?page=AEI%20Studies%20in%20Public%20Opinion
For comments or questions

contact Karlyn Bowman at kbowman@aei.org or Andrew Rugg Andrew.Rugg@aei.org
Compiled by Karlyn Bowman, Senior Fellow

Andrew Rugg, Research Assistant, Nick Davis, Intern
This document first appeared on

the AEI website in April 2003
Also from AEI’s Political Corner:

Political Report!
The American Enterprise Institute’s Political Report is a monthly publication that
examines current trends in public opinion and political developments. This easy-to-
read report summarizes surveys from major pollsters on topics of current interest.
If you’d like to be added to the mailing list, please feel to contact Andrew Rugg at
Andrew.Rugg@aei.org.
You may view Political Report at the Political Corner website

http://www.aei.org/politicalcorner. 52

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AEI Public

TARP, the Auto Bailout, and the

(Updated May 2010)

Separate AEI Public Opinion Studies are available on

Enron and Company

Taking Stock of Business

Right thing Wrong thing

Good thing Bad thing

Oppose, favor Oppose, government

Approve bail out Disapprove

Pass plan Pass plan Not take

Serious Not a serious Not much of a

Threatens entire Economy can

Similar bill New plan No bill

Good idea Bad idea

Dec. 5-8, 2008 NBC/WSJ

Mar. 4-5, 2009 PSRA/Newsweek

----There has been----

Sep. 26-27, 2008 Gallup/USA Today

Too much time Too hasty Right amount

Democrats Republicans Both (vol.)

Sep. 19-22, 2008 LAT/Bloomberg

Sep. 29, 2008 ABC/Wash Post

President Bush 25%

Republican Democratic Both

Oct. 9-12, 2008 Pew

A lot Some Not very much Not at all

Congressional Corporate Obama Bush

January 2010 NBC/WSJ

Oct. 2-6, 2008 Ipsos/McClatchy

Better for government to step in and rescue financial markets 52%

Oct. 2-6, 2008 Ipsos/McClatchy

Oct. 10-13, 2008 CBS/NYT

Approve of the federal government providing money to

Approve of the economic bailout plan that was passed by

Good idea Bad idea

Rescue Let them fail

Yes, it’s the

Feb. 20-22, 2009 Gallup/USA Today

Favor the federal government temporarily taking over

Favor the federal government temporarily nationalizing

Should Should not Don’t know

Temporary Policy Lasting Policy

Bailout necessary Bailout a burden

Yes, the program will No, recession even if

Help Hurt No difference

Better Worse No impact

Govt. will get all of

----Have been harmed by the events of the last month----

----Will be harmed in the long run----

Immediately In a year or so Eventually Never

Very Moderately Not too Not worried

Postponed Seriously Not seriously

Taken Seriously Not seriously

Sep. 26-27, 2008 Gallup/USA Today

A great deal Some Only a little Not at all

Obama McCain Equally good Neither

The current financial crisis

Providing help to the middle class

Oct. 10-12, 2008 Gallup/USA Today

Confident No, not confident

----Barack Obama---- ----John McCain----

Sep. 24, 2008 Gallup/USA Today