Cnn/opinion Research Poll, 12/08/2009

Interviews with 1,041 adult Americans conducted by telephone by Opinion Research Corporation on December 2-3, 2009. The margin of sampling error for results based on the total sample is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

FOR RELEASE: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 AT 9 AM

18

-1-

December 2-3, 2009

5.

Which of the following is the most important issue facing the country today? (RANDOM ORDER)

The economy Health care The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan The federal budget deficit Education Terrorism Energy and environmental policies* Other (vol.) No opinion (vol.)

Dec. 2-3 2009

Aug. 28-31 2009

June 26-28 2009

Apr. 23-26 2009

Mar. 12-15 2009

40% 17% 16% 13% 7% 4% 2% 1% *

41% 20% 8% 15% 8% 5% 2% 1% *

51% 13% 8% 14% 4% 5% 4% 1% *

55% 9% 9% 10% 6% 6% 3% 1% 1%

63% 9% 6% 8% 5% 5% 2% 1% *

*QUESTION WORDING: Prior to Dec. 2-3, 2009 asked only as “Energy policy”

6.

(IF ECONOMY) And which of those items I just mentioned is the most important issue OTHER THAN THE ECONOMY facing the country today?

QUESTIONS 5 AND 6 COMBINED

Health care The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan The federal budget deficit Education Terrorism Energy and environmental policies* Other (vol.) No opinion (vol.)

Dec. 2-3 2009

Aug. 28-31 2009

June 26-28 2009

28% 27% 22% 10% 7% 4% 1% 2%

33% 15% 25% 12% 10% 4% 1% *

27% 21% 23% 11% 10% 6% 2% 1%

*QUESTION WORDING: Prior to Dec. 2-3, 2009 asked only as “Energy policy”

18

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December 2-3, 2009

7.

How well are things going in the country today -- very well, fairly well, pretty badly or very badly?

Very Well

Fairly Well

Pretty Badly

Very Badly

No Opinion

Very+ Fairly Well

Pretty+ Very Badly

Dec. 2-3, 2009

3%

31%

42%

24%

*

34%

66%

Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2009 August 28-31, 2009 May 14-17, 2009 April 3-5, 2009 February 18-19, 2009 December 1-2, 2008 November 6-9, 2008 October 17-19, 2008 October 3-5, 2008 Aug 23-24, 2008 July 27-29, 2008 Apr. 28-30, 2008 Nov. 2-4, 2007 April 10-12, 2007 January 11, 2007 November 3-5, 2006 October 6-8, 2006 Sept. 29-October 2, 2006 August 30-Sept. 2, 2006 August 2-3, 2006 May 5-7, 2006

3% 2% 3% 3% 3% 2% 2% 3% 3% 3% 3% 4% 8% 8% 8% 9% 12% 8% 9% 8% 8%

34% 28% 25% 20% 18% 18% 14% 22% 17% 28% 21% 26% 34% 40% 49% 42% 37% 43% 37% 47% 38%

41% 46% 45% 51% 47% 39% 45% 42% 45% 35% 47% 35% 35% 34% 30% 30% 30% 26% 29% 29% 33%

22% 23% 26% 26% 32% 40% 38% 33% 35% 34% 29% 35% 23% 17% 12% 18% 19% 23% 25% 15% 20%

* 1% * * * * * * * * * 1% * 1% 1% 1% 2% * * 1% 1%

37% 30% 28% 23% 21% 20% 16% 25% 20% 31% 24% 30% 42% 48% 57% 51% 49% 51% 46% 55% 46%

63% 69% 71% 77% 79% 79% 83% 75% 80% 69% 76% 70% 58% 51% 42% 48% 49% 49% 54% 44% 53%

(CNN/TIME AND CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP TRENDS ON NEXT PAGE)

18

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December 2-3, 2009

Trends from 1974 to May, 2004: CNN/Time or Time magazine polls; Trends from October, 2004 to Feb, 2006: CNN/USA Today/Gallup polls

2006 Feb 9-12 2005 Nov 11-13 2005 Sep 8-11 2005 July 23-24 2005 April 1-2 2005 Jan 7-9 2004 Oct 29-31 2004 Oct 9-10 2004 May 12-13 2004 Apr 8 2004 Feb 5-6 2004 Jan 14-15 2003 Dec 30-Jan 1 2003 Nov 18-19 2003 Sep 3-4 2003 Jul 16-17 2003 May 21-22 2003 Mar 27 2003 Feb 19-20 2003 Feb 6 2003 Jan 15-16 2002 Dec 17-18 2002 Nov 13-14 2002 Oct 23-24 2002 Aug 28-29 2002 Jul 10-11 2002 Jun 19-20 2002 May 22-23 2002 Apr 10-11 2002 Mar 13-14 2002 Jan 23-24 2001 Dec 19-20 2001 Nov 7-8 2001 Oct 12 2001 Sep 27 2001 Sep 13 2001 Jul 17-18 2001 May 23-24 2001 Feb 7-8 2001 Jan 10-11 2000 Nov 10 2000 Oct 25-26 2000 Oct 12-13 2000 Oct 4-5 2000 Sep 6-7 2000 Aug 9-10 2000 Jul 26-27 2000 Jun 14-15 2000 Mar 8-9 2000 Feb 2-3 2000 Jan 12-13 2000 Jan 5-6 1999 Nov 10-11 1999 Jul 14-15 1999 Jun 9-10 1999 May 26-27 1999 Mar 25 1999 Mar 4 1999 Jan 20-21 1999 Jan 7 1998 Dec 17-18 1998 Oct 14-15 1998 Sep 23-24 1998 Sep 16-17 1998 Aug 18 1998 Jul 30 1998 Jun 30-Jul 1 1998 Jun 26-Jul 5

Very/ fairly well

Very/ pretty badly

52 49 50 58 61 58 55 54 60 63 52 53 49 52 49 57 60 63 52 53 49 54 56 49 57 59 57 64 61 69 66 64 63 65 59 45 70 65 71 73 74 79 76 77 79 77 74 72 76 78 81 80 68 70 69 61 70 73 77 74 60 78 72 72 77 68 67 55

47 50 50 41 38 41 44 46 39 36 47 46 49 46 49 42 39 36 47 46 49 45 42 49 41 39 41 35 38 29 34 34 35 33 38 53 29 33 28 24 25 19 22 22 19 21 24 27 22 17 19 19 30 28 31 37 29 26 22 25 38 21 26 25 21 31 31 44

1998 May 18-19 1998 Apr 8-9 1998 Mar 18-19 1998 Feb 4-5 1998 Jan 28-29 1998 Jan 22 1998 Jan 14-15 1997 Oct 30 1997 Sep 10-11 1997 Jul 30-31 1997 Jun 4-5 1997 May 7-8 1997 Apr 16-17 1997 Mar 11-12 1997 Feb 26-27 1997 Feb 5-6 1997 Jan 8-9 1996 Oct 1996 Jun 1996 Jun 1996 Feb 1996 Jan 1996 Jan 1995 Dec 1995 Oct 1995 Oct 1995 Sep 1995 Sep 1995 Aug 1995 Jul 1995 Jun 1995 Jun 1995 May 1995 Apr 1995 Mar 1995 Mar 1995 Feb 1995 Jan 1995 Jan 1995 Jan 1994 Dec 1994 Nov 1994 Oct 1994 Oct 1994 Sep 1994 Sep 1994 Sep 1994 Aug 1994 Aug 1994 Aug 1994 Jul 1994 Jun 1994 Jun 1994 May 1994 May 1994 Apr 1994 Apr 1994 Mar 1994 Mar 1994 Feb 1994 Jan 1993 Dec 1993 Nov 1993 Oct 1993 Oct 1993 Oct 1993 Sep 1993 Sep

18

Very/ fairly well

Very/ pretty badly

66 70 76 74 79 68 65 67 63 69 64 63 62 57 64 67 63 67 61 62 53 48 48 54 46 47 50 50 47 51 53 45 50 46 52 49 54 58 56 54 55 49 50 51 45 46 42 42 45 49 51 49 56 48 49 47 53 48 49 47 52 48 45 40 39 41 47 42

30 30 25 25 19 31 32 31 34 29 34 35 37 41 35 33 35 32 37 37 44 50 50 44 52 51 49 49 52 47 47 51 49 52 46 48 44 41 43 44 44 48 49 47 53 53 57 58 52 50 48 49 41 51 50 52 44 49 50 51 47 50 54 58 58 59 52 57

1993 Aug 1993 Aug 1993 Jun 1993 May 1993 May 1993 Apr 1993 Mar 1993 Feb 1993 Feb 1993 Jan 1993 Jan 1992 Oct 1992 Sep 1992 Aug 1992 Jul 1992 Jun 1992 Jun 1992 May 1992 Apr 1992 Mar 1992 Feb 1992 Jan 1992 Jan 1992 Jan 1991 Dec 1991 Nov 1991 Oct 1991 Oct 1991 Sep 1991 Aug 1991 Jun 1991 May 1991 Apr 1991 Apr 1991 Mar 1991 Feb 1991 Jan 1990 Dec 1990 Nov 1990 Oct 1990 Oct 1990 Oct 1990 Sep 1990 Aug 1990 Jul 1990 May 1990 Apr 1990 Mar 1990 Feb 1990 Jan 1989 Oct 1989 Jun 1989 Jan 1988 Oct 1988 Sep 1988 Apr 1988 Mar 1988 Feb 1988 Jan 1987 Oct 1987 Aug 1987 May 1987 Feb 1987 Jan 1986 Sep 1986 Jul 1986 May 1986 Apr

-4-

Very/ fairly well

Very/ pretty badly

39 41 41 40 43 45 48 48 48 53 47 35 32 35 31 35 33 30 33 33 35 29 35 36 29 36 42 42 49 53 53 53 56 59 74 58 39 45 42 38 41 42 52 55 55 61 62 62 70 67 62 61 69 70 73 64 65 60 62 58 61 64 61 61 63 69 65 67

58 57 56 58 56 53 50 49 49 45 52 65 68 63 67 62 65 68 65 66 62 71 64 64 71 64 56 58 49 47 47 47 42 41 26 42 61 55 58 62 59 58 48 45 45 37 38 38 30 33 38 39 31 31 27 40 33 37 38 42 39 37 40 39 37 31 34 32

1985 Nov 1985 Sep 1985 Jul 1985 Apr 1984 Dec 1984 Oct 1984 Sep 1984 Aug 1984 Jan 1983 Dec 1983 Sep 1983 Jun 1983 Mar 1982 Dec 1982 Oct 1982 Jun 1982 Mar 1981 Dec 1981 Sep 1981 May 1981 Jan 1980 Oct 1980 Aug 1980 May 1980 Mar 1980 Jan 1979 Dec 1979 Oct 1979 Aug 1979 Apr 1978 Oct 1978 May 1978 Mar 1977 Nov 1977 Jul 1977 May 1977 Mar 1976 Oct 1976 Sep 1976 Aug 1976 Jun 1976 Apr 1976 Jan 1975 May 1975 Jan 1974 Sep 1974 Mar

Very/ fairly well

Very/ pretty badly

70 67 70 69 74 74 71 68 67 60 56 58 46 35 40 40 39 43 53 51 26 32 30 21 24 34 36 36 31 36 56 49 53 64 69 65 69 56 57 60 50 52 46 40 23 30 29

31 33 31 32 26 26 30 32 32 40 45 41 55 65 60 60 62 58 47 50 74 68 70 79 76 65 64 68 70 65 44 51 47 35 31 35 31 44 44 40 50 48 55 61 78 70 71

December 2-3, 2009

8.

Do you think the economy is in a recession, or not?

Yes No No opinion

Yes No No opinion

Yes No No opinion

Dec. 2-3 2009

Sept. 11-13 2009

Aug. 28-31 2009

May 14-17 2009

84% 16% *

86% 13% 1%

87% 12% 1%

90% 10% *

Dec. 1-2 2008

Oct. 17-19 2008

Aug. 29-31 2008

June 26-29 2008

Apr. 28-30 2008

89% 10% 1%

76% 23% 1%

73% 26% 1%

75% 25% *

79% 19% 2%

Mar. 14-16 2008

Feb. 1-3 2008

Jan.9-10 2008

Dec. 6-9 2007

Oct. 12-14 2007

74% 25% 1%

66% 31% 2%

61% 37% 3%

57% 42% 1%

46% 51% 3%

CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP TRENDS

2004 Jan 2-5 2003 Apr 22-23 2003 Mar 24-25 2002 Nov 22-24 2002 Oct 3-6* 2002 Jul 29-31 2002 Jun 28-30 2002 May 6-9 2002 Apr 8-11 2002 Mar 8-9* 2001 Nov 8-11 2001 Oct 11-14 2001 Sep 21-22 2001 Sep 7-10 2001 May 10-14 2001 Apr 6-8 2001 Mar 5-7* 2001 Feb 1-4* 1994 May 20-22 1994 Feb. 26-28 1993 Dec 4-6 1992 Sept 11-15 1992 Jan. 3-6 1991 March * Asked of a half sample.

18

Yes

No

No opinion

32 56 41 52 55 46 52 45 45 56 59 49 52 51 33 42 31 44 35 34 45 79 84 81

66 41 54 45 40 50 45 53 52 38 38 49 43 43 62 52 64 49 61 62 50 19 14 16

2 3 5 3 5 4 3 2 3 6 3 2 5 6 5 6 5 7 4 4 5 2 2 4

-5-

December 2-3, 2009

8. 9.

Do you think the economy is now in a recession, or not? (IF YES:) Do you think we are in a mild recession, or a moderate recession, or a serious recession?

QUESTIONS 8 AND 9 COMBINED Dec. 2-3 2009

Sept. 11-13 2009

Aug. 28-31 2009

May 14-17 2009

36% 35% 13% 16% *

42% 35% 10% 13% 1%

36% 39% 12% 12% 1%

42% 35% 12% 10% *

Oct. 17-19 2008

June 26-29 2008

Mar. 14-16 2008*

32% 30% 14% 23% 1%

27% 29% 19% 25% *

29% 29% 16% 25% 1%

Serious recession Moderate recession Mild recession Not in a recession (from Q.8) No opinion

Serious recession Moderate recession Mild recession Not in a recession No opinion *Asked of half sample

LOS ANGELES TIMES POLL TRENDS

2003 Apr 22-23** 2002 Dec 12-15 2002 Aug 22-25 2002 Jan 31-Feb 2 2001 Sep 13-14 1997 Sep 6-9 1997 Feb 5-6 1996 Oct 24-27 1996 Sep 7-10 1996 Aug 3-6 1995 Jun 9-11 1995 Mar 15-19 1994 Jul 23-26 1994 Apr 16-19 1994 Jan 15-19 1993 Dec 4-7

Serious

Moderate

Mild

None

10 13 11 18 9 7 6 12 8 11 12 13 16 12 20 22

25 24 23 34 19 16 14 15 14 15 20 18 20 22 20 26

21 24 25 29 23 12 13 16 16 19 21 20 17 17 18 18

41 35 36 15 41 59 62 52 53 47 39 45 41 44 37 29

1993 Sep 25-28 1993 Jun 12-14 1993 Feb 18-19 1993 Jan 14-17 1992 Oct 24-26 1992 Oct 2-5 1992 Aug 20-21 1992 Aug 12-14 1992 Jul 7-9 1992 Mar 27-29 1992 Jan 31-Feb 2 1991 Nov 21-24 1991 Sep 21-25 1991 Jun 28-30 1991 Mar 9-11 1991 Feb 15-17

Serious

Moderate

Mild

None

29 25 25 27 46 45 45 45 42 35 41 33 30 32 21 23

27 27 25 27 30 26 27 31 33 31 34 35 33 33 38 33

16 18 15 17 12 15 16 13 12 18 14 17 19 18 29 28

24 26 30 25 9 11 9 8 10 13 8 12 14 14 9 13

**003 results from CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll

18

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December 2-3, 2009

10.

Which of the following statements comes closest to your view of economic conditions today?

The economy is starting to recover from the problems it faced in the past year or so An economic recovery has not started but conditions have stabilized and are not getting any worse The economy is still in a downturn and conditions are continuing to worsen Recession is over/Economy has recovered (vol.) No opinion

11.

Dec. 2-3 2009

Oct. 16-18 2009

June 26-28 2009

15%

17%

12%

46%

50%

48%

39% * *

33% * *

40% * *

As you may know, the U.S. went through a depression in the 1930s in 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 will occur in the U.S. within the next 12 months? Dec. 2-3 2009 Very likely Somewhat likely Not very likely Not likely at all No opinion

17% 26% 39% 19% 1%

18

July 31-Aug. 3 Mar. 12-15 2009 2009 12% 29% 36% 22% *

12% 33% 36% 18% 1%

-7-

Dec. 1-2 2008

Oct. 17-19 2008

10% 28% 41% 20% *

12% 29% 35% 24% 1%

December 2-3, 2009