7 days Archive

The Indianapolis Star/WTHR (Channel 13) telephone poll of 1,003 adult Hoosiers statewide, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. The poll was conducted from Friday, March 25 through Wednesday, March 30 by Selzer & Co. Inc. of Des Moines. The sample is drawn so that every household with a landline telephone has an equal chance of being contacted by the poll. Results represent a cross-section of Indiana residents.

Respondents were asked these questions:

1) I'm going to mention some elected officials, both individuals and groups. For each, please tell me if you approve or disapprove of the job they are doing.

• Mitch Daniels, as governor

• Evan Bayh, as U.S. Senator

• Richard Lugar, as U.S. Senator

• The Indiana general assembly

2) Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Bush is handling:

• His job as president

• The situation with Iraq

• The economy

3) In general, do you think things in the nation are headed in the right direction, or have they gotten off on the wrong track?

4) What about here in Indiana? Do you think things in the state of Indiana are headed in the right direction, or have they gotten off on the wrong track?

5) Senator Evan Bayh has been mentioned as a possible candidate for president in 2008. If he were on the November 2008 general election ballot for president, would you likely vote for him, or likely vote for another candidate? (If respondent says it depends on who the other candidate is, say:) Based on just what you know today, would you likely vote for Bayh, or likely vote for another candidate?

6) Regardless of whether you would vote for him or not, do you think Evan Bayh does or does not have the personal qualities needed to be a good president?

7) I have a few questions about national issues. First, do you favor or oppose President Bush's plan to allow workers to divert some of their social security tax to personal or private accounts for their retirement?

8) We've reached the two-year mark for the war in Iraq. All things considered, do you think it was or was not a good idea to invade Iraq?

9) Which do you think is the wiser course of action--for troops to stay longer trying to stabilize the country even if it means potentially more deaths and injuries among U.S. soldiers, or for troops to leave sooner even if it means disorder and potentially civil war?

10) Turning now to the controversy in Florida surrounding Terri Schiavo, who has been in a persistent vegetative state for the past 15 years, do you think it was right or wrong for the feeding and hydration tubes to be removed?

11) Do you think it was right or wrong for the Congress and the President to take action to try to have the tubes reinserted?

12) Have you signed a document that makes your end-of-life wishes known to your family?

13) Turning toward the state of Indiana, I'm going to mention some proposals that may be acted upon by the Indiana General Assembly. For each, please tell me if you favor or oppose the proposal.

• Restricting smoking in some public places

• Banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving

• Expanding the seat belt law to apply to drivers and passengers in SUVs and trucks

• Restricting the sale of certain cold medicines that are essential ingredients in the manufacture of methamphetamine

• Adopting daylight saving time for the entire state

• Requiring voters to show a state government-issued ID before they are allowed to vote

• Providing tuition vouchers for students who wish to attend private schools for elementary through high school years

• Repealing the death penalty

• Instituting an income tax surcharge of 1% on tax returns showing more than $100,000 in taxable income

14) Governor Daniels continues to live at his own home instead of the governor's mansion in Indianapolis. Do you think governors should or should not be required to live at the official governor's mansion?

15) Do you favor or oppose an Indiana constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage?

16) Thinking about government ethics, including conflicts of interest and the influence of lobbyists who used to be government employees, do you think the situation in Indiana is better, worse or about the same as in other Midwest states?

17) Recently, two Indiana legislators cut their ties to a gambling company that is trying to get state approval to install slot machines at racetracks. Is it your sense that conflicts of interest such as ties to companies doing business with state are isolated and really not a problem within the Indiana General Assembly, or do you suspect it is common for legislators to have conflicts or to act unethically?

18) When it comes to high school basketball, which of the following do you favor?

• Do away with division basketball so there is one state champion, the way it used to be

• Keep divisions so that small schools compete only against small schools and large schools compete only against large schools

19) Finally, let's turn to a question about whether the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana should build a new stadium for the Indianapolis Colts. There are several ideas at the Legislature to pay for a stadium, most involving several potential sources such as: a new fee on luxury suite rentals, a tax on player salaries, a tax on tickets to Colts games, an increased share of hotel and car rental taxes and riverboat casino taxes, and a new plan to tax non-health related services in Marion County such as legal fees, hair cuts, and car repairs. Based on what you know at this time, do you favor or oppose building a new stadium where the Colts would play?

Demographic questions

What is your age?

8% Under 25

16% 25 to 34

18% 35 to 44

22% 45 to 54

17% 55 to 64

19% 65 and over

In politics as of today, do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or independent?

40% Republican

27% Democrat

30% Independent

3% Refused/not sure

What is the last grade of school you completed?

40% High school graduate or less

23% Some college

22% College degree

14% Postgraduate work or degree

1% Refused/not sure

Which of the following best describes your religious beliefs--Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, or other?

69% Protestant

18% Catholic

1% Jewish

-- Muslim

1% Other

7% Nothing

4% Refused/not sure

With what racial or ethnic group do you identify most--White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, or some other group?

90% White

4% Black

1% Hispanic

1% Asian

1% Other

3% Refused/not sure

Is your total annual household income before taxes above or below $50,000 per year?

25% Above ($75,000+)

18% Below ($50,000-$74,999)

25% Above ($30,000-$49,999)

20% Below (<$30,000)

12% Refused/not sure

Do you happen to smoke cigarettes or cigars on a regular basis?

23% Yes

76% No

1% Not sure

Sex

48% Male

52% Female

Region

46% Urban

31% Suburban

23% Rural

State region

28% Metro

13% Northwest

23% Southern Indiana

36% Rest of state

Email this

Print this

Post message

Send letter to editor

Reprint info