Occupy Wall Street Survey Results October 2011

CONTACT:

Professor Costas Panagopoulos
Department of Political Science
Fordham University
costas@post.harvard.edu
(917) 405-9069


1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president?
Approve……………………………………………………..27%
Disapprove…………………………………………………. 73
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?
Approve………………………………………………………3
Disapprove…………………………………………………..97
3. If the 2012 election for the U.S. House of Representatives were being held today, would you
vote for the Republican candidate or the Democratic candidate in your district?
Democratic candidate………………………………………42
Republican candidate………………………………………...4
Wouldn’t vote……………………………………………....22
Someone else……………………………………………….32
4. Would you say that over the past year the nation’s economy has: (check one)
Gotten worse………………………………………………..78
Stayed about the same………………………………………21
Gotten better……………………………………………….....1
5. Is your opinion of the Tea Party movement favorable, unfavorable or haven’t you heard
enough about it?
Favorable……………………………………………………..7
Unfavorable…………………………………………………75
Haven’t heard enough……………………………………....18

6. How likely do you think it is that this protest will change the views of politicians in the
Democratic Party?
Very likely………………………………………………….26
Somewhat likely……………………………………………44 
Not very likely……………………………………………...22
Not at all likely………………………………………………8
7. How likely do you think it is that this protest will change the views of politicians in the
Republican Party?
Very likely………………………………………………….15
Somewhat likely……………………………………………22 
Not very likely……………………………………………...31
Not at all likely……………………………………………..32
8. Generally speaking, which of the following political parties do you identify with most closely?
(check one)
Democratic…………………………………………………25
Republican…………………………………………………..2
Tea Party…………………………………………………….0 
Socialist Party……………………………………………...11
Green Party………………………………………………...11 
Other……………………………………………………….12 
I do not identify with any party……………………………39
9. Who did you vote for in November 2008?
Barack Obama……………………………………………....60
John McCain………………………………………………....2
Other………………………………………………………...11
Did not vote…………………………………………………27
10. How much of the time do you think you can trust the government in Washington to do what
is right?
Just about always……………………………………………..1
Most of the time………………………………………………5 
Only some of the time……………………………………….52
Never………………………………………………………...42
11. Are you or anyone in your family a member of a union?
Yes…………………………………………………………...40 
No……………………………………………………………6

12. At the end of the Republican nomination contest, whom do you want to be the Republican
nominee for President?
Jon Huntsman………………………………………………….2
Herman Cain…………………………………………………...3 
Rick Perry……………………………………………………...1
Ron Paul………………………………………………………21
Newt Gingrich …………………………………………………./
Michele Bachmann……………………………………………..4
Rick Santorum………………………………………………….1
Mitt Romney…………………………………………………....8
Other…………………………………………………………..19 
Not sure………………………………………………………..40
13. What do you think is the most important problem facing this country today? (check ONLY
one)
Unemployment and jobs………………………………………31
Federal deficit/Government spending………………………….9
The wars in Iraq/Afghanistan…………………………………..9
Health care……………………………………………………..10
Education……………………………………………………….8
Terrorism/National Security……………………………………0
Illegal Immigration……………………………………………..0
Taxes……………………………………………………………1
Other…………………………………………………………...32
14. Thinking ahead to the election in November 2012, who do you plan to vote for president?
(check one)
Barack Obama………………………………………………….36 
The Republican nominee………………………………………...3
I do not plan to vote…………………………………………….25
Other……………………………………………………………36
15. What is your employment status (check one)
Student………………………………………………………….25
Employed full-time……………………………………………..30 
Unemployed…………………………………………………….28
Employed part-time…………………………………………….18
16. Your gender (check one)
Male……………………………………………………………...61 
Female…………………………………………………………...39

17. When it comes to politics, do you usually think of yourself as (check one):
Extremely liberal………………………………………………….39
Liberal…………………………………………………………….33
Slightly liberal…………………………………………………......8
Moderate/middle of the road……………………………………..15 
Slightly conservative………………………………………………2 
Conservative……………………………………………………….3
Extremely conservative……………………………………………1
18. Your race (check all that apply)
Asian………………………………………………………………..7
Black/African American…………………………………………..10
Hispanic/Latino……………………………………………………10 
White………………………………………………………………68
Other………………………………………………………………...5
19. Age (Mean): 33 
20. Highest educational level completed (check one)
Some grade school…………………………………………………..1
8th grade……………………………………………………………..3
High school diploma/GED…………………………………………27 
2-year college………………………………………………………16 
4-year college………………………………………………………30
Post-graduate…………………………………………………….....22

Conducted October 14-18, 2011. Based on interviews with 301 respondents. Response rate: 78%.