The Polling Unit: Archives 2002

— -- December 2002

• Dec. 31 — Confidence 2002:The Worst Year Since 1996

• Dec. 27 — Americans Markedly More FearfulAbout their Prospects, and the World's

• Dec. 24 — A Dash of Holiday CheerLightens Consumer Views

• Dec. 18 — Half Say They'd Getthe Smallpox Vaccine

• Dec. 18 — Beyond the War on TerrorismBush Faces Skepticism on Issues

• Dec. 17 — Most Think Iraq Has Destructive Weapons But Want to See Evidence Before Acting

• Dec. 17 — Confidence Matchesits Nine-Year Low

• Dec. 16 — Church's Image Weakens FurtherAs Vatican Moves on Abuse Policy

• Dec. 16 —More Favor Lott's DepartureIncluding Many Racial Minorities

• Dec. 11 — Online Shopping Advances Modestly, But Online Spending is Set to Soar

• Dec. 10 — Confidence Takes A Big Hit-- The Third Time this Year

• Dec. 3 — Ratings of Buying Climate Gain;Expectations Remain Off the Deck

November 2002

• Nov. 27 —Americans' HolidaySpending Plans Level Off

• Nov. 26 —Confidence Flattens AfterModest Four-Week Advance

• Nov. 25 —Augusta National's Men-Only Policy:Most Oppose the Rule, Support the Right

• Nov. 19 —Confidence Shows a Positive Trend

• Nov. 17 —U.S. Public Doubts Iraq's IntentionsAs U.N. Weapons Inspectors Arrive

• Nov. 12 —Confidence Shows a Faint Pulse

• Nov. 8 —Most Say Spanking's OK by ParentsBut Not by Grade-School Teachers

• Nov. 5 —Confidence Steady; Expectations Improving

• Nov. 4 —Bush & War Bridge Some GapsIn a Politically Divided Nation

October 2002

• Oct. 29 —Security Shares Election's Center Stage, Diffusing Voters' Economic Concerns

• Oct. 27 —Confidence Holds; Still Low

• Oct. 24 —Fewer Say Long HoursAre Worth the Sacrifice

• Oct. 22 —Second Big Drop This MonthWhacks Consumer Confidence

• Oct. 22 —Most Support Ballistic Fingerprinting,Think it Would've Helped Catch Sniper

• Oct. 15 — Confidence Steadies, Still Low

• Oct. 15 — Doubts About Islam RiseAmid Broad Unfamiliarity

• Oct. 8 — Confidence Falls Sharply;Expectations Worsen as Well

• Oct. 7 — No Consensus for Urgency on Iraq,Though Most Support a First Strike

• Oct. 1 — Anti-Terrorism and Civil Rights:Eight in 10 Feel No Intrusion

• Oct. 1 — Steady Lows for Consumer Confidence

September 2002

• Sept. 27 — Support for Attacking Iraq Cools a Bit Amid a Rise in Political Partisanship

• Sept. 24 — Economy Rating HoldsAt its Eight-Year Low

• Sept. 17 — Economy Rating Drops;its Worst Since Oct. '94

• Sept. 15 — Broad Support for "Last-Chance" Plan; Many More Now Say Bush's Policy is Clear

• Sept. 10 — Beyond Lingering Fears of 9/11are Pride, Purpose and Patriotism

• Sept. 10 — Confidence Holds Steady

• Sept. 9 — Fright and Fear Linger Among TeensBut Positivism Prevails Post-Sept. 11

• Sept. 3 — Economic PessimismSlightly Lower in August

• Sept. 3 —Support for Military ActionAgainst Iraq Declines
August 2002

• Aug. 30 — A Strict Diet For a Longer Life?Most Americans Say "No Thanks"

• Aug. 27 — Confidence Holds Flat

• Aug. 26 — Baseball Is Slumping with the Public

• Aug. 26 — Planning for the Future:More Talk Than Action

• Aug. 20 — Confidence Advances,Halting Five-Week Decline

• Aug. 14 — Presley's Still the King;It's the Music, not the Man

• Aug. 13 — Confidence Continues Down:Now its Worst Since April 1996

• Aug. 12 — Prospect of High U.S. CasualtiesDampens Support for Iraq War

• Aug. 6 — Ratings of Buying ClimateReach a 15-Month Low

• Aug. 2 — More Call Family Time "Essential"

July 2002

• July 30 — Confidence Holds Lower

• July 29 — Out of the Stratosphere,Bush is Still Sky-High

• July 23 — Confidence Takes a Hit,Drops Near its 2002 Low

• July 18 — Democrats Favor Gore in '04

• July 17 — A Measured Response to Market Decline, Though Eight in 10 Now Call Stocks Risky

• July 16 — Support for School Vouchers SlidesIf They'd Cut Public School Funding

• July 16 — Amid Broad Distrust of Corporations,Most Say Bush's Measures Fall Short

• July 16 — Broad Approval for Bush on Terrorism Despite Concerns About Further Attacks

• July 16 — Consumer Confidence Dips;It's Limp, but not Falling Apart

• July 9 — Economic PessimismJumps to a 2002 High

• July 2 — Confidence Holds SteadyAmid Corporate Scandals

June 2002

• June 30 — Americans PledgeAllegiance to the Pledge

• June 24 — 2-1 Favor Palestinian Nation;Many are Undecided

• June 24 — Most Favor Criminal ChargesAgainst Bishops in Abuse Cases

• June 18 — Consumer Confidence: Like a Truck in the Mud

• June 17 — Watergate: The Forgotten Scandal?

• June 17 — Few Believe the AdministrationOverstates the Level of Threat

• June 17 — Few Believe the AdministrationOverstates the Level of Threat

• June 13 — Most Would Stub OutCigarette Sales to Teens

• June 11 — Bishops Gather in DallasUnder a Cloud of Disapproval

• June 11 — Consumer Optimismits Lowest Since January

• June 10 — Bush Counter-terrorism PlansWin Broad Public Support

• June 4 — Economy Ratings Reacha Three-Month Low

• June 3 — India-Pakistan Face-offRaises Concern on Two Fronts

May 2002

• May 28 — Confidence Remains Muted

• May 23 — Summer Vacation Spending PlansAre Their Weakest in Eight Years

• May 22 — Bush Visits RussiaAt a Time of Goodwill

• May 21 — Consumers Continue toHold Middle Ground

• May 20 — Concern About Future Terrorism Rises; Criticism of Pre-9/11 Efforts is Muted

• May 14 — Confidence DipsTo Mid-March Level

• May 14 — Large Majority Says 2nd AmendmentGuarantees Right to Gun Ownership

• May 13 — Americans Sharply Spliton Relations With Cuba

• May 7 —Confidence Still Steady After April Drop

• May 7 — Still a Split on Death Penaltyvs. Mandatory Life in Prison

• May 1 — Meeting of the CardinalsFalls Short of Expectations

April 2002

• April 30 — Confidence Stabilizes After Last Week's Fall

• April 30 — Many Know an Alzheimer's Victim, Boosting Support for Research Funding

• April 23 — Confidence Sustains Sharp Hit

• April 23 — ANWR Issue Prompts a Sharp Political Divide

• April 22 — U.S. Cardinals Gather in Rome Amid Still-Growing Disapproval

• April 22 — While Sympathy for Israel Prevails, Support Rises for a Palestinian State

• April 16 — Seven-Month Advance in Optimism Halts

• April 15 — IRS' Image Improves as its Audits Decline

• April 9 — Confidence Holds Stable Amid Rising Fuel Costs

• April 8 — Fewer Americans Sympathizing With Either Side in the Middle East Conflict

• April 2 — Consumer Confidence Steady, Retaining Last Week's Surge

• April 3 — Seven in 10 Catholics See a Church in Crisis

• April 2 — Plurality Now Supports Adoption by Homosexuals

March 2002

• March 26 — Consumer Confidence Jumps; Best in Nearly Six Months

• March 22 — Frodo and Nash: Neck and Neck

• March 19 — Optimism Soars, Signaling Recovery

• March 17 — Assisted Suicide Divides the Public, Even Under the Oregon Rules

• March 12 — Ratings of the Economy Climb to a 5-Month High

• March 12 — Public Supports Mideast Peace Plan by 2-1 Margin

• March 11 — Broad Support for Bush and the War Amid a Sense of Pride and Purpose

• March 7 — Most Favor Lesser Criminal Penalties for Non-Violent & First-Time Offenders

• March 5 — Confidence Steady at Year's High
• March 1 — Church Attendance: Who Goes, How Often?

February 2002

• Feb. 26 — Confidence Advances forSecond Straight Week

• Feb. 26 — Enron Contributions:Not a Big Political Issue

• Feb. 25 — Air Travel Seen as Safer;Public Ready to Pitch In

• Feb. 21 — Child Abuse by Priests Raises Concern; Most Fault Church Officials' Response

• Feb. 19 — Americans' EconomicOutlook is Looking Up

• Feb. 18 — Bronze for Bushas Greatest President

• Feb. 12 — Does the Medal Count Matter?

• Feb. 12 — Confidence Holds Still … Again

• Feb. 7 — Public Assessments of Saudi Arabia:Friendly Nation, Important Relationship

• Feb. 6 — Most Support Gov't PlanFor 9-11 Compensation

• Feb. 6 — Some Basic Views of Gov't Unchanged; Lower Demand for Action on Many Issues

• Feb. 5 — Confidence 2002:New Week, Same Story

• Feb. 1 — On the Lookout for Terrorists?Most Americans Leave it to the Pros

January 2002
• Jan. 29 — Confidence Stays in a Slump

• Jan. 28 — Strong Ratings for Bush and the GOP

• Jan. 24 — Unfamiliarity with Islam Runs High,Giving Rise to Some Skepticism

• Jan. 22 — One in Four SeeBrighter Times Ahead

• Jan. 15 — Greater Trust in Government is Limited to National Security

• Jan. 15 — Confidence Stays Flat

• Jan. 8 — Confidence ExtendsSlump into New Year