Portraits of American Life Study | Results & Summaries

Political Participation

PAWT2

These next several questions are about your political views and activities. When it comes to politics, do you usually think of yourself as: (PO_1)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	4	.2
-4) Don't know	19	.7
1) Very liberal	168	6.4
2) Somewhat liberal	379	14.5
3) Middle of the road	632	24.2
4) Somewhat conservative	504	19.3
5) Very conservative	225	8.6
6) Haven't thought much about it	676	25.9
Missing	2
TOTAL	2607	100.0

[ Analyze results ]

Political party combined (PO_PARTY)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	15	.6
-4) Don't know	37	1.4
1) Strong democrat	386	14.8
2) Not strong democrat	546	20.9
3) Lean democrat	357	13.7
4) Neither	368	14.1
5) Lean republican	217	8.3
6) Not strong republican	404	15.5
7) Strong republican	278	10.7
Missing	2
TOTAL	2608	100.0

[ Analyze results ]

Did you vote in the last presidential election, that is, in 2004? (PO_4)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	2	.1
-4) Don't know	1	0
1) Yes	1690	64.8
2) No	914	35.1
Missing	2
TOTAL	2607	100.0

[ Analyze results ]

[IF PO_4=2, DK, or RF SKIP TO PO_6] Did you vote for George W. Bush, John Kerry, or someone else? (PO_5)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	37	2.2
-4) Don't know	4	.2
1) Bush	851	50.3
2) Kerry	725	42.9
3) Someone else	74	4.4
Missing	920
TOTAL	1691	100.0

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In politics, do you usually think of yourself as a Democrat, a Republican, or an Independent? (PO_6)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	29	1.1
-4) Don't know	64	2.5
1) Democrat	933	35.8
2) Republican	681	26.1
3) Independent	782	30
4) Other	118	4.5
Missing	2
TOTAL	2607	100.0

[ Analyze results ]

[IF PO_6=2,SKIP TO PO_8. IF PO_6= 3, 4 OR DK, RF, SKIP TO PO_9] Are you a strong Democrat or a not so strong Democrat? (PO_7)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	1	.1
-4) Don't know	4	.4
1) Strong	386	41.4
2) Not so strong	541	58
Missing	1677
TOTAL	932	100.0

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[If PO_7=1,2,DK,RF, go to PO_10] Are you a strong Republican or a not so strong Republican? (PO_8)

	TOTAL	%
-4) Don't know	5	.7
1) Strong	278	40.8
2) Not so strong	399	58.5
Missing	1929
TOTAL	682	100.0

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[IF PO_8=1,2,DK/RF, GO TO PO_10] Do you lean toward the Democrats, or toward the Republicans? (PO_9)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	15	1.5
-4) Don't know	37	3.7
1) Lean democratic	357	35.9
2) Lean republican	217	21.8
3) Neither	368	37
Missing	1617
TOTAL	994	100.0

[ Analyze results ]

Do you support or oppose conservative Christian groups active in politics, such as the Christian Coalition, American Family Association, or Focus on the Family? (PO_10)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	8	.3
-4) Don't know	56	2.1
1) Strongly oppose	375	14.4
2) Somewhat oppose	295	11.3
3) Neither support or oppose	1134	43.5
4) Somewhat support	503	19.3
5) Strongly support	237	9.1
Missing	2
TOTAL	2608	100.0

[ Analyze results ]

Here is a list of political activities. Have you done any of these in the past twelve months? Attended a political meeting or rally (PO_ATT)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	1	0
0) No	2383	91.3
1) Yes	226	8.7
TOTAL	2610	100.0

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Here is a list of political activities. Have you done any of these in the past twelve months? Contacted a public official (PO_CNTCT)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	1	0
0) No	2116	81.1
1) Yes	493	18.9
TOTAL	2610	100.0

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Here is a list of political activities. Have you done any of these in the past twelve months? Participated in a demonstration or protest (PO_DEMON)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	1	0
0) No	2514	96.3
1) Yes	95	3.6
TOTAL	2610	100.0

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Here is a list of political activities. Have you done any of these in the past twelve months? Gave money to a political party, group, or candidate (PO_GAVE)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	1	0
0) No	2262	86.7
1) Yes	347	13.3
TOTAL	2610	100.0

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Here is a list of political activities. Have you done any of these in the past twelve months? None (PO_NONE)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	1	0
0) No	1328	50.9
1) Yes	1281	49.1
TOTAL	2610	100.0

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Here is a list of political activities. Have you done any of these in the past twelve months? Attempted to persuade someone to vote for a particular candidate or party (PO_PERSU)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	1	0
0) No	2065	79.1
1) Yes	544	20.8
TOTAL	2610	100.0

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Here is a list of political activities. Have you done any of these in the past twelve months? Signed a petition (PO_SIGN)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	1	0
0) No	1654	63.4
1) Yes	955	36.6
TOTAL	2610	100.0

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Here is a list of political activities. Have you done any of these in the past twelve months? Worked for a political candidate or party (PO_WORK)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	1	0
0) No	2489	95.4
1) Yes	120	4.6
TOTAL	2610	100.0

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Here is a list of political activities. Have you done any of these in the past twelve months? Worked for a religious organization that is primarily involved in political issues or causes (PO_WRKRL)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	1	0
0) No	2520	96.6
1) Yes	89	3.4
TOTAL	2610	100.0

[ Analyze results ]

Number of types of political activities in the past twelve months (PO_NUMBR)

	TOTAL	%
-7) Refused	1	0
0) 0	1283	49.2
1) 1	584	22.4
2) 2	335	12.8
3) 3	192	7.4
4) 4	115	4.4
5) 5	51	2
6) 6	25	1
7) 7	18	.7
8) 8	6	.2
TOTAL	2610	100.0