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President Bush's Approval Rating Rises Slightly From All-Time Low

  Just Over One-Quarter of U.S. Adults Believe the Country Is Going in the
                              Right Direction

    ROCHESTER, N.Y., June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- After reaching an all-time low
last month, President Bush's job approval rating has risen from 29 percent
in May to 33 percent this month. Two-thirds of U.S. adults have a negative
view of the President's job performance. The view of the direction of the
country has also taken a slight up-tick this month. In May, almost seven in
ten (68%) said the country was going off on the wrong track and 24 percent
felt it was going in the right direction. This month, 28 percent of U.S.
adults believe the country is going in the right direction while 64 percent
believe it is going off on the wrong track.
    These are some of the results from the latest Harris Poll of 1,001 U.S.
adults surveyed by telephone between June 2 and 5, 2006 by Harris
Interactive(R). One thing to keep in mind with regard to these presidential
job approval ratings is that this survey was conducted before the death of
the Iraqi al Qaeda leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. As with the capture of
Saddam Hussein, this may well be beneficial to President Bush's approval
numbers.
    One interesting break we have seen recently is how Republicans and
Conservatives have not been standing by their man, as it were. This month,
two-thirds of Republicans (68%) have a positive view of the president's job
performance which is just about the same as last month when 67 percent felt
this way. When we look at political philosophy, however, we see there is a
change. In May, less than half (46%) had a positive view of the President
Bush's job while this month 55 percent view his job performance in a
positive light.
    Administration ratings
    Vice President Cheney continues to receive positive marks from three in
ten (31%) U.S. adults while two-thirds (65%) view his job performance in a
negative light. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice still receives the
highest performance ratings among all political figures measured in the
poll as 52 percent have a positive view of her job performance as compared
to 43 percent who have a negative view. This is just slightly better than
her ratings in March when 51 percent had a positive view of her job
performance and 44 percent had a negative view. As for Secretary of Defense
Donald Rumsfeld, his positive rating has remained steady (34% now as
compared to 35% in March), while his negative rating has decreased slightly
(61% in March to 60% now).
    US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts' positive job numbers have
remained unchanged since March at 41 percent. His negative job ratings,
however, have increased -- up to 41 percent from 36 percent in March.
    Congressional ratings
    As we get closer to the November mid-term elections, both Democrats and
Republicans have much work to do to repair their image in the public's eye.
Only one-quarter of U.S. adults have a positive view of the job Republicans
in Congress are doing while 26 percent have a positive view of the job
Democrats are doing. Seven in ten U.S. adults view the job Democrats are
doing negatively while 72 percent feel the same about the job the
Republicans in Congress are doing.
    Much of this negativity toward the two parties in Congress is also seen
in the job performance numbers of some of its leaders.
    -- Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has a 23 percent positive
       approval rating and a 55 percent negative rating. In March, he had a
       positive rating of 21 percent and the same negative rating of 55
       percent.

    -- Things aren't much better for Democratic Senate Minority Leader Harry
       Reid as about one in five adults (19%) gives him a positive job
       approval rating while over half (54%) view his job performance
       negatively. This is virtually unchanged from March when 19 percent had
       a positive view of his job performance and 53 percent had a negative
       view.

    -- In the House, Republican Speaker Dennis Hastert has seen a slight
       decrease in his approval ratings. This month they are at 24 percent
       positive, down from 26 percent in March, while his negative job rating
       is at 56 percent, up from 49 percent.

    -- Republican House Majority Leader John Boehner may still be relatively
       new to the job, but he is viewed in the same vein as the other leaders
       as only 22 percent of U.S. adults view his job performance positively
       while 51 percent view it in a negative light. In March, the first time
       he was rated, his job approval was 23 percent positive and 50 percent
       negative.

    Important issues
    Again this month, the most important issue for the government to
address according to the American public is the war in Iraq, as 27 percent
of U.S. adults believe it is the most important issue to address as
compared to last month when 28 percent felt this way. Immigration is next,
as one in five adults (20%) feel this is the most important issue for the
government to address. The economy is next followed by health care (14% and
12% respectively).
                                   TABLE 1
    CURRENT RATINGS OF PRESIDENT, SENIOR CABINET MEMBERS AND PARTIES IN
CONGRESS "How would you rate the job (READ ITEM) are/is doing - excellent,
pretty good,
                             only fair, or poor?"

    Base: All Adults

                      Excellent  Pretty  Only  Poor  Not  Positive* Negative**
                                 Good    Fair        Sure

    Secretary of
     State
     Condoleezza    %    18       35      27    16    5      52       43
     Rice
    President
     George W.
     Bush           %    10       23      22    45    1      33       67
    Secretary of
     Defense
     Donald
     Rumsfeld       %    10       24      22    38    5      34       60
    Vice
     President
     Dick
     Cheney         %     9       22      24    41    3      31       65
    Chief Justice
     John
     Roberts        %     9       32      30    11   18      41       41
    Deputy White
     House
     Chief of
     Staff Karl
     Rove           %     5       20      33    26   15      25       59
    Democrats
     in Congress    %     3       23      42    28    4      26       70
    Republicans
     in Congress    %     4       21      38    34    3      25       72
    Senate Minority
     Leader
     Harry Reid     %     1       18      35    19   27      19       54
    Senate Majority
     Leader
     Bill Frist     %     3       20      34    21   22      23       55
    House Speaker
     Dennis
     Hastert        %     3       21      39    17   20      24       56
    House Majority
     Leader John
     Boehner        %     2       20      37    14   28      22       51

    *   Positive = excellent or pretty good.
    **  Negative = only fair or poor
    *** Less than 0.5%.



                                   TABLE 2
               POSITIVE RATINGS: TRENDS SINCE 9/11/01: SUMMARY

    Base: All Adults

                          Soon
    POSITIVE RATINGS      After  Feb.   April  Aug.  Dec.  Feb.  April  Nov.
                          9/11   2003   2003   2003  2003  2004  2004   2004
    President George
     W. Bush          %    88    52      70     57    50    51    48     50
    Vice President
     Dick Cheney      %    69    45      55     42    42    41    36     48
    Secretary of
     State
     Condoleezza Rice %    **    **      **     **    **    **    **     **
    Secretary of
     Defense Donald
     Rumsfeld         %    78    56      71     55    57    50    45     47


    POSITIVE RATINGS      Feb.  April  June   Aug.   Nov.   Mar.   June
                          2005  2005   2005   2005   2005   2006   2006
    President George
     W. Bush          %    48    44      45     40    34    36      33
    Vice President
     Dick Cheney      %    45    37      38     35    30    30      31
    Secretary of
     State
     Condoleezza Rice %    52    54      52     57    52    51      52
    Secretary of
     Defense Donald
     Rumsfeld         %    42    42      42     40    34    35      34

    ** N/A



                                   TABLE 3
                     PRESIDENT BUSH'S OVERALL JOB RATING
                            (Not Sure's Excluded)
   "How would you rate the overall job President George W. Bush is doing as
           president - excellent, pretty good, only fair, or poor?"

    Base: All Adults


              TREND                             Positive*     Negative**

    2006      June                       %          33             67
              May                        %          29             71
              April                      %          35             63
              March                      %          36             64
              February                   %          40             58
              January                    %          43             56
    2005      November                   %          34             65
              August                     %          40             58
              June                       %          45             55
              April                      %          44             56
              February                   %          48             51
    2004      November                   %          50             49
              October                    %          51             49
              September                  %          45             54
              August                     %          48             51
              June                       %          50             49
              April                      %          48             51
              February                   %          51             48
    2003      December                   %          50             49
              October                    %          59             40
              August                     %          57             41
              June                       %          61             36
              April                      %          70             29
              February                   %          52             46
    2002      December                   %          64             35
              November                   %          65             33
              October                    %          64             35
              September                  %          68             30
              August                     %          63             37
              July                       %          62             37
              June                       %          70             28
              May                        %          74             25
              April                      %          75             23
              March                      %          77             22
              February                   %          79             20
              January                    %          79             19
    2001      December                   %          82             17
              November                   %          86             12
              October                    %          88             11
              August                     %          52             43
              July                       %          56             39
              June                       %          50             46
              May                        %          59             35
              March                      %          49             38
              February                   %          56             26

    * Positive = excellent or pretty good.
    ** Negative = only fair or poor.



                                   TABLE 4
                      PRESIDENT JOB RATING - BY PARTY ID
                              (Positive Ratings)
   "How would you rate the overall job President George W. Bush is doing as
                                 president?"

    Base: All Adults

                            Party ID
             Total   Republican     Independent    Democrat
               %          %               %             %
    June      33         68              27            14
    May       29         67              19            10

    * Positive = excellent or pretty good.



                                   TABLE 5
                PRESIDENT JOB RATING - BY POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
                              (Positive Ratings)
   "How would you rate the overall job President George W. Bush is doing as
                                 president?"
    Base: All Adults

                               Political Philosophy
             Total   Conservative      Moderate        Liberal
               %          %                %             %
    June      33         55               28            13
    May       29         46               24            10

    *  Positive = excellent or pretty good.
    ** Negative = only fair or poor.



                                   TABLE 6
                    RATINGS OF VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY
                            (Not Sure's Excluded)
 "And how would you rate the job Vice President Cheney is doing - excellent,
                       pretty good, only fair or poor?"

    Base: All Adults

            TREND                               Positive*     Negative**

    2006    June                            %       31           65
            March                           %       30           67
    2005    November                        %       30           65
            August                          %       35           60
            June                            %       38           56
            April                           %       37           60
            February                        %       45           52
    2004    November                        %       48           50
            October                         %       47           51
            September                       %       40           54
            August                          %       40           54
            June                            %       42           49
            April                           %       36           52
            February                        %       41           48
    2003    December                        %       42           47
            October                         %       42           44
            August                          %       42           45
            June                            %       49           40
            April                           %       55           36
            February                        %       45           44
    2002    December                        %       50           37
            November                        %       52           39
            October                         %       54           37
            September                       %       52           37
            August                          %       45           43
            July                            %       46           41
            June                            %       55           34
            May                             %       55           33
            April                           %       55           31
            March                           %       59           29
            February                        %       57           31
            January                         %       55           31
    2001    October                         %       69           20
            July                            %       39           52

    *  Positive = excellent or pretty good.
    ** Negative = only fair or poor.



                                   TABLE 7
                RATINGS OF SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE
                            (Not Sure's Excluded)
"And how would you rate the job Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is doing -
                 excellent, pretty good, only fair or poor?"

    Base: All Adults

             TREND                                Positive*     Negative**

    2006     June                           %         52           43
             March                          %         51           44
    2005     November                       %         52           41
             August                         %         57           37
             June                           %         52           41
             April                          %         54           39
             February                       %         52           40

    *  Positive = excellent or pretty good.
    ** Negative = only fair or poor.



                                   TABLE 8
               RATINGS OF SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DONALD RUMSFELD
                            (Not Sure's Excluded)
"And how would you rate the job Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is doing
                - excellent, pretty good, only fair or poor?"

    Base: All Adults

           TREND                                 Positive*      Negative**

    2006   June                            %         34            60
           March                           %         35            61
    2005   November                        %         34            59
           August                          %         40            58
           June                            %         42            53
           April                           %         42            56
           February                        %         42            56
    2004   November                        %         47            50
           October                         %         46            50
           September                       %         43            50
           August                          %         45            49
           June                            %         47            47
           April                           %         45            47
           February                        %         50            43
    2003   December                        %         57            38
           October                         %         47            44
           August                          %         55            36
           June                            %         60            32
           April                           %         71            22
           February                        %         56            35
    2002   December                        %         59            30
           November                        %         59            30
           October                         %         60            30
           September                       %         61            27
           August                          %         60            29
           July                            %         56            33
           June                            %         65            24
           May                             %         67            22
           April                           %         70            18
           March                           %         71            18
           February                        %         70            17
           January                         %         77            16
    2001   December                        %         75            14
           October                         %         78            12

    *  Positive = excellent or pretty good.
    ** Negative = only fair or poor.



                                   TABLE 9
                   RATINGS OF HOUSE SPEAKER DENNIS HASTERT
                            (Not Sure's Excluded)
   "And how would you rate the job House Speaker Dennis Hastert is doing -
                 excellent, pretty good, only fair or poor?"

    Base: All Adults

            TREND                                 Positive*     Negative**

    2006    June                            %         24           56
            March                           %         26           49
    2005    November                        %         22           50
            August                          %         26           46
            June                            %         28           44
            April                           %         30           50
    2004    September                       %         29           33
            August                          %         29           33
            June                            %         29           32
            April                           %         25           35
            February                        %         26           35
    2003    December                        %         24           30
            October                         %         29           35
            August                          %         29           36
            June                            %         34           31
            April                           %         41           29
            February                        %         33           34
    2002    December                        %         26           33
            November                        %         30           31
            October                         %         30           29
            September                       %         35           29
            August                          %         29           35
            July                            %         28           36
            June                            %         34           31
            May                             %         33           25
            April                           %         32           26
            March                           %         33           25
            February                        %         37           25
            January                         %         40           24
    2001    October (high)                  %         52           16
            August (low)                    %         27           29
    2000    August (high)                   %         29           28
            July (low)                      %         23           31
    1999    October (low)                   %         25           34
            April (high)                    %         36           39

    *  Positive = excellent or pretty good.
    ** Negative = only fair or poor.



                                   TABLE 10
                 RATINGS OF SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BILL FRIST
                            (Not Sure's Excluded)
 "And how would you rate the job Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is doing -
                 excellent, pretty good, only fair or poor?"

    Base: All Adults

            TREND                                Positive*      Negative**

    2006    June                            %        23            55
            March                           %        21            55
    2005    November                        %        23            52
            August                          %        28            49
            June                            %        28            47
            April                           %        32            51
    2004    September                       %        27            40
            August                          %        28            38
            June                            %        30            36
            April                           %        26            36
            February                        %        31            36
    2003    December                        %        27            38
            October                         %        29            34
            August                          %        32            35
            June                            %        38            32
            April                           %        39            29
            February                        %        37            30

    *  Positive = excellent or pretty good.
    ** Negative = only fair or poor



                                   TABLE 11
                 RATINGS OF SENATE MINORITY LEADER HARRY REID
                            (Not Sure's Excluded)
 "And how would you rate the job Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid is doing -
                 excellent, pretty good, only fair or poor?"

    Base: All Adults

            TREND                                Positive*      Negative**

    2006    June                            %       19            54
            March                           %       19            53
    2005    August                          %       24            47



                                   TABLE 12
                RATINGS OF HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER JOHN BOEHNER
                            (Not Sure's Excluded)
"And how would you rate the job House Majority Leader John Boehner is doing -
                 excellent, pretty good, only fair or poor?"

    Base: All Adults

            TREND                                Positive*      Negative**

    2006    June                            %        22            51
            March                           %        23            50



                                   TABLE 13
             RATINGS OF SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS
                            (Not Sure's Excluded)
"And how would you rate the job US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is
             doing - excellent, pretty good, only fair or poor?"

    Base: All Adults

            TREND                                Positive*      Negative**

    2006    June                            %        41            41
            March                           %        41            36



                                   TABLE 14
                      RATINGS OF REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS
                            (Not Sure's Excluded)
"And how would you rate the job Republicans in Congress are doing - excellent,
                       pretty good, only fair or poor?"

    Base: All Adults

           TREND                                 Positive*     Negative**

    2006   June                           %          25             72
           May                            %          20             76
           March                          %          27             68
    2005   November                       %          27             69
           August                         %          32             64
           June                           %          37             58
           April                          %          36             61
    2004   September                      %          38             56
           August                         %          40             54
           June                           %          39             53
           April                          %          35             55
           February                       %          40             52
    2003   December                       %          37             51
           October                        %          40             50
           August                         %          41             51
           June                           %          45             47
           April                          %          52             41
           February                       %          43             49
    2002   December                       %          47             47
           November                       %          47             45
           October                        %          46             45
           September                      %          47             42
           August                         %          41             49
           July                           %          39             52
           June                           %          46             45
           May                            %          48             44
           April                          %          49             39
           March                          %          50             41
           February                       %          50             40
           January                        %          58             34
    2001   October (high)                 %          67             24
           August (low)                   %          37             52
    2000   May  (low)                     %          33             60
           February (high)                %          38             55
    1999   October (low)                  %          32             58
           September (high)               %          39             55
    1998   June (low)                     %          31             62
           February (high)                %          44             53
    1997   June (low)                     %          31             67
           February (high)                %          38             58
    1996   May (low)                      %          29             69
           January (high)                 %          33             66
    1995   November (low)                 %          35             63
           April (high)                   %          42             56

    * Positive = excellent or pretty good.
    ** Negative = only fair or poor.



                                   TABLE 15
                       RATINGS OF DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS
                            (Not Sure's Excluded)
 "And how would you rate the job Democrats in Congress are doing - excellent,
                       pretty good, only fair or poor?"

    Base: All Adults

            TREND                                Positive*     Negative**

    2006    June                           %         26           70
            May                            %         23           72
            March                          %         24           70
    2005    November                       %         25           70
            August                         %         31           65
            June                           %         33           61
            April                          %         34           64
    2004    September                      %         34           60
            August                         %         35           58
            June                           %         31           59
            April                          %         32           57
            February                       %         33           58
    2003    December                       %         28           61
            October                        %         34           56
            August                         %         30           60
            June                           %         41           51
            April                          %         39           52
            February                       %         38           54
    2002    December                       %         36           55
            November                       %         40           52
            October                        %         40           52
            September                      %         42           49
            August`                        %         38           54
            July                           %         41           49
            June                           %         45           46
            May                            %         45           45
            April                          %         47           42
            March                          %         48           43
            February                       %         49           41
            January                        %         52           40
    2001    October (high)                 %         68           24
            May (low)                      %         40           51
    2000    September (high)               %         48           44
            June (low)                     %         38           52
    1999    October (low)                  %         42           50
            January (high)                 %         50           47
    1998    September (high)               %         49           47
            June (low)                     %         41           53
    1997    June (low)                     %         36           60
            February (high)                %         43           54
    1996    May (high)                     %         36           62
            January (low)                  %         31           68
    1995    November (high)                %         34           64
            July (low)                     %         30           66
    1994    December                       %         28           70

    *  Positive = excellent or pretty good.
    ** Negative = only fair or poor.



                                   TABLE 16
                        RIGHT DIRECTION OR WRONG TRACK
         (No Opinion's, Not Sure's and Decline to Answer's Excluded)
    "Generally speaking, would you say things in the country are going in
the right direction or have they pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong
track?"
    Base: All Adults

            TREND                                Right           Wrong
                                                 Direction       Track

    2006    June                           %         28           64
            May                            %         24           69
            April                          %         27           65
            March                          %         31           60
            February                       %         32           59
            January                        %         33           54
    2005    November                       %         27           68
            August                         %         37           59
            June                           %         38           55
            January                        %         46           48
    2004    September                      %         38           57
            June                           %         35           59
    2003    December                       %         35           57
            June                           %         44           51
    2002    December                       %         36           57
            June                           %         46           48
    2001    December                       %         65           32
            June                           %         43           52
            January                        %         46           39
    2000    October                        %         50           41
            June                           %         40           51
            January                        %         50           38
    1999    June                           %         37           55
            March                          %         47           45
    1998    December                       %         43           51
            June                           %         48           44
    1997    December                       %         39           56
            April                          %         36           55
    1996    December                       %         38           50
            June                           %         29           64
    1995    December                       %         26           62
            June                           %         24           65
    1994    December                       %         29           63
            June                           %         28           65



                                   TABLE 17
               MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FOR GOVERNMENT to address
                      (Spontaneous, Unprompted Replies)
  "What do you think are the two most important issues for the government to
                                  address?"

    Base: All Adults

                                 '95   '96  '97  '98  '99  '00  '01  '02  '03
                                 Feb  April May  Jan  Feb  Aug  Dec  Dec  Jun
                                   %    %    %    %    %    %     %    %    %
    (The) war                      X    X    X    X    X    X    12   18    8
    Immigration                    2    2    2    1    *    1     1    1    2
    The economy (non-specific)     7   14    8    9    7    5    32   34   25
    Healthcare (not Medicare)     25   16   10   11   12   15     5   10   14
    Gas and oil prices             X    X    X    X    X    X     X    X    1
    Iraq / (Saddam Hussein)        *    *    *    *    1    -     -   11    3
    Education                     10   14   15   14   21   25    12   11   13
    Employment/jobs               10    9    5    3    4    4     7    8    8
    Social security                x    X    6    6   24   16     3    2    4
    Budget/Government spending     X    X    X    X    X    X     X    X    X
    Taxes                         12   11   14   16   12   13     6    5   11
    Terrorism                      X    X    X    X    X    X    22   17   11
    (Programs for) the poor/
     poverty                      10    2    3    2    2    3     1    2    3
    Energy                         X    X    X    X    X    X     X    X    1
    Military/defense               1    1    2    2    2    4     4    1    5
    Environment                    1    1    3    2    3    3     1    3    2
    Domestic/social issues
     (non-specific)                4    4    2    3    2    2     2    2    1
    Inflation                      X    X    X    X    X    X     X    X    X
    Homeland/domestic
     security/public safety        X    X    X    X    X    X     8    9    3
    National security              X    X    X    X    2    2     6    3    6
    Crime/violence                21   16   19   13    8   10     1    2    3
    Foreign policy (non-specific)  2    3    3    5    4    3     2    4    2
    Same sex marriage/rights       X    X    X    X    X    X     X    X    X
    Medicare                       X    3    4    5    5    6     1    1    4
    Human/civil/women's rights     1    2    2    1    *    1     1    1    *
    Religion (decline of)          1    *    *    1    *    1     2    1    1
    Homelessness                   -    3    4    4    3    3     2    2    1
    Ethics in government           *    *    *    *    *    *     1    1    1
    Drugs                          3    4    8    6    2    5     2    3    3
    Abortion                       3    4    2    2    2    6     1    1    1
    Welfare                       16   13   14    8    4    2     1    1    3
    Peace/world peace/nuclear
     arms                          1    3    1    3    3    1     2    2    3
    Honesty/Integrity/Moral
     Values                        X    X    X    X    X    X     X    X    X
    School safety                  X    X    X    X    X    X     X    X    2
    Downsizing government          X    X    X    X    X    1     *    X    X
    Disaster relief/Hurricane
     Relief                        x    x    x    x    x    X     X    x    x
    Family values (decline of)     2    2    2    1    2    1     *    *    1
    Judicial/Legal Issues          X    X    X    X    X    X     X    X    X
    Medical research               X    X    X    X    X    X     X    X    2
    Middle East peace process
     between Palestinians and
     Israel                        X    X    X    X    X    X     2    2    2
    Anthrax/Biological attack      -    -    -    -    -    -     1    1    1
    CIA leak                       x    x    x    x    x    X     X    x    x
    FEMA                           x    x    x    x    x    X     X    x    x
    Election/Voter reform          X    X    X    X    X    X     X    1    1
    Federal budget
     surplus/deficit              22   22   20   12    5    4     1    1    4
    Bush/president                 x    x    x    x    x    X     X    x    x
    Other(1)                       7    7    8   19    2   19     3    8    8
    Not sure/refused/no issue      7    7    9   12   16   18    11   10   12

                                 '04  '05  '06  '06  '06  '06   '06   '06
                                 Oct  Aug  Jan  Feb  Mar  April  May  June
                                  %    %    %    %    %     %     %    %
    (The) war                     35   41   26   27   21   23    28   27
    Immigration                    2    3    4    5    4   19    16   20
    The economy (non-specific)    28   19   17   15   15   12    13   14
    Healthcare (not Medicare)     18   11   11   20   16   13     8   12
    Gas and oil prices             1   10    2    2    5    3    14    8
    Iraq / (Saddam Hussein)        9    6    7    5    7    7     7    8
    Education                      7    8    6    8    7   10     5    7
    Employment/jobs               10    3    7    5    8    6     5    7
    Social security                4   10    6    7    7    5     4    5
    Budget/Government spending     X    X    X    X    X    X     3    5
    Taxes                          8    5    7    6    5    5     5    4
    Terrorism                      7    7    4    6    6    3     3    4
    (Programs for) the poor/
     poverty                       *    4    3    5    4    4     3    4
    Energy                         1    4    3    4    3    3     x    4
    Military/defense               3    1    4    3    3    2     1    4
    Environment                    1    3    1    2    1    1     2    3
    Domestic/social issues
     (non-specific)                2    2    1    *    2    *     1    3
    Inflation                      X    1    1    1    1    1     2    2
    Homeland/domestic security/
     public safety                 6    2    2    3    4    3     3    2
    National security              5    2    2    2    3    2     3    2
    Crime/violence                 1    3    2    1    1    3     2    2
    Foreign policy
     (non-specific)                3    2    3    3    3    3     4    2
    Same sex marriage/rights       1    1    1    *    *    1     *    2
    Medicare                       3    2    3    5    3    3     2    1
    Human/civil/women's rights     1    1    1    1    *    1     2    1
    Religion (decline of)          1    *    1    *    1    1     2    1
    Homelessness                   *    1    4    1    1    2     2    1
    Ethics in government           1    1    1    1    X    1     2    1
    Drugs                          *    2    2    1    1    2     2    1
    Abortion                       4    2    2    1    2    1     2    1
    Welfare                        *    3    2    1    1    2     1    1
    Peace/world peace/nuclear
     arms                          *    1    2    1    2    1     1    1
    Honesty/Integrity/Moral
     Values                        2    2    *    *    1    1     *    1
    School safety                  *    1    *    1    *    *     *    1
    Downsizing government          1    *    1    *    1    1     *    1
    Disaster relief/Hurricane
     Relief                        X    x    1    1    2    *     *    1
    Family values (decline of)     1    1    *    *    *    *     *    1
    Judicial/Legal Issues          *    2    *    1    1    *     *    1
    Medical research               2    1    1    2    1    1     1    *
    Middle East peace process
     between Palestinians
     and Israel                    *    1    *    1    1    2     1    *
    Anthrax/Biological attack      X    *    *    X    *    *     *    *
    CIA leak                       X    x    X    X    *    1     *    *
    FEMA                           X    x    *    *    X    *     *    *
    Election/Voter reform          *    1    1    1    *    *     *    *
    Federal budget surplus/
     deficit                       2    2    4    2    3    3     X    X
    Bush/president                 X    x    1    1    1    *     1    X
    Other(1)                       8    1    3    5    4    4     6    6
    Not sure/refused/no issue      9    8    6    6    8    4     4    6

    * = Less than 0.5%.
    X = Not mentioned as specific issue.
    1. Including government/politics (nonspecific), personal finance, housing,
       Supreme Court, air travel safety, Democrats, Republicans, corporate
       scandals/fraud, and programs for the elderly (not Medicare/Social
       Security)

    Methodology
    The Harris Poll(R) was conducted by telephone within the United States
between June 2 and 5, 2006 among a nationwide cross section of 1,001 adults
(aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race, education, and region were
weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the
population.
    All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include:
sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed);
measurement error due to question wording and/or question order,
deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse
(including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used)
and weighting.
    With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that
result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a
finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should
be avoided.
    With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is
possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not
other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure
probability sample of 1,001 adults one could say with a ninety-five percent
probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/-3
percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into
account.
    These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the
National Council on Public Polls.
    J27216
    QA1, QA2, QA3

    The Harris Poll(R) 48, June 9, 2006
    By Regina Corso, Research Director, Issues and Industry Research Group,
Harris Interactive(R)
    About Harris Interactive
    Harris Interactive is the 13th largest and fastest-growing market
research firm in the world. The company provides research-driven insights
and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions
which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris
Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest
running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market
research methods. The company has built what could conceivably be the
world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris
Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and
Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a
global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau,
HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data
collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking
research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be
obtained at http://www.harrisinteractive.com. To become a member of the
Harris Poll Online, visit http://www.harrispollonline.com.
    Press Contact:
    Jennifer Cummings
    Harris Interactive
    585-214-7720


SOURCE Harris Interactive




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    CONTACT:
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    +1-585-214-7720