Rasmussen Reports
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Survey of 1,000 Adults

Conducted September 20-21, 2006

Daily Snapshot

September 20 - 21, 2006  How closely have you followed news stories about the Pope's recent comments?                 How closely have you followed news stories about the Pope's recent comments?      
Gender 3 Party < 40 > Investors Marital Status Race Age Income
▼ Response ▼ TOTAL Men Women GOP Dem Other < Men Men 40+ < Wom  Wom 40+ Inv Non Married Not married White Black Other 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65+ < 20k 20k-40k 40-60k 60k-75k 75k-100k 100k>
Very closely 27% 32% 22% 29% 28% 23% 22% 35% 32% 20% 31% 22% 28% 25% 28% 21% 25% 27% 18% 27% 32% 30% 26% 24% 28% 31% 24% 40%
Somewhat closely 34% 35% 32% 35% 31% 35% 40% 34% 9% 37% 38% 29% 37% 28% 31% 40% 44% 25% 36% 34% 35% 39% 24% 35% 34% 33% 45% 34%
Not very closely 23% 19% 26% 23% 23% 23% 22% 19% 32% 25% 21% 24% 23% 22% 25% 14% 17% 27% 31% 18% 19% 19% 24% 23% 25% 17% 27% 16%
Not at all 15% 11% 18% 12% 15% 17% 17% 10% 26% 16% 8% 21% 10% 23% 15% 21% 7% 21% 15% 18% 11% 8% 21% 16% 11% 18% 4% 9%
                                                       
September 20 - 21, 2006  Should the Pope apologize for the comments he made?                      Should the Pope apologize for the comments he made?          
Gender 3 Party < 40 > Investors Marital Status Race Age Income
▼ Response ▼ TOTAL Men Women GOP Dem Other < Men Men 40+ < Wom  Wom 40+ Inv Non Married Not married White Black Other 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65+ < 20k 20k-40k 40-60k 60k-75k 75k-100k 100k>
Yes 25% 24% 27% 13% 36% 25% 21% 24% 26% 27% 27% 23% 23% 30% 24% 28% 32% 23% 25% 25% 25% 30% 31% 23% 22% 21% 24% 39%
No 48% 57% 40% 67% 31% 50% 54% 58% 34% 41% 56% 40% 55% 36% 52% 31% 44% 44% 51% 52% 52% 41% 34% 50% 55% 59% 52% 52%
                                                       
September 20 - 21, 2006  Which is the more important value…free speech or preventing comments that might be offensive?              Which is the more important value…free speech or preventing comments that might be offensive?  
Gender 3 Party < 40 > Investors Marital Status Race Age Income
▼ Response ▼ TOTAL Men Women GOP Dem Other < Men Men 40+ < Wom  Wom 40+ Inv Non Married Not married White Black Other 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65+ < 20k 20k-40k 40-60k 60k-75k 75k-100k 100k>
Free speech 77% 79% 74% 74% 74% 83% 74% 81% 92% 70% 81% 73% 78% 74% 80% 64% 69% 83% 82% 82% 74% 62% 69% 70% 79% 82% 90% 89%
Preventing offensive comments 15% 14% 15% 15% 16% 12% 21% 13% 5% 17% 13% 17% 14% 17% 13% 19% 21% 13% 13% 13% 16% 18% 19% 20% 12% 16% 7% 4%
                                                       
September 20 - 21, 2006  Do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable opinion of Pope Benedict XVI?        Do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable opinion of Pope Benedict XVI?
Gender 3 Party < 40 > Investors Marital Status Race Age Income
▼ Response ▼ TOTAL Men Women GOP Dem Other < Men Men 40+ < Wom  Wom 40+ Inv Non Married Not married White Black Other 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65+ < 20k 20k-40k 40-60k 60k-75k 75k-100k 100k>
Very favorable 19% 21% 17% 23% 15% 18% 20% 21% 21% 15% 21% 16% 20% 17% 19% 12% 19% 21% 16% 19% 20% 16% 19% 16% 20% 21% 17% 22%
Somewhat favorable 35% 38% 33% 40% 32% 33% 30% 39% 25% 34% 39% 31% 38% 30% 35% 34% 38% 28% 35% 33% 38% 41% 27% 41% 37% 40% 34% 31%
Somewhat favorable 17% 20% 15% 12% 21% 19% 35% 16% 24% 13% 17% 18% 15% 22% 18% 15% 19% 30% 16% 14% 13% 16% 19% 16% 15% 11% 29% 24%
Very unfavorable 5% 4% 5% 4% 6% 3% 5% 3% 6% 5% 3% 6% 4% 5% 5% 4% 3% 5% 5% 4% 5% 3% 4% 7% 2% 5% 2% 3%
                                                       
September 20 - 21, 2006  Do public figures have a responsibility not to make offensive comments when they speak public ally?              Do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable opinion of Pope Benedict XVI?
Gender 3 Party < 40 > Investors Marital Status Race Age Income
▼ Response ▼ TOTAL Men Women GOP Dem Other < Men Men 40+ < Wom  Wom 40+ Inv Non Married Not married White Black Other 18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 65+ < 20k 20k-40k 40-60k 60k-75k 75k-100k 100k>
Yes 53% 43% 62% 52% 56% 50% 38% 44% 78% 58% 52% 54% 51% 57% 53% 52% 54% 58% 53% 52% 50% 51% 62% 55% 49% 51% 47% 48%
No 33% 46% 22% 38% 27% 36% 58% 43% 18% 23% 37% 29% 36% 28% 35% 23% 32% 38% 41% 34% 31% 23% 20% 35% 35% 39% 44% 44%