MONTANA SURVEY of 1,000 likely voters

Thursday, May 11, 2006

1* In the election for the United States Senate, suppose that Republicans nominate Conrad Burns and Democrats nominate Jon Tester. If the election were held today, would you vote for Republican Conrad Burns or for Democrat Jon Tester?

44% Burns

48% Tester

2% some other candidate

5% not sure

2* Okay… what if the Democrats nominate John Morrison? If the election were held today, would you vote for Republican Conrad Burns or for Democrat John Morrison?

45% Burns

49% Morrison

2% some other candidate

4% not sure

3* Okay… Suppose that the Republicans nominate Bob Keenan and you have a choice between Republican Bob Keenan and Democrat Jon Tester. If the election were held today, would you vote for Republican Bob Keenan or Democrat Jon Tester?

43% Keenan

42% Tester

5% some other candidate

10% not sure

4* Okay… what if the Democrats nominate John Morrison? If the election were held today, would you vote for Republican Bob Keenan or for Democrat John Morrison?

41% Keenan

43% Morrison

6% some other candidate

10% not sure

5* Do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable impression of:

	Burns	Morrison	Tester	Keenan
Very favorable	24%	15%	17%	11%
Somewhat favorable	27%	41%	37%	40%
Somewhat unfavorable	15%	24%	20%	22%
Very unfavorable	31%	8%	10%	9%
Not sure	3%	12%	16%	18%

6* I’m going to read you a short list of issues. For each, please let me know which political party you trust more to handle that issue. First, the economy. Which political party do you trust more on the handling of the economy—Republicans or Democrats?

49% Republicans

42% Democrats

9% not sure

7* Next… national security… Which political party do you trust more on National Security—Republicans or Democrats?

53% Republicans

38% Democrats

9% not sure

8* Okay… energy policy… Which political party do you trust more on energy policy?

39% Republicans

48% Democrats

12% not sure

9* Fine… immigration… Which political party do you trust more on the immigration issue?

44% Republicans

34% Democrats

22% not sure

10* Next… the War in Iraq… Which political party do you trust more on the War in Iraq?

46% Republicans

42% Democrats

13% not sure

11* Next… I’d like you to rate the way that President Bush has handled key issues… First, the economy… Overall, how would you rate the way that President Bush has handled the economy…Excellent, good, fair, or poor?

24% excellent

22% good

19% fair

33% poor

1% not sure

12* Next… national security… how would you rate the way that President Bush has handled National Security issues?

32% excellent

18% good

21% fair

29% poor

1% not sure

13* Fine… energy policy… Overall, how would you rate the way that President Bush has handled the nation’s energy policy?

12% excellent

21% good

21% fair

43% poor

2% not sure

14* Fine… how would you rate the way that President Bush has handled immigration policy?

14% excellent

17% good

27% fair

40% poor

2% not sure

15* Last one…how would you rate the way that President Bush has handled the War in Iraq?

22% excellent

17% good

15% fair

44% poor

1% not sure

16* How would you rate the job Brian Schweitzer has been doing as Governor… do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job he’s been doing?

35% strongly approve

44% somewhat approve

12% somewhat disapprove

7% strongly disapprove

2% not sure

17* How would you rate the job George W. Bush has been doing as President… do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job he’s been doing?

30% strongly approve

20% somewhat approve

9% somewhat disapprove

39% strongly disapprove

2% not sure

NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.