The Middle Tennessee Poll
Fall 1998
Part 1
1. As you know, there is a race for governor going on
between the Republican Don Sundquist and the Democrat
John Jay Hooker. If the election were held today,
would you vote for the Republican Sundquist or the
Democrat Hooker?
Percentages
Sundquist 55.6%
Hooker 27.9
Other candidate 6.1
Don't know 10.4
Total Cases (595) 100.0
2. Are you leaning toward Sundquist or Hooker?
Percentages
Sundquist 14.5%
Hooker 3.2
Other candidate 8.1
Don't know 74.2
Total Cases (559) 100.0
3. Tell me in your own words now: What do you think is
the number one problem confronting the state of
Tennessee at this time?
Percentages
Crime 16.1%
Education 21.3
Govt./politics 6.1
Health related 6.1
Taxes 4.0
Traffic/construction 4.8
Don't know 10.0
Other 31.6
Total Cases (621) 100.0
4. Do you think that Don Sundquist, the Republican
candidate, has spent enough time talking about this
issue?
Percentage
Yes 17.8%
No 54.2
Don't know 28.0
Total Cases (557) 100.0
5. Now we have a question about the matter in Washington
involving President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.
If you had to choose, which do you think would be
better for the country -- if Clinton were to resign
now, and turn the presidency over to Al Gore, OR if
Clinton were to remain in office until the end of his
term?
Percentage
Resign now 35.0%
Remain in office 59.5
It depends 2.5
Don't know 3.1
Total Cases (612) 100.0
6. As you may have heard, some state leaders think that
Tennessee should hire a private company to run the
state's prison system. Others think the state should
continue to run its own prison system. We want to know
how you feel. Do you think turning the state's prison
system over to a private company is a good idea
or a bad idea?
Percentage
Good idea 24.1%
Bad idea 56.1
Don't know 19.8
Total Cases (617) 100.0
7. As the population in Middle Tennessee increases, the
interstates and other major roads have become
increasingly crowded. Some people propose to solve this
problem by building more roads or adding lanes; others
say that a commuter railway system is needed. If you
had only a limited amount of money, would you
choose to spend it on a commuter rail system or on more
roads?
Percentage
Commuter rail system 47.6%
More roads 44.9
Don't know 7.5
Total Cases (617) 100.0
8. In the last several years, the Middle Tennessee region
has undergone a great deal of change, including
economic and population growth. Some people believe
this is good, while others think it is bad. As a whole,
do you feel that recent changes have made living in
Middle Tennessee better, about the same, or worse?
Percentage
Better 36.9%
Same 39.1
Worse 18.8
Don't know 5.2
Total Cases (621) 100.0
9. Do you think these changes have made the traffic and
parking you encounter each day better, about the same,
or worse?
Percentage
Better 4.2%
Same 25.6
Worse 66.2
Don't know 4.0
Total Cases (621) 100.0
10. Do you think these changes have made the standard of
living for most people in Middle Tennessee better,
about the same, or worse?
Percentage
Better 41.9%
Same 37.9
Worse 15.5
Don't know 4.7
Total Cases (620) 100.0
11. Do you think these changes have made most Middle
Tennesseans' chances of finding a job better, about
the same, or worse?
Percentage
Better 55.7%
Same 24.9
Worse 13.9
Don't know 5.5
Total Cases (619) 100.0
12. Do you think these changes in Middle Tennessee have
made life in you own neighborhood better, about the
same, or worse?
Percentage
Better 23.3%
Same 60.1
Worse 12.2
Don't know 4.3
Total Cases (621) 100.0
We'd like to know how much, if any, protection you think the
law should give to several kinds of behaviors. Please keep
in mind that we're not asking whether you personally approve
of these behaviors. We just want to know how much, if at
all, you think the law should protect that behavior. Ready?
13. OK, what about nude dancing, including the "strip
tease"? Should the law protect that all the time,
protect that only under certain circumstances, or not
protect that at all?
Percentages
All the time 23.8%
Certain circumstances 37.7
Not at all 34.6
Don't know 3.9
Total Cases (618) 100.0
14. What about speaking out in favor of any candidate for
public office? Should the law protect that all the
time, protect that only under certain circumstances, or
not protect that at all?
Percentages
All the time 72.1%
Certain circumstances 17.9
Not at all 7.3
Don't know 2.8
Total Cases (616) 100.0
15. What about disagreeing with the president or other high
government officials? Should the law protect that all
the time, only under certain circumstances, or not at
all?
Percentages
All the time 67.6%
Certain circumstances 19.1
Not at all 10.2
Don't know 3.1
Total Cases (618) 100.0
16. What about advocating Satanism or other religious cults
in public? Should the law protect that all the time,
only under certain circumstances, or not at all?
Percentages
All the time 31.2%
Certain circumstances 21.3
Not at all 44.6
Don't know 2.9
Total Cases (615) 100.0
17. What about using words or phrases that would offend
people from a different racial or ethnic group? Should
the law protect that all the time, only under certain
circumstances, or not at all?
Percentages
All the time 34.5%
Certain circumstances 27.1
Not at all 35.3
Don't know 3.1
Total Cases (617) 100.0
18. What about yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater
as a prank?
Percentages
All the time 15.8%
Certain circumstances 6.3
Not at all 75.1
Don't know 2.7
Total Cases (619) 100.0
19. What about using obscene gestures in public?
Percentages
All the time 20.8%
Certain circumstances 18.2
Not at all 57.9
Don't know 3.1
Total Cases (620) 100.0
20. What about Burning the flag to protest actions of
the government?
Percentages
All the time 27.9%
Certain circumstances 8.5
Not at all 61.8
Don't know 1.8
Total Cases (620) 100.0
21. What about advertising products that are illegal?
Should the law protect that all the time, only under
certain circumstances, or not at all?
Percentages
All the time 16.7%
Certain circumstances 13.1
Not at all 68.4
Don't know 1.8
Total Cases (618) 100.0
22. What about distributing recordings that portray sexual
themes, drugs or religious cults? Should the law
protect that all the time, only under certain
circumstances, or not at all?)
Percentages
All the time 24.9%
Certain circumstances 22.6
Not at all 50.9
Don't know 1.6
Total Cases (619) 100.0
23. What about publishing or selling a book when there are
objections to the book's content? Should the law
protect that all the time, only under certain
circumstances, or not at all?
Percentages
All the time 38.2%
Certain circumstances 38.7
Not at all 20.5
Don't know 2.6
Total Cases (620) 100.0
24. How about when journalists report classified material
that the government wishes to keep secret?
Percentages
All the time 24.9%
Certain circumstances 38.2
Not at all 33.3
Don't know 3.6
Total Cases (618) 100.0
25. How about when television stations project the winners
of an election while the people are still voting?
Percentages
All the time 28.5%
Certain circumstances 17.1
Not at all 48.9
Don't know 5.5
Total Cases (615) 100.0
26. How about when television broadcasts pictures of
graphic sexual acts?
Percentages
All the time 17.8%
Certain circumstances 23.1
Not at all 57.7
Don't know 1.5
Total Cases (619) 100.0
27. What about when news media take sides in editorials
during an election campaign?
Percentages
All the time 32.9%
Certain circumstances 24.4
Not at all 38.1
Don't know 4.7
Total Cases (620) 100.0
28. How about when journalists report the name or identity
of a rape victim?
Percentages
All the time 24.6%
Certain circumstances 21.2
Not at all 51.5
Don't know 2.8
Total Cases (618) 100.0
29. How about when a journalists keeps the identity of a
source confidential even though a court has demanded to
know who the source is?
Percentages
All the time 34.6%
Certain circumstances 34.6
Not at all 26.3
Don't know 4.5
Total Cases (616) 100.0
30. How about when newspapers or television stations run
graphic photographs of violent events?
Percentages
All the time 26.4%
Certain circumstances 37.1
Not at all 33.8
Don't know 2.8
Total Cases (618) 100.0
31. What about when journalists report on the mistakes a
public figure made more than 20 years ago?
Percentages
All the time 29.0%
Certain circumstances 26.6
Not at all 38.2
Don't know 6.1
Total Cases (620) 100.0
32. How about when journalists criticize political leaders?
Percentages
All the time 46.8%
Certain circumstances 25.8
Not at all 24.9
Don't know 2.4
Total Cases (619) 100.0
33. In the past seven days, between (TODAY'S DAY OF THE
WEEK) of last week and yesterday, how many days did you
read or look at a daily newspaper?
Percentages
0 13.1%
1 10.3
2 11.9
3 11.8
4 8.5
5 8.5
6 3.9
7 31.3
Don't know .6
Total Cases (620) 100.0
34. In the past seven days, between (TODAY'S DAY OF THE
WEEK) of last week and yesterday, how many days did you
watch a nightly television news program?
Percentages
0 9.3%
1 5.0
2 8.2
3 6.8
4 8.5
5 11.1
6 6.0
7 44.1
Don't know 1.0
Total Cases (621) 100.0
35. Do you use the Internet from your home, either to
check e-mail or browse the World Wide Web?
Percentages
Yes 36.9%
No 62.8
Don't know .3
Total Cases (618) 100.0
36. Do you use the Internet from work, either to check e-
mail or browse the World Wide Web?
Percentages
Yes 32.6%
No 66.7
Don't know .6
Total Cases (616) 100.0
37. Do you happen to know what job or political office is
now held by Al Gore?
Percentages
Correct 91.0%
Incorrect 2.1
Don't know 6.9
Total Cases (621) 100.0
38. Whose responsibility is it to determine if a law is
constitutional or not ... is it the president, the
Congress, or the Supreme Court?
Percentages
Correct 66.4%
Incorrect 24.1
Don't know 9.5
Total Cases (619) 100.0
39. How much of a majority is required for the U.S.
Senate and House to override a presidential veto?
Percentages
Correct 46.3%
Incorrect 14.5
Don't know 39.2
Total Cases (615) 100.0
40. Do you happen to know which party currently has
the most members in the U.S. House of Representatives?
Percentages
Correct 65.3%
Incorrect 12.6
Don't know 22.1
Total Cases (619) 100.0
41. Would you say that one of the parties is more
conservative than the other on a national level?
Percentages
No 16.6%
Republican 54.5
Incorrect 16.5
Don't know 12.4
Total Cases (620) 100.0
42. Do you happen to know what political party currently
controls the Tennessee House of Representatives?
Percentages
Correct 36.3%
Incorrect 20.2
Don't know 43.6
Total Cases (615) 100.0
43. Do you happen to know what political party Tennessee
Governor Don Sundquist belongs to?
Percentages
Correct 73.5%
Incorrect 9.4
Don't know 17.1
Total Cases (620) 100.0
44. Do you happen to know what political party Nashville
Mayor Phil Bredesen belongs to?
Percentages
Correct 47.0%
Incorrect 16.7
Don't know 36.3
Total Cases (615) 100.0
45. Can you name Tennessee's two United States Senators?
Percentages
Correct 31.5%
Either 17.6
Neither 6.0
Don't know 44.9
Total Cases (619) 100.0
46. Are you registered to vote in Tennessee?
Percentages
Yes 76.3%
No 22.6
Don't know 1.1
Total Cases (620) 100.0
47. How often would you say you vote? Always, nearly
always, part of the time, or seldom?
Percentages
Always 41.4%
Nearly always 35.5
Part of the time 15.1
Seldom 7.2
Don't know .8
Total Cases (148) 100.0
48. We make our poll results available to academic
researchers and news reporters as well as to the
general public. Sometimes, these people want to talk
further with people like you who have responded to the
poll. Would you mind making your answers to the poll
available to these people along with your name
and phone number in case they want to contact you? You
certainly don't have to. Saying "yes" would mean giving
up your anonymity, but it also might mean getting
interviewed for a newspaper article or TV news story
about one or more of the poll's topics.
Percentages
Yes 21.6%
No 78.4
Total Cases (621) 100.0
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